Well, I got my first NFL Preview Magazine today. I picked up the lesser of the books, Street & Smith's who get a lot of their facts wrong, but still fun to read. Still waiting for Lindy's book, which is by far the best preview book. Well anyways, back to Street & Smith's. Here is the jist of what they have to say about Miami:
Projected Finish: 2nd AFC East(Miss Playoffs)
Offensive Line: B-
Says Jeno James upgrades the inside of our line and makes the inside bigger. They don't seem very keen on the Right side. Project Vernon Carey as RG and John St. Clair at RT with McInotsh possibly taking over at RT later in the season.
Quaterbacks: C+
Quote from Book: "This should be interesting. Not necessarily good, but interesting." They don't seem sold on Feeley.
Running Backs: A-
Thinks Ricky is still good but showed signs of his New Orleans form last year. They are very high on Rob Konrad and like Minor as a changeup back.
Recievers: B-
Says that Chambers will be the best WR in the East this season. Boston is a big threat but comes with behavior problems. McMichael is good but needs to improve concentration.
Defensive Line: A-
Mentions that the Fins were the only team not to give up a 100 yard rusher. The love the front 4 and say we have great off the benchers in Zgonina and David Bowens.
Linbackers: B+
Zach Thomas is the sole of the Linebackers and is an overachiever. Seau has more gas in the tank the people give him. Greenwood does a nice job and the only problem with this group is speed in coverage.
Secondary: B
Says Madison is slowing down and questions Freeman. Gives us credit for great depth in Howard and Poole.
Special Teams: B
Sammy Morris will help and Mare is better then some people think.
Management: B-
Says Speilman and Wanny may be genious in their bold moves this offseason, but if it doesn't pay off, heads will roll.
Botom Line(Word for word):
Conventional wisdom says you can't fire the team, so fire the coach. But after another failure to reach the playoffs, the club instead extended Wannstedt's deal by two years and ditched most of the offensive line. The Dolphins can't live off their defense forever and simply must develop a big-time passing game. Nothing says Feeley can do that.
Miami needs to finish a season the way it starts and can't keep coming up small in big games. That's as much a reflection on the players as it is on Wannstedt.
Projected Finish: 2nd AFC East(Miss Playoffs)
Offensive Line: B-
Says Jeno James upgrades the inside of our line and makes the inside bigger. They don't seem very keen on the Right side. Project Vernon Carey as RG and John St. Clair at RT with McInotsh possibly taking over at RT later in the season.
Quaterbacks: C+
Quote from Book: "This should be interesting. Not necessarily good, but interesting." They don't seem sold on Feeley.
Running Backs: A-
Thinks Ricky is still good but showed signs of his New Orleans form last year. They are very high on Rob Konrad and like Minor as a changeup back.
Recievers: B-
Says that Chambers will be the best WR in the East this season. Boston is a big threat but comes with behavior problems. McMichael is good but needs to improve concentration.
Defensive Line: A-
Mentions that the Fins were the only team not to give up a 100 yard rusher. The love the front 4 and say we have great off the benchers in Zgonina and David Bowens.
Linbackers: B+
Zach Thomas is the sole of the Linebackers and is an overachiever. Seau has more gas in the tank the people give him. Greenwood does a nice job and the only problem with this group is speed in coverage.
Secondary: B
Says Madison is slowing down and questions Freeman. Gives us credit for great depth in Howard and Poole.
Special Teams: B
Sammy Morris will help and Mare is better then some people think.
Management: B-
Says Speilman and Wanny may be genious in their bold moves this offseason, but if it doesn't pay off, heads will roll.
Botom Line(Word for word):
Conventional wisdom says you can't fire the team, so fire the coach. But after another failure to reach the playoffs, the club instead extended Wannstedt's deal by two years and ditched most of the offensive line. The Dolphins can't live off their defense forever and simply must develop a big-time passing game. Nothing says Feeley can do that.
Miami needs to finish a season the way it starts and can't keep coming up small in big games. That's as much a reflection on the players as it is on Wannstedt.