2005 called. They want their meme back.

 

Am I excited yet? No, we are on down time with nothing happening, however ask me again at the end of September (if we are 4-0) and I'll say hell yeah!!

The proof is in the pudding not on the recipe card.

 

I'm excited as hell also man. I don't have to see anything to be excited about what we could have. I'm excited to see the way this team comes together good or bad I'm stoked to see it.

The mentality of this team was changing last year and keeps changing this year. I think we could break out this year, but it all rests on how Tannehill plays.

 

Sorry man but it's only early July. Give it another month.

 

Play angry..This franchise has been disrespected in recent past and have accomplished very little, find the edge..

That would excite me..

 

Insert a GM post about needing 30 seconds of his life back......

"woot"

 

Been ready for football for months already.

 

Always excited for football, even when the Dolphins look bad.

 

I can't wait for the preseason to start. I love watching a team develop. I have no doubt this team is taking steps forward. I have no idea how long those steps will be. 7-9 again, but a better team? .500? Playoff wildcard? Division winner? Advancing in the playoffs? SB contender? SB winner? I think those are all on the table. Obviously some are more probable than others. Each person's own level of optimism/pessimism will determine what probabilities they assign.

IMO the offense has added players that improve the spacing. I believe that when you improve the spacing on offense and have a QB that can distribute the ball into those spaces that the offensive production improves greater than the sum of those added parts. That's what has excited me the most about how this team was built this offseason. I watched part of the first NE game last night and there was that long pass to Hartline that RT just missed. Hartline had beat his guy by a good 5 yards, but RT missed him by about 1/2 yard, maybe less. It was that close. It seemed to me that if they had just hit that pass, the tone of the game would have changed. I could easily see that same pass being a connection to Wallace this year. And after that, those curls to Hartline could have a half-step more space. Those sweeps that Bush got 5 yards on could turn into 10 yards or more by Miller. And Keller and Gibson should have a lot more space in the middle if the S is hesitating for a beat or more while keeping an eye on Wallace. We really didn't have anybody that operated in the middle of the field last year (at least beyond the first 5 yards or so).

On defense, I see very few holes. I thought we were a top 10 D last year for about half the year (top 5 in spurts) and then faded late. I think we have more depth and more speed this year. I'm hoping we'll have a more consistent pass rush as we have more players that should be good pass rushers. I think our secondary has more guys that can take advantage of TO opportunities (specifically Grimes and a more experienced Jones). I think that more pass rush and a more TO adept players is a combination that provides greater than the sum of the parts returns on D.

That's why I'm excited and impatient for the season to start. I've been preaching for years that certain things win in the NFL. All of the teams that have won championships in the last 30 years or so were better than their opponents in terms of passing efficiency. Some were great passing offenses, some were great passing defenses. Some were great at getting TOs. Some had great balance, but still passed efficiently and/or stopped the pass. (Our own Dolphins from the early 70s were one of the most efficient pass offenses ever as well as having a great pass D). So I've pleaded for our team to focus on adding players that boosted those areas. It needed to be a multi-faceted, multi-leveled approach. I liked the Marshall signing as a step, but it had to be part of the process. It was treated like a magic bullet. This off-season is the first time that we have added multiple players to address the offensive spacing and the defensive TO production (pass rush and secondary playmakers). It helps that we had a promising QB and pass rusher in place already. I don't know that I would have made all of the same moves, but the focus was right. Obviously, the players have to work out. Nobody can say at this point whether the players will fill those roles as expected/hoped. But the plan was there.

Philbin stated when he got here that more efficient passing than your opponents wins in this league. I imagine that's what he talked about in his interview and that that was the plan when he was hired. I think the turnaround started when Parcells left and we brought in that Cleveland (I think) OC. We didn't have the horses then and frankly, I'm not sure Sparano was adaptive enough, but it was a step. I think the steps have continued in the right direction since Parcells' departure, some small, some larger, but generally in the right direction. So I'm excited to see how far those steps will take us. To see if the players continue to develop and if the new additions will have the hoped for impact. I can't wait for the season to get here.

 

Snips, if you don't mind me asking, where in PA do you live? You sound like you live less than an hour away from me.

 

Cautiously optimistic here...

 

They called back, it seems that 1994 called them and now they have to return that joke, they weren't supposed to lend it out after 2008.

