Reasons for our turnaround
by shula13 on Dec 9, 2008 2:57 PM EST
30 comments
Much is being made of the complete 180 that our team has done this year in the wake of our 1 win season of a year ago. How did we get here? Is it all the good coaching? Free Agency?
Our success this year has been an interesting blend of things. Let's discuss:
1) Last year, we weren't as bad as our record indicated. Sure, we were bad, but if we had won that opening overtime game against Washington, things might not have snowballed the way they did. Our record was more indicative of our injuries than our personnel. Consider the many players shelved on IR: Trent Green, Yeremiah Bell, Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, both starting safeties. Additionally, when the season was already in the toilet, we traded away our best wide receiver, Chris Chambers. So let's put last season in proper perspective. Sure, injuries occur every season, but last year's misfortunes were comical.
2) For once, we found productive Rookies. The trifecta has done an amazing job finding the right guys. Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling have added depth to our defensive line rotation. We have two highly productive rookie free agents!! Davone Bess has been an absolute steal as an undrafted free agent, along with Dan Carpenter. These guys have done so well that we almost forget to mention Jake Long (thank goodness we didn't select Vernon Gholston). These are more contributions from our rookie class than we've had since Jimmy Johnson's first couple of years here.
3) Free agency and other front office moves. With the exception of Ernest Wilford, the trifecta has been on the money. Number one, we picked up Chad Pennington in the single biggest move this offseason. The guy must garner serious MVP consideration if we win the AFC East. Wow. And how about fleecing the Cowboys by giving them a mere 4th Round pick in exchange for two of our highly producing starters, Anthony Fasano and Akin Ayodele? Are you kidding me? This was a stroke of genius, as both players are doing very well for us. Just in the past two weeks, Ayodele had a huge INT against the Rams and Fasano scored our only TD against the Bills. And the trifecta continues to tweak the roster by finding guys like Lousaka Polite (who's been an absolute stud at fullback).
4) It all starts with coaching and the front office. Sparano has been incredible for instilling a winning attitude and accountability in each of our players. He's demanding, like a Jimmy Johnson, but not in a way that will eventually tune our players out. I hope he coaches here for 26 years, like a Don Shula. And let's not forget Jeff Ireland and Bill Parcells. These guys have done great, but most of all, it's the excellent working relationship of all three of these guys that make this train move. We all saw how San Diego self imploded because AJ Smith couldn't work in concert with Marty Schottenheimer. Let's keep it going, Dolfans!
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If Parcells doesn't come to Miami, Pennington doesn't end up in Miami...
even if the Jets trade for Farve. You have to think back to when Chad was first signed to a rather generous contract: There were A LOT of negative opinions of Pennington, mostly because he was a Jet. I don’t think Sparano brings him in without Parcells backing him up. I think Sparano would have gone with Henne and rebuild. I saw enough of Henne to think that he will be very good later, but he struggled pretty badly at certain times in preseason and it would have been a tough, depressing, heart-breaking year (interceptions and sacks) if he had been QB. IMHO
by DolphDallas on Dec 9, 2008 3:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dolphin fan in dallas? or phinsguy part deux?
Longest Sig In the History of Phinsider belongs to Me. 53 Lines in Total.
by finsxfactor on Dec 9, 2008 3:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
maybe his name is dallas
"check that...the 29th of Feb. this year.....why is that the record day for hits? Did Matty have the Kim Kardashian sex tape or something?"
-Treat
"yes he did. and Jersquall recut it to look like Marino was boning her."
-Treasure
by chrislucas on Dec 10, 2008 10:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree DolphDallas
a lot of dominos wouldn’t have fallen if the big Parcells one didn’t come to Miami
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 9, 2008 3:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Parcells
Allowed for us to raid the Cowboys…players, and more importantly, coaches…
"The dolphin is one of the fastest and smartest creatures of the sea. Dolphins can attack and kill a shark or whale. Sailors say bad luck will come to anyone who harms one of them." - Joe Robbie, Oct 8, 1965 upon announcing the name of the new AFL Miami football team.
