What would you say about a team that lost its GM, Offensive Coordinator, Defensive Coordinator, Starting QB, Offensive star and best RB (last year), and one of its long time stars and leaders on defense? Rebuilding year maybe? 4-12 season in 2006? Well, this is exactly what happened to the Miami Dolphins, but Nick Saban has again worked his magic and made 2006 a year where anything may happen.
Now that the draft is over and many free agents have settled in with new teams, I thought I'd review those changes and solicit comments on how much this team has improved (or not) from last year.
1. General Manager Rick Spielman > Randy Mueller - This may be the easiest move to analyze. From worst to first....Spielman, a decent scout, but one of the worst GM's in the league and one of the remaining reminders of the awful Wannstedt era. Mueller has been a success everywhere he's been. GAIN
2. Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan > Mike Mularkey - A tough call. Linehan brought back some respectability to the offense and is a wizard with the passing game, but Mularkey brings more balance, especially creativity in the running game and appears to be on the same page as Saban. EVEN
3. Defensive Coordinator Richard Smith > Dom Capers - When you have a hard time even remembering his name, what does that say about Smith? Obviously, a huge step up with Capers (master of the 3-4). GAIN
4. QB Frerrotte/Rosenfels > Culpepper/Harrington - Another ridiculous comparison. Not even close. Culpepper has MVP potential and Harrington is a blue-chipper that desperately needed a new home. GAIN
5. RB Brown/Williams > Brown/Morris - Losing a player of Ricky's ability is tough to replace, but a 2nd year Ronnie Brown could dominate with decent blocking. Sammy is underrated and Beasley is a Pro Bowl blocker who could pull the running game together. A loss, but maybe not a huge one. LOSS
6. WR Chambers/Booker > Chambers/Booker/Hagan - For the first time in years, the WR position has speed, talent, depth, and leadership. I thought Charlie Baggett did a great job with the WR group last year. GAIN
7. TE McMichael/Diamond > McMichael/Peelle/Johnson - See WR. More depth and Peelle will surprise. Also, with Shelton, expect McMichael to be held in less to block. Could be a great year for our TE's. GAIN
8. OL McIntosh/James/McKinney/Hadnot/Carey > Shelton/James/McKinney/Hadnot/Carey - The 2006 lineup could change with Wade Smith, Damion McIntosh, draft pick Joe Toledo, and others competing for jobs. The line is still a work in progress and master craftsman, Hudson Houck, is still trying to find the 5 best guys. I don't expect huge improvements, but Shelton and Houck working his magic should make it better in 2006. GAIN
9. DL Carter/Traylor/Holliday/Taylor > ? - The graybeards from last year come back for another year, but expect to see more of Matt Roth, Kevin Vickerson, Manny Wright, and perhaps others, such as Fifita and Evans. This group improved because the starting players are back and younger players are right behind adding competition and depth. GAIN
10. LB Seau/Thomas/Crowder/Spragan > Hodge/Thomas/Crowder/Spragan - The offseason is not over and Saban may yet find an LB, but replacing Seau's leadership won't be easy and Sedrick Hodge will not greatly improve this unit. EVEN
11. DB Madison/Daniels/Shulters/Tillman > Allen/Daniels/Allen/? - This was the worst performing group on the team last year and desperately needed an overhaul. Sam was not a good match for Saban's defense; this group was old and had no depth. Picking up Goodman, Jason and Will Allen, Hill, Cooper, and getting Shirdonya Mitchell and Will Poole back dramatically changes this group from one of the worst to above average and maybe better. GAIN
12. ST Both kickers remain and both were very good last year. Key special teams players, like Wes Welker remain, and others have been added. It's hard to know if Aromashadu or Campbell will make the team and add speed, but at least the possibility exists, so I would say a mild gain. GAIN
In summary, the 2006 Dolphins appear to much better than the 2005 Miami Dolphins. Injuries and young players make predictions difficult, but on paper there appears to be few losses and many, many gains. Nick Saban deserves tremendous credit for a great job in moving this team forward and building on the success from last year.
