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Overview of AFC East

Phinsfan210

Phinsfan210

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Alex Marvez writes on the needs and off-season outlook of the teams in the AFC East.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7784864/Jets-will-make-a-strong-push-for-Samuel

Miami (1-15)

Looking back: If we must. The 2007 Dolphins rank among the NFL's worst teams this decade. The squad was so bad that coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller were canned less than a year after Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga hand-picked them to run the franchise. In defense of Cameron and Mueller, a roster that already lacked talent from previous poor drafts was further crippled by extensive injuries. This now becomes the problem of a new brain trust — coach Tony Sporano, general manager Jeff Ireland and overseer Bill Parcells.
Biggest need area — Quarterback: Eight seasons have passed since Dan Marino's retirement and the Dolphins still don't have an answer under center. Cleo Lemon, who started seven games after Trent Green suffered a season-ending concussion, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. John Beck, a 2007 second-round draft pick, showed little during his starting opportunities and has no ties with the new Dolphins administration. Green, who turns 38 in July, was released on Monday after missing 19 games the past two years because of head injuries. Holding the draft's No. 1 overall pick, expect Miami to closely monitor Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan's upcoming workouts.
Player/coach to watch — Middle linebacker Zach Thomas: Thomas has indicated he wants to keep playing despite a series of concussions that prematurely ended his 2007 season. Even if medically cleared, the risk of a recurrence may prompt Miami to demand the 34-year-old Thomas to accept a pay cut from his scheduled $5.65 million base salary.
Projected cap space — $21.6 million: Thinking he had more long-term job security, Mueller made personnel decisions last off-season designed to clear cap space for 2008. Still, the Dolphins have so many issues that even the room Mueller created isn't enough to fill every hole. Because of their familiarity with Dallas' personnel, don't be surprised if Miami takes a stab at some of the Cowboys' pending free agents like left tackle Flozell Adams, safety Ken Hamlin, and cornerbacks Jacques Reeves and Nate Jones. Re-signing right guard Rex Hadnot before the signing period begins should be Miami's top priority.
2008 outlook — Poor: Three previous changes in personnel and coaching philosophies since 2004 have left the Dolphins a mess. Parcells and Co. will need until at least 2009 to make Miami a viable playoff contender.
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2008 looks poor huh? Well, I guess 1 more poor season is worth it if we have fantastic seasons for the years to come. Miami Dolphins back on top of the AFC east (I just hope sooner rather than later).
 
Hmm that was hard to read without feeling down.
This part is so true "Three previous changes in personnel and coaching philosophies since 2004 have left the Dolphins a mess"
 
2008 outlook — Fair: In a division featuring two teams (Miami and Buffalo) that haven't reached the playoffs since at least 2002, New York could quickly become a postseason contender again. For that to happen, the Jets must add speed at the skill positions in the off-season and hope outside linebacker Bryan Thomas can rebound from a disappointing year. New York will be able to add an impact player with the draft's No. 6 overall pick.
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It's actually been since 2001 when Miami last made it.
 
well i guess i'm a little opptimistic because i want the fins to be the best every year, but i really think they're not that bad as their 1-15 record showed.

1- they'll have almost all their injured players back which in my eyes they're very talented bunch(all thier RB, all their secondary, most of their LB)and i truely beleive that we have our QB of the futur in Beck, all he needs in the confidence and support that he didn't get in his 3 games he played last year.

2- with such a good cap # we can sign some really good talent.

3- with a front office that kows what the hell their doing.

4- we also have the first overall pick which we can do many things with trade down and pick up more picks or draft whom ever we please.

5- and most importantly all the players that quit on the coaching staff last year will not quit on this staff cause they all know it's the coaching staff's way or the highway.

i think (hope) that the fins will be very competitive next year and may even surprise some people around the league and on this board.
 
TX-FinFan said:
Hmm that was hard to read without feeling down.
This part is so true "Three previous changes in personnel and coaching philosophies since 2004 have left the Dolphins a mess"
Click to expand...

It is depressingm, but remember this means it can only get better. :up:
 
mike_vee said:
well i guess i'm a little opptimistic because i want the fins to be the best every year, but i really think they're not that bad as their 1-15 record showed.

1- they'll have almost all their injured players back which in my eyes they're very talented bunch(all thier RB, all their secondary, most of their LB)and i truely beleive that we have our QB of the futur in Beck, all he needs in the confidence and support that he didn't get in his 3 games he played last year.

2- with such a good cap # we can sign some really good talent.

3- with a front office that kows what the hell their doing.

4- we also have the first overall pick which we can do many things with trade down and pick up more picks or draft whom ever we please.

5- and most importantly all the players that quit on the coaching staff last year will not quit on this staff cause they all know it's the coaching staff's way or the highway.

i think (hope) that the fins will be very competitive next year and may even surprise some people around the league and on this board.
Click to expand...

I have been trying to say this for a long time now on this board. Since the season ended actually. However the people on this board are right and there not going to make any crazy optomistic predictions before we see some improvement on the field.
 
