10 Reasons I am optimistic about 2014 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

10 Reasons I am optimistic about 2014

LacesOutTanne34

LacesOutTanne34

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Note: I was crushed by how we finished the season, confused as to what happened, and disappointed. However, I am still optimistic on our future because I believe in our Coach/QB combo.

1. Ryan Tannehill: Set career highs across the board. His 24 TD passes should not be ignored, but yes he does need to improve, and I believe he will.
- (1A): Tannehill was 2nd in the NFL in 4th quarter comebacks.

2. Tannehill/Mike Wallace: I have been saying this all year, Wallace shouldn't be judged on this year alone, he will be here for awhile and he is going to produce. It was obvious the combo got better late in the season. With a year under their belt next season should be even better. (If Tanne connects on only 1-3 more long balls last year we may have been in playoffs).

3. Brandon Gibson: When we lost Gibson it was a huge blow, he was our best 3rd down option, and when he got hurt him and Tannehill were really clicking. He would have been huge down the stretch.

4. O-line: Simply put, it can only get better. This year's team with even a marginally better line could have made playoffs.

5. Ellerbee/Wheeler: Simply put, they can only get better. Not confident in Wheeler, but I do believe Ellerbee will be better.

6. Dion Jordan: I think he emerges this year (Maybe not 15 sack type emerge, but better than last year). I think Jordan/Wake/Vernon put more pressure on Qb than last year.

7. Reshad Jones/CB #2: (Assume we resign Grimes): Jones will get return/ and hopefully a 2nd corner will emerge.

8. Improved Running game: It improves by subtracting Thomas alone. Running behind a better line and adding a true 2nd back will make our team more balanced, zero production from our run game really hurt many late drives last year.

9. Lazor: If he is responsible for a single player breaking out it will be more than Sherman (Period)

10. Sturgis: I think/pray he gets better than last year. Could have made difference in a few games.

If these things happen we could be looking at 10-6, but if there is one thing I learned from this organization, none of these things are certain. We need a good draft.
 
#11 - Better playcalling. Several games were partially lost by Sherman's boring predictable playcalling. OK Bill Lazor is new to this as well, but if he has learned anything from observing Chip Kelly, he has to do better in this capacity.
Joe Philbin's big blind spot was his friendship and respect for his mentor, Mike Sherman. My hunch is that eventually, a non-football guy in Stephen Ross had to tap him in on the shoulder and say enough! Blind Freddie's dog could see that we need a more creative playcaller. It was actually stifling the development of Ryan Tannehill. Mike, Go - Go Go - Gone...

And BTW - Your #4 O-line improvement, might just be the #1 improvement opportunity
 
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I agree with everything except 10... Sturgis is a bad kicker as of this point in his career, if he stays he MUST improve or we are going to miss the playoffs again.
 
#12 Money spent on TE, Dustin Keller can go towards another TE. Like many others, I thought that Keller's injury in the preseason was about the most disgraceful and sickening injury of the year. I really believe that he was going to be a huge weapon. I am doubtful that he will fully heal in a year, but if the surgeon did his work and some help from up above, it would be great to see Keller wear a Dolphin jersey into a real game. However, if that doesn't transpire, put the $ into another big pass catching weapon. Clay was the best surprise of the year, Egnew and Sims have upside, but a genuine big mobile Tight End would be an upgrade. (Hint to Dennis Hickey - draft or free agency - explore the options)
 
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ok....so for a better line they HAVE to acquire a lot of talent. If GM's don't want to come here, who says FA's will?
 
I'm happy with Clay at TE and hopefully one of Egnew or Sims can step up and complement. We have 4 den cent WR, with a very deep group of WR's in draft.

I would draft a couple of WR's in draft, together with a couple of OT's. One major FA LT and I don't see any reason why we don't improve on last year.
 
LacesOutTanne34 said:
Note: I was crushed by how we finished the season, confused as to what happened, and disappointed. However, I am still optimistic on our future because I believe in our Coach/QB combo.

1. Ryan Tannehill: Set career highs across the board. His 24 TD passes should not be ignored, but yes he does need to improve, and I believe he will.
- (1A): Tannehill was 2nd in the NFL in 4th quarter comebacks.

