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Upside, Downside, Most likely - Dolphins Offense

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by dolfan7171, Jul 22, 2010.

  1. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    This is part one of an article that I am very interested in. I don't know if this weekend could get to you part two but if I can I will. It is really difficult what to post to give you a sneak preview into the article so I will give you the link to see for yourself. This is long so feel free to take your time reading before responding. I am curious on your comments regarding this..

    http://www.thephinsider.com/2010/7/22/1581793/upside-downside-most-likely#storyjump
     
    BayAreaFinFan likes this.
  2. Conuficus

    Conuficus Premium Member Luxury Box

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    A few things strike me as odd:

    Why is Brian Hartline not mentioned as a possible #2 WR with speed? I have never understood why people get caught up on speed being the big factor in being able to stretch the field a bit. If that were the case Ted Ginn would still be here and wouldn't have been outperformed by a rookie last year. Hartline proved that he can in fact get behind defenses enough to make big plays.

    Big plays don't always come from a 60 yard bomb anymore. With the way intricate blitz schemes create one on one matchups in the secondary, multiple reads for safeties and the rules themselves, most big plays come from medium length throws and the receiver breaking a tackle or two. The days of just chucking it deep are long gone in the NFL, just ask Al Davis; he still tries it and fails.

    If we have a need for a speed guy, then make him a role player who is subbed in and maybe gets 15-25 catches for the year. Effective enough at that rate for his role and continue to pump the ball to our other threats.

    The assumption that if Brown isn't healthy that we will be O.K. thanks to Hilliard, Williams and a 'better' line. How is this line better if we start a walking personal foul at right guard and a rookie (albeit a good short puller) at LG? Donald Thomas for all of his faults, does have some experience, and Nate Garner looked pretty damn good to me in the snaps he got last year.

    Hilliard is a straight line runner who busted one or to decent runs against Carolina IIRC, but he did not do much after that and truly posted some abysmal YPC's for the remaining games. Ricky got overworked as a result in terms of sheer snaps and it showed down the stretch as his age and the added workload did slow him down; even in the second half of games. Assuming that either of those spots will be 'fine' is at best an uncertainty as Williams is a year older and it will eventually take its toll regardless of how much time he missed while in the Bermuda Triangle. Just my take on those points.
     
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  3. frozenfin

    frozenfin Well-Known Member

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    The chances of an unproven player like Pruitt or Grice-Mullen taking the starting WR role from Bessy, Cammy, or Hartline (my choice/prediciton for #2) are next to nothing, not even worth talking about. The write-up later says the chances of Pruitt as starter are slim, so why even go that route? In my opinion the best-case scenario for #2 receiver is Hartline continues to develop and shatter expectations to become the best receiver he phyiscally can be. Pruitt filling a "need" at #2 WR is like hoping Pat White improves so much that he takes Henne's starting job. Sorry, not realistic, not worth talking about. Not this season.

    I like the write-up though, at this time of year people are either overly optimistic across the NFL or just "negative nancys" whose glasses are always half empty. But realistically there are a number of situations that could go wrong and slow down the team. Major injuries and not recovering from previous injuries are indeed make or break in some cases. What if Long blows out his knee in the first game? What if Henne gets hurt? What about Marshall? Or how about these... what if we can't shake the slow starts to the season this regime has experienced? What if Ricky or Pennington decide to retire suddenly? What if the 2 minute offense doesn't improve? What if turnovers get out of control? What if someone gets suspended?

    I agree that the likelihood points toward an improved offense, possibly much improved. But the team has got to take care of business and get lucky avoiding the injury bug to make that happen.
     
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  4. dolfan22

    dolfan22 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    Competition on it's own would make the guard play better imo.

    If Thomas and Garner start , they will have held off strong challenges from talented players. That shouldn't be dismissed.

    As far as a walking personal foul , well players/people do change , evolve and improve. The presumption is that is certainly a possibility with Incognito. We shall see , but the coaching situation here has to be a positive and an improvement for him , and I sense there is this extreme willingness to please on his behalf to his coach.

    I get the reluctance to "count" on dramatic improvement , but realistically I believe there will be at the interior line positions.

    Fingers are crossed anyway !
     
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  5. PhinsRock

    PhinsRock Premium Member Luxury Box

    I enjoyed the article, the #2 WR was a bit left field for me but otherwise pretty well written and this time of year I'll take anything I can get my eyes on. The only way I want Incognito to beat out Thomas, Garner or Jerry is if Sparano has found a way into Ritchie's head so he doesn't kill drives with stupid penalties.

    Definitely want Sheets to make this squad with his speed, primarily as our KR & PR. He should also help our speed on the reverse side of those two coins in catching opposing returners. But can the kid tackle? I have no idea, but we need someone on this team back there catching punts and kickoffs other than Bess.
     
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  6. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    I admit that the Pruitt start was surprising to me as well. I wouldn't have chosen that route. No doubt in my mine it would be Hartline.
     
  7. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    Point taken. I agree with you on this. This writer doesn't see the whole perspective on this. Like you said, there is more to a receiver than speed....like excellent route running and acceleration. Love the analysis.
     
  8. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    I am with you on that one. I really would like to see Sheets back there returning kicks/punts. He is explosive enough to get the job done.
     
  9. dolfan7171

    dolfan7171 Well-Known Member

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    I would like to see everyone stay healthy the entire season. Has that ever happened recently??
     
  10. xphinfanx

    xphinfanx Stay strong my friends.

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    I agree with the part on Henne. When a team is down x amount of points and theres only x amount of time left in the game its terrible if your team won't go ahead and take some chances to get back in the game before its over. Seeing the coaches let Henne sling a few balls is way better than just sitting and being conservitive knowing its over. Conservitive should only be when you have a dominate lead. Rather than baby his stats he went out and tried giving the team one last chance.

    I say keep it up it will come and when our D steps up to keep a lead we might see some really good things start to happen.

    As far as the WR i am really hopeing Hartline steps in to fill the #2. Marshall could be the best thing in Hartlines career.
     
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  11. BayAreaFinFan

    BayAreaFinFan D'oh Club Member

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    I agree. Maybe I'm overly optimistic but I am really high on Hartline. He has good hands and has a good football IQ. And while not a speedster he seems to be a good route runner and is able to find holes in coverage.
     
  12. frozenfin

    frozenfin Well-Known Member

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    2008 I thought we were pretty lucky with escaping major injury problems. Rookie Donald Thomas is out after one start, Camarillo and Smiley go down more than halfway through the year, Crowder missed a few games... am I forgetting anyone?

    Last year wasn't so lucky... starting QB out week 3, starting CB out week 6, starting RB and NT out halfway through the year, banged up rotating O line, Crowder missed a few games, Cobbs out early in the year, two QBs injured in one game. We pushed through and made it to 7-9, but those injured positions would have destroyed some teams in the NFL... what if Peyton Manning or Drew Brees goes down week 3? What if Favre and Peterson were out for the Vikings? Fortunately we had some depth at most positions and great depth at others, our young QB of the future had a chance to prove himself competent and become the QB of the present.

    We don't rely on one or two star players to hold the team together. But if Marshall misses a lot of time, how much is our offense going to develop? What if Henne goes down and Pennington has the throwing arm of a ten year old girl? Who steps in for Jake Long? Or how about Yeremiah Bell? Certain injuries could hurt the team more than others.
     

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