If we suffer no serious injuries and Henne progresses the way we think he should? With a little luck I think we can.

 

I don't think this current Dolphins team can realistically win a SB. I think getting to the playoffs and possibly winning a game would be a good season. I think Miami is headed in the right direction, and will be improved from 7-9 last year.

JMHO.

 

In one word, NO.

Are we closer ? I think so, but our division is going to be brutal, and even though we are a better team, our record may not be any better than last year. I think we improve by 2 games at the most, and barely miss the playoffs (again).

The interesting dynamic will be if Ross is satisfied with that, or does he want to be more aggressive than this FO has been in FA. Yes we signed great players, maybe the best, but the national media still thinks its the Jets that made all the better moves, and are their darlings. Does Ross listen to Parcells, Ireland and Sparano after the season, or to the national media & their perception that the Dolphins weren't aggressive enough.

That will be facinating to watch unfold once our season is over this year.

 

Football is so hard to predict because one major injury and you are looking at a average season. Do the fins have the most talent in the NFL? No. In the AFC? No. In the AFC east? Probably not. Can they beat any team in the AFC? I think so. Depending on how the defense gels, how the secondary progresses, if we can generate any pass rush, the end results are still unknowable. I think we are a work in progress, but the good news is that an offense is much harder to come together than a defense. Our offense has been working together for two years now. It is in good shape. I know the super bowl is the goal, but I am excited to see how this team works as a unit. Im excited to see how they perform in the 4th quarter, against the Pats and Jets. Do they have the will? Do they have the heart? Stay tuned.

 

Wow this is coming from a Jest fan who probably believes the Jest will make it to the Superbowl, as long as you have Mark Sanchez you will never make it.
As far as this Dolphin team goes I don't think it will happen this year because their practically a whole new team and need to learn to gel together as a unit.

 

I agree. I also think the same of the jets as well (unfortunately)

The good news? I don't think there's much of a difference between being able to win a playoff game and winning super bowl, at least not anymore. It's all about who you play in the playoffs and of course the 'any given sunday' thing.

 

Not yet. I think we are much closer than last season and are even closer than when we won the division 2 seasons ago. I think that we have the capability to finish 10-6 or better and win a playoff game but that may be it for this season.

 

IF the people we pick up can start, and play as anticipated, Yes, I think we can (barring critical injuries). But anything can happen honestly.

This is just my opinion but:

Positions of A Strength: WR, RB, Entire OL
Positions of B Strength: DL, CB, ILB, OLB, QB
Positions of C Strength: TE
Unknown/D/F: Safety

I mean honestly the team is young, but think about what positions you think we are SET at barring injuries, and what ones we need to actually work on, I'm finding it very hard to come up with many. Are there places we can get better? Always. But all the players on this team at their respective spots are pretty darn good. And with the addition of Marshall we've probably got one of the best WR stables in the league right now.

And the depth... I mean there really are only a handful of positions we aren't very deep on.

 

I cant believe I am agreeing with a Jets fan but I think you are correct.

 

Good Post.

The fact is I agree. This team was almost completely devoid of any talent when Parcells and Co. took over. 8 Years of complete mismanagement will do that to any team. That being said, this team has undergone a near complete overhaul but still appears to be lacking enough playmakers on Defense and a pass catching threat at TE. Unless the rookies are more impactful than I think, and I think they are all good players, Then we will still be that little extra push short of the top. I do see us in the playoffs this year and once you are there anything is possible.

 

I think a lot of it depends on "situational success"... it's one thing to score points and stop the opponent to score points, but there is so much more to it that we also need to improve... 2 minute offense, a few in-game questioned coaching decisions, winning close games against the league's best teams.

Despite all of the weaknesses and short-comings last year, we came VERY close to defeating both the Colts and the Saints, the two Super Bowl teams, in the middle of their long winning streaks. We couldn't stop the big pass plays and 2 minute offense of the Colts, and couldn't put together a game-winning drive of our own. We dominated the Saints in the first half and were embarassing them more than at any other point last year, but then our defense forgot to come out from halftime and our offense couldn't keep up.

