1) New Offensive System

Dan Henning's system worked when the power-running game was going, and it had the right type of cerebral QB to execute it's take-few-chance, make-no-mistakes emphasis. Last year the running game foundered, and we discovered Chad Henne was wilting in the Dan Henning system. Enter Brian Daboll. By all appearances, Henne is much happier and more confortable under the attack-attack-attack offensive philosophy of Brian Daboll. Where Henning demanded caution and feared errors, Daboll encourages taking shots and forgiving errors. A wider open offensive scheme and formations (more spread, less 2TE, full backfield) will not only mean more points but leads us to point two...


2) New Chad Henne

I've gone into this a bit above, but let's go further. There was talk that players questioned Chad Henne's ability to lead this offense. Brandon Marshall and Chad seemed to have no chemistry or relationship by the end of last season. The coaching staff was rumored to have no confidence in him. Bill Parcells was said to have no confidence in him (this leaked after he left the team). The only person not rumored to have lost confidence in Chad Henne was Chad Henne's mother. Even Chad Henne himself seemed to have lost some confidence by the end of last season, despite the brave face he put on for the media. But during the lockout he had the opportunity to begin building rapport with teammates by running the off-season practices. He took on more of a leadership role. This pre-season he has blossomed under Brian Daboll, looking more confident in his reads, taking chances, and getting some swagger back. He heads into his third year as a starter with more confidence than he has had in years, from the look of it. Add to that, his teammates seem to be buying into it, and an offensive system that suits him and you have the makings of Robot 2.0 and a good year for Chad Henne.


3) A Good Defense Got Better

This could be debated by some, but we return almost all of our defensive starters with the exception of upgrading Channing Crowder's spot by adding lineback Kevin Burnett. Some say he is not stout against the run, but with Dansby supposedly taking that role from Crowder and Burnett taking Dasby's old role roaming in pass-coverage the defense should be victimized less by the receiving Tight ends and runningbacks catching passes than in the past. Burnett, who at times looks like a Safety/LB tweener out there, should help the short pass defense and seam pass defense tremendously and get us off the field on 3rd downs. There's no reason to worry about the run defense because the defensive line is filled with talent. In addition to returning a budding-Pro-Bowler in Soliai, the return of Randy Starks & Kendall Langford makes for a fearsome front three. Add in first round pick Jared Odrick, and Tony McDaniels, who is almost too good to be a 2nd string player, and you have a deep group. Anything we see out of Philip Merling is a plus. Providing pressure off the edge is the star-quality Cameron Wake who continues to improve. Look for Wake to get more sacks on power and counter-moves this season after establishing himself as a dominant speed rusher off the edge the past two seasons. Jason Taylor and Koa Misi are competent filler at the other OLB spots. The secondary returns a more experienced Sean Smith and Vontae Davis who both look the part in pass coverage. Davis is better in run support, but Smith's size will help us against tall receivers all years. New additions for depth like Jimmy Wilson look to bring the thunder with their blitzing and STs ability as well. The Bullfrog Yeremiah Bell is a stalwart who may be slipping a touch in his old age, but bolstered by the speed of Clemons and the playmaking ability of Rashad Jones, who sometimes takes bad angles once the ball is caught. Overall, the defense should progress, knowing the playbook better in the second year of Mike Nolan being Defensive Co-ordinator. Expect to see more disgusied coverages and blitzes now that the players have a year of experience i the system. This is a defense set to dominate.


4) A New Tony Sparano?

The tenor and tone of a team all start with the head coach. It's why some coaches are perennial winners (Lombardi, Shula, Belichick) and some are perennial losers (we won't list them here). The past year Tony was a coach beset on all sides. Seemingly tied to an offensive co-ordinator who whom he defended and praised even in firing him (well, technically Henning 'retired' to avoid being fired in a face-saving move) made it look as if Tony was either being forced to let go of staff by pressure from above him, or if he wanted to fire Henning, still had to tip toe around it and seemed to have had to wait longer than he'd liked. Honestly, it's hard to get a read on the internal dynamics of life as Tony Sparano, head coach. Being given the job by Czar Bill Parcells, Tony owed a lot to Parcells and seemed to defer to him in some matters. Many have said Henning was Parcells guy, thrust on Tony and that because of the age, respect and Parcells-factors he did not have the normal dynamic with henning that a boss normally has with an employee. We'll never know the truth of this, but clearly henning was at the center of controversy and a struggling offense last season, which led to finger-pointing between himself and the Chad Henne supporters camp. Tony also grudgingly let his special teams coach go mid season after a national debacle against the Pats at home. This too smacked of pressure from above, though who really knows. When the season ended Stephen Ross very publicly (though not purposefully so) pursued Stanford's Jim Harbaugh to replace Sparano, without ever telling Tony. Tony heard about it while working at Dolphins headquarters, being informed by the media, if I recall correctly. Needless to say, when Harbaugh turned the Dolphins down, Ross and the franchise had egg on its face. Ross and Ireland met with Tony to patch up wounded feelings and convince him (and the public, and ant watching Dolphins players) that Tony was 'their guy". It's fair to say Tony felt like he had a Julius Caear done to him on the steps of the senate and entering this season he seems to have abandoned his old conservative mentality in favor of a more, "Eff it, let's go down swinging." mentality. Surviving hardships and humiliations will make a man stronger. When Chad Henne had "We Want Orton" chanted at him in early team practices, Tony seemed to resonate with Chad's situation, having been doubted and almost pushed out himself only months before. Tony's stance was to circle the wagons and put a chip on this teams shoulder: The world doubts us, it doesn't believe in us, starting with me and the QB and this whole team will prove the world wrong. Every team needs a rallying cry and this season's hardships as endured by Tony and Chad have provided it. Tony hit rock bottom and has turned over a new leaf. You will see him going for the throat on Sunday's because he has the Eye of the Tiger again, and when the head coach has it, so will the team.



