I think this is what's exciting..

Well Deej:

-The season record,7-9, seems better then it was as we should have finished the season far more strongly then folding like a lawn chair to teams that had 14 wins amongst them, so the good things such as beating the Sb Champ packers, or being robbed vs the Stealers, are overlooked.

Dave Fipp was added to help Rizzi with the ST, he was a good ST coach in SF, and they added some ST type players, it remains to be seen if they will delegate roster slots on gamedays for ST mostly player...like Jimmy Wilson..not Jimmy Williams

Restelli:

[video=youtube;98dZMtdiw40]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98dZMtdiw40[/video]

[video=youtube;9pz-b6oxcw4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pz-b6oxcw4&NR=1[/video]

To put a 3.95 short shuttle into perspective, AJ Green weighs less then Restelli, but Mark was quicker, if that time is accurate.

[video=youtube;8BkGGf3hhEg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BkGGf3hhEg[/video]

Physically, the dude is bordering freakish athlete whether that translates out on the practice field and football field remains to be seen, do think he is a football player and will do whatever they ask him to do to the point of obsession, but I suspect they would like him to add muscle and keep his quickness.

Is he Larry Izzo jr? Who knows, have heard the comparison to ST All Pro Brendon Abenjayo, a one time Dolphin ST daemon.

 

I'm feeling really encouraged also. B/c the problems I saw on the team last year were (outside of Henning) mainly that we had no speed or play making ability. Our backs left yards on the field, our OL was inconsistent, the WR corps lacked speed and depth, the TE position was a joke outside of Fasano.

Soooo we shidt can Henning, then we go out and add Pouncey to help fix the OL. We grab Thomas to bolster the RB position, plus Gates & Clay to add some speed & depth to the WR/TE group. I didnt see QB as a major need and I'm glad we chose to build around the position instead chasing after one in the draft. IMO we're fixing the problems on offense in a logical manner and I expect that it'll pay dividends in 2011. If we can get a significant improvement on offense & ST, and our defense continues to mature (and not drop so many INTs) we have a chance to be a really good team.

 

And to add to that, if QB doesn't work to my expectations, next year's class, IMO, is exponentially better. Oklahoma's QB, USC's Barkely, and Luck all seem like solid options.

 

Your "addition by subtraction" adage has some clever & unique insight to it. It's inspiring to know that we should be better just by removing a few of our weak links. The idiot alone should be good for 2 more wins.


I'm hoping our guys pick it up on defense against the pass.

According to Football Outsiders, we were great against #2 WRs (ranked 7th).

However we ranked 24th verse #1 WRs...... and 26th vs all other WRs (with both finishing 11% worse than the baseline average). Hopefully SS or Vontae will step up and become our consistently reliable #1 cover corner who doesn't cost us games by allowing the critical big plays we saw last year, and hopefully Allen will prove to be an upgrade over Sapp (unless he's cut to save money). I'm still intrigued by the idea of signing Nnamdi since his addition would likely make us top 5 vs #1 WRs while Vontae making us top 5 vs "other WRs". IMHO Nnamdi immediately makes us a top 3 defense & SB contender now that our defense is so close to becoming elite.

We still had problems vs TEs (ranked 28th while finishing 20% worse than the baseline average) and RBs (ranked 22nd while finishing 9% worse). We need you, Edds.

 

DJ, how about we call it the CCSS? ComPadre's Canucks Scouting Service. It has a nice ring to it.

Good to have a guy around here who makes sure we are up to speed on the CFL prospects.

Kind of a pretty good thing we brung ol' ComPadre to the dance huh?

 

IMO, it is a nice thought to have Nnamdi across from Davis, but I really doubt we will pursue him. SS24 just needs to find where he left his football handles and I think we will be ok. Hoping Allen is healthy enough to be the nickel back and/or Carroll is ready to step up.

 

Sir Charles' kid looks a little too fair skinned and blond, I'm afeared there may a been something fishy going on when he was off on a road trip.

 

Yeah, you've got to admit that this looks to be the best squad we've seen in a long time. It has the chance to be the most balanced team we've seen since '83. Also, we don't have to blow it up if Henne doesn't work out...

 

Last year, Davis took a baby step back, Smith took 5 games to adapt to Nolan, and Allen missed the season. Sapp was horrible but with Allen redoing his contract, I read that Sapp is our highest paid DB. Bye, Bye Benny. I strongly believe all three problems are resolved, and with Carroll have no worries at CB. Edds missed the season, Dansby 4 games, and Misi was a rookie. Problem solved at LB.

Bell was never a good cover SS but, does a lot to help the team. Clemons showed promise. If he takes the next step, we're in VG shape.

 

Agree on all DJ. Filling the needs was great. Let's not forget about FINALLY having some stability with players which is of the utmost importance.

