Are we in FULL REBUILD MODE ??

Dude, we're in full ****** mode...

 

There are perhaps less than a dozen quality players on the roster at this time. Three of those players, Miller, Vernon, and Matthews will likely all be on other NFL teams next year.

So on a 53 man roster, the Dolphins need to replace well over 40 players over the next couple of seasons, just to start turning this team around.

Not only are they in rebuilding mode from top to bottom. The only time they needed to rebuild more than now, was after the 2007, 1-15 season. In fact, the players on the 1-15 team gave more effort during games than this group of players.

Other than the owner, who I wish would sell the team but I know he won't. I would love to see this team rebuilt starting with the firing of Tannebaum, Hickey, and the entire coaching staff. After the crap they put the fans through this year with this sorry excuse of a football team, none of them deserve to have a job in the Dolphin organization once this season is over.

 

While this season may draw a few comparisons to 2007, things are not nearly as bad today as they were then. At that point virtually nothing on the team was alright from the front office to the coaching right down to the offensive and defensive rosters.

By contrast, I'll happily take this years group at WR, DT, QB, SS and RB (assuming Miller is re-signed). While I'm not in favor of handing a blank check to Vernon, he is a young talent that adds something to the team. I do believe that between Vernon, Fede and Shelby Miami could have something to build around at DE. If they brought in another edge rusher it could certainly be turned into a stout D-line considering Suh and Phillips could make a strong interior.


It's far from impossible. What Miami needs is to add an edge rusher, a competent MLB, a reliable FS and a stand-alone CB. Over the course of 2-3 seasons, that's do-able, even knowing you have to bring in a Guard and a Tackle on the offensive side. I'm assuming here that between Billy Turner and Jamil Douglas you're able to find a prospect you can develop. I think both of those guys have potential but need work.

 

If we aren't we damn well should be.

I was more pumped up going into this season than I had been in years. Wow. It will be many years before I drink that Kool Aid again.

 

This team hasn't attempted a rebuild since JJ, it's always scrambling for a one year retool, which rarely works, and it's usually an accident.

The team needs to be rebuilt, including the culture, and from top to bottom.

 

When you compare the stats of the 2007 team for the season and the 2015 team through 14 games, I would contend that this years team is just as bad, even if this years teams has five wins.

In 2007- the Dolphins were the 28th ranked offense in the league statistically, averaging 287.5 yards per game and 16.7 points per games. This was accomplished by using 3 QB's during the season who were no better than backup quality players in the NFL.

Ronnie Brown was their top running back and he was averaging over 5 YPC until going down with a season ending injury in the sixth game of that season.

The 2015 Dolphins offense after 14 games is also rated as the leagues 28th rated offense. They average 322 yards per game and they have averaged 19.9 points per game. Yet they have been able to have just one QB play the entire season, rather than three backup type QB's as the 2007 team did.

Basically there isn't much different in the two offenses and you would expect a much higher rating for the Dolphins when you consider that the WR's, RB's, and the QB are suppose to be much better on the 2015 team.

The OL for both teams are and were below average.

Defensively, the 2007 team was ranked 23rd. They gave up 342.2 yards per game and 27.3 points per game.

The 2015 defense is presently ranked 31st in defense. They give up 396.8 yards per game and 25.8 points per game.

So while you don't see things as being as bad this year as in 2007, I think it is fairly clear this team may have more wins, but they have just as many problems, if not more than the 2007 team.

This years team has three of their best players set to enter free agency. There best CB is getting old and no longer is the player he was just two years ago. Wake is also getting up in age and coming off a serious injury. It is unlikely he will ever be a dominant player again.

Tannehill will be going into season five next year and he still hasn't shown he is the answer at the QB position. The OL is a mess and with Alberts injury history and James out most of this year, they might need more than just two guards heading into next season.

I look at this years team and I see just as many issues as I saw with the 2007 team. Hopefully next years team can surprise like the 2008 team did, but the last I checked Pennington isn't coming out of retirement to be the Dolphins QB in 2016.

 

31st Defense... heck, wasn't that supposed to be a strong point. One of the lowest rated OLs AND 2nd worst defense. Goodness gracious.

 

That's a solid bit of work there digging that up. I appreciate it! Your point is well taken.

