The New England Patriots will look to get another divisional win when they face the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. Jeff Hafley's team hasn't been much of a threat this season, but the Dolphins have usually been a thorn in the Patriots' side.
This time, however, Mike Vrabel's team has an obvious edge over the new-look Dolphins. The Patriots' coach knows Malik Willis pretty well, having done extensive work on him when he entered the league and in his early days as a pro.
While that doesn't necessarily mean he knows how to stop this improved version of the Dolphins' signal-caller, Vrabel is more than familiar with the young quarterback, his tendencies, and — more importantly — his flaws.
Mike Vrabel knows how to expose Malik Willis against the Patriots
"I think that they play extremely hard. I had Malik as a young player," Vrabel said on The Greg Hill Show.
"We drafted Malik in Tennessee. He can beat you scrambling, he can beat you throwing. They run the football really well. Their backs run hard. Defense is young and fast. Again, I think they’re gonna continue to improve. I’ve known Jeff [Hafley] for a long time and he’s an excellent football coach.”
Notably, this isn't the only edge the Patriots may have ahead of this matchup. Vrabel's son, Tyler, played for Jeff Hafley at Boston College, so he may have additional insight into his preparation, body of work, and tendencies.
Of course, Willis isn't the same erratic thrower who relied solely on his athleticism that Vrabel knew in Tennessee. He improved significantly in his two years with Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers, and he's no longer just a scrambler.
That said, Willis has never been known for his good decision-making under pressure. He trusts his legs and arm strength too much, which can lead him to put the ball in harm's way and miss easy throws and big windows right in front of him.
The Patriots' pass rush has been better than expected this season, and they should be able to keep him under duress all day. He can always roll out and gain yards with his legs, but it will come down to picking their poison.
Granted, the Patriots can't look down on any divisional rival right now, especially with the Buffalo Bills sitting atop the AFC East. They can't let this become a trap game; they must dominate and put it to bed in the first half, if possible.
Coach Vrabel will have to ensure Willis doesn't get any breathing room and revert to his old hero-ball tendencies from his days in Tennessee. If they limit the explosive plays, he won't have many resources to keep the offense ahead of the sticks on Sunday.
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