http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19504913/fpi-makes-predictions-2017-nfl-season All right this is getting to be straight up bull sheet. I'm SOOOOOOOOO tired of the media dissing us. They have us at 7-9 and being the 11th ranked AFC team. So the only teams in the AFC they think are worse than us are Texans Bills Jaguars Jets and Browns. I mean how is it not evident that we are better than the team that went 10-6 last year and went to the playoffs? If it isn't evident, how do we not get credit for being able to at least accomplish the same record as last year in our second year with Gase which should at least negate the tougher schedule. I mean I just don't get how we get straight up cooter hole raped by the media regardless how good we are.
Well they just need to get the hell out then. They aren't fans. Why be on here to just play Eeyore when we're at the brightest spot in terms of capability we've been since Marino was under center? Sure, XYZ player could be ABC player blah blah blah. But, this is the brightest the future has looked in a couple decades. If theres someone out there that disagrees with that, they just need to close their trunk on their hands.
It's a respect thing. At the end of the day, all I care is my team wins and makes fools out of counters. I hope every player prints this up and circles how bad they think we'll be and use it as motivation at least for week one. What bugs me more is that ESPN is supposed to be all knowing and no one can notice how improved we are over a team that went to the playoffs last year. I'd like just once to be at the watercolor and actually have a less enlightened sports fan in general reference that they think the Dolphins are pretty good. Tired of being that one that has to pick up the current dolphins prism and find the right light to shine through it to make people get that we're good.
ESPN should be more concerned about their future IMO than projecting our team's record this season. So, this new ranking system they made up, apparently takes a teams offensive, defensive and special teams efficiency ratings, does a few other fancy things, and projects the future or some **** like that. Based on what though? Last year's numbers? How in the hell does that mean anything for this year? Or did they just magically make up efficiency numbers based on someone's opinion, or maybe they called Miss Cleo and had her check her cards, or crystal ball, or whatever that whack job used to "see the future". I mean... maybe I'm missing something in this stats/analytics BS here, but how can they possibly use last year's stats, and try and spin that to a prediction on this year given the fact that so many other variables changed with each team, such as rosters, development, etc, etc. Sounds like a bunch of BS to me, and another useless piece in ESPN's arsenal of junk.
We want to the playoffs last year and have made improvements since why would that not be recognized and they would say we'll be three games worse than last year? How are you good with that?
I'm good with it. One year out of how many? I have always said the media isn't really aware of what is going and developing here. They will eventually be, like they did after 2001 w NE. I don't want the media attention. That gets guys' heads filled here. Miami will sneak up on people. But the media is basing it on stats. Miami had less than average offense and defense. They didn't make splashes. It isn't sexy to pick them.
I'm far from familiar with most of the media guys and gals from the various media outlets, so I can't speak with knowledge about how much most of them actually know. However, I tend to weigh the possible worth of their opinion by the depth of their insight. If all they can talk about is a few talking point about Ryan Tannehill, Adam Gase, and maybe a reference to Suh or Tunsil then I'm not impressed. I honestly don't believe they do that much research on the Dolphins. And in one sense I wouldn't expect them to, unless they're supposed to be some sort of NFL fanatic or guru. Major media outlets aren't going to be making their money by talking about anyone other than the most popular teams, players and topics. The Dolphins aren't one of those teams, and so, until they are, the major media guys just aren't going to spend the time talking or thinking about the Dolphins. I've little enough time as it is, so I follow people who follow the Dolphins, and try just to enjoy my team!
Schedule.. While we may be better on paper I believe we have a tougher schedule this year and it will cost us 2-3 games. So an 8-8 season is very possible for us.
To tell you the truth it's better if others underestimate the team anyway. In the end if they win more than they lose the respect will come.
