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How far we've come

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popularwar

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Where were we at this time last year?
The beginning of training camp under new head coach Nick Saban had us all excited and curious. Who would end up starting at quarterback? How much improvement could we expect from the offensive line? Was Ronnie Brown the right choice? What role would our veterans play?
All those questions were answered, but as good as last year appeared to be, this year will be far better. Why? We're better in virtually every position.
Last year there were questions (and endless debates among the finheaven faithful) over who would start at quarterback, Feeley or Frerotte? Frerotte was a career journeyman known for slamming his head into a wall, Feeley was a third stringer with potential... and a big price tag. This year our question is not who, but rather when. When will our new Pro Bowl quarterback will play?
The offensive line flourished under Hudson Houck, what was once a bottom-5 line allowed the 4th least sacks in the NFL despite facing some tough defenses in and out of the division.
Our running game last year was in the hands of a holdout rookie and the rumor of a Ricky Williams return. This year we know that said rookie was a ROTY candidate, who is eager to hurt defenses with his running, and who has the benefit of a solid quarterback to keep those defenses honest.
Last year we heard rumors of Zach Thomas or Jason Taylor possibly being traded or even cut! Panic filled the insane amount of bandwidth this great site requires. Then.... both Zach and Jason were voted to the pro bowl, posting some of their finest seasons in the NFL. Sam Madison, a shell of his former self, was able to snatch a few INT's, something he hadn't accomplished in over 30 games.

Last year we finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs technically by one game. This year, with less question marks, we appear ready to make the jump from a decent team to a good playoff team. It's all up to Saban and company, but if the past year has been any indication, I think he'll be able to handle it.
 
Good post. It really is amazing how far this franchise has come in just one calendar year. Did you see the ESPN piece yesterday where the anchors were saying Daunte reminded Dolphin officials of Marino? Man it sure is nice to have a great QB again. The rest of the squad has completely turned it around as well. Heading into training camp last year, we wern't suppose to win more than 5 games. Now we are favorites to win the AFCE IMO, and have a shot at a Super Bowl.
 
popularwar said:
Where were we at this time last year?
The beginning of training camp under new head coach Nick Saban had us all excited and curious. Who would end up starting at quarterback? How much improvement could we expect from the offensive line? Was Ronnie Brown the right choice? What role would our veterans play?
All those questions were answered, but as good as last year appeared to be, this year will be far better. Why? We're better in virtually every position.
Last year there were questions (and endless debates among the finheaven faithful) over who would start at quarterback, Feeley or Frerotte? Frerotte was a career journeyman known for slamming his head into a wall, Feeley was a third stringer with potential... and a big price tag. This year our question is not who, but rather when. When will our new Pro Bowl quarterback will play?
The offensive line flourished under Hudson Houck, what was once a bottom-5 line allowed the 4th least sacks in the NFL despite facing some tough defenses in and out of the division.
Our running game last year was in the hands of a holdout rookie and the rumor of a Ricky Williams return. This year we know that said rookie was a ROTY candidate, who is eager to hurt defenses with his running, and who has the benefit of a solid quarterback to keep those defenses honest.
Last year we heard rumors of Zach Thomas or Jason Taylor possibly being traded or even cut! Panic filled the insane amount of bandwidth this great site requires. Then.... both Zach and Jason were voted to the pro bowl, posting some of their finest seasons in the NFL. Sam Madison, a shell of his former self, was able to snatch a few INT's, something he hadn't accomplished in over 30 games.

Last year we finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs technically by one game. This year, with less question marks, we appear ready to make the jump from a decent team to a good playoff team. It's all up to Saban and company, but if the past year has been any indication, I think he'll be able to handle it.
Click to expand...

Great post bro! And I am jacked up about this season we have come along way since Saban has taken over and the only thing I have a big worry on is our secondary but Saban specializes in that so I think things are big on the upside!

I like that picture of the comparisons between Dolphins QBs since 2000 and Culpepper!
 
Aqua4Ever04 said:
Did you see the ESPN piece yesterday where the anchors were saying Daunte reminded Dolphin officials of Marino?
Click to expand...
No, I missed it, but just knowing that someone would say that makes me feel pretty good about our season.
 
popularwar said:
No, I missed it, but just knowing that someone would say that makes me feel pretty good about our season.
Click to expand...

Yeah they said two things that made me very excited. The first being the Marino reference, and that Culpepper may have found his new Moss in a certain C.C reciever in Miami. That 2nd one was a direct quote from Steve Levey.
 
Great post and points, but,...... stay tuned, there are more and better things to come. how many years has it been since we have had that kind of optimism?
 
popularwar said:
Where were we at this time last year?
The beginning of training camp under new head coach Nick Saban had us all excited and curious. Who would end up starting at quarterback? How much improvement could we expect from the offensive line? Was Ronnie Brown the right choice? What role would our veterans play?
All those questions were answered, but as good as last year appeared to be, this year will be far better. Why? We're better in virtually every position.
Last year there were questions (and endless debates among the finheaven faithful) over who would start at quarterback, Feeley or Frerotte? Frerotte was a career journeyman known for slamming his head into a wall, Feeley was a third stringer with potential... and a big price tag. This year our question is not who, but rather when. When will our new Pro Bowl quarterback will play?
The offensive line flourished under Hudson Houck, what was once a bottom-5 line allowed the 4th least sacks in the NFL despite facing some tough defenses in and out of the division.
Our running game last year was in the hands of a holdout rookie and the rumor of a Ricky Williams return. This year we know that said rookie was a ROTY candidate, who is eager to hurt defenses with his running, and who has the benefit of a solid quarterback to keep those defenses honest.
Last year we heard rumors of Zach Thomas or Jason Taylor possibly being traded or even cut! Panic filled the insane amount of bandwidth this great site requires. Then.... both Zach and Jason were voted to the pro bowl, posting some of their finest seasons in the NFL. Sam Madison, a shell of his former self, was able to snatch a few INT's, something he hadn't accomplished in over 30 games.

