Miami Dolphins: Great? Not yet, but they have potential!

I agree with the vast majority of the post. I especially like this statement:

But in order to survive in the NFL, a team has to continue to change, because it’s environment continues to change – opponents change, offensive and defensive schemes change, rules change, players change, etc.

That is one of the reasons that I don’t believe teams “rebuild” in the NFL because all teams are “rebuilding” every year. Most teams turnover at least 25% of their 53 man roster from year to year.

As far as next years evolution, I expect at least one new OL, a new inside LB (Crowder), new RB’s, and maybe a new safety (Bell). I don’t think they will change the OC unless something drastic happens the rest of this season. If they want Henne to continue to get better they will keep the same system and OC in place. One of the surest ways to slow down the development of a young QB is to change offensive systems. Look at all the successfull young QB’s in the league, they are the ones with the same OC year in and year out. Look at all the bust young QB’s, they have had to work under multiple systems.

Rec’d

We’re finally showing a nice balance and playing sound football. The template for success in this league has always been; Good running + Good defense = wins.
A great QB is a bonus. I admire teams like N.E. (did I just say that?) and Pitt. that can plug and play and remain quality teams because they never lose sight of the TEAM concept. I believe we have a good running game and good defense. We have a quality QB. Now, we need to execute. Perfect practice makes perfect play. We had no exotic OC when we were…perfect. We ran, we tackled and we executed perfectly. The season is young and I believe we will peak at the right time. I also see us building the type of organization that evolves into a “plug n play” type quality team. Pittsburgh is getting their ass kicked this week, you’ll see. This team wants to make admends for the last 2 home flops.

Several key areas are still ?-marks. I don’t think we will solve all the problems but if we solve two of them even I think it will be huge. I also agree though that better execution with our current group will be take us far. That being said, as Lefty wrote, constant evolution is nice so looking to the future -

1. C is a priority I think
2. Assuming we lose one of our RBs, and possibly both we will likely need someone there. Perhaps Korey Sheets can be the Leon Washington type though… If we lose both we need to draft someone. I am not sold on Hilliard and wouldn’t want to rely soley on him and Cobbs.
3. If Bell keeps falling down on tackles (plus he is getting older) than SS may need an upgrade. Of course it is possible that we have the upgrade on our team in the form of 5th round pick…
4. Big ? one way or another is CB. I disagree with the post above that says CB definitely requires an upgrade, but I agree that it is a ? mark. v-Davis looks like a rising star. JA has his moments and often puts himself in the position to make the play to his credit, and potentially could be leading the league in INTs. He also makes a more than fair share of mental errors. Maybe if we can shift him from ST he can fully focus on CB and he will be fine, but if he doesn’t cut back on some of his mistakes we need someone else. I don’t know if Will Allen will be coming back or if he fits the youth movement.
5. If it is in the cards for Starks at NT and Odrick at DE than we are ok (although more backups may be nice). If that doesn’t work we will need a good young NT.
6. I don’t know if ILB is priority need right now. If Crowder stays healthy I like the Crowder/Dansby combo. Also don’t forget we have Edds waiting in the wings and if he can rehab well it will be nice.
7. Maybe another Guard would be nice, but if we have a good C I think Jerry, Incognito, a returning Nate Garner are good enough that it isn’t a priority.
8. If pass blocking is good enough than a second TE to go with Fasano is good move. I would have put it higher on the list, but I forgot till now :)
9. I really think Henne will be good. But if his problems turn out to be endemic and insurmountable than eventualy new QB would nice. I personally think he is learning on the job slowly but steadily and will start to play more smoothly.
10. A speedy WR who can actually catch would be nice althogh we can win without it

To reiterate though, I don’t think any team is solid in all of its positions. Coaching and practice comes in to play. I think we have very good pieces and if they execute to their potential we can beat anyone.

If we executed well, we could run the ball twice for 10 yards and never face a 3rd and 1.
If we executed well, we could stop the opponent and force punts.
When we executed well, we went undefeated.
Poor execution makes every play look like a dud. Get off Hennings ass already, he’s won championships with his play calling. If we execute plays to perfection and STILL dont gain yards or win, then I’ll bark at the OC.

I believe in what we’re doing. I also will take your evolution theory too. But I will not take shitty special teams and Miami turning there backs to dynamic playmakers. I don’t care if it’s a wr or a rb. Or just an athlete. But we need an athlete. Someone with strong hands and quick feet. Also, I think we need to look at a hybrid type TE. Not saying to rid of fasano but we need some dudes that can get open for Henne. Oh and Jake Locker… lol

This team will not change much from this year to the next compared to years before. There are alot of players that will remain here for some time to come. Ofcoarse we will add players but most of the offense will stay the same. Except for RT Vernon Carey and Center Joe Berger. The right side of our O-line is weak partially due to the absence of John Jerry. I think John Jerry is going to be even better then people think and will remain at his position for a long time. I can understand how people can be concerned about Chad Henne. We have been looking for a QB since the great #13 departed and Henne has more picks then we would like but he still has more touchdowns. I like Henne. He has this swagger about him that says “you can’t rattle me”. He shrugs off interceptions unlike alot of QBs that tend to get frustrated when they allow them. I know though that he does’nt just forget about them. I’m almost certain that when he throws a pick in a game, that is the first thing he wants to look at on film and correct. All it is is growing pains from learning his offense. Just give him the rest of this year and half of the next and then we’ll truly know what we got. He’s ahead of Mark Snatchez that is certain. I can agree that Fasano has been a little inconsistent over the last year but I can’t say get rid of him yet. I think we need to see more of this “speed” Brain Hartline has before I’m convinced. He has the hands for it that for sure, but if he has speed why is’nt he burning CBs and getting wide open? We should consider on replacing him if he does’nt start making a bigger impact in games. If Brain had the numbers Davone has I’d be sold but Bess has 105 more yards then him, 11 more receptions, and 1 more TD then him so he needs to catch up pun intended.