5) Reggie Bush

Reggie Bush has said he is motivated to prove his doubters wrong. New Orleans didn't think he was worth the money. The media say he can't run iside, can't carry the ball much, can't-can't-can't. To Reggie Bush, all that doubt is fuel for motivation. Bush showed up this pre-season looking in better shape than ever and tore the field apart with his intense, electrifying play. That Dolphin's team identity this year that I mentioned, the "We'll show YOU!" chip on their shoulder is being carried by Reggie too. It's so clear that this team feels slighted and is determined to kick *** to prove something. Bill Cowher and Joey Porter have said how often they used this approach to propel teams to Superbowl level. Did I say Superbowl? Yes. I did. It seems a dream and a whisper now, but if Reggie Bush stays healthy for most of the year, and shows up for the playoffs, the Superbowl is possible for this team. All the parts are there, they just haven't proven it yet. They know that, and are determined to go do it.


6) Special Teams Stability

Last year the Dolphins led the league in roster transactions through the early months of the season, churning the bottom of the roster where the Special Teams players dwelled. That meant every Sunday, guys stepped onto the field for us who had just stepped off the bus into town. It showed in the Special Teams play with terrible coverage and blocks. Tony says he has learnt his lesson. Jeff Ireland seems to have co-operated in drastically reducing the turnover at the bottom of the roster, helping create continuity on Special Teams. The players who have been coached actually stick around to perform. This will help on STs coverages and blocking this year. For returned, we shall have to wait and see. Return-ace hopeful Phillip Livas didn't make the roster. Nolan Carroll and newcomer Edmund "Clyde" Gates offer some upside at the return spot, with bess a dependable fallback position. If the staff needs a spark, and dares risk him getting injured, Reggie Bush could also see spot duty back there. With the same returners available to us, but Gates and Bush added to the mix, plus improved continuity among the blockers on return units, I expect to see slightly (though not majorly) better results from the return units this season.



7) SURPRISE

I'm sorry guys, but I just can't think of a seventh reason. I thought I would be able to, but I'm drawing a blank. If any of you can help me by suggesting a seventh one I'll go back and edit this post with your answer as #7 (and credit you of course!)


lol. That was fun! Looking forward to some Dolphins football on Monday! A chance to start "proving the world wrong".

 

I definitely prefer it to the year when Culpepper made Saban's team a sexy darkhorse pick for the Superbowl.

 

I like that he's working after practice when Bush is still out there. They are very committed.

 

Good points. It's worth noting that generally in Mike Nolan's carrer, defenses have drastically improved in his first year on the job, then regressed in their second. I can't isolate the variables and say it was because of him, and that it applies to our situation, but still, I'd prefer it not be his history.

Taylor seems to be sub-par to me now, unable to beat his man. He's better playing off the block slightly, reading the play and making the tackle on screens and such than he is at rushing the passer. His mind is a greater asset than his body at this point.

Koa Misi is just sheer hustle, and by virtue of that mops up plays by staying after them long enough. I'd agree that OLB is not a dominant position for us, except in Wake's pass rush. That said, Mike Nolan is a good coordinator who can scheme some things to get the most out of his LBs and CBs in blitzing situations, as we saw in the preseason with some blitzes from the secondary. The downside is JT/Misi in pass coverage.

I expect at least the same good level of play from Vontae and Sean. I see no sign to make me think they'll regress, and it is more likely they could progress slightly since mental errors were the majority of their issues. Smith's tackling is still a concern for me.

I'm not as concerned with Free Safety (yet) as you are. Between Clemons and Jones one of the two will prove serviceable. Personally I prefer Jones as a Strong Safety behind Bell, but we'll see this season. Jones has made more big plays than Clemons and I think you have to balance out some potential gaffes with some of those potential big plays. On balance, I feel like Clemons will face teams whose deep threas have the speed to take it to the house or be elusive, since Clemons cuts angles and pursues better, in my opinion. Rashad Jones will wee the field in games where the offense we face is more likely to have us keeping the ball and the play in front of the defense rather than going over the top of them. That let's Rashad try to make a few plays without being outrun. Whether the FS spot helps us or hurts us could have a lot to do with Nolan using the players most advatageously and covering their weaknesses. There will be mistakes and Touchdowns, however. That happens to any defense.

I expect, like you, that our rating against the pass will improve. Perhaps not to a top five rating, but hopeful of the top ten.

 

I agree, though I'd include this as the result of Brian Daboll's offense + Henne feeling more confident to sling it.

 

The team may be more "F**k the crowd" than "Win the crowd", I'm not sure. lol.

 

A lot of good answers. I'm gonna give it til tomorrow then pick one and add it as #7.

Good discussion, guys. :)

 

There are three reasons. 1) I title it before I write the thread 2) Maybe I can't count.