Last year we finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs technically by one game. This year, with less question marks, we appear ready to make the jump from a decent team to a good playoff team. It's all up to Saban and company, but if the past year has been any indication, I think he'll be able to handle it.
Click to expand...

Excellent post dude, can't wait for the season to begin ! :wink:
 
The other day I was listening to a Buffalo sports radio station, and the two local guys were on trying to rationalize how they thought Buffalo could go 4-2in the AFC east and take the division this year. (they said 8-8 or 9-7 would win the afc east this year by the way.)
It got me thinking back to our horrible 2004 season, and how biased I was as a fan to think the dolphins had a legitimate shot at being a good team that year. It really is funny how you just can't see it in your own team. Everyone in their right mind can see Buffalo is one of the worst teams in the league this upcoming season...personnell, management, coaching...yet these hometown announcers actually believe they have a shot at taking the division. I was the same way with the 2004 dolphins, but now that this team has come so far, I can't believe I expected anything more than the 4 wins we ended up getting.
 
Very good point Ghost. I remember trying to make sense of Ricky's retirement and tried to make myself believe that it would make us better because we would pass more. Never have I been more wrong lol. I didn't realize we were doomed for a long season untill the loss to Pittsburgh in the wake of a storm on a Sunday Night game. But like you, never could I say, the Fins will be terrible this year.
 
I went to practice Saturday night and ................

I went to practice Sturday night and I couldn't believe how much we have improved our speed on the offense. With the additions of Campbell, Vick, hagan and Aromashudu we have really improve our overal speed a great deal. And from what I saw Vick may be a factor. He looked fast and comfortable at the reciever position and he look sure handed and very, very fast as a punt returner. I know he will be a serious competitor for punt return duties and Welker knows it too. Welker was still fielding punts 35 minutes after practice was over because he sees Vick as a very serious threat to his roster spot. At running back all the guys I was hanging with wanted to know who number 33 was. Well 33 is K-Jay Harris, you know the guy that's not supposed to have much of a chance to make the 53 man roster. Well my observation is you better believe this guy is in the mix big time. He's as big strong and looked almost as fast as Ronnie and boy this guy was catching everything that was thrown his way. I know it's only the first practice but man this guy looks like a stud. The offensive line looks huge out there. In the past (Marino era) the Dolphins offensive lines were smaller and more sutted for pass blocking. This group may be proficient at pass blocking but this line has the look of a bunch of road gratters. Big strong and looking to improve on that 4 somthing yard per carry average from last year. We have at least two starters on the O line from last year that will be back-ups this year. Better starters and more depth, that is a very, very good thing. There is only one offensive position that really lacks depth and that's at tight end. McMichael is all weve got as a reciever. Talk about slow white boys. All blockers no recievers at all. The routes took so long to develope and we didn't see much seperation from the D-backs. This is the position in which we need to improve our depth. This is a very glaring deficiency. But you can't Improve everything in one off season. I'm going to practice monday night and I'll keep you guys posted.:dolphins: :dolphins: :dolphins: :dolphins:
 
yeah the change of scenery bringing in saban and disposing of that shocking name which should never be mentioned in any conversation was deffinantly a good idea and has helped the whole organisation
 
CNS9416 said:
I went to practice Sturday night and I couldn't believe how much we have improved our speed on the offense. With the additions of Campbell, Vick, hagan and Aromashudu we have really improve our overal speed a great deal. And from what I saw Vick may be a factor. He looked fast and comfortable at the reciever position and he look sure handed and very, very fast as a punt returner. I know he will be a serious competitor for punt return duties and Welker knows it too. Welker was still fielding punts 35 minutes after practice was over because he sees Vick as a very serious threat to his roster spot. At running back all the guys I was hanging with wanted to know who number 33 was. Well 33 is K-Jay Harris, you know the guy that's not supposed to have much of a chance to make the 53 man roster. Well my observation is you better believe this guy is in the mix big time. He's as big strong and looked almost as fast as Ronnie and boy this guy was catching everything that was thrown his way. I know it's only the first practice but man this guy looks like a stud. The offensive line looks huge out there. In the past (Marino era) the Dolphins offensive lines were smaller and more sutted for pass blocking. This group may be proficient at pass blocking but this line has the look of a bunch of road gratters. Big strong and looking to improve on that 4 somthing yard per carry average from last year. We have at least two starters on the O line from last year that will be back-ups this year. Better starters and more depth, that is a very, very good thing. There is only one offensive position that really lacks depth and that's at tight end. McMichael is all weve got as a reciever. Talk about slow white boys. All blockers no recievers at all. The routes took so long to develope and we didn't see much seperation from the D-backs. This is the position in which we need to improve our depth. This is a very glaring deficiency. But you can't Improve everything in one off season. I'm going to practice monday night and I'll keep you guys posted.:dolphins: :dolphins: :dolphins: :dolphins:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the report.

As far as TE depth, we signed Justin Peele for his blocking prowess. He's not a bad receiver either.
 
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