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Tailback Brown is out, but Dolphins have options
Job No.1 for the Panthers' defense tonight, of course, is dealing with Miami's "wildcat" offense. Without Ronnie Brown (out for the season with a foot injury), the Dolphins will start Ricky Williams at running back. He presumably will take snaps out of the wildcat, although backup quarterback Pat White and running back Lex Hilliard might also. Even in Brown's absence, the wildcat is a scheme that's different - and potent - enough that it could cause Carolina problems, especially with just a few days to prepare for it.
Delhomme might challenge rookie cornerbacks
Injuries keep nicking away at the Panthers. First it was on the defense, now the offense is taking hits (fullback Brad Hoover, tackle Jordan Gross most notably). The Panthers' running game has continued to flourish without them (Jonathan Stewart's 45-yard touchdown run against Atlanta last week came after Gross went out). But Miami's rush defense is stout, averaging 97.6 yards per game. Watch for Jake Delhomme to pick on Miami's rookie cornerbacks, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, to loosen up the Dolphins' defense.
Important special-teams matchup: Lloyd vs. Ginn Jr.
Panthers kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd seems to have found his groove, and that'll be as important as ever tonight with the dangerous Ted Ginn Jr. returning kicks for Miami. Lloyd leads the NFL in reaching-the-end-zone percentage (76.3) and is second in touchback percentage (44.7). But with the Panthers' kick-coverage team still ranked last in the league (30.6 yards per return), Ginn (who has two touchdowns this season and averages 29.4 yards per return) will almost certainly bring it out whenever he can. So Lloyd's kicks need to go an unreturnable 8 yards into end zone, not 3.
