If I didn't read the names involved I'd almost think you were talking about Rodgers and the Packers. Thanks for the optimism, A. I'd probably drop the TDs by 5 to 8 and up the INTs by 3 to 5, but still a respectable year nonetheless. I'm ok with 11-5 or 10-6 because I think things will either fall into place this year or they won't, and as of now I'm buying falling into place.
I appreciate the optimism. However, that would equate to about a 97 QB rating for Tannehill. I expect to see some improvement, but, I doubt he takes that big of a step in year 2. I also would be pretty shocked if we win 11 games. I predict 9-7 and we just miss the playoffs. Too many question marks on a young (but talented) team, and not all those question marks will work out as planned. Chalk it up to growing pains. I think, at best, we're still one more off-season away from seeing the Dolphins contend again.
I'm not interested in lofty predictions for the team or any individual player. Just take each game one at a time, root for them like hell, and hope they win every week. I've seen too many years with high hopes in July that came crashing down by December.
I hope people remember this thread whenever the claim is made that posters here only like positive or optimistic predictions about our team. A fan of another team made an optimistic prediction and the whole thread has been about how his win or rating prediction is too high. I think what people don't like is the excessive negative opinion. Opinions like Evans who can't find anything good in an offseason of moves and is obviously biased.
Philbin was the only offensive coordinator in history to have a Qb with 4,000 yards, a running back with 1,200, and two receivers with over a thousand. Rodgers Ryan grant Jennings Driver. Tannehill Miller Wallace Hartline. Whatta you think, if healthy, can we give it a run?
I really hope your optimism catches on not only on this board, but in the locker room. I think Tannehill could be that good, and I hope it even more. Thanks for the outburst of hope and good will.. The only problem is that before the Dolphins came on the scene in '66, GB was my favorite team.. If they wound up facing each other somewhere important, I would be in one big abstruse conundrum!
I welcome that big abstruse conundrum! That would mean the Pats, Jets, and Bills are all on the couch watching us in January. A 10 win season might give some others a conundrum on what to do with the wench mob next off season. No they'd still find something to harp on.
Not with Jonathan Martin playing LT. Sorry, but he is going to be a pathetically weak link and bring the whole offense down a couple notches from what it could otherwise be with a good LT.
Thanks for dropping by Arod. As you can see we have a lot of skirt wearing fans on the board today, but don't let them throw shade on your optimism.
I like the optimism.But after playing the battered fan for to many years I utilize a bit of caution with my optimism these days.I do however believe they are on the up swing.
Similar things were said when we let Yeremiah walk in favor of Reshad Jones. Or Ronnie & Ricky in favor of Reggie. They know LT is important... I'm going to trust them. Better than to throw more money at Big baby Jake when he was NOT anchoring that line. Tannehill was playing great late last year while Martin struggled at LT anyways.
While I'm in the 9-7 category, I give Philbin more credit than this, he and his staff saw something that made them believe with an off season of NFL strength training and getting to know the play book better on the left side, Philbin believed enough in Martin to give him a shot at LT where I suspect Andrew Luck would endorse Martin or Luck would never have had the level of success he had at Stanford with guess who covering his blind side. He may not rank top ten LTs but Martin can play the position or Philbin and co. would not have put their faith in him. Sadly I'm still in the 9-7 category, I think we're another off season away from making the playoffs. JMVHO Lets just play the games and see where we stand in January, heck we COULD get lucky and go all the way! Seriously doubt it, but on day one of TC hope springs eternal. Go Phins!
And I'm in DolFanHeaven! Add Lamar running for over 1,100 yards, Keller dominating and signing a long term contract, and Dion & Olivier combining with Cam for over 20+ sacks, Odrick becoming a studly DL on the interior alongside Soliai and we definitely could replace the Pastys as the future AFCE annual Champions. But I've gotten a BIT ahead of myself. (I think I just creamed my . . . never mind) To dream the improbable dream . . . TC is here! Go Dolphins! Are we excited or what? And honestly I give Ireland and Ross' deep pocketbook some credit, they have surely poured fuel on my fire of anticipation for a very FUN season!
The way I see it is this team was 9-7 last year anyway (stupid kickers). So with all the changes and improvements you're gonna tell me we can't lock down 1 more win to get to 10-6? As far as Martin goes, He looked a lot better on the left than he did on the right. At least up to that New England game.
I think they will go 1-4 over their first five games and 7-4 or 6-5 over their last 11 games. So an 8-8 or 7-9 season is what my expectations are for this season. If they can win 2 of their first five games, I can see them possibly winning nine games in 2013. I just want to see this team grow and get better as the season progresses. I'll worry about them making the playoffs in 2014. This season is all about seeing if Tannehill can be the QB this team can build around for the next decade.
That's my goal for RT this season (2:1). Ultimately, I want him to get to 3:1. IMO 3:1 puts you in that elite QB category. I haven't tracked the numbers specifically for that, but I would guess that most seasons 3:1 is only achieved by 5 or maybe 6 QBs (especially if you only count those that play at least 12 or so games or have some minimum number of TDs like 20 or so). I'd like to see RT move above the 20 TD mark this year and have at least a 2:1 TD:INT ratio. I don't really worry about yardage totals b/c I think that will take care of itself. And really if we had some dominant run game and D it's not impossible to have low pass yardage numbers yet be incredibly efficient and most importantly, successful. So I could care less about yardage totals. Historically that isn't well correlated to winning anyways. I want efficient passing from RT. I think that if he gets at least a 2:1 ratio with +20 TDs that he'll be a top 10 QB this year. That's where my goal is for him this season. I think he has the talent to become a top 5 QB. He could even do it this year, but I won't be disappointed if he doesn't reach those heights in year two. Other than Marino, I would guess that most QBs don't put up their best seasons in year two. Given how little experience RT has, I think that a slower, longer growth/development curve is more likely. With that type of learning curve you're more likely to see those elite seasons in years 3 and beyond.
Playoffs or bust for me. Stats or win/loses don't matter as much as a playoff birth and a real chance at a win in the playoffs.
Thank you man! I love the optimism... I say 10-12 wins. The thing I would love to emulate from the Packers is in the Favre hayday they were practically unbeatable at home. I would love to see this team go undefeated at home, and also beat the teams they should beat. My prediction for Tanny - 25 TD's, and 4000 yards.
I predict our passing game will struggle the first quarter of the season while the new players learn to click together, but the running game will do well. An improvement for Tannehill, but maybe less drastic: 22 TDs ,14 INTs, 3700 yards. If he ends up with a 2:1 TD to INT ratio, that's bigtime improvement. As far as wins/losses, IMO, it comes down to how this offense performs in the redzone this year. Who is going to be our receiving threat in the redzone? probably not Hartline or Wallace. Maybe a little bit of Keller. maybe a combination of Keller + Mathews/Binns/Sims?
I think its about time you came out of the closet and just out right admit that you are a Dolphins fan