I absolutely disagree with Marves in that our biggest need being QB. We need DL in the worst possible way. Much worse than we need a QB. Lets not forget who was dead last in the league in rushing defense. If we dont get a big NT to stop the run and plug those hole, it wont matter if we had Jesus Christ as our QB because teams would continue to run the ball on us effectively and our franchise* QB would be on the sidelines for the duration of the game ==== Wasted pick
 
I agree Miami has big problems if they cannot finally find a consistent QB, and there are some places Miami does need to fix this year, but Alex is making this team out to be much worse then they are talent wise....as many seem to be doing.

How can a team with better coaching look so good in 05, that many believe Miami might actually be a big player in 06?

How does a Miami team that still wins 6 games (two of which were beating the daylights out of Superbowl bound Bear team, and then shutting out the Patriots) with a uselessly hurt Culpepper, a forever ineffective QB like Joey Harrington, a Coordinator like Mike Mularkey, and a HC that pretty much packs it in after 2 thirds of the season is over? Sorry guys if we are as bad as many think, there is no way we win 6 games

Now in 07, no QB yet again (Well, once Trent went down), many injuries all across the board including season ending injuries to the starting QB and RB, and a HC that was way over his head. But it had to be that there is no talent on this team. So basically Miami with a few bad players and some bad coaches can all of a sudden become one of the worst in History, but there is no way Miami can become respectable the following year with better coaching a a few better players at key spots....Hmmm :unsure:

Get Miami a QB that can be somewhat effective (does not have to be great), we don't get the same amounts of injuries we did last year, and we win 5 times more games (Yes 5 games), get another good receiver and TE, and one of the top DTs or DEs that can stop the run in the draft.....this team is all of a sudden close to (if not) a playoffs team...as long also that the coaching is better then last year.
 
for quite a few years now we've had instability in our team...a revolving door of coaches&QBs for starters,the only consistent that i saw until this past season was our defense carrying this team year in&year out. well,we now have a man who holds the title of VP of Football Operations,who's been successful in turning teams around and making them into winners. i hope that he can do it again with our Dolphins...he's not a coach anymore,but we all know he's the one running the show.again,i hope&pray that Bill Parcells turns our team around and gets them back into being among the elite of the NFL.
 
Maybe cause I'm a homer, but I do believe we'll finish next season better than the Jets. They've got a noodle-armed QB they don't want, a former understudy who looked as bad as ours, a butter-fingered primary receiver and some questionable high round draft disappointments and underachievers on both sides of the ball (include Ferguson, exclude Mangold) that they're financially committed to keeping. Jones is a good RB but he's not in Ronny's league if he can bounce back. Given all that, we have true no-nonsense football professionals making off and on the field decisions. This is compared to "Tangini" who as the 06 "flavor of the month" clicked like Pitt and Jolie, but in 07 turned more into Paris and Nicole. We also have an owner who is well intentioned and willing to open his wallet as compared to Woodie Johnson (still a funny name) with a history of being frugal. Jets do have about $5.5mm more cap space but lets see how they use it.

I don't expect or demand miracles. The Fins are a work in progress. The old adage: "Present pain for future gain" applies very much here.
 

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Vaark said:
Maybe cause I'm a homer, but I do believe we'll finish next season better than the Jets. They've got a noodle-armed QB they don't want, a former understudy who looked as bad as ours, a butter-fingered primary receiver and some questionable high round draft disappointments and underachievers on both sides of the ball (include Ferguson, exclude Mangold) that they're financially committed to keeping. Jones is a good RB but he's not in Ronny's league if he can bounce back. Given all that, we have true no-nonsense football professionals making off and on the field decisions. This is compared to "Tangini" who as the 06 "flavor of the month" clicked like Pitt and Jolie, but in 07 turned more into Paris and Nicole. We also have an owner who is well intentioned and willing to open his wallet as compared to Woodie Johnson (still a funny name) with a history of being frugal. Jets do have about $5.5mm more cap space but lets see how they use it.

I don't expect or demand miracles. The Fins are a work in progress. The old adage: "Present pain for future gain" applies very much here.
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Hope your right because if history plays itself out that would put us in the playoffs.. lol.. The jets have made the playoffs every other year since 2002 so 2008 should be their year.. :lol:.. According to your statement, I dont mind this scenario
 
man, that was a bummer. but it was totally true. we need a qb in the worst way. once we put some talent around beck, we will see, but i don't think he has it. and the worst part is i don't even know who i want taking snaps next year. do we draft a qb #1 overall that really isn't all that good just because we need him that bad? do we give up a ton for anderson to come in and risk adding him to the list of 'retard post-marino dolphin qb's'? do we go back in time a draft quinn after he fell in our lap? it's a thinker.
 
Phinsfan210 said:
I have been trying to say this for a long time now on this board. Since the season ended actually. However the people on this board are right and there not going to make any crazy optomistic predictions before we see some improvement on the field.
Click to expand...

There's no quaetions you'll be alot better, there's nowhere to go but up and I think you can win 6-7 games or so BUT I think it's wise not to expect too much. Over the past 5-6 years the expectations by most on the board have been very high and they have annually disappointed so just have fdun w/ the rebuilding process. You'll likely have alot of new faces, you have a new 1st time HC. Enjoy the moment, don't worry about the playoffs or anything and certainly don't expect the playoffs. It is possible to get back to postseason contention, teams go from bad to good very quickly(and from good to bad) but it's not fair to this team to expect them to be a playoff contender this year.
 
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