I guess the only rebuttal I could really offer without getting too nitty gritty on those stats is that the roster today gives you something while the roster in 2007 gave you next to nothing. I think the difference between 2007 and 2015 for Miami is that the best the team had back in 2007 was only solid compared to the rest of the NFL. Yeremiah Bell wasn't an elite safety but he certainly stood out amongst the crap Miami had back then. Jones certainly gets some credit today in that same vein but I think he's a better player, too. Along those same lines I think Miami actually has a few pieces which are well above "solid" and which might actually be considered good compared to the rest of the NFL. Amongst those names I would list Miller (who can certainly be re-signed), Landry, Suh and Jones. Additionally you have several solid young players who (with the right coaching) should absolutely develop into consistent contributors: James, Ajayi, Jenkins, Phillips, and Bobby McCain. You can add Shelby, Matthews and Vernon to the list given if/when they are re-signed.

And for the record, you can't complain about free agency. It's going to be an issue every single year for every single team, particularly one that drafts well enough that the players emerge with value after their rookie contracts.

So, while I have to grant you that your perspective gains merit when viewed from a purely statistical point of view (at least with rankings), the fact that this 2015 team has indeed won games and has at times looked competent shows you that the primary issue is one of consistency and completeness, not of overall ineptitude as in 2007. To go one step further, I take that inconsistency to means a couple things: (1) that the team is not well prepared going into games and (2) that many of the lesser players are simply getting beat when faced with above-average competition. In other words, it's not surprising that Miami was able to walk past Houston and Tennessee with ease. The 2015 Dolphins had more than enough talent to dominate those sub-par teams. The 2007 team could never say that. Here in 2015 it's been the stout defensive fronts and the elite WRs who've given Miami issues. The only spot I have to admit Miami has been underwhelming with respect to their talent is in stopping the run. I would like to think that a solid scheme and some solid coaching would be enough to stop the run from overwhelming you most weeks.

I grant you that if Miami had lost its starting QB, RB and SS (as they did in 2007) that this season could’ve been really ugly. But then again, Miami did lose Cam Wake and Louis Delmas. I still think the Delmas injury was the biggest killer. Ja’wuan James has also been out for quite awhile and if you think the inclusion of Jason Fox hasn’t hurt this offense in a measurable way, well, you and I are just watching different teams. You can also add that one of the most valuable additions to the team (1st rounders Devante Parker) has done next to nothing largely due to his injury. It's not as though there haven't been set-backs that have hurt the 2015 team. It would be unfair not to acknowledge them.

But here’s the difference. Coming out of 2007 Miami had to replace nearly everyone on the roster because they weren't very good. The lack of talent was rather obvious. Parcells really did overhaul the roster going into 2008 as I'm sure you're aware. In fact, even those players who were competent were coming off injury and in some cases were permanently affected (i.e. Ronnie Brown, Trent Green).

Don’t get me wrong, the Dolphins have a lot of work to do but there are plenty of upsides which I named in my first post. The offense will not need any weapons in order to function at a respectable level. The only thing that’s necessary are lineman (at least initially).

On defense, you have Suh, Jenkins and Jones with the possibility of Vernon and/or Shelby. That’s more than you had back in 2007. When you start adding the idea of Wake in a part-time role and players like Bobby McCain and Jordan Phillips developing you obviously have a base on which you can build a more-than-respectable 4-3 squad over a couple seasons if you're dedicated to the task and you draft the right guys.

And listen, there's not a plan in the world that will work without good drafting. We both know that. We can sit here and make excuses or talk cynically but if we formulate a plan, it MUST be based on the team drafting well and acquiring some value in the free agent market where holes need be patched. That's simply reality.



So I guess in a sense I agree with you that the team is struggling in a major way but when it comes to the roster, I don't see things as pessimistically as you do.


What I mean by that just for clarity here, is that the next HC really ought to be able to walk right in the door and generate a 7- or 8-win season. If the next HC is given 3 years (hypothetically speaking) it's is not too much to ask that the team reach the Play-offs in that time. And before someone says Tannehill, let me just say that I'm not interested in any HC who wouldn't be able to at least generate a winning record and a Play-off appearance with Tannehill at the helm. He might not be great, but he surely has enough to accomplish those feats with a little help.

 

Must resist filling in the ********

 

Its going to get worse, before it gets better.

 

I'll take one step back to go two steps forward, but I don'y trust the FO to actually do the right thing, so unfortunately I think you're right.