Now that the draft is over and many free agents have settled in with new teams, I thought I'd review those changes and solicit comments on how much this team has improved (or not) from last year.
1. General Manager Rick Spielman > Randy Mueller - This may be the easiest move to analyze. From worst to first....Spielman, a decent scout, but one of the worst GM's in the league and one of the remaining reminders of the awful Wannstedt era. Mueller has been a success everywhere he's been. GAIN
2. Offensive Coordinator Scott Linehan > Mike Mularkey - A tough call. Linehan brought back some respectability to the offense and is a wizard with the passing game, but Mularkey brings more balance, especially creativity in the running game and appears to be on the same page as Saban. EVEN
3. Defensive Coordinator Richard Smith > Dom Capers - When you have a hard time even remembering his name, what does that say about Smith? Obviously, a huge step up with Capers (master of the 3-4). GAIN
4. QB Frerrotte/Rosenfels > Culpepper/Harrington - Another ridiculous comparison. Not even close. Culpepper has MVP potential and Harrington is a blue-chipper that desperately needed a new home. GAIN
5. RB Brown/Williams > Brown/Morris - Losing a player of Ricky's ability is tough to replace, but a 2nd year Ronnie Brown could dominate with decent blocking. Sammy is underrated and Beasley is a Pro Bowl blocker who could pull the running game together. A loss, but maybe not a huge one. LOSS
6. WR Chambers/Booker > Chambers/Booker/Hagan - For the first time in years, the WR position has speed, talent, depth, and leadership. I thought Charlie Baggett did a great job with the WR group last year. GAIN
7. TE McMichael/Diamond > McMichael/Peelle/Johnson - See WR. More depth and Peelle will surprise. Also, with Shelton, expect McMichael to be held in less to block. Could be a great year for our TE's. GAIN
8. OL McIntosh/James/McKinney/Hadnot/Carey > Shelton/James/McKinney/Hadnot/Carey - The 2006 lineup could change with Wade Smith, Damion McIntosh, draft pick Joe Toledo, and others competing for jobs. The line is still a work in progress and master craftsman, Hudson Houck, is still trying to find the 5 best guys. I don't expect huge improvements, but Shelton and Houck working his magic should make it better in 2006. GAIN
9. DL Carter/Traylor/Holliday/Taylor > ? - The graybeards from last year come back for another year, but expect to see more of Matt Roth, Kevin Vickerson, Manny Wright, and perhaps others, such as Fifita and Evans. This group improved because the starting players are back and younger players are right behind adding competition and depth. GAIN
10. LB Seau/Thomas/Crowder/Spragan > Hodge/Thomas/Crowder/Spragan - The offseason is not over and Saban may yet find an LB, but replacing Seau's leadership won't be easy and Sedrick Hodge will not greatly improve this unit. EVEN
11. DB Madison/Daniels/Shulters/Tillman > Allen/Daniels/Allen/? - This was the worst performing group on the team last year and desperately needed an overhaul. Sam was not a good match for Saban's defense; this group was old and had no depth. Picking up Goodman, Jason and Will Allen, Hill, Cooper, and getting Shirdonya Mitchell and Will Poole back dramatically changes this group from one of the worst to above average and maybe better. GAIN
12. ST Both kickers remain and both were very good last year. Key special teams players, like Wes Welker remain, and others have been added. It's hard to know if Aromashadu or Campbell will make the team and add speed, but at least the possibility exists, so I would say a mild gain. GAIN
In summary, the 2006 Dolphins appear to much better than the 2005 Miami Dolphins. Injuries and young players make predictions difficult, but on paper there appears to be few losses and many, many gains. Nick Saban deserves tremendous credit for a great job in moving this team forward and building on the success from last year.
I also got confused.