Chances are that our entire D will be the same players as a year ago, and with no rookies. Even the additions of Odrick, Epps, and Allen were all around the team last season, although injured. That's huge, and Nolan will be able to do more.

The O will be the same other than Pouncey, Thomas (RB's easy to fit in), and maybe another guy on the OL. Gates and Clay will not be counted on to have to come in on day one and can be developed at their own pace. Adding a vet RB, which we will do, also takes pressure off Thomas. That leaves only our #1 pick that we have to depend on.

Things are looking very good.

 

If I remember correctly Nolan mentioned that alot of the players were making plays on physical ability alone and were still learning the system, that was their first time around being in the system a second year should help alot

 

I have been harping about how our offense lacked complementary players. Balance is part of that, but by complementary I mean balance in the broadest sense of the term. Last year our offense became very easy to defend b/c we only attacked a small area of the field. Marshall and Bess are great receivers but they operate best in the short zones. You pack enough defenders in the short zones and they're largely negated. It's even worse when you use only two receivers against the extra defenders and then wonder why Henne is not successful. That was basically our whole offense last year. IMO the most difficult offense to defend against is one that can attack the whole field. That spreads the defenders out and gives the QB the largest windows, ie. best chance for success. You do that by running consistently (add Thomas and Pouncey). Then you have players that can and do operate in the all the areas (short zones; middle and flats, intermediate zones; middle and sidelines, deep zones; middle and sidelines). Short zones: Marshall and Bess work best here, but using the backs in the flats especially with delayed routes and a TE in the middle (Fasano, Clay) is very effective. I would like to see them add another receiving back (Sproles maybe but Brown, Williams or Bradshaw could also work). I can also see them using Gates on hitches if they're backing up on him. Intermediate zones: Marshall, Bess, Hartline, Fasano and Clay should attack here the most. I could also see Gates used on deep outs. Henne throws the deep outs well as long as the DBs are concerned about getting beat deep. Deep zones: This area only needs to be completed in occasionally. It just needs to be enough of a threat that the defense has to cover it and create some space for the shorter areas that will comprise 90% of our offense. Here Gates, Hartline and Clay need to be able to draw that defensive respect. If Pouncey can be effective at the pivot and we bring in a another back that is a receiving option, I think we have players that are versatile enough that we can run or pass out of base formations, two TE formations and multiple WR formations. The key of course is doing both out of all those formations.

 

Alas theough Mr C, the Polar Express to Miami is about to run into the wall of 2 yr minimum contract requirements for guys who sign with a CFL squad, so good prospects like Solomon Eliminian and Olifaye (super athletic BC Left Tackle), Marqay McDaniel will be some of the last of the guys to make the jump for awhile.

Cannot blame the Canucks, pay a guy to learn the CFL game, they play 1 yr then jet south, hard to do business that way.

 

Raf, RB is at the top of the shopping list. Williams is my first choice, depending the cost. Bradshaw second, Ronnie third. Sproles dropped off last year, would be safer to have someone who can split carries, maybe even Ronnie and Sproles. Sproles also upgrades our returns. Gates is gonna take a lot of work. Not a whole lot of options.

Pierre Thomas might be had from the Saints, and paragraphs are still a good thing.

 

I try not to get excited about this team because every time I do, it seems that something goes wrong. However, this off-season has been an interesting one.

I feel like its the first time they actually went out, got what they needed and basically gave Bill Parcells the finger. They showed some aggressiveness in the Draft, which I like because it tells me that they feel like they did their homework on the prospect (Daniel Thomas) and are convinced they need him so instead of sitting on their *** and praying, they went out and made sure they got him. I was told by a good source that (no, not Boomer) that they liked Jake Locker and Christian Ponder at QB but they weren't going to trade up and get them. They would draft them if they fell in their laps. Obviously neither didn't but it tells me that they think they got a guy who can play right now and that guy is Chad Henne. I don't have an issue with that line of thinking, either.

My biggest concern with this team is player development, preparation and overall coaching. They got the guys to fill the needs they had but they need to coach them up. That worries me. I watched Henne's games last season (more than once) and I was flat out frustrated because of the horrendous job they did with him. No one will convince me that they didn't or its him. Some things are his fault, I get that, but a lot of it is just flat out terrible coaching and preparation IMO. I watched the play designs and I was left frustrated last season. We got rid of Henning but we got Daboll, who for the first season and a half in Cleveland was pretty conservative. It was the final half of his last season where he really opened up. Lets hope we get the latter, and not the former.

 

Just to play devil's advocate, how often do all these draft picks work out ? Usually more than half of them never make it past training camp.

Just sayin'.........

Unless we have a strong FA run, we are in no real better position than last year. We have so many new coaches, coaching in positions they have never specialized in before. We also have one of the worst starting QB's in the league. You are assuming that a 2nd round pick, will just automatically come in and tear up the league. We will have to get almost unparalleled luck to make the improvements you are forecasting.

