I had no expectations for this team. 0. none.
Thankfully, They are better than I expected at some positions. Unfortunately, some areas of concern I had have been verified.
+ The running game. 3 back attack supplemented by Lane in short yardage has been GREAT. im stoked about the ground game.
Re-sign Bush and this can be an effective corps for a good while.
+ The Emergence of Brian hartline. Wow. Kid's stepping up. He and Bess get to stay.
+ The Oline is looking good for stretches. Still prone to a lapse in the wrong moment though.
- usually reliable Carp has been erratic. Im a touch concerned, frankly.
- Secondary cannot stay with anyone.
+ Pass rush is coming around.
- Young team doesn't know how to close.
+ Young team is learning what it takes to win in this league.
+ Young QB has all the talent needed.
- legadu sucks
The biggest thing is Tanny's development this year. The number 1 offseason need is a TOP Wideout.
Then, then we can compete.
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WR and ball hawking DB would be our biggest needs heading into next year.
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A FS who makes plays, to me this is what the Defense lacks.
As for the team, we've all seen it, they'll get better as the season rolls along like last yr. -
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Chris Clemons and Reshad Jones have gone in opposite directions. They were both on the fringe coming into the season and Jones has stepped up and Clemons has continued to struggle. I was on the verge of giving up on Jones but he has really played well for the most part this season. Free safety is going to be a need for next season unless Clemons really turns his game around.
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Pandarilla likes this.
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About where I thought they'd be: competetitive, but flawed. very pleased woth how Tannehill is progressing. I thought 5 wins would be a pleasant surprise, still feel that way. And not in a negative "this teams sucks" way. They are growing, finding their identity. The main goal is to keep developing Tannehill.
Ducken likes this. -
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Was just reading over at TGG. All could be worse. We could be the Jets.
Larryfinfan likes this. -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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I just don't know what possessed Tannenbaum and Rexie to hire Sparano as their OC. In the end, we and the Jets are both destined to suck this season, but I think we're headed up and they're headed down. -
Coaches love to be improving quarter by quarter. They've gone 1-3 in the first quarter so they'd like to go 2-2 in the next quarter and 3-1 after that, etc.
I think they'll find that a little difficult. After seeing the Cardinals up close, I know they beat the Seahawks, Patriots and Eagles which is hard to do, but I still come away not really respecting their prowess as a team. I can't help it. I think the Patriots were clearly going through a rough patch (which probably ended at halftime of the Bills game) and the Eagles were going through a dreadful patch which saw them very nearly getting beaten by the Browns. They seem to be finally turning that around a little bit but even last night there were all kinds of poor mistakes, the kind you see by a team that likes to play up/down to their opponent and has ultimate susceptibility to trap games.
My point is we came close to beating the Jets and came close to beating the Cardinals, whereas the way both teams were playing I think a good team blows them out. Lucky for us we're still not heading into the real meat of the schedule. The Bengals and Rams will be tough but not unbeatable and the Jets certainly won't be unbeatable. The Colts are highly beatable as well. We really CAN improve to 2-2 over this quarter, I think.
Then we'll play the Titans and that's not turning out to be such a bad draw especially if Locker is still ailing. And with Buffalo and Seattle the following weeks, the Dolphins will probably come out of that stretch with 1 win, maybe 2 wins.
But then we play NE twice and San Francisco. This team does not compete with either one of those, IMO. I wouldn't even have us having a chance against either one.
I'd have us at 4-8 or 5-7 heading into the final quarter, with two more losses pretty much guaranteed. I don't see us sweeping the Bills for sure but I do see us splitting so if we've lost to the Bills and are 4-8 then we'll probably beat the Bills in the final quarter. The big question for me comes down to the Jaguars game. I see that game being a potential 6th win. In my initial assessment of the season, breaking up the games as I do, I saw a 5.5 win total and rounded us down just because we have the look of under-achievers. After two overtime losses where we pulled defeat from the jaws of victory against bad teams, I'm no less convinced of that, yet I think that 6th win is now more in sight. I think the talent is better than I envisioned, particularly at quarterback.