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Don't give up just yet!

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Killerphins, Aug 8, 2011.

  1. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    The fans are still showing up.
    There is a new system starting to take shape with this offense. Already signs that Dan Henning wasn't good for this team or the QB.
    It is not all doom and gloom folks. We still have hope.
    I still believe in Chad Henne. He was destroyed last season. Confidence squashed like bug.
    Way too early to tell but I like what I'm seeing.
    I am optimistic about this team.

    http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/andy-cohen-offense-shows-positive-signs
     
  2. SeanP

    SeanP Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    This was just an excuse to flaunt your new signature wasn't it?

    But yeah, I think the whole doom and gloom feeling around here as of late is a little bit unjustified. We're definitely not a worse team, I'd say we're better, maybe not by a lot, but not in a "oh my god we're in for an emotionally draining season" type way.
     
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  3. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Well, let's be objective:

    Problems in 2010

    -Running Game failed
    -Special Teams failed
    -Defense was in their first yr in Nolan's system
    -Lack of productivity out of one ILB slot
    -Wake wore down late in the yr
    -Hartline and Marshall missed 6.5 games due to injuries

    Fixes for 2011:

    -Added Bush, Thomas, Pouncey, moved Carey, Open Competition at RT
    -Added Trusnik and Clyde Gates
    -One more yr in the system that they are accustomed to
    -Added Kevin Burnett and AJ Edds is coming back healthy
    -Added JT/Odrick is healthy and Merling as well/Ike Francis has another yr in/Subtracted Q Moses
    -Added Gates and Wallace is one yr along in the NFL
     
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  4. Alex13

    Alex13 Tua Time !!! Club Member

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    what about the beast ? you finally like him ?
     
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  5. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    We Want Henne! We Want Henne! We Want Henne! We Want Henne!

    To SeanP's point, just to counteract all the negativity lately.
     
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  6. Larryfinfan

    Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member

    You don't think the jests will be back ??
     
  7. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    They lost some key parts and replaced them with questions, more so then we did, that and teams that come close to the top a couple of times, then do not make it, tend to have spectacular collapses afterwards.
     
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  8. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    This season is actually a bit of a win win. Hopefully Tony Sparano and Chad Henne, both the ugly girls nobody wanted to take to the dance, prove they have a place as head coach / starting QB in the NFL.

    If they can't produce with the massive chips that should be on both their shoulders, it will be all the proof we need that we need a new coach and a new QB and it will be time to start fresh.

    I'm pulling for both of them.
     
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  9. muscle979

    muscle979 Season Ticket Holder

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    I actually have more hope that Chad Henne can be good than Tony Sparano probably. I am hoping they both exceed my expectations. I can't wait for some football.
     
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  10. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    It was a nice scrimmage, a few good practices strung together, I'am sure the offseason activity that he was in control of, has helped him mature into his own skin, which is what was his biggest enemy, besides Henning and other substantial related variables, some understood the importance of it. some discounted it..

    I think thats all were at at this point, nothing more, nothing less, the 4 practices since the classless display is just encouraging for a team that has been completely underrated and sh^% on imo, prematurely.

    The balance that was missing from this young, physical, defensively prominent team, I have seen addressed since the draft, the weaknesses were apparent, and Irish has zero'd in on them, at least on paper...Just have to wait til the bye to know whether it translates, and that the team is on that crucial plane of ascension in that 4th year.

    I'am optimistic based only on a lot of hours breaking down those weaknesses, projecting the right skillsets to fill, subtracting some others, and seeing how both elements and dtnamics could translate into making us a better team.

    What I find pretty cool is Irish having the Swag to bring back a legend that had been dismissed by his former boss, recognizing the weakness, scouting the player, and projecting that the man would be healthy, and maybe just maybe, filling that weakness with a very smart productive player to an already talent laded defense.

    Reggie Bush is an explosive weapon..There's more to him then looking at this player in a vacum..The spacing, the speed, the versatility is something that can make the whole offense better..

    A focused, happy, highly conditioned Brandon Marshall cannot be underestimated relative to what he was last year Killah..

