If you want to take it all out of context, that is your right. We should have drafted Lane Johnson and Nobody, not even Brent Grimes doesn't lose a step to a complete achillies tear. Marino hobbled the rest of his career after the injury. As Dolphins fans we should know the severity of that injury. You seem to want to ingore the part, where INT's will be up and the part that probably puts Grimes even coming off such an injury better than anything we have had in the past. So who is dwelling on the negative again??
Neither do I. There is no reason to feel gloomy about the direction we are going. This team is close, real close to being in the playoffs year in and year out. By the end of this season, when things haven't gone up to expectations, I'll be on the other side of the coin, defending this team to what will surely be a plethora of dashed expectations rearing their ugly head from the fan base. You think the sky is falling now, wait till the bye week. In reality, we are a better all-around team than our record will indicate this season. Experience, an O-line, and a few addtions....We're home.
The offensive line's problems may be fixable as the season continues. It depends on whether it's a problem of strength, quickness and talent, or a problem of technique, execution and experience. The latter may be true of Martin, but the former may be true of Jerry and Clabo, both of whom are veterans. I'm thinking they'll get better as the season progresses, if they can all stay healthy. Miller is quick and can hit small holes. I think we'll run OK between the 20s and continue to have red zone problems. When I see third and goal at the three and the likes of DThomas goes in off right guard untouched, then I'll get excited.
Your overall outlook is a stark contrast to the summation of all the individual gripes you've posted since you've been here at this board. This is what is so confusing.
That even the post-Achilles version of Grimes will produce picks and be better than whomever else we have at the position. Not agreeing. Just interpreting.
None of these predictions mean ****!!!We are that rare boom or bust team this year that could be 7-9 to 11-5.
Obviously Bellicheat is worried about Miami this season - New England picked up a guy from our offense and our defense. That speaks volumes doesn't it?
Not really. Belichick has had some success taking some former Dolphin castoffs and making them into productive players. The Patriots were looking for help at DT and Francis was a player many people on this forum thought the Dolphins should have kept on the final 53 roster. The Dolphins probably wanted to keep Francis on the practice squad, but Belichick was smart enough to pick him up as an additional DT for his team. I think this was a good move by Belichick and I think Francis will turn out to be a good player for the Patriots. As far as Baker is concerned. Again, the Patriots were looking to upgrade their offensive line backups. I'm not sure what Belichick sees in Baker, but he obviously thought enough of him to put him on the 53 man roster. I don't think he signed these players because he is worried about the Dolphins. He signed them because he thinks right now they are better than the last two players he had on his roster when he cut the team down to 53 players.
I agree with you. While I think the Dolphins will end up 7-9 or 8-8. I can certainly see a scenario where the offense clicks from the beginning of the season and with a solid defense, the Dolphins could win 10 or 11 games in that scenario. I just don't know if the offensive line, RB's, and TE's are good enough to get this offense to the next level, even if Tannehill is able to take a big step forward as an NFL QB. The defense should be good enough to win 6-7 games this year. It will be up to the offense to win those extra 4-5 games when they go up against the more potent offenses on their schedule. The offense only scoring an average of 17 points in those games will not be enough to win against the top offenses on their schedule.
Secondary definitely concerns me. Jones is a stud and Grimes is certainly a top CB, but everyone else is either average, below average or a rookie. I do think our pass rush will be very good this season so that will help if the secondary struggles. I still think the offensive line will be better than people give them credit for.
So... when some media talk about the pressure being on due to raised expectations.... what expectations? Being in the bottom 1/3rd of the league?
I think somewhere between 15-20 is fair. We're not terrible that we belong in the bottom dweller 20's, but we're just good enough to have an outside chance at snagging a wildcard spot, maybe even the Division Title depending on what happens to the Pats.
This is on the money. Clemons may be average to maybe slightly above, but let's say he's average. Then, Jones is pretty darned good. Together, they've become more cohesive, and are definitely above average if not a Top 5 safety combo in the league. I also agree that Patterson is probably out of position and would be better as a nickel guy, but he's okay on the exterior. Factor in what should be an improved pass rush, or don't, either way, our defensive backfield is improved from last year and most likely not a team weakness.
That seems more manufactured from the local sports media, in which there have been at least a few articles stating that Miami must make the playoffs this year or it's not a successful year. Those are usually at least tangential with the notion that since Jeff Ireland has been the GM (apart from the Parcells years), the Dolphins haven't had a winning record, so those "expectations" from the local media are playoffs or the front office will be blown up. Nationally, I think you're correct in that most people see us in the bottom half of the league (a .500 or lower team). The expectations aren't there from a national standpoint.
TMQB has us at 12-4 and winning the division. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9...sues-nuclear-bomb-ticking-football-all-levels Tied for second best league record behind SF and with Broncos, Colts, Texans, Falcons, and Packers.
I am floored that all 8 "experts" on CBS pick 'em (straight up no spread) have CLE with the Win. Its doesnt add up, does it? And only 28% of all "Fan" votes are saying Miami striaght up....thats crazy.
Any ideas as to why? Mingo might be out, Gordon is definitely out, and Weeden had a poor pre-season week 3 showing against a weak Colts defense.
Well the Dolphins have lost 4 straight to the Browns, last winning in 2004. I guess its surprising so many picked them, but still. After so many poor seasons people won't buy into the Dolphins just because they spent a lot of money. Especially with the schedule we have, which makes the first two games very important. Don't want to go 0-2 into a stretch against the Falcons, @Saints (and in primetime...it'll be even louder) and then the super bowl champ Ravens.
I personally believe its cause everyone this time of year wants to pick out that special team that's going to turn everything around. The obvious candidate for that is the chiefs, but everyone and their mother knows they'll be a better team this year. So the browns are the next in line of " maybe..." **** the browns and the 40 yr old sophomore qb
Some of you guys are seriously nitpicking power rankings where they get one or two lines to make a funny/memorable statement? It's a power ranking not an in-depth analysis of all 32 teams.