Isn't there a thread about Gase making players earn the logos on their helmets? Don't most posters in that thread like the move? If you like that move, you should understand the rationale behind it. We've gotta earn respect, it's not given to us. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Like I said, if you're supporting that move, you have to understand that respect is earned and not given. Do you honestly believe this franchise deserves respect after having one winning season? When's the last time we won a playoff game? I don't blame them and neither should you. When we accomplish anything worth a damn, then they'll have no choice but to respect us. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What have the Bengals accomplished (missed playoffs last year)? They are listed ahead of us. What have the Chargers accomplished (last in playoffs in '13)? They are listed ahead of us. What have the Titans accomplished(last in playoffs '08)? They are listed ahead of us. What have the Broncos sans Peyton accomplished? They are listed ahead of us. Why do these other teams garner more respect than we do? Defend that; not some helmet logo thing that doesn't have anything to do with what we're discussing. Though I do like the earn the dolphin logo piece.
no one here should get riled up with rankings. this isn't the BCS. we as Phins fans assume year two of this will pay huge dividends. But there are questions up and down the roster, from depth to injury. Teams "ranked" ahead of us, have less questions. That's it, pretty much. Miami got shellacked the last two games of the year. It's the freshest on minds. Has Miami improved on those two games. Have they re-established them selves to when they won 7-8 in a row? And without splashes in the offseason, I understand the doubt. But no one here knows the Phins like us. We know what we have in-house. We know the subtle changes can pay huge dividends.
ESPN is a husk at this point. They overstaffed, sure, but when you let go of decent journalists like Ed Werder instead of Stephen A. Smith etc. then something is very very wrong.
great post. they have fired or lost so many good reporters, you have to question their staff. Heath Evans, now there is a stud of a reporter on NFLN
I didn't make the rankings and don't care about them. My only point is respect is given and not earned. We haven't earned it, but we might earn it. I don't have to defend something I didn't make or necessarily agree with. I'm just saying you shouldn't be surprised nobody respects this franchise. At this point you're just debating where we fit in amongst the other teams that never accomplish anything. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Evans isn't a report IIRC. He's an analyst/pundit. You can't go wrong with Schefter, Rappoport, or Glazer on the source front. Armando, who gets to' up around here (for legitimate reasons) was pretty accurate around draft time.
Yeah I just don't know what the point is of stating the antithesis of my point and then defending it in the manner you did. Do you hand people that ask for the tarter sauce a socket wrench?
I'm not defending anything. I'm saying there's no point putting any stock into these rankings or debating where we fit. If you're not a top team, who cares where you rank? If you're not a respectable franchise, why worry about others' opinions? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Maybe you're a different type of fan than I am. If you are that's totally cool. I'm a never stop, the phins are the best team ever every year and get heated and come to blows when anyone says anything bad about them or doesn't beat me to saying that they are awesome and the golden example of everything good. I know it's an irrational way of being but it's my passion to be a Phins fan. Anyone that doesn't think the Phins are doing well is flat out wrong and if I had my druthers, I'd set them on fire and put them out with Kathy Griffith wrapped around that sledge hammer you use to hit the thing at the fair that makes the thing go way up in the air run by the carnie that keeps checking out my wife's behind while ridiculing me so I can get that pink unicorn she wants. Luckily I don't have my druthers and can't find them.
Yeah, we're different types of fans. I try not to feel too invested where my day is ruined when we lose. I try not to rage over off-season moves I don't like. I realize I have zero control over those types of things. I like to sit here like you guys and wonder how to assess and improve the team, but that's it. I want them to succeed but all I can do is contribute money. I don't make excuses for or defend the franchise, I don't hate on other teams or fans, none of that. At the end of the day it's just a game and it's not worth affecting your personal life. Not that you check off all of those boxes, I'm sure you get that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Totally get you. Phins are my passion purge valve. Always been like this about them. My ways not right it's just mine. White flag of truce extended.
Who cares what ESPN thinks? There's a good reason they have had to lay off so many personalities. They have become more of a reality show that talks about sports than any source of credible sports journalism.