    I love the move with Vern at guard, just really excited about him playing next to his best bud and being accountable to his best bud.

    The rooks we have to wait to see in preseason before we can truly project their contributions accurately, but the signs were hearing are encouraging, Same can be said for Daboll..but, getting major contributions from 2 first round very talented football players, that were not on that 8 and 8 team last year gets me excited no matter what.
     
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  11. brparkway

    brparkway Season Ticket Holder

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    The truth is, any team on that list (except maybe the Pats, who seem to be immune) could miss the playoffs with a serious QB injury. I do think Seattle without Hass is a pretty safe bet to "de-peat".
     
  12. Dol-Fan Dupree

    Dol-Fan Dupree Tank? Who is Tank? I am Guy Incognito.

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    Really? Both of them?
     
  13. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    There is no truth at all to this. Sure I give hell to certain players I may not like but I always have faith in this team. You won't catch me nor could you cite anytime in the past that I have said this team sucks or the organization sucks except maybe a little when Sparano was retained. I wanted him fired but it didn't happen so I let it go. You aren't going to wrap that noose around my neck. You are mistaking my outcries against individuals who don't perform up to their abilities for being a hater of this team. I am in the rah- rah club man. I'm optimistic as hell. Thanks for labeling me as hateful. I'm sure many would disagree and understand I shoot straight here. No need to sugarcoat how I feel. Henne got a raw deal last season and the team put it on him. The fans have over reacted in the whole mess IMO. Things will be a little different with a fiery OC that understands how to handle and develop a young QB and it shows already.
     
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  14. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    Cut it out...you DON'T wanna see my pom-poms.
     
  15. Ohio Fanatic

    Ohio Fanatic Twuaddle or bust Club Member

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    Is that because you usually tape them to your chest? :tongue2:
     
  16. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    Chests.
     
  17. Nappy Roots

    Nappy Roots Well-Known Member

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    Although I dont have the greatest hope for this team, as in superbowl in such, I do have hope that we could make the playoffs. I bet a friend, who is a Bucs fan, that we would win more games then them this year. For every win your team has more then the others, a 24 pack...for every win..

    sounds like a win win! lets go 11-5 baby! daddy needs some cases!
     
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  18. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    As long as he stays focused, makes plays and contributes as a team leader I have no problems.
    I have had my say about last season with much disagreement but we will have to see where it goes from there.
    Ditto on Jason Taylor. Prove me wrong.
    Funny thing is I ragged on Henning and Crowder a lot here and they are both gone. We upgraded two major weaknesses IMO.
     
  19. Pandarilla

    Pandarilla Purist Emeritus

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    [​IMG]

    Who are you, and what the %#*$ have you done with Killer!?!
     
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  20. bran

    bran Senior Member

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    this team would be ****ing 0-16 and i would still think their the greatest i go down with the ship i dont jump off
     
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  21. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Just because some don't have confidence in the QB doesn't mean they are giving up. The way I see it, this defense is good enough to take us to 11 wins, but the QB hasn't proven he can take us past 7. So I would guess anywhere between 7-11 wins.
     
  22. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    When has the defense proven they can take us past 7 wins?
     
  23. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    They can't. This isn't a scoring Defense; it hasn't been a scoring Defense, and they certainly didn't add anyone to it this offseason to change that.

    Now, you can hope that Davis and Smith start holding onto some of those passes that bounce off them like eggs off Teflon, but there is no basis to say with any confidence that they will. I think they are who they are, good cover Corners, if a bit inconsistent, but not interceptors or guys who will score points.

    So we go back to the original question, and NO—I don't think the Defense can get us into the playoffs without improvement by the Offense from last year.
     
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  24. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    I think our defense is the bend but don't break type. Like you wrote, if they can hold on to some of those passes that hit them in the chest they will be better. However, I also think that they all should know what to expect from Nolan this season and as such play more comfortable.

    My reply to Stringer was more of a rhetorical question. It's like he's blaming only Henne for the back-to-back 7-9 seasons and is saying that the defense has proven they are an 11 win caliber unit.
     
  25. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Sure there is. Davis and Smith both markedly improved from their first to second years. There is no reason yet to believe they won't improve further in their 3rd season.

