Moore-to-Stills may give spark
DAVIE — A week ago Miami Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore dropped back on third-and-10 against Tampa Bay, trailing 20-13 late in the fourth quarter. Moore looked left briefly, then looked right and hit wide receiver Kenny Stills pretty much in stride on a 61-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
The quick-strike play was an example of Miami’s best deep-ball thrower, Moore, hooking up with its best deep-ball receiver, Stills.
It was also the signature play for a duo that has hooked up 13 times this season for 261 yards and one touchdown.
Miami (4-6) could use more of those explosive plays from Moore and Stills on Sunday against the New England Patriots (8-2).
Moore, who struggled mightily when he started Miami’s 40-0 loss at Baltimore a month ago, will make his second start of the season in relief of quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion).
Coach Adam Gase thinks it helps that Moore had a full week of practice with the starters, unlike prior to the Ravens game when he basically had a day and a half because it was a Thursday night game.
“I think when Matt goes through a week like this it’s really beneficial to him because the reps are very few during the season, and it just helps kind of speed up his mindset of how things are going to look, what the actual look — the speed of the looks — are going to be, just kind of how they play,” he said.
At Moore’s disposal is Stills (40 receptions, 588 yards, five touchdowns). He’s quietly on pace to challenge career bests in receptions (63), yards (931) and touchdowns (nine), a direct result of the long hours at the facility during the offseason.
“He does everything well,” offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said of Stills. “His breaks are a lot better. His hands have improved. His blocking has improved. His route running has improved. And he still has a deep-ball threat, still always a threat to run by you.”
Ideally, Moore will come out hot early against the Patriots, emulating his second-half performance against the Buccaneers, when he passed for 282 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
After all, the listless Dolphins, who are on a fourgame losing streak, are averaging just 15.7 points per game, 30th in the NFL.
The Patriots, who are on a six-game winning streak, are averaging 29 points per game, fourth in the league.
New England, under the guidance of Tom Brady (22 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 110.9 passer rating, No. 1 in NFL), will put points on the board.
With Cutler sidelined, it would seem the best thing going for Miami’s offense — aside from long runs by running backs Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams — is the Mooreto-Stills combination.
Of course, New England, a team that makes its defensive living on taking away what teams do best, probably realize that, too.
Moore and Stills must be ready.
“Really the hardest thing is they take away what you do really well,” Gase said, “so you better be ready to go to something else, or not do that and have an idea there as well. It’s a difficult challenge to gameplan this group.”