Look around the league and then at us

[finfan54]

I think there are two groups of Dolphin fans (or Cleveland fans or any other team that has been completely irrelevant for over 10 years), those that see the trend over the last decade or so and the fact that it is continuing AND ARE ****ING SICK AND TIRED OF BEING ****ING SICK AND TIRED OF IT, and those that look at each individual season in a vacuum and hope that somehow the crap you're seeing is gonna turn out differently.

Personally, I'm in the former category, I'd like to think that eventually we'll get somebody up at the top that can build a solid foundation for a franchise that is competitive year in and year out (like the Pats).

I don't see that in this organization, you have a different cast of characters, making the same mistakes, playing the same 50/50 crap football that we've been forced to endure for a decade.

The problem with you and your cohorts theories is that we have changed changed and changed some more and we are still here.

The problem is not really Ireland, Philbin, and Sherman (ok it is him for first half of season), but rather execution. There are alot of rookies and 2nd/3rd year types on this team including our QB.

They all get 1 more year IMO and then they all go together. It cant be a partial. That wont work. It needs to be all or nothing for 1 year. Have a problem with that? Take it up with Ross.

Now Ireland could end up very well being gone, but that will only make it worse for the new guy.

 

[FinsFan74]

I for one am sick and tired of constantly being mired in mediocrity as well. This team crushes our hopes year in and year out due to whatever reason. Look at some of the other teams around the league that were abysmal in the last few seasons, a few of them were able to completely turn their team around and are playoff bound. We have to start talking about all these scenarios that need to happen instead of controlling our own destiny to the playoffs. Just as someone previously stated, ALL OF US HERE are diehard Dolphins fans, otherwise we wouldn't be here. Everyone has their own views and opinions on the state of the franchise, and everyone should be allowed to voice their concerns. It's called venting. At the end of the day, no matter how much bitching we do, we are all in this together and will REMAIN Dolphins fans

 

[So Be]

I'm not a big fan of Philbin & Company. However, they're dealing with the same problems as the team in the OL, RB, and RT getting killed. Would other coaches make what we have on the OL and RB better? I don't think so. Yet we lost 4 games by not making a play in each. Make one in 2 of those games, and everyone's happy but, didn't happen.

IF we would have traded for Albert and signed Bradshaw, it's likely the sacks are cut by around 10-12, and a good chance we would have won a couple more games. Didn't happen.

I did not believe we would contend this year, and everyone here was saying the same. It would take until 2014 in the opinions of the vast majority. I still feel the same, and am going to watch the last 5 games hoping we can some how get into the playoffs. If not, it was what I expected, as did the rest of us here.

Just my $.02.

 

[HoneyB]

Some of those teams have been to the playoffs in recent years, or won a super bowl in recent years. They come back to the pack, and then excel again. We on the other hand. stay irrelevant year after year.

That's exactly right, so it's ludicrous to point to teams who are struggling for good reason, because they've had their roster raided (Ravens), or lost key players (Patriots). Those teams have recently been to championships. Even the Falcons who have struggled, have put enough of a season together to get there, to earn a shot. We haven't lost any key players, other than Keller who just got here. We keep adding players, and getting rid of supposedly washed up ones, to get the roster we wanted. THIS is what they designed!

 

[Adam Strange]

I did not believe we would contend this year, and everyone here was saying the same. It would take until 2014 in the opinions of the vast majority. I still feel the same, and am going to watch the last 5 games hoping we can some how get into the playoffs. If not, it was what I expected, as did the rest of us here.

Revisionist history at its best, the kind that always shows up once the giddy optimism of the preseason finally wears off. The majority of fans thought that the team wouldn't contend for a Super Bowl championship this year. However, the majority also thought that the Dolphins were locks to sweep past the Bills and Jets and challenge NE for the division. 9 and 10 win predictions were not uncommon and the majority also claimed that missing the playoffs would be such a failure that Ireland should be fired for it. After the 3-0 start, predictions of 12-4 stated to get thrown around. Hell, I thought I was being pessimistic because I predicted 9-7 and no playoffs. Yeah, they're in the playoff picture, but only because the rest of the conference is also a pathetic mess. If the Dolphins had actually performed to expectations, they'd be locks for the playoffs already. Now they need to play above their heads the rest of the way just to avoid another losing season in a never-ending string of them (not that there's any reason to think that they will).

There's no candy coating this season, or its failures. And it's this same kind of excuse-making and feel good revisionism that's going to lead to Ireland being retained and the team being in the exact same position next year. Only with one more wasted season under their belts. But by all means, let's maintain the status quo and add more gasoline to the tire fire that is the Miami Dolphins franchise post-2003.

 

[HoneyB]

I'm not a big fan of Philbin & Company. However, they're dealing with the same problems as the team in the OL, RB, and RT getting killed. I did not believe we would contend this year, and everyone here was saying the same. It would take until 2014 in the opinions of the vast majority.

I was excited at the beginning of the season because was certain we would take a leap. This was a rebuilding year, and I didn't expect too much until 2014, or the year after. By then I expected a solid team, full of talent, and high scoring, definitely making the playoffs and maybe a championship spot. The thing is...that doesn't happen spontaneously. There has to be growth. That's what I wanted to see this year - evidence of a direction, and growth.