I wish Sean Smith would’ve turned out better but like alot of tall CBs, he does’nt have the footwork to keep up with the shifty wide receivers. Hopefully he’ll improve. Jason Allen needs to play prevent defense better. In the Jets game, when Edwards got the TD and Jason fell it was because he was flying around to much. When you don’t have help, instead of trying to make the big lick just wrap him up and prevent the score. Vontae is a keeper for sure. I want to see more from Clemons and Reshad. I don’t think we need to mess with our LBs much we are sturdy there. Our D-line will be fine as long as Odrick plays to his potential. We could still use some nice back ups for NT and DE just incase things don’t turn out the way we hope.

Next steps

1. Mauling Center, and the OL will be set Joe Berger and Nate Garner returning can give enough depth a backup T is also needed (listed below in the steps).
2. All around TE, a Gronkowsky or Gresham type, someone who creates mismatches and forces a LB to always take care of him.
3. RB, Ricky and Ronnie are making a case to stay in the team. Probably at a lower price than expected. But bringing a young stud to the stables is always a positive.
4. OLB depth, What do we have behind Misi and Wake, Ike has not been up to expectations.
5. ST core guy, this unit really misses JA in there and the guys brought to fill that spot have failed.
6. T depth, enough said. Carey is not getting younger by the way.

Now I’m not sure we need upgrades at:
1. NT, we actually have not seen enough from Starks there to make a call, Soliai is good when reps are limited so until I have a better sample size I’m not thinking this as a need.
Besides returning Starks to DE means having: Langford, Mcdaniel, Odrick, Merling (IR right now) at the position. Great depth or trading possibilities?
2. S, I agree with people saying we could be grooming the Bell replacement already, Mr Jones must be given a chance as Clemmons was.
3. ILB, Also agree with people saying Edds, Micah (practice squad), Dobbins are enough depth Channing and Karlos looks like they will thrive together.
4. WR, What? Maybe and just maybe as a project, which we already have in place to fill the speedy role. This by no means is a top next step.
5. CB, Must be kidding on this one, VD, SS, JA, Sapp, Carroll, even if WA is show the door, that unit is in place to grow. if JA finishes with 7 picks, which he could do easily at his current pace, he deserves all the chances to keep playing.

so while I am very happy the Dolphins got the “W” i am witholding judgement until more evidence comes in.

Pittsburgh will be a major test – I think most people watching right now would say Pittsburgh and the NYJ are the best two teams in the NFL right now (not necessarily in that order).

Pittsbugh will be a good measuring stick game to see where the Dolphins are right now.

Right at this moment i think the Dolphins are still the 3rd best team in the AFC East – but a W versus Pittsburgh could easily change me mind.

Matty pointed something out in an earlier Blog – that the Dolphins just don’t seem to get many 2-score leads. That part of the team bothers me – you need to step on the accellerator when you get a lead in this League.

First, we never know about the potential “lock-out”, so that scares me some. The draft could be severly hindered on that notion alone, how ight you ask? Under-Grads very well mkight not come out as they usually do, hence, will effect the draft big time. If they do not know if there will be a season, they will not come out.

Lets say there is a new CBA and No Lock-Out for arguments sake.
I personally think we will find a few FA’s, people are wanting to come to Miami now more than ever, especially with the Heat with their new players, plus Brand Marshall & Karlos Dansby.

Davone Bess, Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, And Chad Henne WILL be much better as a unit next year.
O-Line questions all around, but the season is not even half-way done yet.
D-Line injuries have raised questions. First game, Odrick gets hurt, we do not really know what Starks would have done so far with Odrick healthy and playing in every game.
LBers – Misi is a rookie, some games he is showing up, some you wonder if he is on the field. Next year will help him, this will also help Wake big time. Also the injury to Crowder, we never know how the first 4 games without him would have been. I think the games would have been slighlty different with him not injured.
CB’s – Decent play so far, we are no where near as bad as previous few years, this will also get better, we see it in VD almost every week.
Safetys, have we even heard Clemmons names? This is a good thing, maybe not a “ball-hawk” but seems to be doing his job. Bell is missing tackles and falling down, Will RJ step up if called on?
RB’s – I think we go aboslutely new here. Either a nice earlier draft pick, or a FA pick-up, perhaps both.

Draft -
Im a thinking we will go
RB
OL
OLB
RB
OL
TE
not really in any order – but we really have no TE behind Fasano, which will be a pick or FA
Rbs are old, Ronnie has been “half-injuried” still this year, I think he is gone, unless he takes a “Ricky Approach”
OL – we will get some people, we do every year
NT – hopefully, but we really need to see least 10 games with Langford – Starks – Odrick all healthy playing together. We may have it in Starks, but we do not really know.

Hopefully we can get a 7’0 TE that runs a 4.5 who can block & has “stick-em” for hands. lol..
I usually wait till after about 10 games of “healthy” play, before trying to see the off-season. I never give up and really think to hard about it untill I hear or see the words “Dolphins Out Of Play-Off Contention” but, I know the running game will change, heck, I think everyone knows this. Maybe a “scat-back”, todays NFL, they seem to help.

im in school here in israel so i got really have no idea whats going on in the world of sports, so i finally get internet access and this was the 1st place i came. keep up the good work

I’m surprised at the lack of mention for that position in this post. I truley believe that if we get that true top end #2 receiver our passing attack will go to top 3 in the league! Without being able to double up on Marshall.. and having Bess in the slot.. wow.. goosebumps.. I’m telling you, that one player could make a HUGE difference to our offense next year…I just pray that it happens

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