Dolphins 2013 "turn around"

[FSU Truth]

I was think of all that took place this season...(week 16 already....here's to hoping for a few extra games) and the turn around we have seen....what facotrs played into that?

1. Ryan Tannehill - We are fortunate to have a QB who continues to improve each week. The experience he gained earlier this season, assuming (earning) a leadership role on the team, is paying dividends now. We see the players taking their cue from his example. He seems more comfortable behind the improved line play and is starting to develop chemistry with Ocean's Eleven. Right now he is one of those "hot" QB's and is on a very nice roll at the end of the season. He's more confident in his own play and is showing a lot of confidence is his receiving core.

2. Offensive Line - The line play has improved significantly from the 1st few weeks. McKinnie has solidified the LT position and will continue to get better as the season goes on and he continues to get into better shape. Clabo has done a 180....after a disastrous start to the season he is beginning to play like the player we all hoped we signed in the off-season. UDFA Brenner is playing for his career and that fire and drive is contagious. Overall the unit is playing much better and as a result the running game has improved and Tannehill is able make plays.

3. Wallace and Clay - Part of this has to do with the previous two, but they both have elevated their play. Wallace is making plays after the catch, Clay is.....well, Clay. He's doing things that we have all wanted to see out of a Dolphin player....there may not be another player on this team with more fight and desire to pick up yards after the catch. These two guy are opening up things for the other WRs...(hell Belicheat was so nervous about Clay he put their top CB on him.)

4. Defense - Playing better as a whole, but mostly due to the play of the d-line. Vernon and a healthy Wake are making QB's days miserable. Jordan while limited is helping open up things for the other guys on the Line. Ellerbe is playing better as are the CB's.

I'm sure I'm missing something, but it does seem like this team is getting it together at the right time.

Fins Up!

 

[MD]

The key piece is the QB and we have ours for the next 12-15 years.

 

[Shouright]

I'm not sure there's been much of a turnaround, versus the typical variation up and down exhibited by a team that's about average.

 

[Sarnics13]

I'm not sure if there's been much of a turnaround, versus the typical variation exhibited by a team that's about average.

aaaaannnnnndddddd there it is! The use of the word "average" in a post from Shou. Like clock work! We get it already....seriously

 

[Shouright]

aaaaannnnnndddddd there it is! The use of the word "average" in a post from Shou. Like clock work! We get it already....seriously

And when the team is demonstrably better than average, you'll likely hear it from me first. My finger is pretty tightly on that pulse. :up:

 

[FSU Truth]

And when the team is demonstrably better than average, you'll likely hear it from me first. My finger is pretty tightly on that pulse. :up:

In the NFL where a majority of the games are decided by a TD or less....being "slightly better" can have a much larger impact....

 

[datruth55]

The O-line is still not where it needs to be and the addition of a power back that can gain 2 yards when you really need it would have probably won us a couple more games but the improved line play has allowed Tannehill to progress. It's a shame we keep making things difficult for Tannehill. We've been very reactive instead of proactive when it comes to putting the pieces around him to allow him to succeed.

 

[.....]

1. Philbin - for holding this team together when the world expected it to implode

 

[nick1]

what is different? our secondary is much better, more turnovers created and better QB play. Wallace and Clay help a lot too

 

[EvilDylan]

I'm not sure there's been much of a turnaround, versus the typical variation up and down exhibited by a team that's about average.

I would say that beating three teams that are in the playoff hunt as opposed to losing to two teams that are in the bottom of the league would be considered a turnaround.

 

[rent this space]

I'm not sure there's been much of a turnaround, versus the typical variation up and down exhibited by a team that's about average.

Are you saying there is no difference in this team from October to December?

 

[greasyObnoxious]

Are you saying there is no difference in this team from October to December?

there's no stat to back this up, so no

 

[Finland]

I'm not sure there's been much of a turnaround, versus the typical variation up and down exhibited by a team that's about average.

As well, I bet if you ran numbers on the Oline it might have improved relative to itself but it's still problematic compared to a good one. I think saying the Oline turned around is a bit of a play with words. Overall it is not very good.

 

[Danny]

We won the last 3 games and of course you're going to get many people thinking that all of a sudden we have the 72 Dolphins. Te team is playing better but we still have work to do. The line is still getting Ryan sacked 2 or 3 times a game and that's not good. We still get too many runs stop behind the LOS. We still miss too many tackles on defense and the pass rush is inconsisten. We have not scored a TD on our oppening drive in 12 games and we still don't score much in the 4th quater. We might make the playoffs but there's still much work to be done with this team.

Ozzy rules!!

 

[Shouright]

Are you saying there is no difference in this team from October to December?

There might be, but what would that illustrate? Why wouldn't we also look at what the team did in September?

In other words, when we look at the whole season, what we might be seeing is the variation in play typically exhibited by teams that are around average. And when that variation goes up and down and then up again, why should we call that a "turnaround," if indeed it's characteristic of the typical variation in play of an average team?