    But aside from Davis and Smith, I think replacing Crowder and Dobbins with Burnett and Edds is going to improve the pass defense.
     
  26. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    I don't think that's totally out of the question, but they simply aren't opportunistic enough to create wins, they're just good enough to put the team in a position to win.

    Truly great Defenses like the Bears in the '80s and the Ravens and Pats in the early part of this decade, actually win games for their teams, and that's why two of those teams flirted with undefeated seasons.
     
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  27. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    So the defense, in their 3rd season, gets a vote of confidence yet Henne is his 3rd season doesn't? Why?
     
  28. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    I agree 100%. I think they can be a top 10 maybe even a top 5 defense with the players they currently have. Which is plenty good enough if the offense and ST's can at least get to average.
     
  29. Killerphins

    Killerphins The Finger

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    Davis has already scored in this defense. I still love the Madison interview with Sean Smith when he told him he could real good in this league but he has to take the cheddar. :lol:
    He left a few out there we know but these guys are still developing. Smith did improve last season.
    Second year in Nolan's defense should help.
     
  30. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    I don't doubt one bit that they will improve their coverage skills, and their added experience will also improve their overall game. But I don't know that I see them as ball-hawkers; maybe they will be.

    But I think that, as with Running Backs, Cornerbacks are who they are from day one; you see some make the leap from good to great, like Surtain did in his third or fourth season, but Surtain always showed that he could hold on to a ball. If they show that from the beginning, then you can extrapolate interceptions in their futures as they catch up to the speed of the pro game and can let their instincts play.

    I'd absolutely love it if these guys started to show that this season; my gut feeling is, they won't. Doesn't mean they won't be serviceable players, even really good at some point; just not game-changers like we were used to when Surtain and Madison struck fear into opposing Quarterbacks.
     
  31. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

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  32. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Where did I blame anyone for anything? I'm not sure how you reached that conclusion. Chad Henne could absolutely be a Super Bowl QB. Trent Dilfer was, Eli Manning was, even Mark Sanchez has been close.
     
  33. BlameItOnTheHenne

    BlameItOnTheHenne Taking a poop

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    If you didn't give up after the past decade of suckage, you probably never will.
     
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  34. NaboCane

    NaboCane Banned

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    I can't speak directly to that because I don't share the prevailing opinion of this D...but I think the perception is that the D is well-coached while the QB...well, remains to be seen this season.

    Plus there's the x-factor of Henne's psyche; can he overcome the pounding he took last season from all sides because of the horrible situation he was put in by his coaches? It seems like, from practice reports, he can. But we'll see.

    I'm rooting hard for him, but a shattered psyche is a powerful adversary; just look at Tiger Woods, who has only been the faintest shadow of himself since his scandal began. Same guy, same skills, but within his own mind: different universes.
     
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  35. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    Because I think they are better players.
     
  36. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    When you wrote: " The way I see it, this defense is good enough to take us to 11 wins, but the QB hasn't proven he can take us past 7. So I would guess anywhere between 7-11 wins."
     
  37. Stringer Bell

    Stringer Bell Post Hard, Post Often Club Member

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    What do you think that exactly means?
     
  38. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    Why? Did the defense somehow win 11 games last season while the offense only won 7?

    2009- Offense ranked 15th...Defense ranked 25th--- 7 wins

    2010- Offense ranked 30th...Defense ranked 15th---- 7 wins


    Seems to me that the team has been playing at a 7 win level. That includes, Henne, Smith, Long, etc etc...
     
  39. MarinePhinFan

    MarinePhinFan Banned

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    That Henne hasn't shown he can win more than 7 games yet the defense has even though they only won 7 games.
     
  40. padre31

    padre31 Premium Member Luxury Box

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    Which is not unreasonable, if anything it is slightly optimistic as Henne has shown he can win 7 games, if he eliminates the mistakes he could have won 2-3 more games in 2010, ie, 7-10 wins. I've been a critic of making Henne the starting Qb simply because I think the team could be held back by Henne while he goes through yet more OJT, however I do not doubt he can win in the NFL and as our Qb/
     

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