Resume is awful weak. He’s still got a ways to go to catch up with Ol’ Pachy.
Makes one wonder where we would be, had we had a real TC and preseason.I am quite surprised. I never planned on early success. Too little time due to Covid restrictions (lack of practice time, no preseason games) for the time to gel. It really does take time for a TEAM to come together. It simply doesn't happen overnight. Players need to develop a level of trust with each other. The O Line development has been nothing short of amazing. 5 of 6 new guys starting or playing significant reps and to be as solid as they have been so far. Totally didn't expect that to happen as quickly as it has. These things simply cannot happen without good coaching, can't. That makes things very promising for the future. I have also noticed the respect and pulling for each other by team members. That kind of positive atmosphere is as contagious as a negative atmosphere can be in the opposite direction. That relationship and team first attitude is also a reflection of the coaching. I don't know what record we will end up with because in the NFL there are no gimme games, but I do know our team is significantly better. Attitude and development of players is so key in the NFL and it gives me great satisfaction seeing that actually happen with our Dolphins. I am more optimistic about our future than I have been since Marino. I'm one of the old timers who watched Csonka, Kiik, Morris, etc... in the glory days. Unfortunately, always on TV as I live in ND. I have been able to see two games in Minnesota, unfortunately both loses. Enjoy the ride Dolphin fans!
I knew that our Defense was set to improve with the addition of Kyle Van Noy, Byron Jones, Emmanuel Ogbah, Shaq Lawson, Elandon Roberts, etc. Getting Xavien Howard back from injury was another big plus. However, what has really surprised me is how well our new additions to the O-line have come together. Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras in free agency plus Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley in the Draft. Plus a new Offensive Line Coach in Steve Marshall. When considered altogether this was effectively a total rebuild. I thought it would take much, much longer for the O-line to gel and I was expecting Fitz to start for much longer because of potential protection issues and I was comfortable with Tua waiting while the O-line came together. Thankfully, I was totally wrong re the time needed for the O-line to get its sh*t together. Chan Gailey and Steve Marshall have done a great job. This is all coming together nicely with Draft picks up our sleeve for next year.
Brian Flores and GM Chris Grier may have actually implemented the blueprint of the model turnaround for an NFL franchise:
1) Get the right GM for the future. (Easy to say - not so easy to do). Owner has to commit to him.
2) Get the right Head Coach for the future and be confident that the GM and Head Coach are totally aligned philosophically how to turn it around.
3) Be prepared to go backwards in terms of short term (wins) via trading players and cutting expensive veterans to assemble Draft capital and cash for free agents for the future. Allow the GM to be totally ruthless in implementing this phase against predictable media negativity.
4) Find a veteran QB who can hold things down and be a transition to the future, while you find and prepare your future QB.
5) Find the right veteran Offensive Coordinator with hands-on experience in developing young QBs.
6) Preferably draft your QB for the future and get him the best O-line protection possible. Note - prioritize the team Draft needs by position - focus on O-line, D-line and DBs before investing significant Draft capital in WRs, RBs and LB.
The Phins showed up the whole second half of last season so I had tempered but hopeful expectations. I figured we would play hard under Coach Flo but I didn't expect to be winning games against good teams. I thought this was a 6-7 win team
I am quite surprised. I never planned on early success. Too little time due to Covid restrictions (lack of practice time, no preseason games) for the time to gel. It really does take time for a TEAM to come together. It simply doesn't happen overnight. Players need to develop a level of trust with each other. The O Line development has been nothing short of amazing. 5 of 6 new guys starting or playing significant reps and to be as solid as they have been so far. Totally didn't expect that to happen as quickly as it has. These things simply cannot happen without good coaching, can't. That makes things very promising for the future. I have also noticed the respect and pulling for each other by team members. That kind of positive atmosphere is as contagious as a negative atmosphere can be in the opposite direction. That relationship and team first attitude is also a reflection of the coaching. I don't know what record we will end up with because in the NFL there are no gimme games, but I do know our team is significantly better. Attitude and development of players is so key in the NFL and it gives me great satisfaction seeing that actually happen with our Dolphins. I am more optimistic about our future than I have been since Marino. I'm one of the old timers who watched Csonka, Kiik, Morris, etc... in the glory days. Unfortunately, always on TV as I live in ND. I have been able to see two games in Minnesota, unfortunately both loses. Enjoy the ride Dolphin fans!