Maybe it's because James Walker is the ESPN guy covering us. If they rely on him for their info they sure wont get much. He never offers any substantive info, just seems to regurgitate basic info that can be garnered from the local papers.
I used to be that guy. Losses use to ruin me and I wouldn't even watch espn or nfln until Wednesday. 2007 broke me. Cheering Cam Camarillo against the Ravens like it was our super bowl. Cheering Plaxico Burress against the Pats like my son just hit a grand slam in the MLB World Series game 7. That's what I became? Yeah I've backed off of that. I still watch every game but I'm not as emotionally invested to that point anymore. It was an obsession. Now it's a hobby.
I was at the same point but now w're again winning more often than we're losing. As we win more often, I'll only get worse.
Totally agree. The schedule is always hard, until its not. Or easy until its difficult. Every team is going to be tough...so are we. I think we'll find a way to win 10 games.
I have heard that teams sometimes take a little step back in year 2 for a coach and I actually expect us to be in that 7-9 win range. But I also think we will be in that 9-11 win range for quite a while after that. First thing I noticed was that they only have the Bills playing 15.9 games this year, with 6.8 wins and 9.1 losses. I sometimes enjoy looking at rankings but it's all just in fun. You have to remember that pretty much anything you read by sports "journalists" is probably just thrown together to make a deadline and get some clicks. Even the "analysts" on TV who we tend to look at as authorities because somebody put them on TV are not always as informed (or connected I would guess) as we are supposed to think. Some sports writers do know a lot and are good at it, but I would say more of them are just people who happen to enjoy sports and use their lower end writing / analytical skills to make a living. So if you disagree, don't take them too seriously. They probably don't know as much about the Dolphins as you do. They have to try to follow all 32 teams, which explains the lack of depth in most of their coverage.
I agree in general but disagree in this particular case with Gase. Why? Because it's damn tough to get 10+ wins in any season. Looking at things historically, other than John Madden who had an insane winning percentage of 75.9%, only one other long-tenured coach that coached only during the SB era (1966- ) has a winning percentage above 70% (George Allen at 71.2%). Next best is John Harbaugh at 69.5% but he only coached 64 games. Point is.. 70% of 16 games is basically 11 wins. Even the great Don Shula had a 67.7% winning percentage which translates to 10.8 wins, so expecting anyone to consistently have 10+ wins in a season is TOUGH. So don't be surprised if there's regression from a 10 win season. Also note that while it's true that the great majority of HoF or potential HoF coaches did MUCH better their 2nd year, it's because they did so bad their first year (because they went to a bad team obviously). Here are some examples of number of extra wins in the 2nd year relative to 1st year: Shula (+4) Landry (+4) Belichick (+1) Schottenheimer (+4) Noll: (+4) Parcells (+6) Gibbs (+0) Dungy (+4) Ditka (+5) Lombardi (+1) Walsh (+4) Coughlin (+5) etc... Looks great until you realize the average number of wins in the 1st year for those coaches above is a pathetic 4.3 wins lol. A rare example of a really good coach that did really well his 1st year is Cowher who had 11 wins his rookie year. His 2nd year: 9 wins. So don't be surprised if Gase doesn't get 10+ wins in any year. It's just difficult to do that in general.
Sounds like there are factors in play that are hard to pinpoint as to why things fluctuate..like the meaning of entitlement as it pertains to the mindset of a team after success.. Maybe it's the homer in me talking but This dude seems to really know how to get the best out of his players.. Three keys to success..accumulating talent, motivating talent..scheming talent correctly.. I think he's got the last two handled..I think we've done a good job this offseason accumulating talent. I see 10 wins, I see a strong start to the season..I think we can get to 10 this season..it should be the goal every year..10 wins.
The Dolphins were not screwed. They were disrespected. This report does not hurt the Dolphins in the slightest.
I don't understand why people put so much stock in rankings during the off season. It's baseless! Where did anyone here have us ranked this time last year and how close were you to the mark?? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk