Miami Dolphins owner: Everyone is 'smelling' optimism

[DKphin]

Ross can smell what Gase is cooking. "I think we've come a long way from where we started," Ross told reporters in the locker room at Heinz Field after the game, via the team's official website. "Certainly unhappy right now. But I'm happy with the direction we're going. I think we have the right coach, the right people in place and I have the basis for something. Everybody is smelling it. They want it more and that gives you optimism for next year."
Sunday's playoff appearance was the first since Ross took over full ownership and the franchise's first since 2009.
There are some depth problems on the Dolphins' roster, but with Gase getting the most out of the talent he's given, Jay Ajayi as the workhorse, Ryan Tannehill's improvement, and Ndamukong Suh the centerpiece of the D, the optimism in Miami is clear.
"I think how the organization has come together," Ross said. "You saw a team that was 1-4. Everybody was ready to write it off at that point and how they fought back and came together as a team. That's great to see. The way we ended up was pretty good ... not today. Certainly, everybody in this room is disappointed. But I think the basis is here to really create something and hopefully we're in the right direction. I believe it."
Miami made strides, but Sunday's shellacking showed it's still several difference-makers away from competing with the big boys of the AFC. The moves this offseason will show whether the team can take the next step and close that gap.
"Today it's a loss," Ross said. "But I feel good the direction that the team is going. I'll only be satisfied with winning the Super Bowl."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-dolphins-owner-everyone-is-smelling-optimism

 

[stephins87]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

 

[Bob512]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

Been a fan since 1970. I've seen a bunch come and go along with a lot of highs and lows. If you can't get optimistic about what Gase brings to the table and the talent we do have to build upon, then your always going to have a rough next year.

We have the nucleus and a good coach.....we should be optimistic.

 

[DolfanISS]

Been a fan since 1970. I've seen a bunch come and go along with a lot of highs and lows. If you can't get optimistic about what Gase brings to the table and the talent we do have to build upon, then your always going to have a rough next year.

We have the nucleus and a good coach.....we should be optimistic.

Agreed! Just reload that defense and we should be off and running. Gase has already proven he can get his team to win in adverse situations. We just need some NFL starters on defense and we'll be back. This is the most optimistic I've been in a while. I'm not going to spew the "same old Dolphins" venom I feel this is different because I feel we have the coach/QB combination. I've haven't felt that since Marino/Shula. Pennington/Sparano was the closest thing but Penney was too brittle to truly believe in. We had no shot with Chad Henne, he just sucked too much.

Lick your wounds guys, the change of the guard in the AFC East is coming. May not be next year but it's coming.

 

[maralieus]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

Pennington was older and had a bum shoulder, sparano was never confused for an offensive mastemind or qb guru, all he did well was build offensive lines. Oh yeah, and kick fg's. We had an actual offense this year with actual talent. Landry stills and parker, not ginn, bess and whoever. We used a gimmick all year in 08. Ajayi is already much better than brown ever was. Brown was OK. I would say our QB, coach, wr's and rb are all significant upgrades over that old team. The defense is gonna make a huge leap next year when Reshad, IAQ, Kiko and Maxwell are all fully healthy. I see how you coukd make the comparison based off if first year coaches and big turnarounds, but really the similarities end there.

 

[DuderinoN703]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

Agree a little but what are we as fans supposed to do about it? Every year coaches and teams have to prove themselves. The expectations for 2017 will be higher than they were this year. I had Miami at 5-11 heading into 2016. While it's too early to predict next year's record, I certainly won't be of the mindset that they'll win 5 games.

 

[stephins87]

Good points all, just want to be mentally prepared because winning 10 games is tough to do. No doubt if the talent gets better, there's no reason this team can't

 

[johngarryvo]

yo Ross.. smell up a dozen or more o' them MVP robots so these guys learn tackling! oh… and put some 21st century Field Turf down, cuz that surface… can't hang


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wildbill3]

the most I expected this season was 7-9 or 8-8. Getting to 10-6 means we were over a usual 2 game improvement of the previous season with our new coaching staff. We won a lot of games that we shouldn't have, and I fully expect us to have some regression next season, however, if we do any worse than 8-8, then there will be some cause for concern.

 

[PerfectFinz72]

Alot of fans may take the glass half empty approach as we've seen alot of garbage for 10+ years. However, you sort of have to trust the process at least a little and hope Gase is the guy to keep this going. I dont want to spend the entire offseason (unless they do nothing to improve the obvious holes) fearing its gonna be all downhill from here until the next regime...

 

[Shula Fan]

I hope the top free agents are smelling what we're cooking. I think they are. Good players want to go to a contender, and I think players will recognize we are an up and coming team with good young talent. Especially if we win a playoff game next year, I see players wanting to come here in flocks.

 

[Regulus]

I like Gase a lot but this roster is still overall a bad one. The defense is one of the worst in the league and the offensive line is a patchwork with a lot of questions going forward. Just keep improving the roster with a good draft and a few fa signings. Hopefully the front office doesn't think we are only a couple players away and go on a spending spree

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

I think we had a successful season, looking at it in perspective, but I don't really smell any optimism today. We just got smoked out of the playoffs.

 

[utahphinsfan]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

Crucial difference Gase >>>>>>>> the meatball

Ask yourself... How is Minny's OL doing? You're welcome.

 

[greasyObnoxious]

I heard this last time with Sparano. 11-5 in rookie season, felt great and future's bright, got pummelled in the playoffs and never to be heard from again. If the roster talent isn't improved, with the injury prone guys being our best players, we're in for a rough 2017.

the biggest differences are 1) a system that is sustainable and 2) a QB whose arm defenses have to respect.