We scored 34 points against the Saints, but lost. We had time of possession of 45 minutes against the Colts, but lost. We are very close, a lot closer than a 7-9 record suggests. Two years ago, the Saints were 8-8 with a weak defense, then some new personnel and a new aggressive d coordinator puts it all together the next year. It can be done! Let's do it!

Sorry for so many rambling posts this morning, I'm just hungover and super pumped for Dolphin football!!!

 

I didn't mention the Jets once in my post. It's irrelevant to this particular topic.

I try to be objective.

 

I'll let you know in December.

 

Our division is going to be brutal this year. The only lay down is the freakin' Bills. Every one seems to think it is Jets, Pats, Phins all very close together, but basically in that order. The division is going to be a dogfight between the 3 but it's really any teams to win. It is going to come down to who can stay healthiest.

I don't go for predictions but I will make one right now; the Superbowl representative for the AFC is out of our division. Other than the Colts and maybe the Ravens who else?

 

It's possible if Chad Henne becomes the QB some think he can be. It goes without saying some of the defensive acquisitions would have to make an impact.

 

Staying healthy will be our biggest obstacle to becoming the AFC's representative. Issues at G, C and RB positions are our major concern. Other than that, continued development from the QB, WR, CB and S positions should make us better. Defensively they will be better overall, probably not flashy just solid. But you don't need flash when you're in position to make the play anyway.

 

Well, the way I see it is we are a better team than last year...we have an easier schedule than last year....and also we SHOULD HAVE BEAT the AFC and NFC champions last year but found a way to lose both games.

So yes I think we can....getting homefield would be huge for this team, hard to imagine us going into INDY in the playoffs and winning.

 

I sincerely don't think the Jets can get to the Superbowl and win it. WHY: very good defense but the Jets don't have the offense to get there. Sorry, but Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes are not going to worry too many defenses, especially with Sanchez throwing the ball. The Jets also lost their most consistent RB in Leon Washington.

The Jets don't have the offense that the Colts, Saints and other teams possess, and the Jets will not shut all these teams down in the playoffs. I do think the Jets are in a three way race for the AFC East title with the Pats/Phins, but lets also be realistic: The Jets made the playoffs in large part because the Colts rested their players in a game against the Jets late in the season.

I would go with the Colts or Chargers to win the AFC Championship and the Saints, Vikings or Cowboys to win the NFC. I don't think the Phins are quite there yet but I think we are a playoff team this year.

 

I think we will be much improved. For several reasons.

1) We got younger and faster.
2) The middle of our d got better.
3) Henne has a reliable target and Henne should progress even further. If he gets his soft touch passes down he could be extremely good this year.
4) Our corners got an immense amount of playing time last year. THis should help them become regular starters this year and make even more plays while cutting down the big plays that hurt us this year.
5) We have a D Coordinator who is being allowed to make his mark. He got the players he wanted in the draft and FAgency.
6) We should win more of the close games this year than we lost last year. We took the superbowl finalists last year to the absolute brink last year.
7) Our schedule is not nearly as difficult this year.
8 ) Our division as a whole isn't as tough. I believe the Jets got better, but the pats worse. If welker isn't able to play, and Edleman can't carbon copy welker, brady could see lots of frustrations. The bills will be in lots of trouble this year.

So i think we'll be hard pressed to win a superbowl. But winning one or two playoff games shouldn't be an unreal expectation.

 

I think we can, but it's not likely. IMO we need a few more play makers at key positions.

I don't think it's a coincidence that S is one of the positions that SB winners most often have pro bowl players at. QB, WR and LT are the other three. I think most will agree that we have pro bowl caliber players at WR and LT. I think this year will give us a good read read on whether Henne can be that calibre of player at QB. IMO he can be a top 10 QB. If he can have a QBR of 85 - 90 then that'll probably be good enough.

The question I have is at the FS position. IMO Culver can be good, consistent and solid and I expect him to win the starting job. I don't see him as a guy that we can reasonably expect to be a pro bowl player though. I liked Clemons coming out and he certainly has all the physical ability you could want, but I haven't seen enough to project him to the pro bowl or even to a starting position. I don't think Jones has enough ball skills to project there either and certainly not this year. If we had drafted Earl Thomas or even Robert Johnson I would feel much better about this position.

Other than that, I think we could use another play maker on offense. I like what we have in Brown, Marshall and Bess. I think we have some nice potential in Hartline. I think Marshall is the only home run hitter. Hartline has potential as the #2 and we can use Cobbs as a match-up problem. I'd feel better if we had at least one more of those match-up problems at TE.

IMO we're a pro bowl caliber FS and one more home run threat away from being a legitimate SB threat assuming Henne develops.

 

No.

Until proves he is the franchise QB the front picked to be. Getting Brandon Marshall was a good first step; stop relying on a gimmick play(A.K.A. "the WildCat") to gain yardage and hopefully finding a non-fossilized play caller.

It's a QB driven league, it begins and ends with how the QB plays.

Defensively between adding new coaches and new players it almost impossible to predict anything.

 

three keys to our SuperBowl run:
1) Henne
2) FS
3) coaching

it is my already stated expectation that we coach them up & play w/ brutal physicality:
smash in the mouth, relentless pursuance of perfection & the infliction of "calculated frightfulness" through pain
there must be blood in the water for these Miami KillerWhales to excel in today's NFL:

1) we need a tremendous preseason program, addressing the psychological as well as the physical & technical end of the game. endurance, size, strength, attitude, individual skill, effort, teamwork & brutality all come into play.
2) we have the coaches to do the job, let them deliver. they need to be creative & pull out all the stops on offense & defense, from the 3-4/4-3 hybrid to the WildCat in the RedZone. our adversaries cannot get comfortable w/our game. got to hurt & confuse them. the coaching cadre must hone the collective skill level to a fine cutting edge, then inflict chaos & intimidate the opposition.
3) coach them up & turn them lose. ask no quarter, give no quarter. play 90 minutes of blood & guts, leave nothing on the field. through physical domination & brutality we will ultimately prevail in 2010
4) love it that the Jests & Cheaters are the talk of the Division. there will be quite a reckoning this year. our coaches must exploit & confuse them. we must simply physically dominate & overwhelm all adversaries on the field. let there be blood. let the game begin.

have said from the beginning of the NewRegime & the establishment of the Brotherhood of the Pod:

We will Contend in 2010! Are you ready for some football?

 

The Super Bowl isn't some magical thing at the end of a rainbow, guarded by Leprechauns... it's just a game.

If we stay healthy, then yeah... I think we have as good a shot as anyone. There is no other team more physical than the Dolphins, we have a top-3 running game, we now have a top-3 WR, and I can guarantee our defense and our young QB will be better.

Yes... we most definitely have a shot. I'd say, realistically, we're a top-10 team, which puts us in the mix.

 

No. We need more offensive weapons to get there.

 

Just wondering...who do you think will be in the SB?

 

Ronnie's health and Henne's performance is the big X factor with the offense. If Henne plays pretty well and Ronnie doesn't get some new freak injury and go on the DL I think their offense is good enough. They have the third or fourth best WR in the league now. I mean outside of tight end where would their weakness be? Of course if the defense doesn't get better it won't matter.

 

Kind of a weird question. Every team has what if's. I think we have more then others but the potential is definately there. We have role players, and we have guys who can break the game open. I do think we are a lot closer to being a contender though then most would think. Barring injury last year, yes I know thats part of the game, I think we finish better last year.

 

My heart really wants to say the Jets.

But I would pick the Colts and Cowboys.

Jets will get there eventually.

