On the verge of being a contender.

by sdelinois on Oct 13, 2010 11:52 AM EDT

The Miami Dolphins are on the verge of being a top ranked contender. Over the first four games we have seen they have all the pieces required.

Quarterback: Chad Henne can make every throw needed and has the poise needed to march down the field.
Running Back: Between Ricky and Ronnie we have the ability to pound out games.
Wide Receiver: Marshall is proving he is a dominating WR and Bess can soak up all the catches in the middle.
TE: Fasano is a good blocker and possession receiver. It would be nice to have a second TE with more receiving skills.
Offensive Line: The tackles are great and the middle is doing a pretty good job. They will improve when Jerry gets back.
Defensive Line: Starks and Lankford are playing very well and when Odrick comes back it will be a solid line again.
Linebackers: Dansby, Crowder, Wake and Missi. When these 4 are on the field together again we will see their true potential.
Defensive Backs: Davis, Bell and Clemons have played very well and Allen has flashed.
Special Teams: Carpenter and Fields have both done a great job but the surrounding cast has let us down.

On paper this team has what it takes and on the field they have shown it. The problem is they have not all showed it at the same time. In the first two weeks we had a defense that smothered opponents but the offense was awful. In the third week the offense showed up but the Defense could not make the stops when needed. In the last game both the defense and offense showed up but special teams and mistakes destroyed any chance we might have had coming out of the half.

After 4 games we are 2-2 and third in our division. So why am I so optimistic? Well it’s because there is nothing we can’t fix. If we just play halfway decent on special teams. Our starters on defense (Odrick and Crowder) come back and we stop shooting ourselves in the foot on offense. There is not a team out there that we can’t beat!!!!!

Now we just need to pay attention to the details, concentrate, call good plays and execute like I know we can and we can finish off 9-3 and make it to the playoffs. And then anything can happen!!!!!

Poll

What is your expectation for the last 12 games?

10-2 to 12-0

11 votes

7-5 to 9-3

97 votes

4-8 to 6-4

27 votes

0-12 to 3-9

3 votes

138 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

With a few exceptions...

virtually every NFL team is going to have weeks when one unit (offense, defense, etc) and/or a given player, is excellent.

The previously 0-4 Lions looked like world beaters last week, even Shaun Hill could have passed for a bonafide NFL QB.

I that’s indicative of the talent in the league….the poor teams will have the occasional good performance, the middle of the road teams will typically alternate good & bad weeks, but the best teams do it week after week.

Right now, the way Miami has played reflects quite accurately that we are a middle of the road club at this point.

by Natalya on Oct 13, 2010 12:25 PM EDT reply actions

Thats about the way I see it.

Its the NFL so even the worst teams have talent and can rise up and beat a good team on a given weekend.

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by texascowpunk on Oct 13, 2010 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

"Right now, the way Miami has played reflects quite accurately that we are a middle of the road club at this point"

agree 100% what bothers me is that we cant get a big lead and run away with the lead, thats the sign of a middle of the pack team.

aka: SEX PANTHER

by sonnycrockett on Oct 13, 2010 12:42 PM EDT reply actions

I think that has more to do with coaching

In weeks 1 and 2 if we had half a point lead we would sit on it rather than continue to push for points.

by sdelinois on Oct 13, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Well that debate (re: coaching) is very much an ongoing one...

a few more performances like we had against NE and it is going to become the debate.

by Natalya on Oct 13, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe we are experiencing the 2nd incarnation of the Sparano slow start.

Which if true, could very well get into contender class.

I’m on the side of true love…and a good running game.
Nobody can get the truth out of me because even I don't know what it is. I keep myself in a constant state of utter confusion. -- Col. Flagg

by Tunaflipper on Oct 13, 2010 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting quote from Wake

I’m paraphrasing but basically said that in watching the games this last weekend. He saw how small the things that win or lose a game for you really are.

For example NE found a small weekness in our special teams blocking and exploited it for 2 blocks that gave them 14 points. That just was too much for us to overcome and we imploded.

by sdelinois on Oct 13, 2010 2:00 PM EDT reply actions

Who voted for 0-12 to 3-9??

C’mon. That is a bunch of crap. This team will be somewhere around 9 wins this year.

Miami Dolphin fan since 1971. Ricky Williams for starting RB! The #19 is NOT cursed. Trust the TRIUMVERATE!! Chad Henne will be the next Miami Dolphins QB to win a Super Bowl. Looking good Mr Sparano.

by madcitydave on Oct 13, 2010 6:37 PM EDT reply actions

There's always somebody...

I’m on the side of true love…and a good running game.
Nobody can get the truth out of me because even I don't know what it is. I keep myself in a constant state of utter confusion. -- Col. Flagg

by Tunaflipper on Oct 13, 2010 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Trolls

by Farorefox on Oct 13, 2010 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah jets fans

Always late to the party

by Skips OCD on Oct 14, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

playoffs for you guys

is going to be tough simply because of the teams in front of you. there’s 3 playoff spots up for grabs for anyone in our division (AFC East Crown and the two WCs). for the division crown you have to pass the Pats (who are really a game and a half up on you b/c of the H2H) and the Jets (who are really 2 games up on you b/c of the H2H). both those H2H losses were in Miami so to win the division, you’d have to grab it by the throat on the road against two pretty tough teams + hope that both teams fall a bit. that combined with the Phins brutal schedule means they will be fighting for a WC (I’m not writing them off for the division, but I truly believe they will need that WC spot to get it done).

that leaves the two WC spots where you will likely be competing with many good teams. you have to assume the loser of the Ravens/Steelers duel for the AFC north is getting a WC berth so that leaves one spot remaining.

the teams in play for that are the loser of the Jets/Pats duel for the AFC East (which is my pick for the other WC), the Bengals, any of the teams from the AFC south and the loser of the AFC West race. I just don’t know if the Phins have the horses with their schedule to get past all of those teams.

I personally think the playoffs are:
1/2. Steelers/Jets (depending on the H2H late in the season)
3. Colts
4. Chargers
5. Ravens
6. Pats

you can’t be a contender without making the playoffs and I don’t think the Phins have the ability to get by all of those teams (Chargers aside who only get in because of the AFC West). i see them in a cluster with the chiefs, texans, titans, and bengals in the 8-8 to 10-6 range on the outside looking in.

most people here will rip me for that, but to be fair, there are just a ton of good teams in the AFC this year.

by Crimetime Island on Oct 13, 2010 9:54 PM EDT reply actions

Funny how you mention our schedule.....

Yet the Pats and the Jets have pretty much the same schedule. Not to mention do you really think the Pats offense is going to be as good without Moss? And the Jets haven’t exactly been blowing teams out, Bills don’t count, Sanchez’s luck is going to run out sooner or later.

I used to think I had a drinking problem.
So I stopped thinking.

by luvs2drnk on Oct 14, 2010 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions

All we have to do is win

If we beat the jets and pats were even on head to head. As for the patriots… I think they’ve already thrown in the towel otherwise why would they trade Moss. Right now the Jests are the team to beat and there is no reason we can’t beat them.

by sdelinois on Oct 14, 2010 9:14 AM EDT up reply actions