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My Concern About the Team

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Shouright

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I'm VERY pleased with the five-game win streak and how this team has come together recently, but I'm a little concerned about the fact that we started playing very well only after our chances to make the playoffs became very slim (after the Cleveland game, which put us at 3-7).

It makes me wonder about how the coaches and/or players handle the increased pressure of actually having something on the line and something to play for, especially with Saban's emphasis on process over results, which fits better when there's relatively little to play for (i.e., the results don't matter as much and you can focus more on the process).

Thoughts?
 
shouright said:
I'm VERY pleased with the five-game win streak and how this team has come together recently, but I'm a little concerned about the fact that we started playing very well only after our chances to make the playoffs became very slim (after the Cleveland game, which put us at 3-7).

It makes me wonder about how the coaches and/or players handle the increased pressure of actually having something on the line and something to play for, especially with Saban's emphasis on process over results, which fits better when there's relatively little to play for (i.e., the results don't matter as much and you can focus more on the process).

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I was actually VERY pleased with how we responded after that debacle!! Alot of teams woulda packed it in and quit the rest of the season....we got better!! That to me is says something about the character this team has. Cant wait till next year.
 
shouright said:
I'm VERY pleased with the five-game win streak and how this team has come together recently, but I'm a little concerned about the fact that we started playing very well only after our chances to make the playoffs became very slim (after the Cleveland game, which put us at 3-7).

It makes me wonder about how the coaches and/or players handle the increased pressure of actually having something on the line and something to play for, especially with Saban's emphasis on process over results, which fits better when there's relatively little to play for (i.e., the results don't matter as much and you can focus more on the process).

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Well, if you go by what the coach preaches and what most successful players achieve - you only think about the next game and winning it, because anything else spells defeat.
:dolphins:
 
I think Saban has this team going in the right direction. The Cleveland game was a wakeup call that opened up the players eyes to Nick's way of getting the job done. I don't think the playoff chances had anything to do with anything. With a few more pieces of the Saban puzzle put in place this offseason, the Fins should be very, very hard to beat. Barring alot of catasrophic injuries, the Fins should see the playoffs next year.
 
DBoston80 said:
I was actually VERY pleased with how we responded after that debacle!! Alot of teams woulda packed it in and quit the rest of the season....we got better!! That to me is says something about the character this team has. Cant wait till next year.
Click to expand...

:yes: I agree. I think that does show alot about us. I think we will make the playoffs next year.
 
shouright said:
I'm VERY pleased with the five-game win streak and how this team has come together recently, but I'm a little concerned about the fact that we started playing very well only after our chances to make the playoffs became very slim (after the Cleveland game, which put us at 3-7).

It makes me wonder about how the coaches and/or players handle the increased pressure of actually having something on the line and something to play for, especially with Saban's emphasis on process over results, which fits better when there's relatively little to play for (i.e., the results don't matter as much and you can focus more on the process).

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

The reason why we did well in the end of the season had nothing to do with not having pressure IMO...

New schemes and coaches and players... It takes time for everything to gel... The o-line really started coming together toward the end... Chambers got comfortable in the new system... all kinds of things...

but IMO, it had nothing to do with playoff contention. I honestly dont even think Saban was focused on that. Remember, hes all about the process...
 
you have every right to suspect that this team may not be as good as its playing (during our 5 game win streak, none of the teams we beat are going to the playoffs, so that kind of sucks, although, we are the reason the chargers aren't going) but i think the fact that we're winning the games that people think we should lose or struggle in is important.
 
Our record has nothing to do with us being near playoff elimination. But if you thought that then you would have to think the exact opposite. If the team got nearer and nearer elimination it responded better, i.e. under more pressure = better results. However I don't think that has anything to do with it, I feel that the team is starting to gel and buy into Saban's philosophy. Also, to be a great team in the NFL you have to win the games your supposed to and pull out some games that people think you have no shot in. What I'm seeing this season is something along those lines. Down the stretch we beat the teams we were supposed to (Bills, Titans, Jets) and we have also beaten teams where everyone thought we had no shot (Broncos, Panthers, chargers). If we play more consistent football in the beginnning of the season we beat teams we weren't supposed to beat like the Falcons and Patriots. And if we don't have a meltdown in cleveland we have a great shot at the playoffs. So we just need to carry the momentum into next year and work to playing more consistently.
 
the turning point was the cleveland game. They were humiliated!!! after that they looked at saban and asked him what they needed to do... and 5 games later you see what happens when a club buys into the process....
 
They say good teams beat the teams they are supposed to and then split with the others. Well, in the last 5 games, we have played 4 teams that we had a better record than and won al 4 beat 1 team that was thought of as being better than us. Nick has this team finally buying in and doing what needs to be done to be successful. I only see more progress ahead and look forward to a team that we can expect to go out and beat any team on any given day. Like this past weekend. It was nice to sit back and actually beleive that your team was going to win and regardless of any mistakes, I never felt that the Titans were going to challenge us.
 
I am actually more concerned about the missing "swager". I realize the team is learning Sabans system and I am very happy with the win vs loss column, but the way we won those games.... I want to march down the field on the opening kickoff and score seven like it's an expectation, like it's what we do !!! Remember the way Dallas opened games when J.J. was there, the way the Rams scored on almost every drive during their run a few years back, thats what I want. I want defences to FEAR the Miami Dolphins.:evil:
 
DBoston80 said:
I was actually VERY pleased with how we responded after that debacle!! Alot of teams woulda packed it in and quit the rest of the season....we got better!! That to me is says something about the character this team has. Cant wait till next year.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I mean, come on, after the Cleveland game, how many were on the edge of their seat (for the wrong reasons) when Sage came in?
 
the reason we're playing better since the cleveland game:

we got BETTER after the cleveland game. it wasn't that the players or coaches weren't focused, we just got better. it usually takes more time to get good with a new coaching staff and all of that, so i'd say the turnaround was pretty fast
 
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