Are the Miami Dolphins headed in the right direction? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Are the Miami Dolphins headed in the right direction?

DKphin

DKphin

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Got it right
1. Finding hidden gems: Outside linebacker Cameron Wake, receiver Davone Bess, kicker Dan Carpenter, offensive tackle Nate Garner came out of nowhere and emerged as solid NFL starters, if not Pro Bowlers. And this regime didn't use a draft pick or need a trade to acquire them.
2. Instant credibility: Parcells' name carried a lot of weight in the NFL, and that kind of credibility was needed after the team was one overtime win away from going winless in 2007. Parcells' reputation helped the Dolphins lure top-tier free agents and gain national exposure.
3. Culture of toughness: There's a team-first mentality about the Dolphins with a few exceptions, and that has a lot to do with Sparano's approach. The Dolphins aim to be a tough, smart, disciplined team, and that mantra usually makes them competitive every Sunday. Players are accountable to one another.
4. Quarterback depth a strength: Chad Pennington fell out of the sky and took this team to the playoffs in 2008, but his fourth shoulder injury proved he's more of a band aid than a long-term fix. Chad Henne, selected in the second round of the 2008 draft, was 11-10 in his 21 starts before getting benched last week. Henne still has upside, but so does Tyler Thigpen, who had little to work with in Thursday night's 16-0 loss to the Bears.
5. Roster has gotten younger: When this regime took over the average age of players was approaching 28. The average age of the players on the current 53-man roster is 25.6 and features 12 starters who are 25 or younger.
Got it wrong
1. Numerous wasted draft picks: The Dolphins have have three straight ineffective drafts. Although each draft class has landed at least a pair of starters, the misses — Pat White (2009 second round), Patrick Turner (2009 third round), Shawn Murphy (2008 fourth round) — have been eyesores. Also, going with tackle Jake Long then Chad Henne instead of Matt Ryan and then the best available left tackle in 2008 will forever be debated.
2. Too many free agent flops: In the cases of Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby and Vernon Carey, the Dolphins have overpaid to get or keep top free agents. While that's the nature of the business, it does start to add up for Ross. But more troubling are the numerous free agent busts — Ernest Wilford, Gibril Wilson, Jake Grove and Eric Green to name a few.
3. Egos that weigh them down: Parcells never embraced South Florida before he bolted, and as a result he pushing Jason Taylor into the arms of the Jets, a hated rival. The Dez Bryant interview misstep will always be a blemish on Ireland's resume, as will the releases of Matt Roth in 2009 and David Martin in 2009 and 2010. However, this regime isn't afraid to admit mistakes in free agency and move on.
4. Too much tinkering with the offensive line: The 2009 unit that featured Justin Smiley, Grove and Donald Thomas helped the Dolphins become one of five teams to rush for more than 2,000 yards. All three were dumped. Their replacements — Joe Berger, Richie Incognito and John Jerry — has paved the way for a rushing attack that averages 3.8 yards per carry.
5. Lack of team speed: This regime's bigger is better approach has made the Dolphins one of the NFL's slowest teams. Once Ted Ginn Jr. was banished, traded to the 49ers for a 2010 draft pick that turned into cornerback Nolan Carroll, the Dolphins no longer had a deep threat or proven returner. They lack a player who can win a game on one big play. That's why most of the running backs, all to be free agents in 2011, will likely be churned this offseason.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...-wrong-1121-20101119,0,347039.story?track=rss
 
The foundation is built. However, the team is heading in the wrong direction. Talent is not being used right.
 
They have acquired some good players, but this team should have progressed more. It hasn't because of mediocre drafting and poor coaching.
 
It's hard to say. I'd like to say we have improved from the 2008 season, but I feel like we have more needs now than we did then.

This article is kind of a bunch of bull though. That 'instant credibility' they are refering to literally has nothing to do with the direction of the team now. Quarterback depth? Really probably the least durable back-up in the league, and a third stringer who had already proven he can't get it done as a starter in this league. I am not going to say it's a weakness, but certainty not a definite strenght.