****Keeper of the Phinsider Comment Goo-ing Plasma Cannon****
by Mosul_DolFan on Dec 9, 2008 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice Job Shula13
and congrats on the Front Page. You hit 4 good points with your post. Last year was just a comedy of errors thats for sure. And as awful as it was, we came real close to winning 5-6 times. So yea, it was bad, but numbers can be deceiving sometimes.
again, nice job
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 9, 2008 5:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
welcome to the front page club...
good read
"This is one of the most competitive businesses there is . . . It's my life. It's my blood. It's how I'm measured."
---BILL PARCELLS
by Rzayo24 on Dec 9, 2008 5:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
hey...
that’s my line lol
Good read though, I think everything started with Parcells. Just that name alone lends credibility to the organization and everyone he brings in. Because of Parcells, we now have a man who looks to be the next great Miami coach. Because of him, we have one of the best draft classes in the league right now. Because of him, we have a franchise QB. And because of him and the attitude him and his acolytes instilled, our injuries are down, our intensity is up, and our confidence is through the roof. Long Live Bill Parcells.
"I throw better than anybody in college and I can throw with anybody in the pros. There, that's what I think."
"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change."
- Dan Marino aka Quarterback God
by Little Nicky 21 on Dec 9, 2008 5:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Fasano / Ayodele trade was mind-blowing.
I mean, two quality starters for a fourth? For a FOURTH? You must be kidding me!
It’s like Parcells and Ireland had some kind of spell still cast over Dallas at the time, because it makes about as much sense as the following exchange
Parcells – ’I’ll sell ya this dollar.’
Dallas – ‘Dollars are good. How much?’
Parcells – ’How’s fifty bucks sound?’
Dallas – ‘No way.’
Parcells – ‘Hmm… Well, let’s make it a hundred.’
Dallas (confused) – ‘Done.’
Parcells – ‘While we’re here, I gots some beans to sell.’
Dallas – ‘Beans?’
Parcells – ‘Yeah. They’re magic. Magic beans.’ And he laughs his ass off on the way out.
Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's far more important than that.
by Agumen on Dec 9, 2008 5:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
lol
That trade was up there with the Louisiana Purchase. I personally think it was because Fasano and Ayodele were blue collar, bring the lunchbox to work types, not the glam, get me on ESPN that help J.Jones sell ticket types.
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 9, 2008 6:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i am inclined to think that the cowboys seriously thought they had
great depth at both positions and considered them expendible… that being said, I also don’t think they had any coaches left with enough talent evaluation ability to see those guys’ real potential.
I love the idea if getting one over on Jerry baby… he reminds me of Al Davis, but with a facelift and without the walker.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Dec 10, 2008 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
thanks guy
Thanks for the shout out guys. It’s awesome to make it on the front page. This has been an awesome year so far.
by shula13 on Dec 9, 2008 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
"You should call that a GOB, guy."
"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt
by Daniel52 on Dec 9, 2008 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
another thought
I always thought that the famous fake spike game against the Jets in 94’ was so devastating that the franchise was set back a good 10 years.
If it comes down to the last game, and Pennington upstages Favre for the AFC East crown, I think the Jets won’t be able to recover. The devastation will be just as bad, if not worse, than in 94’. God I’d love nothing more than to stick it to those guys.
by shula13 on Dec 9, 2008 6:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yes, i tend to agree with the impact
this team was built for a “win now” run. i think losing starts a snowball effect:
-Favre starts whining again and considers retirement
-Mangenius is on the hot seat for the “blow it out” offseason without delivering a playoff berth
-the team now has salary cap issues to address
-and SOMEBODY will be in trouble for cutting Chad
:)
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Dec 10, 2008 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good post
Great job Shula! I’m thankful for this new staff!!
GEtSICK 4 JC
by GEtSICK13 on Dec 9, 2008 6:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Absolutely agree with ya
on all points!
