So, you know, things really aren't that bad

not a bash at you, im just sick of moral victories every year...

Our defense has made things a bit easier, because they are outstanding and filled with youth. This unit should be good for a long, long time. that's very exciting for a dude that likes his defense like me. Hiring Mike Nolan was a GREAT move.

Chad Henne, well, I still believe in him, but he's inconsistent and needs a bit more work and a new offensive coordinator/system to help him because Henning isn't getting it done.

The big thing we need to fix is the running game. Huge disappointment this year. We need a fast running back that can help out in the pass game.

Same thing for TE. Fasano is fine but we need a faster guy to go with him.

I also don't agree with the growing "Fire Sparano" crowd. He's a good coach and the players love to play for him. Unless we collapse in the final 4 weeks I don't think he will be fired.

Despite being 6-6 we are a team that has a lot of talent...a lot of young talent. Which also explains our inconsistencies. Once these guys get a little more experience we are going to be a real good team. I expect that next season.

The defense is young and gonna' get a lot better.
I was impressed with Paul Soliai today. He is developing into a fine NT.

"Trowa wrote:

So, playoffs are out of the picture at this point barring a miracle. Tony Sparano might be fired as head coach after this season. That may or may not be for the best. We wont know if it will happen till it happens and we wont know how better off we will be for a couple of years. But at this point, when it becomes realistic to start looking towards next season, I think it's important to take inventory of what we have. If we do bring in a new coaching staff, we wont have to rebuild from scratch.

Chad Henne may not be the answer at QB, but he's certainly better than Cleo Lemon. Ronnie Brown is a guy who was here before this coaching staff who is talented though is contract situation is cloudy, and Lousaka Polite is a pro bowl caliber FB. Davone Bess and Brandon Marshall are two of the better WRs in the league. Does anyone even remember our WRs in 07? Jake Long is an elite LT. Vernon Carey and John Jerry have the ability to be great guards for us. We need to acquire a new RT for sure though.

Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, and Jared Odrick make up a strong DE rotation and Paul Soliai has finally started playing good football this year. Cameron Wake has become an elite player in the NFL and is a sack monster, he'll be good for years to come. Koa Misi is looking promising as a rookie. Karlos Dansby hasn't exactly set the world on fire this year, but we know what he's capable of. We have a top 10 caliber CB in Vontae Davis and two safeties who have shown some good flashes in Clemons and Jones. Sean Smith and Nolan Carroll aren't bad on the corners either.

And we even have a good kicker in Carpenter and a good punter in Fields.

We have talent on this roster, no one can argue that this regime hasn't brought in talent. Now it's only a matter of finding someone who can do something with all this talent. I hope this goes to show you that we're not as far off as it seems, the next coaching staff to take over, they'll have a very strong base to build off of which could mean a quick turnaround.

So yeah, keep your head up. We're gonna be okay as soon as we get a competent coaching staff in here.

You make some valid points , but Odrick hasn't proved anything as of yet. He may , but nothing as of yet.

"Killerphins wrote:

The defense is young and gonna' get a lot better.
I was impressed with Paul Soliai today. He is developing into a fine NT.

Yup, I said multiple times today that we better lock him up.

i think last year we spent the offseason addressing our defense for the most part maybe to the detriment of the offense. We also had a few young guys ramp up their play as new starters (Wake, Clemons, Soliai) Next year I would like to see us concentrate on offense and hopefully Henne can have the same leap that Clemons or Soliai had

If Sparano is fired why would you assume the new coach would keep the young defense?

I think we've got a lot of talent on this team. I think we need better QB play, no matter whom the OC is--although I'd like to see a change there. I also think we MUST be better at catching the football in our secondary. We make some of those plays and our QB doesn't make some of the INTs/along with making a few more throws, we have a much different record.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

If Sparano is fired why would you assume the new coach would keep the young defense?

True the hypothetical new regime might cut all the youngsters and try to get old as soon as possible. Come on now. :wink2:

"Killerphins wrote:

True the hypothetical new regime might cut all the youngsters and try to get old as soon as possible. Come on now. :wink2:

The new regime might want to start over with his own style of defense and the players that are currently on the defense do not fit his style.

It has happened before.

That's why I want Sparano and Nolan to stay. Henning has to freaking go already. If not I don't know what to think of this team.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

The new regime might want to start over with his own style of defense and the players that are currently on the defense do not fit his style.

