The Top 5 Reason why the Dolphins will win the AFC East

by samdaman on Aug 16, 2009 8:18 AM EDT

1. A new and improved team. I thought the Phins had a very productive off-season and draft. Jake Grove brings a little more experience to a young o-line. Also, the acquisition of Gibril Wilson helps out our secondary, which I think was in need of some help, especially considering the loss of Andre Goodman and Renaldo Hill. Finally of course, Jason Taylor. Still a dominate pass rusher in his latter football days. It'll just be nice to have him there when we win the Super Bowl, Also, the draft. Many "experts" said that the Phins didn't have such a good draft. The addressed many team needs, getting Vontae Davis, Chris Clemons, Pat Turner, and Brian Hartline. Also, they got Pat White, a luxury pick, but he will fit the Dolphins tricky offense very well. I can already hear the wildcat growling!

2. Breakout years from past draft picks. In particular, Ronnie Brown and Teddy Ginn. It finally looks like the Dolphins have a respectable o-line, which is great news for Ronnie. He has showed a great combination of speed and power, and this is the year he makes the leap from good running back to one of the elite running backs. Now for Ted Ginn. In my opinion, his speed makes up for his size. I just have a gut feeling that he's gonna quiet all the people that said he was too small.

3. More experience. Tony Sporano now has a year under his belt as a NFL head coach, which can only work for the better. Chad also has a year of experience with the Dolphins offense. Last year was a "warm up" year. We did great, got to the playoffs, but now it's time for a late playoff run with a more experienced team.

4. Lots of depth on the depth chart. Backing of Chad P. is Chad Henne, a talented, young quarterback. Backing up Ronnie is Ricky Williams, and established vet, and at one time the NFL's leading rusher. I think at receiver we have many talented players, such as Ginn, Pat Turner, Greg Camarilo, Devon Bess, and Ernest Wilford. On defense, it seems that all the depth at linebacker is causing some small problems. The final linebacker spot is being fought over by Matt Roth, Jason Taylor, and Cameron Wake. In football, guys get hurt. That's why it's important to have a reliable second team.

5. A stacked playbook. Last year we saw flea flickers, triple reverses, running back passes, quarterback receptions, and a little something called the wildcat. What will see this year? Only time will tell.

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And....

BECAUSE WE ARE THE AFC EAST CHAMPIONS RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU GOTTA BEAT US TO TAKE IT!!!!

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by Kevin Nogle on Aug 16, 2009 8:35 AM EDT reply actions

Can not argue with any of that..!!

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by Alpha6 on Aug 16, 2009 9:14 AM EDT reply actions

I’m more then a little surprised to keep seeing how great you think Grove is going to be for you guys. I mean Oakland was one of the worst teams in the league last year and they showed little to no interest in keeping him. He’s only had one healthy season and has never really been a standout. Maybe I’m mistaken, time will tell, but I don’t see Grove being an upgrade for you over Satele, and it looks like they’ll both struggle against Jenkins and Wilfork.

I also don’t think Tedd Ginn is going to be all you guys are hoping for – but that’s probably going to catch so much flak I don’t even want to try to back it up.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 9:41 AM EDT reply actions

They still wanted Grove.

From the Herald, "The Dolphins, I am told, were quite impressed by Grove’s work as they prepared for their 17-15 victory over Oakland last season…. Grove, 29, is a free agent because he met playing time incentives in his contract and the final year of his deal was voided. The Raiders have been trying to re-sign him, obviously with no luck so far.
“We want him back, obviously,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said Feb. 19 when asked if he was comfortable with the player’s status. “So if he’s not there or until it’s resolved I’m not comfortable at all.”

And as Matty pointed in a later post, Grove did not fit the Raider scheme. He does fit here. And that may have been a small contributor to injury. He’ll do the job against Wilfork -good as most, anyway. Btw, Wilfork won’t play as hard against us ‘cuz he wants to come here next year but don’t tell.

Sadly, I’m inclined to agree Ginn won’t live up to expectations for two reasons. 1)They’re too high and 2)He has to have the arm of Henne (at least) to shine. Till then there’s gonna be much barking and yiping about him.

Armchair QB's always complete the pass and armchair coaches always pick the right players.

Yes, Larry Little is still the man.

by Tunaflipper on Aug 16, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m inclined to believe that coaches will almost always say they want to keep their players. If they didn’t it would not only be an insult to the player but it might lead to difficulties with trades, etc. down the road. I think what speaks more to how much an organization likes a player is how hard they court that player at the end of the season. According to ESPN, “the Raiders did not try hard to keep him.” Now maybe ESPN is just wrong there, would be far from the first time, but maybe they aren’t.

And as for the whole scheme thing – I’ll be the first to admit that I have no idea how he will fit your scheme, you guys of course know that far better then I ever will. All I’m saying is that from an outsiders perspective it looks a little bit like you are taking a mediocre center and calling him good just because he’s suddenly playing for you.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

I won't say what I could because I respect you Temson. (Even as a little chain jerking)

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by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

lol yeah I don't argue with Temson because I think he is too nice to get into it with.

I respect him too much to debate with him.

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by dolphinsinbuffalo on Aug 16, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on guys, I’m not going to fall apart if it turns out we disagree about something – guess what, we are rivals after all.

I don’t think Grove is the solution you’re looking for at center – have at it.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

lol well I honestly haven't paid much attention to the position of center

so I can’t even argue with you on it.

