27 things we learned about the Miami Dolphins from the NFL Owners’ Meetings
47 replies
dolfan7171New MemberOPThere is a lot of them here obviously...I found some that caught my attention:
2. One of Sparano’s biggest goals for 2011 is to find stability on the offensive line. He replaced all three interior line positions in 2010, has had a different center in each of his three seasons, and juggled his lineup constantly with injuries to John Jerry, Joe Berger and Nate Garner last year. “I want to avoid if I can, at all costs, the three or four guys rotating around for OTAs and training camp,” Sparano said. “Guys have to settle in and not have to answer the questions of, “Coach, who’s the left guard? Who’s the right guard?’ That really hasn’t been the way I know it. It’s not what I want to do.”
3. But right now, only one position on the offensive line is truly settled: Jake Long at left tackle. Sparano said Vernon Carey is “probably not” going to move from right tackle to guard, but wouldn’t commit definitively. Getting Richie Incognito back – he signed a three-year contract right before the lockout was imposed – is a big luxury, Sparano said. Incognito started 15 games at guard last year and one at center, and could play either position depending on how the Dolphins solve their line issues. “Where I see him fitting in will depend on the rest of the pieces,” Sparano said. Berger will be in the mix at center and guard. Jerry and Garner will compete for starting guard jobs, but don’t be surprised to see the Dolphins draft one or two interior linemen.
5. Sparano said he will continue to use multiple running backs in the new offense, but “would probably like those guys to maybe complement each other a little differently,” he said. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are similar running backs – more power than speed – and the Dolphins averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last year. “There could be a big, downhill runner, could be a speed runner,” Sparano said. “In a perfect world, that’s what you’re seeing.”
11. The need for speed at receiver very well could come from within. “Brian (Hartline) can run,” Sparano said. “I don’t know that people would classify Brian as a speed guy, but I do. I think the guy’s been behind people a bunch of times, and we just haven’t made the play.” Sparano said Marlon Moore, entering his second season, “might be the fastest guy that we have.” And Sparano noted that “we have some practice squad guys that are all in different shapes and sizes,” including Julius Pruitt, who was signed to the 53-man roster at the end of the season and has elite speed.
14. Sparano expects a much different dynamic with Daboll, formerly a receivers and quarterbacks coach with the Patriots and Jets, calling the offense. “Where Dan (Henning) was more of a walk-around kind of guy (in practice), you will not see that with Brian Daboll,” Sparano said. “You will see Brian Daboll very much involved.”
15. Sparano said he was pleased with the way cornerback Sean Smith bounced back from his early season demotion. Smith lost his starting job to Jason Allen at the end of training camp, was the only position player not to play in the season opener at Buffalo, and didn’t regain his job until the Halloween game at Cincinnati. “For a young player, that would’ve been easy to put his head down and sulk, and for the most part he didn’t do that,” Sparano said. But the coaching staff won’t hand Smith a starting job next year, either. “You have to continue to challenge him,” Sparano said. Sparano also said that if Smith could hold onto the football last year, “the guy’s probably going to be in the Pro Bowl.”
25. The coaching needs to see Jerry, last year’s third-round pick, “get better from a mental standpoint,” Sparano said. And “core strength is going to be important. John can play ‘bent’ a lo tof times, and he’s a pretty long guy, but when you play bent, your length is eliminated. He needs to play a little more erect and stronger, and that comes with core strength.”
26. Sparano would like to see A.J. Edds push Channing Crowder for a starting inside linebacker job, but isn’t sure what kind of player Edds is because he missed all of his rookie season with a torn ACL. “If A.J. is what we drafted, then there’s a role for A.J. out there on our team,” Sparano said.
Win, Lose, or Tie, I will be a Dolphins Fan Until I Die:up:
Desidesforum_veteran5. Sparano said he will continue to use multiple running backs in the new offense, but “would probably like those guys to maybe complement each other a little differently,” he said. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are similar running backs – more power than speed – and the Dolphins averaged just 3.7 yards per carry last year. “There could be a big, downhill runner, could be a speed runner,” Sparano said. “In a perfect world, that’s what you’re seeing.”
