Before the Atlanta game

[Jeep]

and before the season starts.. I want to say I am becoming more optimistic here.. Based solely on the play of the 1st team in the first 3 preseason games, I thot for certain we would be in for a long losing disappointing season this year.. I had ZERO... ZIP... NO faith what so ever in the offense and the ability to block, open holes and pass protect.. at the same time I had too many doubts about the defense and felt losing Surtain, Knight and others would leave us a step behind and literally chasing the opposing teams wide receivers and running backs..

However, in the last two or three days, I have picked up on something when I watched the JT and Kevin Carter interviews.. There seems to be a quiet hint of enthusiasm and excitement from them almost like they want to tell us fans that they will phenomenal this year.. but cant and must remain closed lipped.. In all my years of following the Phins, I have never seen or sensed that before and it makes me wonder what they know and what we're in for this year..

To add to that.. seeing the first team control the game during the opening drives of the Bucs game was also encouraging.. it showed the team has made real progress in recent weeks and I sense/expect Saban and company has downplayed the talent level a little this preseason..

If the defense is as good as Carter/Taylor is hinting.. they will keep us in the games until the offense can mature and mesh as a unit.. I predict the second half of the season will be much much better than the first half :)

 

[LarryFinFan]

Well, one thing that seems to be underlying theme of the team this preseason is that, to me, there seems to be things that are not showing yet...what I mean is it seems to me that Saban and staff are holding back and the preseason has been very vanilla. The O has shown more of a tendency to go deep (although has not been too successful at it)...but not too much of a vertical game...Maybe it's a sign that we are not going to be very good at all, but it just feels like the team is holding back some things...

The fans (and me included) have all been enamored by the QB controversy, but the team doesn't seem to be too worried about it. I was real concerned about the secondary after the Bears game, but have forgotten the worries I had then. The DL/LB seem to have picked up Saban's scheme quite well. It's interesting, because under JJ/Wanny...what you saw in the 3rd preseason game was it...that was as good as we got...I just see that we will quietly make a few teams worry this year, unlike in past years. Now we may not do much better than 6-10 or 7-9, but I'll bet that when we look at the end of the year, we will all think that we are a better team than the last few years teams'.

 

[lotion]

I get the same vibe listening to players remarks. It's good that everyone has us picked to suck this year. I'm confident we will be a .500 team at least with the coaching and talent we've got. I can't wait to see JT let loose, the games sure will be fun to watch. We actually might make game plan for certain teams and make adjustments during a game. Something that JJ or DW could never comprehend.

 

[flounder97]

Of course the guys are going to say they are going to win and surprise a few teams. What do you want for them to say, "Uh, yeah, we're gonna suck bad." They are trying to have a positive focus for the season and I've sure Saban has something to do with that.

 

[MDFINFAN]

Of course the guys are going to say they are going to win and surprise a few teams. What do you want for them to say, "Uh, yeah, we're gonna suck bad." They are trying to have a positive focus for the season and I've sure Saban has something to do with that.

What I find are that the players are pretty level headed and factual. When asked about the his experience rebuilding with the rams and his situation here, I think Carter was pretty honest and factual. When you think about it, we do have a lot more talent that that Rams team Dick V. took over. Our skilled positions are compariable with a lot of the top notch teams around the league, our DL and LB'ing core is very talented and have depth. Our secondary is the only troublesome spot I see in terms of depth..be glad when poole gets back. Can't wait to see S. Mitchell. We still have Chester as a PUP player to give us a boost in the 6th week of the season, might even have Poole, though I doubt it. Howard's game is starting to pick up..Wish Sam gets his containment act together, he's a weak link on running plays going to that side. On O, it is what it is, a 2nd year unit getting it together.

 

[Jeep]

Of course the guys are going to say they are going to win and surprise a few teams. What do you want for them to say, "Uh, yeah, we're gonna suck bad." They are trying to have a positive focus for the season and I've sure Saban has something to do with that.

It goes above and beyond that... if you would use your brain to stop and think before you speak.. you'd probably understand more..

We all have heard the typical rah rah crap players say and are instructed to say... This year.. we (I) believe there is more in what they arent saying...

 

[Zeke0123]

I think we steal a few early games with the new system being grasped by the starters and no real scouting of us...hopefully after that the O starts getting it and we post a good second half....500 or maybe a bit better with some luck.