I am guessing you have a pair of lucky dice ?

 

I certainly hope that all the positives concerning the off season draft and the pick up of Restelli works out as well as many on here believe it will. Of course we still have no quality QB on the roster. While players like Pouncey, Thomas, Gates, and Clay all appear to have something to offer the team. Until they actually play in a game, we have no way of knowing how effective they will be.

Thomas is a power back with not a great deal of speed, and he had 11 fumbles his last two seasons in college. I don't see him as much of an upgrade over Williams or Brown, but time will tell.

Gates appears to be not only fast, but also very quick. The level of competition he played against in college was not the best so he still has to prove that he can get off the line of scrimmage in the NFL
and actually play at the highest level.

Clay appears to offer receiving skills coming out of the backfield, but his lack of size and blocking ability are a negative if he is expected to play TE in a two TE set. He might prove to be a very good 6th round selection or he just might be a player who wasn't drafted earlier, because he isn't really that good.

The Dolphins had very good luck with picking up Wake from the CFL. While Restelli was a productive player in the CFL. I don't see him as anything but a special teams player for the Dolphins and if he doesn't even make the final roster, I would not be surprised in the least.

Most people seem to think the one sure pick was Pouncey in round one. While I certainly understand this pick, since the interior line was awful for the Dolphins last season. I don't think that Pouncey is the same quality player his brother is and that is why he stayed at Florida for his senior season while his brother made all-pro as a rookie with the Steelers. While I expect him to be a starter from day one, I think he will an average starter at best during his NFL career.

The Dolphins may or may not have upgraded their team in the recent draft. Time will tell, but right now the Dolphins still have inferior talent to the Patriots and Jets and will be fighting with the Bills to escape the cellar in the AFC East this coming season. The only hope for the Dolphins is for them to sign free agents who turn out to be outstanding players for them next year. Of course the most important need in free agency is a proven veteran QB who can come in and send Henne to the bench, where he belongs.

 

A) we own the Jest
B) we have finished ahead of the Bills for 3 yrs
C) will not soft soap Hennezilla, do think we add a Vet Qb.
D) no telling with Restelli, he does have nice tools, but this is a show me league.
E) not so much worried about the Qb as I am about the offensive line and running game.

DThomas has a whole lot riding on his play this yr.


Like the fact they are trying to address the ST problems by adding him.

 

While we might have been able to beat the Jets 3 of 4 over the last two seasons. The fact is that the Jets have been in the playoffs each of these seasons while the Dolphins have been a mediocre 7-9. So while we might match up with the Jets. The fact is that when the regular season was over, the Jets finished ahead of us the last two seasons. As far at the Bills go, I agree that the Dolphins have been the better team the last three seasons. The problem is that the Bills appear to be improving while the Dolphins have not improved from three years ago. In fact the Dolphins barely beat the Bills in Buffalo in week one last season and the Bills came to Miami late in the season and beat the Dolphins. So based on last year, it is difficult to conclude that the Dolphins are a superior team to the Bills at this time. In fact, the Bills appear to have a QB who is far more productive and accurate than Henne. I noticed that you didn't even mention the Patriots and I am sure that is because we all know that right now the Patriots are a much better team than the Dolphins.

I would love to see the Dolphins battle the Patriots and Jets for the AFC East title, but unfortunately I think that right now they are more comparable in talent to the Bills than the Jets or Patriots. I see them fighting to finish no better than third in the AFC East in 2011 and the Dolphins finishing at the bottom of the AFC East would not surprise me in the least.

 

A "W" is a "W", and we are 5 of 6 v the Jest over the last 3 yrs.

As for the Pats, they have won the division the last two yrs and are a good team, to say we have an edge on them is simply not the case, that remains to be seen on the field.

Pfft, do tell, do you think Arthur Moats can rush the passer?

Do you know who Arthur Moats is?

 

Not being a big follower of the Bills, I have limited knowledge of Arthur Moats. In looking at his statistics from last year. I see that he had 2 and a half sacks during the season. So the fact that he did have a couple of sacks and applied fairly decent pressure during the season. I would guess that he would be considered an average LB in the NFL in regards to rushing the passer. What Moats has to do with this discussion is beyond me. Perhaps this is your way of telling me he is no Cameron Wake. I will admit this but that still doesn't mean that the Bills aren't catching up to the Dolphins, talent wise.

I also agree that a win is a win. While at the same time a loss is a loss and when all is said and done, no matter how the Dolphins played against the Jets the last two seasons. They ended up the season with more losses than the Jets. I would love nothing better than to be wrong in my assessment of the Dolphins in 2011. I just don't see the talent on the team to contend for a playoff spot. As I stated earlier, perhaps the Dolphins will have a great free agent period once the CBA is signed and this will help them fill positions they they need to upgrade . The most important of these upgrades has to start at QB, if the Dolphins actually hope to contend for a playoff spot this season.

