Bpk
FinHeaven VIP
I think a lot of people are over-reacting to the horrible finish to last year (especially the coaching debacle).
Where people OVERESTIMATED the Phins last pre-season, I think we'll be UNDERestimated this time.
So.. here are the Ten Reasons I Think the Dolphins Will Have a Better Year Than Most People Expect:
1) Daunte will be better this year. He will definitely be healthier, and more mobile (simple case of time and rehab for that type of injury). He will already have some familiarity with the receivers.
2) Mularkey won;t be calling the plays. His philosophy, as stated by the offensive players last pre-season, was to put the onus on each player to win his one-on-one matchup for the play to work. This only works when your personnel are much better than your opponents' personnel (not always the case last year). Cam Cameron's philosophy (according to Cam) is to cook with the ingredients you have: if you are ABLE to do something well, then THAT'S what you do... if you have a weakness, you don't keep trying to run plays which depend on that weak link. That means we'll ADAPT gameplans to the strengths (and WEAKNESSES) of our personnel. That alone should mean longer drives and more points.
3) Olindo won't be missing all those field goals. Why? I don;t believe we'll keep him because we can get a kicker who kicks much more accurately at much less money. Last year was Olindo's worst... so even if he DOES come back, he is unlikely to have an even WORSE year.
4) Because we have depth that will see the field this year. I mean Dt's Vickerson and Evans, not to mention the potential of Rod Wright and the maybe-appearance of Manny Wright. All of them could be forces in the middle... odds are at least one or two will see significant time as Wilkinson's gone and Traylor may not return either, or willl need spelling. Also, Hagan showed promise and may be ready for increased time.
5) Last year's offense was sabotaged by a ton of O-Line injuries. The O-line is the heartbeat of the offense and when it develops problems, so does the offense. OL Injuries included: Berger (out, foot then cut in Nov.), McKinney (IR), Anderson (IR), Toledo (IR), Janeo James (knee surgery), Rex played through some injuries, and I had thought either Shelton or MacIntosh were playing injured at some point but I may have just been so traumatized by then that I was imagining things. I thought either CJ Brooks or Orrin Thompson were also banged up before we cut them.. MOST of those injuries were at guard. When you are down to playing your second string LEFT TACKLE at Right Guard because the first, second, third AND fourth strong Righ Guards have been injured... you KNOW there is a problem. This year we should have much more stability on the line. Also, Hudson got to teach them for a whole year (and he's a great teacher by all accounts).
6) Cam Cameron has a great reputation for improving QB's. If not Daunte, then there is still Joey, and also Cleo (who showed potential, and whom Cam knows and respects from San Diego). Cam was a QB himself, and has coached the following QB's in college and the NFL: Randle-El (College), Jim Harbaugh (college), Gus Frerotte (during his only Pro Bowl year), Drew Brees (four years at S.D.), and Phillip Rivers (S.D.). Not bad. If anyone can improve our QB play (and decide who to cut/who to bring in) it's Cam.
7) Ricky Williams may return. Say what you want about his antics, but when he DOES make it on the turf, he's the best offensive producer on our roster. That helps, big time.
8) Everyone underestimates us. That's a big plus heading into those first six to eight weeks. IN the NFL, with parity, you notice that most of the time the team that wins is the one that PLAYS HARDEST, not necessarily the most talented one. I think many teams will come in to play us without taking it seriously enough. Based on our rep from last year... if you had to face the Pats, then the Phins, then the Ravens for instance... would YOU bring it 110% for the Phins game mentally?
9) I'm a homer. Yes, this section accounts for my bias. They will be better simply because I love them and they need to be, so I can stop breaking things around the house on Sundays.
10) Last of all, the secondary has a year of experience in Capers' system now. This is also not an old secondary, so players like Jason Allen and Travis DDaniels are only going to be better this year. , Will Poole may figure in as a valubale nickel guy.. finally.
Last year I expected to start 2-3 in the first five games then improve steadily. SO much for the improving part. This year, I think we'll actually surprise people out of the gate, posting a 5-2 mark in the first seven games before faltering a bit... ultimately, I think this will be a 10-6 season.
Go Phins!
What are YOUR Ten Reasons We'll Be Better???? PLease try to be positive... the Phins give us enough heartache without us talking negatively on top of it.
Where people OVERESTIMATED the Phins last pre-season, I think we'll be UNDERestimated this time.
So.. here are the Ten Reasons I Think the Dolphins Will Have a Better Year Than Most People Expect:
1) Daunte will be better this year. He will definitely be healthier, and more mobile (simple case of time and rehab for that type of injury). He will already have some familiarity with the receivers.
2) Mularkey won;t be calling the plays. His philosophy, as stated by the offensive players last pre-season, was to put the onus on each player to win his one-on-one matchup for the play to work. This only works when your personnel are much better than your opponents' personnel (not always the case last year). Cam Cameron's philosophy (according to Cam) is to cook with the ingredients you have: if you are ABLE to do something well, then THAT'S what you do... if you have a weakness, you don't keep trying to run plays which depend on that weak link. That means we'll ADAPT gameplans to the strengths (and WEAKNESSES) of our personnel. That alone should mean longer drives and more points.
3) Olindo won't be missing all those field goals. Why? I don;t believe we'll keep him because we can get a kicker who kicks much more accurately at much less money. Last year was Olindo's worst... so even if he DOES come back, he is unlikely to have an even WORSE year.
4) Because we have depth that will see the field this year. I mean Dt's Vickerson and Evans, not to mention the potential of Rod Wright and the maybe-appearance of Manny Wright. All of them could be forces in the middle... odds are at least one or two will see significant time as Wilkinson's gone and Traylor may not return either, or willl need spelling. Also, Hagan showed promise and may be ready for increased time.
5) Last year's offense was sabotaged by a ton of O-Line injuries. The O-line is the heartbeat of the offense and when it develops problems, so does the offense. OL Injuries included: Berger (out, foot then cut in Nov.), McKinney (IR), Anderson (IR), Toledo (IR), Janeo James (knee surgery), Rex played through some injuries, and I had thought either Shelton or MacIntosh were playing injured at some point but I may have just been so traumatized by then that I was imagining things. I thought either CJ Brooks or Orrin Thompson were also banged up before we cut them.. MOST of those injuries were at guard. When you are down to playing your second string LEFT TACKLE at Right Guard because the first, second, third AND fourth strong Righ Guards have been injured... you KNOW there is a problem. This year we should have much more stability on the line. Also, Hudson got to teach them for a whole year (and he's a great teacher by all accounts).
6) Cam Cameron has a great reputation for improving QB's. If not Daunte, then there is still Joey, and also Cleo (who showed potential, and whom Cam knows and respects from San Diego). Cam was a QB himself, and has coached the following QB's in college and the NFL: Randle-El (College), Jim Harbaugh (college), Gus Frerotte (during his only Pro Bowl year), Drew Brees (four years at S.D.), and Phillip Rivers (S.D.). Not bad. If anyone can improve our QB play (and decide who to cut/who to bring in) it's Cam.
7) Ricky Williams may return. Say what you want about his antics, but when he DOES make it on the turf, he's the best offensive producer on our roster. That helps, big time.
8) Everyone underestimates us. That's a big plus heading into those first six to eight weeks. IN the NFL, with parity, you notice that most of the time the team that wins is the one that PLAYS HARDEST, not necessarily the most talented one. I think many teams will come in to play us without taking it seriously enough. Based on our rep from last year... if you had to face the Pats, then the Phins, then the Ravens for instance... would YOU bring it 110% for the Phins game mentally?
9) I'm a homer. Yes, this section accounts for my bias. They will be better simply because I love them and they need to be, so I can stop breaking things around the house on Sundays.
10) Last of all, the secondary has a year of experience in Capers' system now. This is also not an old secondary, so players like Jason Allen and Travis DDaniels are only going to be better this year. , Will Poole may figure in as a valubale nickel guy.. finally.
Last year I expected to start 2-3 in the first five games then improve steadily. SO much for the improving part. This year, I think we'll actually surprise people out of the gate, posting a 5-2 mark in the first seven games before faltering a bit... ultimately, I think this will be a 10-6 season.
Go Phins!
What are YOUR Ten Reasons We'll Be Better???? PLease try to be positive... the Phins give us enough heartache without us talking negatively on top of it.
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