Will the Dolphins have an advantage because Philbin coached Rodgers?

Written by Matthew Cannata | Twitter: @PhinManiacs
Joe Philbin was a coach with the Green Bay Packers from 2003 – 2012. He started off as an offensive line coach and then became the offensive coordinator in 2007. There, he coached Aaron Rodgers and several others who are still on the team now. With that in mind, will the Miami Dolphins have an advantage when they play them on October 12 because of Philbin’s familiarity with their strengths and weaknesses? If you ask defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, he’ll say probably not.

“I think that’s overrated myself. I’ve been in that situation on opposite sides. Ultimately, the players have to play. You can know something about Aaron Rodgers, but if you watch him play, you never know what he’s going to do and where the ball is going. Just take a look at the game yesterday and see some of the throws he made against Chicago. The guy has an uncanny ability to make split-second decisions on the run, on the move and the receivers compliment him in a nice way. When they’re throwing on rhythm, they’re very difficult, but they’re most dangerous when he starts to take off and look down the field and those guys know it and they do a great job of uncovering down the field. I don’t think that’s going to play a major role in this game. I think it’s just us going out and out-executing this team.”

There is some coach speak going on here but in the end, Coyle is right. No matter how much the coaches tell the players about Rodgers, it’s up to them use that knowledge and then go on the field and execute. If they don’t, it won’t matter how much they know about Rodgers and will be a long day for the Dolphins defense.

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