Phans in Neutral This Preseason?

[FinHopeful]

I am hopeful we have a very good team. There are two concerns holding me back. First, is our lack of a running game. I am not sure our offensive line is good enough to hold up if we are one dimensional. In a way, the offensive line is its own worst enemy. Second, I am not sure that Tannehill can get rid of his lock onto a receiver habit.

 

[eger]

I am one of the most negative and pessimistic Dolphin fans around. However, for some reason this season feels different and I think if we remain healthy we're going to make the playoffs.

 

[walt]

I think you got it. Last year we had a big-time WR free agent signee, the #3 pick in the draft, top FA CB and LB signees, and Tannehill and new starter Miller were talked up a lot in the national press as poised to break out. This year we might actually be better, but there doesn't seem to be as much potential for us to be a top-tier contender, mainly because all of those new faces from last year have been busts, except Grimes, and we didn't sign similarly exciting guys this year.

 

[nick1]

I am very excited for this offense. The running game could be our undoing on both sides of the ball

 

[oasis]

I am optimistic at the start of every season. Sometimes it is more hope than anything else, but this season I feel a few more reasons to be excited, and I feel there's a vibe from the team that has been missing in recent years. This is probably as good of a chance for a deep playoff run we will have for several seasons - with Tannehill still on a rookie contract, several other rising players up for large contracts, a possible coaching/regime change looming if we're not successful, Wake getting older, etc. I think many of the players realize this as well, and will do the work to be as successful as possible this season.

Buuuut, these are the Dolphins, and ever since Danny left, they have found a way to blow it, year after year after year in the most twisted, gut-wrenching ways possible, through different coaches and regimes. So I'm braced for yet another let-down.

 

[Bumpus]

I'm nervous about the line, but excited about the potential for an actual high octane O.

I voted - more excited. :up:

 

[Phins117]

last year was the year IMO. We had the momentum, everything somewhat fell into place. Then blew up in our faces. Only way we will have any hope is if RT turns into the quarterback he is supposed to be and take us to the playoffs on his own. Other then that don't have any hopes for this team.,...


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[MiggeMadness]

I think it's a combination of a couple things. First, no big new splash this offseason that gives your typical fan something to be excited about. Yea, to those of us that are obsessed, there's excitement for Lazor's offense and the receiving corp. We know things have changed (hopefully for the better) on offense. Reasons for optimism: 1) Gibson, we know what we have now, from his mid season form last year, instead of just a FA that we are hopeful for. 2) Matthews, we know what he did last year, filling in respectfully after Gibson, you can't ask for much more as your #4/5 WR, last year it was a battle between him and Binns until Binns went down. 3) Clay, last year we thought we were screwed at TE after Keller went down. 4) the fact the Tannehill has 5-7 legitimate receiving weapons (Wallace, Hartline, Gibson, Clay, Matthews, Landry, and Moreno). For the typical fan though, they just see Moreno and Landry. They probably expect the same team as last year, with little/no improvements.

The other reason I think you see less excitement... Is because even given everything above, us die hards have this list EVERY year.... And Murphy's Law seems to apply to the Miami Dolphins better than anything/anybody else on this planet. I tell myself every year that I'm done getting excited. Last year I kept my excitement down some, until we started winning right out of the gate. I got pumped and what do you know, a train wreck.

For us though, it's hard to hide the excitement when we read every little possibility about why this team and this year is different. Ahhh, August.... The best time to be a Dolphins fan...

 

[DuderinoN703]

I'm kinda surprised there's only 2 'less excited', especially when I was one of them. Give it time I guess.

 

[mega-fin-love]

I am hopeful we have a very good team. There are two concerns holding me back. First, is our lack of a running game. I am not sure our offensive line is good enough to hold up if we are one dimensional. In a way, the offensive line is its own worst enemy. Second, I am not sure that Tannehill can get rid of his lock onto a receiver habit.

FinHopeful being hopeful about the fins. Go figure....lol

 

[Dolphin North]

I'm excited that SouthBeach learned to make a poll. Does that count?:idk:

 

[JFoxx]

Tough to get a full read. There's the usual die-hards that will think we are going to the SB regardless and then the doom/gloom that feel we'll be the #1 draft pick next year. But it's the middle who are interesting this year. Normally they lean one way or another each year, but this year I think they are being very cautious about what to expect. Mainly because of how the team seems to be stuck in mediocrity the last couple years. There's been a lot of hope at the beginning of the year only to let them down as the year progressed. I think we'll see a little more "wait and see" this year from much of the fan base. I don't see anyone really jumping ship, just not entrusting the blind faith that perhaps has been given in the past.

 

[Roman529]

It's great watching Reggie Bush running for 86 yards...another Jeff Ireland give away.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Last year I expected to cash the over 6.5 wins prop. There's nothing like that this year but overall I feel better about the team. The play action and motion should create some cheap points, boosting our points per game well into the 20s. Tannehill underachieved last season and figures to bump his YPA into the low 7s at worst.

The downside is that Dion Jordan looks like a waste and our subsequent first round pick is not likely to become an elite player. Without elite players our upside is severely limited. With the Egnew release I'll point out again that picks in that range are better utilized by trading up into the premium spots, like moving from late second round to early second round. You're better off packaging late second round picks and any type off third round selection to leap forward within the Top 40 spots. Other teams overestimate the value of those later picks, just like fans get too excited about the 2nd and 3rd rounders every year.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

blah, blah, blah...just like fans get too excited about the 2nd and 3rd rounders every year.

Jarvis Landry is going to take your lunch money.