 

I'm with ya snips my man..... but temper those expectations just yet. 8-8 is not a failure, but sure seems like it would be percieved as one. We're the youngest team in the league and have a lot of question marks to be answered before the season.

Overall, we're certainly on the right track now. It's been a long time coming.

 

You mean"it wants its meme back".

 

It seems like no one gives a dam about the running game.

 

I'm incredibly high on Miller, but you're right. It's just not as important in today's game as the passing game is. Now you still need it. IMO you should still run about half of the time. It sets up your passing game, eats up time and lets your D rest (etc.). But reality is that whether you have a decent running game or a great running game, you're not winning a championship w/o an efficient passing game and pass D. The running game just falls into the category of things you just need to be adequate, passable or good enough. You need your passing game and passing D combo to be better than your opponents to win. (I think the last time I checked the numbers no team had won a championship w/o passing more efficiently than their opponents since the mid to late '60s). You need your TO ratio to at least be even with your opponents to win. (there may have been some team that won a championship with a negative TO ratio in the last 50 years, but I'm sure that at least +90% of the time the champion has a positive TO ratio). IMO those areas are the key. Everything else you can get by with as long as they're average.

 

Me too, I think he can produce like Spiller as well, Thomas is on real thin ice I believe with this team.....I know he isn't a between the tackle guy (Miller) but either is CJ and CJ when needed hits it....as well like CJ, Miller can make big plays....

If Miller was like Spiller would you take that? I would....

 

IMO Miller runs more north and south than CJ. I think that's a better fit for our offense. My hope is that Miller is the guy that rarely has a negative play, averages about 5 YPC and breaks a few longer runs.

 

I know Rosenhaus is a dolphin homer but he did go on the record saying that miller is the fastest back in he league behind Chris Johnson, hard to argue with a boy who ran a sub 4.4...

Not a 4.42 not a 4.46. But a 4.37

 

There is no questioning Miller's speed but can he hold up durability wise. Can he do all those things asked of him on a full time basis?
Also can he protect when asked to do so? These are serious concerns that no one seems to be talking about.
We don't know what we will get in Miller and that really worries me.
There tends to be a little over confidence in this fanbase when it comes to Miller.

 

Miller is only going to be a two-down back IMO. Don't think he's going to get many third-down snaps. Should limit the wear and tear on him.

 

I have those concerns Nez..just don't know how to put them into context when the man is healthy and in his 2nd year..he should be able to pick up the blitz pickup package, he is an extraordinary athlete.

 

No way Rosenhaus gets anymore RB clients now that he insulted every RB in league except 2. Wait til the Pats hear this!!!!!

 

"Shutup Richard"

Leave me alone..lol

I already told you what I would say if I was pro athlete in that situation, I'm cognizant that I'm not offending the other team, gonna keep that **** in, and fu&$in explode on the field..

 

Actually, his improved pass blocking was probably the most talked about aspect of his game from mini camp. That was the primary reason that his snaps were limited last season. And he was already able to do everything else. As far as durability, I don't see any reason there should be any more concern with than with any other player. Other than the one shoulder injury in college he does not have much of an injury history. Obviously he may get hurt, but there's no reason to think his risk is any higher than any other back's.

 

well i think you have it wrong in this one case and its the only one, AP brought this team into the playoffs with virtually no passing game to speak of, there were games where he would outgain his QB on yardage on a regular basis.

 

You mean AP carried his football team during passing droughts. Say it didn't happen.
Production from the running game is very important.
It's being played down and elevated in the Miller discussion. We had a true play maker at the RB position last season.
Lamar Miller has to step up.

 

Miller was in shorts bro.

 

His issue last year was about knowing who to block not about physically blocking poorly. So what he did in shorts is indicative of whether he improved on knowing who to block.

 

Running games carry teams to playoffs frequently, see the Schotty or Wanny teams, but whether they're SB contenders primarily depends on their pass offense/pass d combo.

 

Knowledge doesn't necessarily wear pants....
-rafael

 

The speed of the game changes drastically when the pads come on. Everyone knows that.
This could lead to confusion on assignments.
We'll find out more when they start practicing for real.

 

Obviously, but the point is that it is what people are talking about clearly disproving your claim that it's not being talked about. Also, the team seemed confident enough in Miller's development that they didn't even consider another back so they must be as over-confident as the fans.

 

So, we can count you as cautiously semi-optimistic then? :lol: