10-6 with a mediocre line
several very close games
11-5, 12-4 with fixed line
Playoff win
Ireland and Philbin sign extensions
2014 Expectations with everyone back?
- Thread starter dnespins
- Start date
10-6 with a mediocre line
several very close games
11-5, 12-4 with fixed line
Playoff win
Ireland and Philbin sign extensions
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Ummm, 9-7, but you love to spin so that is fine.
---------- Post added at 09:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 PM ----------
I hope they do well, but I think the sked sets up poorly. This offseason people will talk about building the line, RB's etc. That is all true, but specifically matching up with division foes needs to be part of the offseason activity.
If we stand pat, we will very likely fall back....BUT we won't be bad enough for Winston which is our history....Hopelessly mediocre at 5-7 wins. With the right guy fixing this team I can see up to a 4 game swing from those totals.
No better than 8-8 I can guarantee. Worst case? 4-12 maybe.
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Too early to really predict before free agency and the draft. But, based on our current roster and these assumed moves, I'll estimate us at 10-6. Here are the moves I expect:
Re-sign:
Brent Grimes
Paul Soliai
Chris Clemons
Release/Do Not Sign:
Jonathan Martin
Richie Incognito
Bryant McKinnie
John Jerry
Dustin Keller
Randy Starks (sad to see him go though)
Dmitri Patterson (if only he could stay healthy ... kid has skill)
Nolan Carroll (contract year and he decides to get decent)
New Veteran Signings/Trades:
LT (hopefully someone like Eugene Monroe if he hasn't resigned with Baltimore, Branden Albert if he is available, or another quality pass blocking LT)
OG (Veteran to help develop the rookies and provide solid OL play across the interior line)
TE (someone who can provide two-way TE play without tipping our hand run vs. pass and get Charles Clay off of 3rd down duty. Someone who is a major red zone threat with size and who can block both the pass and run.)
LB (coverage LB who works well on 3rd downs covering backs and TE's. Also a run-stuffing LB but doesn't have to be the same guy as the coverage guy.)
CB (starter opposite Grimes)
Draft Picks:
LT (eventual starting LT, even if it is someone like James Hurst who is injured and may take a year to heal first)
RT (someone who can start immediately or at least by year 2 and replace Clabo. Preferrably a swing tackle who can play LT in a pinch and provides good pass protection and very good run blocking.)
OG (at least one new quality interior lineman, preferably 2 to groom. These guys need to open holes in the run game and have the power to dominate the line of scrimmage in short yardage situations.)
I expect we will do these things, possibly more, during this offseason. If we do this much, I definitely see us being a 10-6 team next year and setting up nicely to be a playoff contending team every year.
With young guys like Jordan, Vernon and Odrick along the DL we have the building blocks for a great defense for years to come. Hopefully one or both of Jamar Thomas and/or Will Davis come good and become quality CB's. Guys like Ellerbe and Rashad Jones--despite his off year--look like quality players for the years to come. For now, we also have elite players like Wake, Grimes and Soliai to solidify a very talented unit.
Our offense is a work in progress, but I truly believe that in Tannehill, Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Miller and Pouncey we have a fantastic nucleus for our offense. The problem is we need a two-way TE and almost an entire OL to keep Tannehill upright and open holes for Miller. That's 5 big spots to fill in an offense (1 TE + 4 OL = 5), but I think all of the toughest pieces are there with the exception of a LT. (Jake Long wherefor art thou?). With a full offseason to develop the chemistry, I think Wallace will return to the premier status he was at Pittsburgh and adds a deep dimension that we haven't really embraced yet. Keller looked promising before he got hurt. Gibson--who I doubted--looked good before he got hurt. It's really only Wallace that never got on the same page with Tannehill, but I'm confident time will fix that.
10-6 ... it is very attainable.
Re-sign:
Brent Grimes
Paul Soliai
Chris Clemons
Release/Do Not Sign:
Jonathan Martin
Richie Incognito
Bryant McKinnie
John Jerry
Dustin Keller
Randy Starks (sad to see him go though)
Dmitri Patterson (if only he could stay healthy ... kid has skill)
Nolan Carroll (contract year and he decides to get decent)
New Veteran Signings/Trades:
LT (hopefully someone like Eugene Monroe if he hasn't resigned with Baltimore, Branden Albert if he is available, or another quality pass blocking LT)
OG (Veteran to help develop the rookies and provide solid OL play across the interior line)
TE (someone who can provide two-way TE play without tipping our hand run vs. pass and get Charles Clay off of 3rd down duty. Someone who is a major red zone threat with size and who can block both the pass and run.)
LB (coverage LB who works well on 3rd downs covering backs and TE's. Also a run-stuffing LB but doesn't have to be the same guy as the coverage guy.)
CB (starter opposite Grimes)
Draft Picks:
LT (eventual starting LT, even if it is someone like James Hurst who is injured and may take a year to heal first)
RT (someone who can start immediately or at least by year 2 and replace Clabo. Preferrably a swing tackle who can play LT in a pinch and provides good pass protection and very good run blocking.)
OG (at least one new quality interior lineman, preferably 2 to groom. These guys need to open holes in the run game and have the power to dominate the line of scrimmage in short yardage situations.)
I expect we will do these things, possibly more, during this offseason. If we do this much, I definitely see us being a 10-6 team next year and setting up nicely to be a playoff contending team every year.
With young guys like Jordan, Vernon and Odrick along the DL we have the building blocks for a great defense for years to come. Hopefully one or both of Jamar Thomas and/or Will Davis come good and become quality CB's. Guys like Ellerbe and Rashad Jones--despite his off year--look like quality players for the years to come. For now, we also have elite players like Wake, Grimes and Soliai to solidify a very talented unit.
Our offense is a work in progress, but I truly believe that in Tannehill, Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Miller and Pouncey we have a fantastic nucleus for our offense. The problem is we need a two-way TE and almost an entire OL to keep Tannehill upright and open holes for Miller. That's 5 big spots to fill in an offense (1 TE + 4 OL = 5), but I think all of the toughest pieces are there with the exception of a LT. (Jake Long wherefor art thou?). With a full offseason to develop the chemistry, I think Wallace will return to the premier status he was at Pittsburgh and adds a deep dimension that we haven't really embraced yet. Keller looked promising before he got hurt. Gibson--who I doubted--looked good before he got hurt. It's really only Wallace that never got on the same page with Tannehill, but I'm confident time will fix that.
10-6 ... it is very attainable.
with nothing changing and the difficulty of our schedule, is worth more than a 1 game loss. Its at least a 3 game loss, ill give you 4-12
---------- Post added at 09:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 PM ----------
Lol.. Thanks for the comic relief. Except for Philbin and Ireland signing extensions. There is nothing funny in that.. Great signature however
---------- Post added at 09:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:41 PM ----------
Mostly agree. Although its a wait and see with Keller. The rest of your releases and signs/do not signs, i agree. I also think the OL is so far gone that we have to fill the majority of it with veteran FA's and maybe one draft pick as a starter and draft the rest as depth developmental players (but still draft high).. Its so bad that filling it with rookies to start will not fix it and might make it worse.
It doesn't matter if we do make changes or not for next year, a fiery coach might get us to 8 wins but at least with changes at the top people might have a little hope that things might get better in the future.
doughbraz54
Club Member
Why are people referencing the schedule? Stuff changes every year in football. Nothing is guaranteed. Look at the Chiefs, they went from worst to first. Did anyone think the Texans would be THIS BAD. We do not know what will happen with injuries, free agency and the draft yet. Crazy.
Bartowboy
Starter
We need a new RB plain and simple, may not be as important but it's going to be.
phishxhead
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If things start off badly I can totally see a meltdown 3-4 win season. Tanny regresses, Lame duck coach/GM, tough schedule, Bad OL, Wheeler, a couple key injuries, BUF and NYJ get better.
I Disagree, the first yr the coaching staff won 7 games, this yr they won 8 games and had a shot at the playoffs up to the last game of the season, 3rd yr make playoffs and hopefully make some noise and 4th and 5th yr show that your for real and make a run for the Super Bowl....if you beat those expectations that is great but to expect the team to be one of the top 8 teams in the conference is a recipe for failure....you have to set attainable goals and then hold the coaches responsible.....firing a coaching staff because they missed the playoffs after losing the last two games of the season is setting a bad precedent......what happens when the next coach comes in a wins only 7 games? Is it going to be one and done with him?
I hope Ross goes back to the day he hired Philbin and gives him the time to succeed here and remember why he hired him......I wasn't a big fan of the hire because I knew nothing about him or his style but now that he is here we have to give him a chance.....why keep starting over every 2 yrs?
dnespins
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PALMA
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Obviously we lack in sure fire prime-time talent. Other than Wake, and couple guys here and there, we're pretty devoid of special pieces. Lots of complimentary pieces we develop and overpay to keep.
I doubt our draft and off-season will be transformative.
I doubt Tannehill will suddenly morph into a top 10 long ball thrower. He'll be 26 and not a "young" guy anymore.
I doubt we suddenly get tougher with Philbin in Year 3 and start pounding the ball.
We'll definitely have a losing season. Perhaps 7-9, our familiar friend. What a waste.
I doubt our draft and off-season will be transformative.
I doubt Tannehill will suddenly morph into a top 10 long ball thrower. He'll be 26 and not a "young" guy anymore.
I doubt we suddenly get tougher with Philbin in Year 3 and start pounding the ball.
We'll definitely have a losing season. Perhaps 7-9, our familiar friend. What a waste.