It has happened before.

Set us back three more years.... no way in hell. The nucleus is there on defense. Except #52. Bye bye

This team lacks offense. Easy to see really.

Need RB, TE, RT, WR, C

"Killerphins wrote:

Set us back three more years.... no way in hell. The nucleus is there on defense. Except #52. Bye bye

This team lacks offense. Easy to see really.

Need RB, TE, RT, WR, C

You are trying to make a complete unknown, known. If Miami does fire Sparano and clean house there is a decent chance that the defense will be blown up. Unless the unit is amazing, there is always a good chance. Miami's defense has potential, however it is not amazing.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

You are trying to make a complete unknown, known. If Miami does fire Sparano and clean house there is a decent chance that the defense will be blown up. Unless the unit is amazing, there is always a good chance. Miami's defense has potential, however it is not amazing.

I understand what you're saying, but we have a top 5 defense. And it ain't an old one. No way Ross or Ireland allows that to get blown up.

"Dol-Fan Dupree wrote:

You are trying to make a complete unknown, known. If Miami does fire Sparano and clean house there is a decent chance that the defense will be blown up. Unless the unit is amazing, there is always a good chance. Miami's defense has potential, however it is not amazing.

I'm making a complete unknown known.. Haha you are talking about a fictional new coach blowing up this defense.

Of course this defense has potential and has been living it up this season. They are young remember. And pretty damn good.

"Killerphins wrote:

I'm making a complete unknown known.. Haha you are talking about a fictional new coach blowing up this defense.

Of course this defense has potential and has been living it up this season. They are young remember. And pretty damn good.

I am talking about the potential for a new coach to blow up the defense. I am not talking about it like it is a fact. All I am saying it is a possibility. There is no where I said it would happen.

I am sorry if my posts were confusing.

"Rocky Raccoon wrote:

I understand what you're saying, but we have a top 5 defense. And it ain't an old one. No way Ross or Ireland allows that to get blown up.

Miami would fire Sparano and keep Ireland?

if Ross doesn't allow it to get blown up then we have a Snyder on our hands.

"Killerphins wrote:

I'm making a complete unknown known.. Haha you are talking about a fictional new coach blowing up this defense.

Of course this defense has potential and has been living it up this season. They are young remember. And pretty damn good.

he makes a valid point though. If, as many fans have been clamoring for, John Gruden were to get hired, you can almost guarantee we would switch to a 4-3. We would definitely get rid of some of our players if that was the case

"SICK wrote:

not a bash at you, im just sick of moral victories every year...

Half the league goes through this every year too. It's 'comforting' to know it isn't just us :up:

"AbideN703 wrote:

Half the league goes through this every year too. It's 'comforting' to know it isn't just us :up:

But it's usually a different half. We tend to bounce between mediocrity and suckitude. We haven't been an elite team since the early 90s. Hell, even Kansas City is having their day this season. Even Arizona had a couple years of elite status in the last 10. There is no excuse for the ineptitude shown on a consistent basis by the Dolphins' front office.

Trowa makes a good point. It's the proverbial look at the glass half full instead of half empty. And, while it may be difficult to do while watching the Patsies and Jests make their playoff push, it is true we are a better team today than just three short years ago.

Questions will loom large though as the season winds down. Is Sporano the right man to lead this team? Is Henne the right trigger man at the helm? How much better would this team be with an upgrade at OC, not to mention several key positions on the field? I mean, think about it...we could be just one more off season away from being elite. Or, we could be in rebuild mode under a new regime.

I think these last four games will play a huge part in the future of this franchise.

"The G Man wrote:

Trowa makes a good point. It's the proverbial look at the glass half full instead of half empty. And, while it may be difficult to do while watching the Patsies and Jests make their playoff push, it is true we are a better team today than just three short years ago.

And a worse team than we were just two short years ago.

"Rick 1966 wrote:

And a worse team than we were just two short years ago.

Are you serious?? We are MUCH better now then we were then. We went 11-5 because we had a veteran QB, brought out the wildcat and had a very easy schedule. Look at our talent now. We are really young and have a ton of talent.

No things aren't that bad... I'm going to log out now to go watch our hated rivals play in the biggest game of the year for first place in the division and the conference. I wonder what it would be like to see Miami in a game like that.