Culture of toughness? It that were true we weren't have just got outmanned in two out of last three games.

Three ineffective drafts? Making any judgement on the 2010 class is stupid. Calling the 2008 draft is average is one thing, saying it's ineffective is a major reach. (2009 also has produced three starters, possibly four with Smith, and Clemons and Davis are pretty solid). As far as the free agents flop, there is no doubt we have had on fair share. To put Brandon Marshall or Karlos Dansby anywhere near that phase is moronic. Do you have any idea where we would be without those two right now? Just typical poor local media reporting. Wouldn't have expected anything different.
 
Miami can't expect to actually compete in this league with the personel they have. They are still a laughing stock in this league, if you think otherwise you're delusiona.
 
Hard to make this sound right, but yes. We're going in the right direction by going in the wrong direction. What I mean is.. Parcells is leaving after seeing his product sucks, Dan Henning is probably canned.. and well, that's probably about it. I think we have the talent to go far, but not the correct coaching for it. The D is young and we see flashes of greatness and flashes of inexperience there.. but Nolan has them on the right track. We'll have fine as long as Henning goes, I believe.

Not entirely convinced that Sparano is the main problem, unlike many here. The team rallies around him, they'll run through a brick wall for him. He just needs someone to run his damn offense, and he needs to stop being a perfectionist with his O-Line, because in the end it's ended up hurting the team.. literally.
 
Dolphins closer to 1-15 than they are the playoffs. Took a step back last season and an even bigger step back this season. 3 consecutive mediocre drafts and no this FO has created their own mess on top of the previous regimes' mess. It'll take 10 years to clean up this mess (5-6years If Miami gets a franchise QB)
 
Ultimately lack of Franchise Qb is costing them.

Solve that position, everything else falls into place. Always seems to.
 
Dolphins are doing a Jim Morrison 'wallowing in the mire' along with about 2/3 of the NFL.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flOvM4Z355A

Could Henne really be Terry Bradshaw's illegitimate grand-son as there is sure some resemblance? :)

Henne at least he seems he would be a good back-up. Really though the team needs someone better as the #1 QB.

Stating the obvious, poor drafting, injuries, bad/ineffective coaching and the lack of a franchise QB has hurt the team for sure.

Sparano, to me, shows a lack of grace and professionalism. Don't believe he is really head coach quality at this point in time.

It's just pathetic that the cursed jets can put together a viable contender in a short period and the continuous supply of meat-heads in Miami don't seem to know what they are doing. Not to mention the Pats continued ability to do so.

If the team is not careful and get its act together, the Bills will be kicking their ***** in a year or two.
 
I like how it was the loss of Ginn that made us slow. Carroll has done much better on KR and Bess much better than Ginn on PR. So he's fast, who gives a flying **** if the opposition knows they can just stick a mediocre fast cb on him and he will never catch a ball..
 
Yes we have zero speed on offense and have very few physical players. Physical teams out-hit us and knock us on our *** all the damn time!!!
 
Simple answer is NO.Its now year 3 and this team isn't going to make the playoffs.Even heading into 2011 this team has holes everywhere and too many question marks.

How much time should we give them?Three years was more then enough to show improvement and I don't see it.
 
4THand10 said:
Simple answer is NO.Its now year 3 and this team isn't going to make the playoffs.Even heading into 2011 this team has holes everywhere and too many question marks.

How much time should we give them?Three years was more then enough to show improvement and I don't see it.
Click to expand...

You say three years so you must be talking about improvement over that period of time compared the three previous years before them. If you can't see improvement there then you should really consider excusing yourself from any form of conversation regarding the Dolphins cause you are so blatantly wrong that it physically harms the listener.
 
As soon as Dan Henning leaves and we install a real offense we can evaluate Chad Henne. We need more speed at rb. I'm still pissed at the Pat White pick and the Dez Bryant snub.
 
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