 

I feel the Jets are similar to the Dolphins in that they'll have a lot riding on QB play. They need Sanchez to throw more TDs than picks. The same thing Miami needs from Henne. The Jets have a better overall defense which will help. I think the Saints have a pretty good shot at getting back. In the AFC I'm thinking Baltimore will really be tough to beat. The winner of the East will have an excellent shot as well. The Colts will be in the mix until Peyton retires.

 

If I had a gun to my head today, I would say the Saints and the Ravens.

But...its a long season, and its why they play the games.

 

I agree completely with this. The Saints, IMO, won the SB last year with a sub standard defense. I think the signing of Wilkerson and Brown is going to make them better defensively...along with Sed Ellis now appearently healthy. I see no reason to expect they won't be the same offensively, except now with Jimmy Graham at TE, even another weapon. They are going to be rough.

Gotta like what Baltimore has done. They upgraded their WR corps and defense. The only knock on them is maybe Ray Ray is going to start slowing down a step. I hope so. If not, they are nasty good.

Our division depends on who plays better QB between Henne and Sanchez, and whose offensive weapons are more easily integrated. I wish we had Dustin Keller, I will tell you that. Hes a stud...But, they don't have anything close to BM, and I think Hartline is as good as Cotchery or even Holmes. So....

Lets hope that we have good health and they have a rash of (not serious, but annoying) injuries!:up:

 

How dare you come on a Dolphins forum and be balanced and make sense. How dare you. I can't process NOT hating something a Jest fan has said. How dare you indeed.

 

:lol:

 

Dont under underestimate Sanchez the guy got thrown in his rookie year and did pretty good in the playoff too.I believe the jets got a nive Qb for a while.

 

Thanks. I'm really tired of defending Sanchez on here, lol. He came into his own during the Playoffs.



***Also, about the Ravens: I like them a lot, but I'm not ready to put them in the SB because of Joe Flacco's play during the Playoffs. He has not played well at all the last two postseasons. I chose the Colts [in April, this is all meaningless] because Peyton Manning owns the Ravens, Rex Ryan teams, and the Patriots (as of late).

I'm not that confident with my Cowboys pick.

 

if we can get a good cover FS and get good play out of Wake and Misi, then yes..if none of that happens, we miss the playoffs

Sent from my Eris using Tapatalk

 

I love the direction that this team is heading. From day one this regime has been extremely aggressive in its rebuilding process. I was amazed at the revolving door approach they took in year one. One weak Joe shmo is a Dolphin next week he is cut.

Let us never forget how bad we were and how far we have come. I think 8 or so people still remain from the 2007 Roster. Last year we had the 6th youngest roster and this year I expect us to be even younger. It's amazing really.

Oh ya the question was do I feel that we could compete for a SB this year. We lets take a quick look at where we were last year and what we have done to improve ourselves. Last year we went 7-9 but that doesn't tell the entire story now does it. We had injury's to key players and positions that ultimately hurt us down the road. We played both Superbowl teams and gave them everything they could handle and could have easily won both.

We played both of the teams that went to the AFC championship and while I mentioned losing to one earlier the other we swept in very close games.

Since then we have signed Karlos Dansby and Brandon Marshall. Two of the best at their positions and one of the best defensive coordinators in the game. Still with all of that I'm not sure I would predict us to win the SB this year. That's not to say that I don't like our chances to compete for one.

I think we will give both the Jets and the Pats a huge run for their money this year and I feel at the end we will once again wear the crown AFC east champions. How far we go after that is anyone's guess. It's going to be a great year fellas!

PS. Forgive me I'm to lazy to SP that mess!

 

I'll make a deal with you. I'll help you defend Sandcheeze if you get some of your goons off my back on Jetsnation :sidelol:

 

For some reason when I read this I pictured Owen Wilson from Wedding crashers saying it...I say we arent ready for contention. We just dont have the depth yet. I think we are headed in the right direction. But we still have holes.