It is always good to learn early what you have, especially along the OL. Colombo has the odds against him to make the year at rt. What better team to expose your weaknesses than New England.
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I think that's an advantage of playing the pats in week one. a nice test to see how this team stands up against one of the better teams in the league. then again, we beat the packers on the road and lost three home games to the browns, bills and lions...
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Eh, we'll see, gm #1 is the maiden voyage for both teams for 2011, hard to know one way or another how the rest of the season turns out with the injuries and adjustments that every team has to handle.
Will say I'm happier with Henne starting then a Mallet or a Gabbert.siciliansith, Killerphins and smahtaz like this. -
I'm not saying its a measuring stick, I just feel it's better to play a team like the pats to kick you into shape than to beat up on a lower level team
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Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member
1) Lockout/strike shortened offseason.
2) FA period shortened to 7-10 days versus the normal 4-5 months.
3) New CBA and rules to abide by.
4) BB and the Cheatriots are an established organization. They have the same offensive and defensive systems as the last several years.
5) They have a plethora of game and system experienced young talent to mix with a core of veteran players.
6) They have an elite QB in Brady certainly the consensus 1A or 1B best in the game today.
7) We have a new offense, OC and revamped scheme to work with.
8) We have an up an coming D, who should get better just from the experience but with questions at OLB, SS, FS and perhaps at LCB. Not questions of ability but questions of just how far they've developed.
9) We have an OL in flux. Basically only one guy in the same position as last year (Long), a rookie at C calling the protections and certainly questions of ability on the right side.
10) We have a new RB, a rookie RB and a guy making a conversion to a quasi-fullback spot. Each have questions.
11) The only speed we have are all youngsters (Gates, Clay, Moore, Wallace).
12) Henne has had a renaissance this PS. Will it carry over to the season...he didn't show that last year.
13) We have a history under Sparano of slow, sloppy starts.
Now I know that the Cheatriots have other weaknesses that I didn't mention. I basically listed their strengths and our weaknesses. The over-ridding factor is Belichick. They are beatable. The difference is that in order for us to beat them, we have to do everything right. That is not the case for them being able to beat us. Brady by himself can make the difference. What I don't want to see is us embarrass ourselves on national TV the first game of the season after a positive, confidence building PS. If we lose (and it's very likely), let's at least make it look like we belong on the field with them.Disnardo likes this. -
If the first game is against what many think will be the team in the SB this year representing the AFC, it will be a good measuring stick... Don't you think so too???Stitches likes this. -
MrClean and 5thAmendment like this.
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Stitches likes this.
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I could see Miami winning this game and then having to endure a week of the media explaining why we shouldn't get too excited about the Dolphins and the negative posters switching from, "I'll wait to see Henne in the regular season" to, "I'll wait until Henne is consistent during the regular season".
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Enough winning cures all in the NFL though. Even if in Henne's case that might take more winning than normal to have people respect his qb play.rafael likes this. -
Although Murtha has progressed some, Long was still missed in pre season. My concern last year and still this year, is from the center to the RT. Center is a rookie and does seem talented but just the same, a rookie. The short camp this year was really detrimental on our behalf as Pouncey as of yet, seems he cannot move the larger DTs he has comeup against. He will get a quick lesson come our Monday Night game against NE. Not only does NE have some of the best DTs in the league, they now have literally, a legion of some of the largest, most athletic DTs in the league.Larryfinfan likes this. -
MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member
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Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member
Of course the schedule is what it is. I'm not sure what you meant for sure, but playing the Pats was going to happen whether it was the first game or not. I think they still are overall better than we are, if for nothing more than the coaching. If our guys don't play a bit above their experience and ability or at least where we all think that ability is, we won't beat them. Conversely, their players can play just to their level and beat us... -
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Does every game have to result in some grand narrative regarding the Miami Dolphins organization?
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MrClean Inglourious Basterd Club Member