I found this article which made me think this would be a good discussion starter... http://www.thephinsider.com/2010/6/30/1544449/first-half-of-schedule-will-be#storyjump Tell me what you think the record will be at midseason and will it be good enough to carry into the second half to get into the playoffs and beyond... Discussion please....
Thats the very first thing I thought of when I saw it too 7171.......the first 10 games are a meat-grinder....here is a prediction.. If Miami goes 5-5 in the first 11 weeks, they win the division.... as always starting heathly convo is your bread and butter, keep up the good work!!
That may be a tough schedule, but if we truly are to be considered "contenders" then we SHOULD come out of that stretch at 5-3 or better. If we are going to the playoffs this season, we must start off well and finish well in December. Remember, the late games at NY & Pats are in cold weather. We MUST beat both teams when they are playing here in Sept. in the heat & humidity. For a "contender" to really "contend", we can't be scared of a tough schedule, we must welcome it and play better for it. If we go 5-3 by midway, and have gelled as a team, then we should be in a solid position to make a run at the playoffs. Our OL and Henne/Marshall/Hartline/Bess/Cammy will have had time to know how to play as a unit/team. And our defense under Nolan should by then have gelled and not be losing games for us. Toward the end of the season, we'll be far better off than last year, as our LB corps will be younger and stronger. So they should be less likely to tire out late in games when we need them, like JT and JP did last year. We fell flat every fourth quarter last season, our old vets had nothing left in the tank. Shouldn't be the case with these youngsters. Bottom line we should be 5-3 at midway or we aren't the "contenders" we think we should be.
That's good. I think the will go 7-3 in the first 11 weeks. It could be better if we take advantage of games we are supposed to win. In the past we had plenty of those games we had the lead or something around that line and we screwed up in the end and lost it. If we win those games we should be in the playoffs no doubt.
I agree with you completely on this. I think it should be 5-3 or better (preferably better) for us at the mid point. If we play our game I don't see how we can't go at least 8-0 or 7-1 in that stretch. It is possible. We have more opportunities now to do that now that we had in the past. It is possible do. I think we could do it if we play like I know we can. Good post.
I think we have a legitamate chance of being 5-2 after week 8. The only 2 losses coming from Minnesota and Greenbay. It won't be easy...but I think we are capable of doing it.
I think to really prove we are contenders we must win the viking and GB games. As to me those will be our two toughest opponents especially if Brett comes back, which he will. I think if we can pull off road victories there, there is no one we can't beat. If I were to tell you we won those two games before the season started, who would you say we would lose to?(Definitely not those pansy Jets) If we can beat those teams I can easily see us at week 9 with a record of 7-1, and homer-istically of course.
I too believe we are capable of beating any team, but that does not mean I will mark a win for us next to every game. I won't be suprised if we beat the Vikings and the Packers, i would just be going out on a limb to say we will.
I will go out on a limb and say 6-2. You heard it here first! The Jets and Pats @ home will be tough, but doable. To be honest, the Vikes and Packers don't really scare me. I think the Pack is over-rated, and if Favre isn't tossing the ball around for the Vikes, we are more than capable of run-stopping Peterson on D. Pitts will be a close game, unless Ben is still serving time on the bench; then the scale tips in our favour. Damn, I just want the season to start already! Thankfully, CFL starts this week. Just in time to soothe my football itch!
Vikings and GB will be a real challenge, as will the Pastriots, all three have very potent passing offenses the very thing that gave the Dolphins so many problems in 09.
We go 5-3 then the rest of the league should be a little scared, because on paper, that's a damn tough schedule.
I would take that. If they could stay healthy and play smart, I don't see why we can't go 8-0 in that stretch.
Too many playoff teams to play at home, GB, Minny, tough teams to play on the road, add in Jest, Pastriots, Ravens on the road, Cinci on the road, and it is a tough schedule to run the table on.
Hopefully I can bring some luck since I'll be at Green Bay, Cincinnati, and possibly both Jets games. That first 8 games are pretty rough, but I think if we can win the 3 home games and steal 2 on the road (Buffalo and Cincinnati perhaps) and end up at 5-3 going into the second half, I'll feel pretty good.
The first game at Buffalo is a trap game, as Chan Gailey presents an unknown to us. They'll also play their hearts out to get their new coach their first win. Minnesota will be a nightmare in the dome, with them having more time to game plan due to their thursday night opener. Then it's just one playoff team after another except for Pittsburgh in the first half. We play the toughest of the NFC North away, while the Jets and Pats get to host their GB and Minnesota games. Baltimore away (BTW Jets and Pats get Baltimore at home as well), Raiders west coast. We just gotta hope we don't play our way out of contention in the first half of the season. This schedule reeks of the "one game at a time" mantra. These players have to stay humble throughout the year and simply focus on the next opponent. I think this is the kind of schedule that can make or break a coaching staff. I like Sparano and Henning, but I found myself shaking my head too often in the 2-minute periods. They need to have a basketball mentality when it comes to the 2-minute warnings. I also think they got incredibly lucky with their crazy playcalling, like when they bring in Pat White for one play in a critical situation against the Jets. You don't mind it when they win, but if we lose a few due to those types of calls (ala Ricky's halfback pass in Buffalo) it tends to get a good coaching staff fired and nothing is a bigger progress stopper than a regime change.
The Bills game does smack of a trap game as fmr Dolphins Coach George Edwards is the new DC in Buffalo, he knows many of the insider things about the Dolphins Offense. IMHO the Oline will have to be on it's game to win early in the year, on the road we have to control the clock and limit the opponent's chances to score. Baltimore is Sparano's Nemesis, every team has one, and for us the Ravens are the bully he has to overcome to be a solid NFL head coach, it is no secret what the Ravens do, they punch teams in the mouth, we have to punch harder. Disagree, that was where Pat White showed me something, he came into games when mistakes mattered and performed meaning he did not fumble balls away, he did not make Rookie Mistakes, when the pressure was on he did his job. And one of those plays against the Jets led to a key 12 men on the field penalty. Though I suspect Brandon Marshall will wallpaper over the overly creative portions of what Henning and Sparano used to do, why have Ricky toss a HB pass when you have BMarsh? Though I suspect we will see either Thiggy or White tossing a TD pass to Marshall in 3rd and goal from the 8 situations out of the wild cat formation.
Gb and Minn. don't scare me but i know they both have great offense's, lethal ones. and if we can take those games to the gun show, I think we can earn some respect. To me I will be happy around week 9 with a 5-3 and a showcase game over the jets, and if were to go 5-3 I don't see any problem with us going anywhere between 11-5 to 13-3. Now that is all nice guestimation but just like our team come week one I'm going to try and look at our schedule one game at a time. But it's the off season, I'm bored and I hate the Jets.
Maybe they'll hang a lobster cage up before the 1st Bills game.... Anyway, I'm so sick of talking about this and hearing predictions. I wish the season started in August. I guess pre-season will be fun to watch once for the first half just to see the team out there, then it sucks.
Padre: I didn't mean to single out Pat White as I still think he has value. I think as fans, we tend to think anything that could possibly disrupt the QB's rhythm is bad. So when we see any package on the field without Henne, it tends to raise eyebrows. Even more so when it's in a critical drive. Not so much when say the wildcat is used throughout a drive, but whenever Henne starts a drive and it is interrupted sporadically. Hence the correlation to the magnified blame being placed on the coaching staff as it counters our fan logic. This type of risky play calling leaves the coaching staff vulnerable. I just see this schedule as being nip/tuck through the first half of the season. It could get ugly fast. If it does and Sparano is caught with his pants down on a few of these gambles, the fanbase will inevitably kneejerk and call for his head. Whereas he would be extended more leniency by the fanbase if he kept the playcalling more conventional. Just my opinion, but I hope that helps clarify what I meant.