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by dolphinsinbuffalo on Aug 16, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

My comment was just going to be along the lines of:

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by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions

crap, hit enter instead of tab!

Patsies will win the SB cause Brady is back. (Who knows how well he will play?)

JJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJets will be great because the got Fat Ass and Snachez.

Bills will be great cause they got TO

Phins will be cellar dweller cause they didn’t get a #1 WR

My point is, it is a TEAM sport. Not an individual sport. If you want to rate individuals for wins/losses, follow Usain. (You see that he broke his own 100 record today? 9.58! with a headwind! By .11 ! on the anniversary of the last one!)

If a TEAM does not gel and play like a team, then it does not matter if all your first-stringers (on O & D) are all pro-bowl players and HOF bound!

I would much rather have a team that is unselfish and contributes at each person’s highest level, cause THAT team has a great shot at the SB win.

Attorney General of the Matty I Fan Club

by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

well said

I agree completely with all that you said. It is a team sport and that is what makes it so good.

Bodyguard of the Official Matty I Fan Club.
Don't question my fandominium.

by dolphinsinbuffalo on Aug 16, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, it’s a team sport. This thread however is the 5 reasons you will win and one of them is a single player who I am unconvinced about. I am not saying you can’t win because of him, and I’m not saying his play will determine your whole season. I AM saying he looks to be a weakness on your line, not a strength which is one of the only real disagreements I had with the reasons you COULD win the AFC East.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Not arguing with you on him

It is the statement that we have a mediocre center & calling him good cause he is on our team.

I took it to the next step. A mediocre team with a "super star " added makes that team great.

(Not calling the Bills mediocre). It is the media perspective on NFL. I guess the Beagles are going to the SB cause they got Vick now. (wildcat and all) Oh, and the Hattiesburg High Lions will be in the SB this year cause Favre is playing for them. And the JJJJJJJJJJJJets too cause they got Snachez and the House (a/k/a Rexy).

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by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Well all I meant by the comment is that it’s easy to get caught up in your teams players. I think some Bills fans are doing it with Hangartner and I think Miami fans might be doing it with Grove, maybe not, but to an outsider that’s how it looks.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 11:31 PM EDT up reply actions

It very well could be. We simply (most of us at least) trust in the trifecta!

Attorney General of the Matty I Fan Club

by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

its all about mindset temson

grove was miserable in oakland and his play reflected that.

2009 is a year of respect ladies and gentlemen. Lets get it.

by MrMedic on Aug 16, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, maybe. I just get the feeling that both Grove and Hangartner (for us) are going to disappoint (based on high expectations). Hang has been underwhelming in preseason – how has Grove done?

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm with you on Grove.

I am not conviced he is going to be an upgrade for the phins OL. I have been following the practice feeds from various sources and Grove is the only OL player that I have heard nothing about. Long has been dominate. Carey is consistent and steady. Smiley is back to his old form, prior to last years injury. And the RG position is a revolving door. I can’t remember reading anything about Grove’s performance so far.

by ct1361 on Aug 16, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

better than hearing how is doing crappy!

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by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah thats true.

As an old college O-Lineman, we always said that we shouldn’t be noticed. The only time we are is when we messed up. Penalty. Sack. Etc. I just find it surprising that Grove was a big FA signing and no one is writing about how he has been doing in camp.

by ct1361 on Aug 16, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions

He's not glamorous enough for the too few words they're allowed to send in.

Long is still obligating press time as a No 1 pick, the injury factor keeps the Thomas & Smiley in, dunno know why they’d type up Carey other than some kinda “tackle balance.” Anyway, no news is good news with Grove, as far as I’m concerned. If he’s holding his own and gettin’ the double teams with the G’s, he can fly under the radar all season long.

Armchair QB's always complete the pass and armchair coaches always pick the right players.

Yes, Larry Little is still the man.

by Tunaflipper on Aug 16, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I dunno about that – in this division with the mammoth nose tackles C becomes a pretty important position, even if you are planning on giving guard help.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s one of the reasons our OL was so disappointing last year. The revolving door of Melfowdukeprestsuck (as Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston are referred to on Buffalo Rumblings) were so horrible against Jenkins and Wilfork we had an impossibly hard time running the ball and pass protection wasn’t anything to write home about either.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL Temson

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by PhinsTifosi on Aug 16, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Glad we got Grove...

but I think Fins shoulda kept Satele as well.

As for winning division again, it’s gonna come down to the wire vs. the Pats. Mostly it depends on Fins secondary vs. Moss and Welker (I don’ think Galloway will factor much), if JT can still put the fear of God in Brady, and if the Pats OL is still capable of seeing their QB bite the dust. I really think Fins have best OL in AFC East (esp. if Thomas comes back), whereas Matt Light and Nick Kazcur are totally overrated tackles.

by snorky on Aug 16, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

Who is your back-up Center now?

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Berger

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by uncle finster on Aug 16, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Any good?

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

lol, no one knows,

he’s been in the league for a few years, but has not played much.

by uncle finster on Aug 16, 2009 8:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, you might find out this year with Grove’s injury history.

"We want to win immediately. To say you're building is an incomplete sentence. ... You're building for a future coach and general manager."
-Marv Levy

by TEMSON on Aug 16, 2009 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions