I still remember the reactions I received last year when I posted that our 1-4 team was about to win six straight and make the playoffs at 10-6 or better. You guys blasted me for the good part of a month, even though we kept on winning, and I tried not to be the guy to say "I told you so" even though many of you had no idea what our team was really made of. I'm going to tell you a little secret. I had some connections within the organization last year and I based that six win prediction on one thing- the reactions in the locker room after losing game five. Our boys weren't sulking around and pouting, they were furious at themselves for pissing away opportunities. Gase was just as angry and fired two linemen to send a message- this is not who we are as a ball club. This season, I don't have any connections. In fact, I don't even keep up with team media. But I saw that same hunger on the field in the 2nd half today of a team that's ready for some redemption. I know it seems like we suck at 5-7, but I want to remind you of a few things before we get too far into this. We lost to the Raiders on one of the worst calls of the year, followed by an equally ridiculous call that gave Oakland 75 yards in about 4 seconds. Without those ridiculous gifts from the football Gods, we'd be 6-6 right now. And of course I'm going to mention Tampa next in that flag-fest of a game where the refs robbed us of at least 6 points and a possession- that should have been ours as well and put us at 7-5. And guess what? 7-5 would have us 6th place in the AFC right now....if we didn't get completely screwed twice in three weeks. It was bad luck, bad officiating, bad execution...that's the only reason it appears that we don't control our own destiny. The best we could do on this season is 9-7, which may seem impossible at this moment. But remember when the Jets shut us out and it seemed impossible that we'd snap back against them? I just didn't see a team today that's going to yield to NE or anyone. And I think some of the crap in the 2nd half today woke up some sleeping giants within our locker room....I have a feeling that the 2017 Dolphins are about to arrive. Is it too little, too late? Probably...but that's not why we root for this team. And I'm going to take a leap of faith here and say that we're going to win our next three, drop one to the Chiefs and end the season at a nice, round 8-8. The path to accomplishing that is going to be on the back of our defense and Williams/Drake pounding the football. That fake punt sucked big-time today because I honestly think that was the game we were going to see today- smashmouth football right up the gut. We were in a big hole so fast though that we didn't get a chance to reclaim our identity...but we will again the Broncos this coming week. Just watch.
Absolutely LOVE your optimism KeyFin. Glad you can keep that in bad times. I just prefer to be realistic (at least in my mind!) whatever the circumstances and I see a team that's just playing crappy under a coach that doesn't seem to know how to fix the problem(s). We might beat Denver (boy.. if we lose to them the floodgates of criticism for Gase should open), but I don't at all see 8-8 based on how we've played so far. And you're right about how well you predicted last season, but let's not forget your predictions this season (made before the season) were pretty off target. Not that that's anything to be ashamed of.. it's hard to predict these things.
My predictions this year were based on Tannehill starting...you know as well as I do that everything goes out the window when QB1 is out for the season.
I made my prediction for the year before RT got hurt. I did think we could have a good season under Cutler based on what we were told, but it's plainly obvious that he doesn't know the offense. Add in Ajayi and Parker disappointing due to poor work ethic and it is what it is...we were betting on horses that weren't even leaving the starting gates.
No I'm talking about this thread: https://thephins.com/threads/my-season-prediction.91664/ That was after the Cutler signing as one can tell because you said you think he'd win comeback player of the year award. Your season prediction was at worst 9-7 if Moore had to start 6 games, but if Cutler remained healthy it was 11-5 or 12-4. And you predicted the playoffs. Look.. nothing to be ashamed of making predictions.. just saying this was all AFTER we signed Cutler.
And that was based on camp saying Cutler knew the entire playbook, he wasn't that bad out of shape and Parker was dominating in practice. Two of those three things were obviously lies....and the 3rd was a mirage.
I would rather go 4-12 and have better draft picks and hopefully a new GM making those picks.Whats the point in going 8-8?
Oh yea I remember that.I kept getting bashed for not being a true fan because I wanted to lose out when playoffs were lost. I guess nobody gets taking 1 step back to take 2 forward.
They are losing out this year. Gase doesn't like Tannehill after the stunt he pulled with his voodoo and the knee. It sabotaged the season and Gase's good fortune with the media and fans. Gase is going for a QB in this draft.