2. Tannehill/Mike Wallace: I have been saying this all year, Wallace shouldn't be judged on this year alone, he will be here for awhile and he is going to produce. It was obvious the combo got better late in the season. With a year under their belt next season should be even better. (If Tanne connects on only 1-3 more long balls last year we may have been in playoffs).

3. Brandon Gibson: When we lost Gibson it was a huge blow, he was our best 3rd down option, and when he got hurt him and Tannehill were really clicking. He would have been huge down the stretch.

4. O-line: Simply put, it can only get better. This year's team with even a marginally better line could have made playoffs.

5. Ellerbee/Wheeler: Simply put, they can only get better. Not confident in Wheeler, but I do believe Ellerbee will be better.

6. Dion Jordan: I think he emerges this year (Maybe not 15 sack type emerge, but better than last year). I think Jordan/Wake/Vernon put more pressure on Qb than last year.

7. Reshad Jones/CB #2: (Assume we resign Grimes): Jones will get return/ and hopefully a 2nd corner will emerge.

8. Improved Running game: It improves by subtracting Thomas alone. Running behind a better line and adding a true 2nd back will make our team more balanced, zero production from our run game really hurt many late drives last year.

9. Lazor: If he is responsible for a single player breaking out it will be more than Sherman (Period)

10. Sturgis: I think/pray he gets better than last year. Could have made difference in a few games.

If these things happen we could be looking at 10-6, but if there is one thing I learned from this organization, none of these things are certain. We need a good draft.
Click to expand...

I can agree with a lot of what you said. At least your optimistic. Glad to see some of that around here. :-)
 
You suppose anything negative is going to happen, or will it be all positive and only in the upward direction?
 
We must be able to run and stop the run. That begins with the OL and DL. Our LBs need to be more physical. We need a better pass rush. Wake fell off after his injury. Tackling is a huge issue. I do not want a finesse team. I want a Seattle type team with the ability to pass like Green Bay. We must find a physical RB.
 
Gravity said:
You suppose anything negative is going to happen, or will it be all positive and only in the upward direction?
Click to expand...

One can never defy gravity - it/he is ever present... Bad things, injuries are going to happen. (J-Mart might strain his groin getting up for a slithering cobra dance at Tootsies).
However, a team that can overcome the obstacles is what the Dolphins aspire to be.
 
spiketex said:
#12 Money spent on TE, Dustin Keller can go towards another TE. Like many others, I thought that Keller's injury in the preseason was about the most disgraceful and sickening injury of the year. I really believe that he was going to be a huge weapon. I am doubtful that he will fully heal in a year, but if the surgeon did his work and some help from up above, it would be great to see Keller wear a Dolphin jersey into a real game. However, if that doesn't transpire, put the $ into another big pass catching weapon. Clay was the best surprise of the year, Egnew and Sims have upside, but a genuine big mobile Tight End would be an upgrade. (Hint to Dennis Hickey - draft or free agency - explore the options)
Click to expand...

I too was upset we lost keller for the same reasons. Look, Clay was surprising, BUT ive been saying we need a TE to split the middle of the field desperately. I hope we get one.
 
If we get 2 starters on the OL to pair with Pouncey and cut Tannehill's sack total in half, I could definitely call that an improvement.
 
It's all on Lazor for me. If he can bring our offense into the 21st Century - AND IF PHILBIN LETS HIM - we'll be competitive with just about anyone. If not, not.
 
The point is that even if we don't get the "best" talent on the OL it is almost impossible for the unit to be worse than last year. Especially when you take into account the run production on top of the sacks.
 
Our O-line culd be better in 2014 and still be horrible. I get it, no where to go but up but they're coming back from one of the worst o-lines ever. There're a lot of iffs there. Lets start with free agency. We need to get at least 2 starters for the o-line and either a corner(even if Grimes stays) or a safety. Our rookie class from 2013 did NOTHING at all. Maybe Taylor can stay healthy and contribute? Time will tell. Jorda doesn't have a real position on the defense we run at this point. Imo his best position would be as an OLB on a 3-4 defense which we don't run. I just can' see him as a DE at this point but again, time will tell. As much as I like Clay, we neede a real TE that can work the seam and the red zone. If we get 2 srating olinemen out of free agency then I'd not mind at all drafting a TE at 19 and then going oline in round 2. Need depth at LB(and a new starter over Wheeler)and we need a RB.

Ozzy rules!!
 
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