Assuming this isn’t just pre-draft BS, then it’s a pretty strong indication that the Phins won’t draft Mark Ingram at 15.
Thankfully.
"Not you." — Tywin Lannister
Stringer Bellsubscriber“Brian (Hartline) can run,” Sparano said. “I don’t know that people would classify Brian as a speed guy, but I do. I think the guy’s been behind people a bunch of times, and we just haven’t made the play.”
Shocking
“Come on, shake your body baby, do that conga!”
ToddsPhinsNew Member“Brian (Hartline) can run,” Sparano said. “I don’t know that people would classify Brian as a speed guy, but I do. I think the guy’s been behind people a bunch of times, and we just haven’t made the play.”
"Stringer Bell wrote:
Shocking
Why is it shocking that an ultra-conservative, possession-type mentality coach considers Hartline a speed guy even though he says others probably don't? That doesn't shock me one bit.
Starting off a sentence with a weak "I think" is definitely reassuring when it comes to your vertical threat. <sarcasm>
Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"ToddsPhins wrote:
Why is it shocking that an ultra-conservative, possession-type mentality coach considers Hartline a speed guy even though he says others probably don't? That doesn't shock me one bit.
Starting off a sentence with a weak "I think" is definitely reassuring when it comes to your vertical threat. <sarcasm>
actually it is redundant. It is very hard to say something without thinking it
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
slickj101forum_veteran14. Sparano expects a much different dynamic with Daboll, formerly a receivers and quarterbacks coach with the Patriots and Jets, calling the offense. “Where Dan (Henning) was more of a walk-around kind of guy (in practice), you will not see that with Brian Daboll,” Sparano said. “You will see Brian Daboll very much involved.”
Maybe we can blame alzheimers for last season's offense..
Henning might of just forgotten where the hell he was.
Silence
It's ******* Golden.
GMJohnsonNew Member"ToddsPhins wrote:
Why is it shocking that an ultra-conservative, possession-type mentality coach considers Hartline a speed guy even though he says others probably don't? That doesn't shock me one bit.
Starting off a sentence with a weak "I think" is definitely reassuring when it comes to your vertical threat. <sarcasm>
Not to worry. Ireland is on record saying we absolutely need more speed and last I checked he was the one making the decisions.
GMJohnsonNew Member"Stringer Bell wrote:
Shocking
We all saw the handful of plays he's referring to. If he thinks that's a "bunch" then I can see why Ross came THIS CLOSE to firing his ass.
Desidesforum_veteran"ToddsPhins wrote:
Why is it shocking that an ultra-conservative, possession-type mentality coach considers Hartline a speed guy even though he says others probably don't? That doesn't shock me one bit.
Starting off a sentence with a weak "I think" is definitely reassuring when it comes to your vertical threat. <sarcasm>
Hartline had a 16.3 YPC in 2009 and 14.3 YPC in 2010… with Chad Henne throwing the ball to him.
Sparano might not be completely right on this, but he’s not totally wrong, either.
"Not you." — Tywin Lannister
ToddsPhinsNew Member"Desides wrote:
Hartline had a 16.3 YPC in 2009 and 14.3 YPC in 2010… with Chad Henne throwing the ball to him.
Sparano might not be completely right on this, but he’s not totally wrong, either.
I could agree with you on that. I wouldn't have a problem calling Hart a guy with some sneaky speed, but there's something wrong about calling him a "speed guy" in my book.
Brian is like the average looking girl at a bar who looks like a beauty queen when surrounded by butter faces. Just sayin.
Desidesforum_veteran"ToddsPhins wrote:
I could agree with you on that. I wouldn't have a problem calling Hart a guy with some sneaky speed, but there's something wrong about calling him a "speed guy" in my book.
Brian is like the average looking girl at a bar who looks like a beauty queen when surrounded by butter faces. Just sayin.
Let’s see how he looks with better (read: competent) quarterbacking.