Instead, what I saw, was the running game get worse, not better. I saw the O line get worse (run and pass), not better. Just those two things alone should concern us. Then add to that, no YAC, timing off on passes, not utilizing Wallace from day one. Add to that, inconsistency for Tannehill, who has shown improvement, but also regression. Add to that...the problems on the D side of the ball stopping the run.

These were things we hoped not to see. They have happened. Separately, problems can be overcome. But all together, it's tough.

 

[gofins60]

I was excited at the beginning of the season because was certain we would take a leap. This was a rebuilding year, and I didn't expect too much until 2014, or the year after. By then I expected a solid team, full of talent, and high scoring, definitely making the playoffs and maybe a championship spot. The thing is...that doesn't happen spontaneously. There has to be growth. That's what I wanted to see this year - evidence of a direction, and growth.

Instead, what I saw, was the running game get worse, not better. I saw the O line get worse (run and pass), not better. Just those two things alone should concern us. Then add to that, no YAC, timing off on passes, not utilizing Wallace from day one. Add to that, inconsistency for Tannehill, who has shown improvement, but also regression. Add to that...the problems on the D side of the ball stopping the run.

These were things we hoped not to see. They have happened. Separately, problems can be overcome. But all together, it's tough.

This is why I feel that Philbin is the wrong guy to lead this team, and he should NEVER have hired his buddy Sherman! Their offense is regressing instead of improving. Their system is based on short, quick timing routes with the short pass taking the place of the running game. This is why they never cared about improving the o-line... they believe that the ball should be out so quick that even a poor o-line should be able to hold their blocks long enough to make the completion. In preseason and the start of the regular season the sacks just kept adding up, yet Philbin and Sherman did NOTHING except say that they believe in their guys. They continued to stand by and do nothing until the meeting with Ross, and then finally McKinnie was signed. They also don't care about a running game, as we've all seen Sherman go away from it even when it was working.

On defense, Coyle changed the scheme of the Front 7 and Ireland swapped two LBs. How did that work out? Their previously "dominant against the run" defense has disappeared. The only improvement has been the play of the CBs. Even Special Teams play has regressed, with Thigpen's return yardage down.

Add all of that to a staff that can't make in-game adjustments to counter what the opponent is doing, and you have a bad team. The talent is there (for the most part), since they're able to dominate good teams in the first half; the question is why can't they continue to dominate in the second half? If Ross wants to see his team in the playoffs anytime soon, he needs to clean house.

 

[HoneyB]

My audio isn't working. Can someone tell me what this is?

[video=youtube;MJd-wnqAwM4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJd-wnqAwM4[/video]

 

[HoneyB]

This is why I feel that Philbin is the wrong guy to lead this team, and he should NEVER have hired his buddy Sherman! Their offense is regressing instead of improving. Their system is based on short, quick timing routes with the short pass taking the place of the running game. This is why they never cared about improving the o-line... they believe that the ball should be out so quick that even a poor o-line should be able to hold their blocks long enough to make the completion. In preseason and the start of the regular season the sacks just kept adding up, yet Philbin and Sherman did NOTHING except say that they believe in their guys. They continued to stand by and do nothing until the meeting with Ross, and then finally McKinnie was signed. They also don't care about a running game, as we've all seen Sherman go away from it even when it was working.

On defense, Coyle changed the scheme of the Front 7 and Ireland swapped two LBs. How did that work out? Their previously "dominant against the run" defense has disappeared. The only improvement has been the play of the CBs. Even Special Teams play has regressed, with Thigpen's return yardage down.

Add all of that to a staff that can't make in-game adjustments to counter what the opponent is doing, and you have a bad team. The talent is there (for the most part), since they're able to dominate good teams in the first half; the question is why can't they continue to dominate in the second half? If Ross wants to see his team in the playoffs anytime soon, he needs to clean house.

I know, it makes you crazy, right? Tipped ball problem? Let's ignore it. Sack problem? Let's ignore it. No running game? We don't need it. No fullback? No problem. J. Martin underperforming and having a breakdown? We never saw it. No leaders in the locker room? Who needs them. And yet, like you said, Ross gets involved, and suddenly McKinnie is signed.

What I don't understand is, if their plan was to run up temp and have Tannehill have a quick release, then why aren't we? And if that is our scheme why did we spend all that money on Wallace?

 

[HoneyB]

Basically, if management has a plan, I wished they'd share it with us. Because, I have no idea what they want. In the draft for example, they were going for Tavon. Then they saw a pass rusher available, and said oh wait let's get him. Well, those are two drastically different picks. If I had to guess, the same thing happened with Wallace. I'll bet Philbin layed out his scheme to Ireland, short passing, route running and all that, and then Ireland says ok, but then sees Wallace available and says, hey what about him? They all shrug and say, sure why not. It's like the lot of them are 5 year olds just tall enough to reach the candy counter and seeing something they like better than what they're clutching in their little fists.

 

[Ed Norton]

My audio isn't working. Can someone tell me what this is?

[video=youtube;MJd-wnqAwM4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJd-wnqAwM4[/video]

Its the tune to "Wanted Dead or Alive" with lyrics about being a Dolphins fan. I'm a Dolphins fan. In a paper bag I hide and on Sundays, Sundays I cry.