Winning that first game could have gone a long way last year, but losing is a cancer and it spreads real fast. Couple that with the injuries you mention and piss-poor coaching and lack of internal motivation, we were lucky to escape with our lone win last year. I swear, some angel must have miracled that one winning play we had.
Winning is a cancer too! Well….whatever the opposite of cancer is, is what winning is. Parcells for sure was the biggest add for us, but his ability to evaluate talent extends to the coach and GM. Sparano has been fantastic for us, really only looking like a rookie on just a mere few occasions. He is the one who helps get the most from our young talent and our veterans. He’s got “eventual Superbowl winner” written all over him!
Miami is vying for a playoff spot….thanks to the football gods! Whatever happens, however it shakes out, what a great freakin season we had and are having!
God dammit I love the smell of Dolphins football in the morning!!!
"That's never going to heal if you don't stop picking"
by mikem1224 on Dec 9, 2008 7:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Smells like.................................Victory!
"You found that word today......and that word is Character"- Coach Sparano 11/9/08
by HuskerDolphin on Dec 9, 2008 7:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
A stellar week of Fan Posts so far...
and it’s only Tuesday! Lots of quality insights and researched opinions. This is by far the best Phins fan site I’ve run across.
Great job managing the loony bin Matty!
"Lighten Up Francis"
SGT. Hulka (Stripes)
by OntheGo on Dec 9, 2008 8:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
you callin me a loonie-toon Matthew?
"This is one of the most competitive businesses there is . . . It's my life. It's my blood. It's how I'm measured."
---BILL PARCELLS
by Rzayo24 on Dec 10, 2008 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bin Looney?
isn’t he that wacky terrorist that trys to blow up buses, but keeps burning his lips on the exhaust pipes?
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Dec 10, 2008 6:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget Wayne...
It takes a certain kind of owner to admit his mistakes and swallow a big chunk of dough to do the right thing. Given the newly renovated stadium is only 60% filled for games (of which 45% seem to be Fish Fans), I doubt Wayne is making too much money this year, so big kudos to Wayne for his patience, financial investment, and leadership.
by nyfishfan on Dec 9, 2008 8:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yeah yeah! Wayne has been great
he has made some major mistake, but he has been smart enough to know that he needs to hire experts and let them work (even though he got “had” but a couple of “so-called experts”).
Thank goodness he isn’t one of those owners that thinks they can fix it themselves. We would be stuck on purgatory like the raiders.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Dec 10, 2008 6:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah he finally got this team on the upswing
too bad he’ll never get a ring as a Fins owner
"How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?"
-From the Unforgiven III off of Death Magnetic
by Patssuck456 on Dec 11, 2008 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yet another front pager not named finsxfactor lol
but seriously. nice read good job buddy
Longest Sig In the History of Phinsider belongs to Me. 53 Lines in Total.
by finsxfactor on Dec 9, 2008 10:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget J-Ferg
The Body Snatcher, our Run D-MC (Run Defense Master of Ceremonies)
by Dolphriend on Dec 10, 2008 10:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Injuries
Enjoyed the post. I remember in his first meeting with the team, Parcells saying the team’s injuries would be down to ten percent of what they were last year, and I wondered how can he say that. The answer, mandatory voluntary workouts in the offseason. Mandatory voluntary is an oxymoron, but that is what it was and look at the incredible decrease in injuries this year. I miss Jason Taylor but he danced his way out of Parcells good graces and on to a team that almost certainly does not make the playoffs this year because he did not want to be around for our rebuilding. We are still in the thick of the playoff hunt, and Taylor has been injured. Parcells knows what he is doing.
by Sparcells on Dec 10, 2008 12:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
nice post.
i said often last year that we were not as bad as our record indicated, and the just about ANY other coach could have gotten 3 or 4 more wins out of the talent we had, even with all the injuries. I still am pissed at Cam for the totally ridiculous job he did of game planning, game management, and play calling.
-LCFF
by LeftCoastFinFan on Dec 10, 2008 6:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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