"Not you." — Tywin Lannister
MarinePhinFanNew Member"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
actually it is redundant. It is very hard to say something without thinking it
No, it is not redundant...
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
MarinePhinFanNew Member"KingMotion wrote:
You can think and not be sure of something though.
Damn...you beat me to it and you explained it to him. I wanted him to figure it out on his own. lol
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"MarinePhinFan wrote:
No, it is not redundant...
if he said the same thing without saying, "I think," it would have the same meaning.
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
MarinePhinFanNew Member"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
if he said the same thing without saying, "I think," it would have the same meaning.
Not quite.
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
MarinePhinFanNew Member"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
if he said the same thing without saying, "I think," it would have the same meaning.
That's what you "think". ;)
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
VManissubscriber13. The Dolphins were 30th in points scored last year (17.3 per game), and Sparano admitted that “sometimes I felt like playing offense last year maybe once or twice was a little bit more of a job than it was fun. And I want it to be fun.” It was no coincidence that many of the new offensive coaches (Brian Daboll, Ike Hilliard, Dan Campbell) are much younger than the coaches that departed (Dan Henning, David Lee, George DeLeone).
I found this one interesting because it echoed what Ricky said about the offense. Could it be an olive branch to Ricky to resign him as the vet power back?
Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"MarinePhinFan wrote:
That's what you "think". ;)
Notice how you understood that without me saying, "I think"
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
MarinePhinFanNew Member"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
Notice how you understood that without me saying, "I think"
So now a person can never use "I think" again? LMAO!
"I think" Henne threw 15 TD's last season.
Chad Henne threw 15 TD's last season.
As KingMo wrote earlier, one shows uncertainty while the other conveys certainty.
You remind me of when my daughter was 13 years old and just wanted to argue for the sake of arguing. lol...Anyhow, I'm going to let this be my last post on this so I don't throw this thread too far off topic...... I think. lol
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
GMJohnsonNew Member[B wrote:
13. The Dolphins were 30th in points scored last year (17.3 per game), and Sparano admitted that “sometimes I felt like playing offense last year maybe once or twice was a little bit more of a job than it was fun. And I want it to be fun.” It was no coincidence that many of the new offensive coaches (Brian Daboll, Ike Hilliard, Dan Campbell) are much younger than the coaches that departed (Dan Henning, David Lee, George DeLeone).
I found this one interesting because it echoed what Ricky said about the offense. Could it be an olive branch to Ricky to resign him as the vet power back?
LOL, what does Sparano even do on offense, or defense, or ST. He's never been a coordinator, he doesnt call plays, he never stepped in to stop Henning's madness. What exactly does he do, besides memorize snap counts?
MarinePhinFanNew Member"GMJohnson wrote:
LOL, what does Sparano even do on offense, or defense, or ST. He's never been a coordinator, he doesnt call plays, he never stepped in to stop Henning's madness. What exactly does he do, besides memorize snap counts?
I think Sparano will become a very good HC.
(Did you see what I just did right there? lol)
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. ----George Bernard Shaw
Dol-Fan Dupreeforum_veteran"MarinePhinFan wrote:
So now a person can never use "I think" again? LMAO!
"I think" Henne threw 15 TD's last season.
Chad Henne threw 15 TD's last season.
As KingMo wrote earlier, one shows uncertainty while the other conveys certainty.
You remind me of when my daughter was 13 years old and just wanted to argue for the sake of arguing. lol...Anyhow, I'm going to let this be my last post on this so I don't throw this thread too far off topic...... I think. lol
Why are you arguing then?
Also how to get to such crazy questions and statements?
Plus it all depends on context. A lot of time people use "I think" in areas where they know. Also it can be used in an area where people disagree.
Holland is a huge upgrade over McCain
I want to be alive, I am alive! Alive, I tell you! Mother, I love you, those are no longer just words. I want to hold you, I want to run in a stream, I want to taste ice cream but not just put it in my mouth and let it slide down my throat but really eat it. - Robot Morty
emocomputerjockNew Member"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:
Why are you arguing then?
I think he's just being a contrarian.
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