I am curious what the fans think about this team. The loss on Sunday aside, should this team to be better? Are expectations too high? What are the expectations going into next season? I saw Sparano listed on CBSSportsline.com as a coach that might be fired. Should he be worried in your opinion?
Honestly, this is about where I thought we'd be before the season started. Did I want a better record and be vying for the division lead and a playoff spot? Absolutely. But, I'm a realist, and I saw (and still see) areas of concern. Ironically, I was more concerned about the defense, and thought our offense would be better than it is. But, a .500 team is about what I expected. As for next season, assuming we have a successful draft, make a couple/few key FA acquisitions, and ultimately culminating in a more effectively run offense, then I think we will be a playoff contender (assuming there's a season of course). As for Sparano, and whether or not he should be worried, I think a lot of that depends on how we finish out. If he loses the team (meaning, loses their confidence), and they play flat/uninspired football the rest of the way, then yes...IMO he's gotta go. But, with a strong finish, or at least a competitive effort the rest of the way, then I think Ross may give him (and Ireland) one more year to see if they can "git 'r done." JMHO... EDIT: BTW, welcome to the site. Glad to have you as part of our Dolphins community.
Going 11-5 in 2008 messed with everyone's hearts. That year was magical for sure, but was also a major fluke. Expectations got set to an unreasonable level. I thought we were a better team last year than 2008 even though we had a worse record, and I also believe we are a better team this year than we were last year. We are all diehard fans who sometimes lose sight of the big picture, me included. A lot seem to forget we are one of the youngest teams in the league and already have a top 5 defense. We are getting to where we want to be and it's not even a question in my mind. That's also why I think Sparano being on the hot seat is asinine. He's a good coach and Jeff Ireland is a damn good GM. This will be a key offseason. Henning needs to be fired and a new system put in place, and the running game needs to be fixed first and foremost. Now, I'd be lying if I said I didn't expect big things this year (hell, I still do), but at the same time I have to understand the big picture. Oh yeah, and welcome to the site!
I said we'd be 9-7 at the end of the year, so we aren't too far off pace. However, with how games have played out I really think we should be 8-4 right now.
i thought 9-7 was reasonable expectation. i thought if we got lucky this year we had a shot at 11-5 but our luck was horrendous this year. i would really like 9-7 because then Ross would have a hard justifying sticking his nose in. 2 game improvement year to year is par for the course. if we end up 8-8 then its debatable. 7-9 and heads probably roll
I think you hit the nail on the head with those comments. Personally I thought we would have a couple more wins than we do now, but the watching the NFL this year proves parity is in place, and that there are more mediocre teams than good ones. We need a couple more players and some innovative minds teaching these players and we'll be alright.
Its hard to say. I think that 6-6 reflects our level of play, but frankly I can't say that a team like the Jets is any better and look at their record (9-3). IMO the Jets have benefitted from fortunate bounces and we've had those bounces go against us. The Jets had that three game stretch where they were fortunate to pull out the wins. We certainly were robbed in the Pitt game and could easily have won the Cleveland game if the deflected pass bounces in a different direction. Even the game against the Jets could have changed with one of those INTs being caught. Basically, I see us as one of those teams in the middle, but I recognize that if the same season were replayed several times our record could probably vary anywhere from 5-7 to about 10-2. I would guess that the most common records would be 7-5 or 8-4. So IMO 6-6 reflects our record with more of the bounces going against us rather than for us.
It's not so much the record, but how we've played that's the problem. We are flat out putrid on offense despite the addition of Marshall. Our QB still turns the ball over too much and we suddenly cannot run the ball. Sparano isn't on the hot seat for being 6-6, he's on the hot seat for the way we've gotten to 6-6
Yeh I agree with this statement...Sparano has had some big issues that have been apparent to me. He stubbornley sticks with Dan Henning...a team that is 1-5 at home...somethings wrong. What I think Sparano lacks and its what seperates him from guys like Bellichick...is the lack of a killer instinct. Hes to happy to settle for a field goal then go for the throat. He doesnt have a feel for when an opponent is down...and he doesnt have the bloodlust to turn a 7 point lead into a 14 point lead as quickly as possible. Hes been...a nicer version of Wanny ball..I like Sparano...and I wish he wasnt like this...but Im sick of Wanny ball...I want Belichick ball...I want someone bloodthirsty