Its always fun to go thru the schedule marking down wins and losses. But I want to jump out there and say that we match up well with Minneasota. Minneasota's forumula is very simple. On defense they will dominate up front, stuff the run, force 3rd and longs, then wreak havok with Jared Allen while playing zone behind it. That is EXACTLY the kind of defensive strategy that wont work against us. For one, NOBODY, and I emphasize NOBODY will dominate our offensive line. I'm not saying we'll run for 175 yds. But if Minneasota plays the run with a seven man front, we'll have no problem getting to 2nd and 6 or 3rd and 2-3. Even last year, we were the best 3rd and short team in the league, so if the Vikings want to the play that game, advantage Dolphins. Minneasota's weakness is thier secondary. They rely on pressure from the front four and they play a zone behind it in most cases. Allen is thier main threat, and he'll be going against Jake Long. Good luck Jared. Minneasota gave up quite a few leads (Green Bay x 2, Baltimore, Arizona) last year b/c thier pass defense was suspect. The Vikings corners are weak outside of Antoine Wnfield, whose been sidelined with injuries, and Marcus Griffin, who tore an ACL in the NFCCG. Madieu Williams is Gibril Wilson bad, and if you watched the Broncos game in 2008 you remember Mr. Carl Paymah is garbage. The Vikings will have to put a safety in the box to stop our running attack, and they wont be able to contain Marshall with any zone known to man. If we can execute offensively, and in the red zone, we'll put up points. The problem will be stopping Minny from scoring. Its essential that Will Allen be up to speed because the Vikings have three WRs and a TE who are down the field threats. They have a QB who will challenge any corner and any coverage. And Oh yeah, theres A.D. to deal with. Percy Harvin is one of the top slot guys in the NFL, Sidney Rice is a beast, and Bernard Berrian can run past any CB who isnt quick on his feet. Visanthe Shiancoe is a dependable target and a capable blocker. The only weakness on the offense is the OL. We'll have to dominate up front, force them into passing situations and confuse Favre with a variety of coverages, (see Arizona last year). If not, it will be a long afternoon. McKinnie is inconsistent, and Phil Loadholt was abused at times. Brett can still be forced into mistakes when he's pressured. Luckily, the Vikes run game features alot of stretch runs, which are suceptible to speed and penetration. Last year I'd be worried, but our speed on defense will be much better this year. Our wekaness may be teams who run directly at us, but the Vikes have a zone run game and typically dont look to challenge people physically. Basically, it all goes back to containing Peterson and playing solid coverage behind it. If we can do that, we'll beat them, if not, its 1-1 going into the Jests game b/c I will not even consider the possibility that we lose to the Bills. If we do, season's over right there.
Good article, good discussion, but that headline makes me chuckle. "First half of the season will be critical." Every game in the NFL is critical, let alone half an entire season.
If we can even start 1-1, that would be progress! If we had to lose a couple I'd prefer it be against NFC than AFC... But look at what Nolan did last year, talk about starting strong! If our D can somewhat duplicate what he did last year we should be good to go. First thing as always though is having a healthy team. I'd gladly lose to Minny and GB if we can beat Baltimore and NY! How about 7-1... I'm always Opphinistic! GO DOLPHINS!
Tough first half schedule and there are alot of "ifs" out there. Like if the defense is going to be improved and not crumble or give up big leads early and if Henne is going to blossom. Lets not forget if Marshall is 100% and plays like it and if Ronnie stays healthy. Bottom line i hope all these things come to fruition. If they do I'd say 6-2, if things don't all fall into place (as most likely is to happen), i say 4-4 at the half way point and honestly that's pretty respectable considering the schedule. Second half should be easier. I hoping for a 10-6 season and a wild card birth.
That's true it is a rough schedule but we had rough schedule before and should have won more games than we did. But good point though.
In addition to the situational / playcalling mistakes we need to eliminate in 2 minute situations, and the big pass plays we can't afford to give up again, and being lucky with injuries... we absolutely must win the turnover battle. In 2008 we were +17, best in the league. Last year was a tremendous drop to -8, ranked 26th. Teams like Green Bay and Baltimore have aggressive ball-hawking defenses. We can't give the ball over on dumb red-zone blunders and then not get takeaways ourselves. Not a formula for winning, Sparano preaches it, the team has to execute. Keep this in mind also about the Vikings and Packers... they both had relatively easy schedules last year. The games against each other were absolute brawls, but then they played the NFC West like Miami did in 2008 for some very winnable games, and they play the Bears and the Lions twice. While they were destroying the Rams and Seahawks and Lions, we were faced with the Colts and Saints and Chargers. I don't expect either the Vikings or Packers to look quite so powerful this year. Last year the Dolphins played only 4 games against teams with losing records while playing 4 games against teams in the conf championships... the Packers had 8 games and Vikings had 7 games against losing teams. But... yeah it's another tough schedule.
you can call me a homer but 6-2 to start with losses coming from Min and GB but its 7-1 the rest of the way with a loss at Bal. im saying 13-3 with a 1 or 2 seed. ill give you 12-4 with that extra loss coming at NE but the jets arent going to beat us AT ALL and the only other teams we have to worry about are Min, GB, and Bal. we almost beat the pats twice last year we will beat them twice this year. who else is going to beat us OAK, CLE, CHI, TEN please whoes are wins. 13-3 thats my prediction
