Bright, shining, really lovely silver linings. Before yesterday Jordan and Jones being out, Pouncey being injured, [STRIKE]Wheeler being injured[/STRIKE], and then Ellerbe and Misi leaving the game sounded and felt like a minor nightmare; no way to start a season, and certainly not an opener against New England. Having a look at it now though (and trying to be objective and not get overwhelmed by the win), I think this forced starting scenario has given us a rare opportunity to test players who wouldn't otherwise have started, and given them an opportunity to prove themselves. Only last week I was thinking of posting a thread about the fact that I've been feeling good about the general direction of this team - even to the extent that if we don't make the playoffs I am, at the moment, happy to let this HC/GM combination continue. I feel that Hickey has done and shown plenty to at least make a lot of people eat a bit of humble pie. He was supposed to be a cast-off, third/fourth choice, Tampa reject but so far I think t looks like he's made great choices and moves, even some which were unpopular, and managed to add not just talent but real depth to this team. I believe that's one of the things yesterday's game showed. Juwuan who? McCain who? Finnegan, really? Delmas, really? Satele? Please! Then there's the fact that Philbin has obviously been willing to make changes to how he works in order to improve as a coach. That's massive. It's so easy to just to be stubborn and combine mis-placed pride with a high position and expect/force everyone else to change. Am I convinced he's the guy who can get it done in Miami? No. He's one of the keys I'm going to be watching this whole season. Yet, the mere fact he's done what he's done to help this team is a big thing and although it's impossible to quantify it, you have at least consider what part that change played in the formation of the team-spirit/attitude that was displayed before us last night as well as in the run up tot he 2014 season. The Lazor move doesn't need me to go on about it. It's sufficient just to say that this was another huge change prior to the 2014 season and one that seems to be a massive positive move. There's more, of course, but the point is, there have been some really massive changes to this whole organisation, and so far it looks all good. It's often difficult to pin-point exactly how/what different interactions and combinations affect the performance of a team and so many big changes have taken place. So for me, unless Philbin proves to be inadequate, unable to adapt, or maybe Coyle, I'm happy, even if there are no playoffs this year, to let this crew keep on rolling into 2015. If Hickey can continue to work to bring depth and talent to Miami (and they type that gels with the coaching/strategy plan), and if T17 and the boys can get familiar with a brand new offense and show improvement with it, I say give them a further chance. Back to the original thought though, at least these next three games will allow us to continue this window into the depth and talent of these 2014 Miami Dolphins. This period could well lead to some very interesting considerations ahead. If these players continue to perform, and even excel, what might that mean? How long until McCain is starter? How long until Wheeler is traded? If Wallace proves he can't catch, is his speed enough to keep him from being traded and if not, how long till he's gone? If Satele, in these next games, proves himself a stud at center, what happens when Pouncey returns? All-in-all, what seemed like a very scary looking first 4-6 games might now but one of the most exciting and significant periods in recent Dolphins history. Any other things to watch or considerations for these next few games? Any massive match-ups that might prove an opportunity for someone to shine?
I agree, the record and making the playoffs does not matter. The goal is to win the Lombardi, not to make the playoffs, or be 11-5 and lose before winning the Lombardi. To win the Lombardi, we need a good system which we have. The rest is up to improvements. You can lose a bunch of games due to injuries and unfortunate mistakes like we had yesterday and miss the playoffs. Shat happens when you are in the improvement stages. We have a QB who is tasked with making quick decision and has accuracy issues, INTs will happen. That does not mean the team is in bad hands and going in the wrong direction and not close to winning it all and being dominant. We are in good hands with Philbin for the first since Shula 3-4 decades ago. I cannot emphasize enough how monumental that is, to have a decision maker who installs a system that can take you all the way. I cannot for the life of me understand Phin fans who shat on that and want coaching change because of minor improvement issues.
i agree we can miss the playoffs but still show enough improvement. But what system are you talking about that Philbin the decision maker has installed? Hopefully not the offense that he had to be forced to change.
The system is everything in the organization, but most importantly for me as an observer is the offensive system, WCO with zone read. Last year's offensive system was great. We saw it in Pittsburgh. We saw it in the preseason with Keller and our receivers. We started 3-0 last year. We were inconsistent from game to game which was to be expected with a young system. QB play was up and down last year, it's RT. Oline was Clabo, Martin and McKinney, Brenner and Garner played. We had a fiasco, he took charge of that situation. Running game was poor. Qb play was poor. We had the injury to Keller. The system was never a problem. It's about building consistency through improvements. Joe came in and delivered. He accepted the job to right the wrongs when the franchise was in the gutter. he is the torch bearer of the system, he is the man with the plan. He got rid of Ireland, he hired Lazor because Lazor fit his vision, and Lazor accepted him as the leader. He hired Hickey. He is the man with the plan. Nothing in Miami works without Philbin. He is the one.
The problem with identifying originators/sustainers of systems is that from our end it's wait and see. Which is what I'm doing this season, especially concerning Philbin. See if any of the problems from last season carry through - lack of aggressiveness, at times, to go for the kill, lack of adaption to game scenarios.
I think you are confused about what matters, you are placing weight on non important considerations, minor shat.
I have to say something about Satele...he's not, nor should he ever be considered a 'stud' OL...we've seen that, been there with him. I remember that folks were upset when he was allowed to leave, but the fact was that he was the best of a bad OL, not necessarily a good OL...he's a jouneyman and if they keep him on after Pouncey comes back, that's fine, but he's just not that great of an OL.... Other than that, I agree with most of your feelings... In the back of my mind, I have to think about how he was able to hold last years' team together as long as he did, with all the obvious flaws we had. Yes, he's responsible for locker-gate as the HC, but he figured out a way to largely overcome that until the last two games. Now, at least for this week, we have to give him credit for breaking ties with his longtime friend and mentor, Mike Sherman, and going in a different direction to improve this team... How this season continues to play out is going to be interesting for a lot of us fans, maybe good...maybe not, but interesting nonetheless... On to Barfalo...