I only hope that once the season is over. You can get on here and tell me that I was wrong about the Dolphins and they were much better than I thought they would be. I will gladly admit to being wrong and tell you that you were right. Now it is up to the Dolphins to prove me wrong and you right. Until they prove me wrong, I will continue to believe that they are nothing but a mediocre team in need of better players, along with a new head coach and GM.

 

Recall they also drafted no one else to rush the passer, they have whom they have.

And young players get better over time, vets tend to degrade, look at the Jest roster and their FA's as well.

Your choice.

 

Well, they did draft Marcell Dareus who can rush the passer pretty damn well.

 

In college..

Name me the last Nick Saban coached college defensive player who made a impact in the NFL?

 

Yet you are counting on Thomas (and other rookies) to make such an impact for just the same reason - because he did it in college. C'mon Brother Padre, you can't have it both ways.....

 

No offensive position has an easier time being a Starter who produces then Running Back DJ, the list of rook Rb's who had huge seasons in their first yrs is quite long that is one of the reasons why I proclaim that DTrain will have a large impact.

Besides, there is really no one else on the roster to steal carries from him at this time...

 

Not sure what kind of depth they have, but Dareus and Williams are two solid DEs. Having said that, they're roster as a whole is not even close and no FA w/ any market value is going to sign w/ them so free agency isn't much of an option for them either.

The Jets have a slight edge, but they also have a lot of aging vets and expiring contracts. They got some much needed replacements on the DL, but they still don't have a quality pass rusher. Cromartie, Harris, Holmes, Edwards, & Brad Smith are all FA's. That's a ton of talent and play making ability possibly leaving meanwhile the Fins are set to lose Tony McDaniel and...who else? Ronnie & Ricky are possibly leaving, but with Thomas coming in and several FA options, we wont have a problem replacing, if not upgrading, both of them.

Clearly, there's a gap between us and the Pats. But its primarily due to one guy. I like our OL & DL better than what they have. I give a slight edge to our CBs, and a slight edge to their Safeties. I like our WRs a lot more, I like their TE's a lot more. I'll give a slight edge to Dansby & Crowder over Mayo & Spikes and there's no contest at OLB. At RB I'll give them the edge pending what happens in FA. Ronnie & Ricky made 8 million last year, we could easily resign or replace them w/ that $ and we already have Thomas from the draft so we only need one guy (DWilliams or Bradshaw I'm hoping). They're the better team but its not a wide gap IMO.

 

Let's just hope he plays RDE.

 

Rolando McClain?

And Dareus will be fine, trust me.

 

I admittedly haven't watched a lot of Buffalo but I thought Kyle Williams was a 1 for them? Carrington is their strong side 5.

 

Most likely IMO. 5 and 3 weak side.

 

Suh had a good Rook season, and Dareus is nowhere near the prospect he was coming out.

 

In fact Paul Poz may be leaving as well which explains the reach for Kelvin Shepard.

Q, our biggest FA was Soliai and he was tagged.

Disagree about the Jets having an edge, what they do have is an Oline that is freakishly healthy.

Eh, way I see it as long as Tom Brady is their Qb they are the team to beat, not that they are not beatable as the Jest proved in the playoffs, but 30 td's and and handful of interceptions is just tough to overcome yr after yr.

Not saying we cannot split with them, but they are consistently so good that they should be viewed as the favorites in the AFCE.

 

You're right they have him at Nose and 1 in the 4-3. It's amazing how we pushed them around for most of Week 1 and couldn't move them at all in the rematch.

 

Because...they did not try to push them around, that was the game, when for whatever reason, the game plan was to throw the ball, we rushed the ball 19 times seriously in that one, threw it for 45 attempts and DC missed 3 or 4 50 yd long FG's.

First game we rushed the ball 31 times.

That was the game where Henne was checking down into the middle of the field with 1:00 left and no TO's, they then tried a substitutional package that ate more clock...that one was a real goat **** and really turned people against Sparano and Henne.

 

I hear Maybin may also be a FA soon . They have no pass rushers and no LT, a bad mix.

Sure hope we sign him to a long term deal, he looks like he's ready to dominate.

I agree w/ the OL, Mangold had a shoulder, and Woody was out late last year but other than that they've been crazy healthy. We'll have to see what happens in FA, but it's hard to argue w/ a back to back trips to the AFCCG.

Brady turns 34 in August, the end as to come sooner or later. I hope.

 

IMO, not as readily able to push them around. We had Jake playing with a torn labrum, Berger with a bad knee, and Carey out. Say what you will about Carey, but he is a very good run blocker.

 

I agree, it would be a shock to most people if Dareus doesn't turn out to be a fine NFL player.