All I can say is wow, you certainly are an eternal optimist. I don't even want that miracle you're proposing. I'll take my high draft picks and a shake up of the front office, instead of being humiliated in yet another 1 and done in the playoffs. Does that mean I'll root against Miami, actually no. However, as much as I know in my heart that is the better thing long term, I can't bring myself to root against the Fins, and would be on board cheering (for the moment.) Actually, what you propose is ideal and seems very Dolphin-esque karma to keep us at perpetual mediocrity to sub-par level. I've never been much for instant gratification. Must be the conservative in me. Hire some people or person that knows what they are doing, and in 2-3 years we could be a real contender for a decade. That's more along the lines of what I want.
i prefer we lose out get a better draft and schedule next year. would also force ownership to address the state of the team 8-8 9-7 would keep the status quo and that’s not enough to win the division and compete for the championship
we lose to bills there and KC based off the weather it being cold and the fact we suck. we lose the pats well just because its the pats and they beat us by 18 and not much can change in 2 weeks. Denver and maybe splitting with the bills, is about the only ones I see us winning but its a far stretch but if your only going to win 2 of 5 lose em all
I posted before the year that the Dolphins would likely go 6-10 or at best 7-9 and that was before Tannehill went down for the season. I felt the defense would be a bottom tier defense and the OL would continue to be a major weakness. Both of these factors have turned out to be true and an average QB, which is basically what Tannehill is, isn’t good enough to overcome the severe lack of talent to this years roster.
i keep seeing people posting we have no talent and that’s absurd. we have three big name wideouts a pro bowl center, suh and wake on the defense and hard hitting Rashad Jones with Kiko alonsio and more players that are impact players and this team can’t get them to produce. the problem isn’t all talent we got **** coaching from top down and our coordinators are the worst! includ g Gase as a Play caller.
I think you are sleeping too hard on the D - they aren't a top 5 unit, but they are solid. They are hamstrung by a ****ty O (bad field position and TOP), no bye and lack of depth. OL is a problem, but fixable if we decide to actually spend money on it instead of paying top dollar for #3 wideouts. QB is the real issue and I think you hit it. Tanny is ... average. He doesn't elevate the team, he doesn't cover flaws. A good enough team around him and he will win, but I don't think he can take us on his back and just win the way top QBs do. Ajayi was ineffective for more than a few - one of his biggest issues was consistency. He'd have a huge game, then 2-3 games of 30-50 yarders. I think the energy his running certainly helped spark, and the threat of a running game in general as well, but to place it all on him is a fool's errand. Regardless, this year he was absolute butt. But no QB. Every team has SOME talent. ****, the Browns have some talent. The colts have talent. What they lack is ENOUGH talent to make up for **** QB play.
I gave up on the season after the Tampa game, the writing was on the wall. If the team needs any outside help this year they will not get it. They certainly can't do it themselves this year, what a mess. I still want the team to win games. 4-12 is not acceptable.
Meant the pats lol. It' the last game right. If it' the last game i see us winning it. They will rest players we'll play for pride
pats steelers play week 15 I think, so pats wont rest I think both teams have a cake walk until week 15 I could be wrong.
I get what you're saying, but all 1-15 did was get us a playoff blowout to the Ravens the following year as well. Many would say the wildcat was the only reason we got in and didn't really belong. Either way, 1-15 didn't really get us out of the seemingly eternal mediocrity we are suffering. As someone said previously in another post, it really depends on who is making the picks as much as your draft position. So for me the best thing that could come out of a tank season would be a change upstairs but I doubt that is happening this season. But sure, if all other factors remain the same, the bright side of a poor season is drafting higher. Here's to an era when Dolphins fans will look forward to January more than April. PS: Keith I remember your prediction last year! "The Miami Dolphins are about to get serious". And they did!
I could never root for the dolphins to loose games no matter draft pick implications. The draft isn’t a sure thing and I hate to see them loose. Suck for luck is a really good example of this. What good did that do for the colts? We could win out and end up with a better pick with the 20th pick (just guessing at spot) than if we loose all the rest of the games and get the 3rd or 4th pick. I would be miserable for the next month and a half and for nothing. I’d rather win out and hope they draft well like I believe they did last year. Reality is we will probably end up at 12 or so and at that spot there will be plenty of talent to choose from for the first few rounds and hopefully they can hit on a few more late round picks. No matter what happens we probably dont have a shot at the top couple qb prospects and probably aren’t looking to add a high first round qb to the roster anyway, barring some crazy scenario like the one with tunsil or how we ended up with Marino. The Draft is just educated guessing and luck and I’d rather have something to cheer for the rest of the season and hope for a little luck in the draft.
this is absurd. they are currently tied with the Browns for the 31st ranked D. Only the Colts are worse.
Well they landed the best QB prospect to come out since '98 who immediately took a 2-14 team and led them to three straight 11 win seasons and a trip to the AFC championship game while throwing for more TDs in his first 3 years than any QB in NFL history not named Marino ....but I guess you're right, I'm sure if their fans had the power to go back in time to 2011 and magically add a couple meaningless wins they'd jump at the opportunity.
Ok. I tried for a whole day. I can't help myself. I think you're delusional. 8-8 accomplishes nothing besides keeping all the idiots who clearly need to go here for another year. However, I will come back and announce I was wrong should it occur and they look like they know what they are doing.
Ricky you are right, the team has to be based on what's been going on during the 5 game losing streak: 1. turnovers 2. run d 3. pass d 4. lack of explosive plays 5. can't run 6. can't pass 7. bad special teams 8. bad coaching 9. bad personnel moves 10. bad contracts