I think there are two main factors which would contribute to having double digit wins or struggling to reach 8-8. They are key injuries (negative) and the team's cultural change (positive).
First the injuries: every team has them, depends on which position and when they occur. Last year Phins lose their starting qb, starting MLB and probably starting CB before the first regular season game and we never recovered. Houston loses JJ Watt and Watson and end up 4-12. GB loses Rogers and no chance at playoffs. Same with the Colts and Luck. Now the Eagles lose their starting qb week 13, when they were already 11-2. Foles does enough to win 2 out of 3 (like Matt Moore in 2016) and gets the bye week. Struggles in first round of playoffs but still wins. Catches lightning in a bottle and has a great NFC championship game and Super Bowl. Now what happens if Wentz was lost much earlier in the season or in the preseason would the outcome be the same? Maybe...but probably not.
Factor # 2: Cultural Change
Gase has been preaching this since he came here. I think it was after week 4 of 2016 when media was questioning Gase about Tannehill's performance and he continued to support his qb and indicated everyone else don't know what they are doing (I'm paraphrasing). Whether its the receivers running the wrong routes, rb's not hitting the right hole or linemen blocking the wrong guys; Gase was not happy with their performance or effort. In 2017 the offense was again struggling. In a press conference Gase was aggravated that his offense looks like **** and it's been two season's and he still can't run his offense. If anything he had to keep on dumbing it down. So this offseason we gets rid of coaches and players that might not have been buying in or fully committed. The draft and free agency yielded high character and talented players to build on the culture.
I for one can not wait to see Tannehill take the field again after two years in Gase's system. The offense should be improved with Tannehill, Drake as full starter, a real threat at TE, speed at wr and at worse an average offense line. On defense you add talent with Fitzpatrick, McMillan, Quinn and Lippet.....but you do lose Suh which will hurt, but not season ending. How many great DTs are really in the league? I would say most teams don't have them and still survive. So I see no reason why we can not hit double digits wins unless the injury bug hits than it can turn into a **** show real quick.
First the injuries: every team has them, depends on which position and when they occur. Last year Phins lose their starting qb, starting MLB and probably starting CB before the first regular season game and we never recovered. Houston loses JJ Watt and Watson and end up 4-12. GB loses Rogers and no chance at playoffs. Same with the Colts and Luck. Now the Eagles lose their starting qb week 13, when they were already 11-2. Foles does enough to win 2 out of 3 (like Matt Moore in 2016) and gets the bye week. Struggles in first round of playoffs but still wins. Catches lightning in a bottle and has a great NFC championship game and Super Bowl. Now what happens if Wentz was lost much earlier in the season or in the preseason would the outcome be the same? Maybe...but probably not.
Factor # 2: Cultural Change
Gase has been preaching this since he came here. I think it was after week 4 of 2016 when media was questioning Gase about Tannehill's performance and he continued to support his qb and indicated everyone else don't know what they are doing (I'm paraphrasing). Whether its the receivers running the wrong routes, rb's not hitting the right hole or linemen blocking the wrong guys; Gase was not happy with their performance or effort. In 2017 the offense was again struggling. In a press conference Gase was aggravated that his offense looks like **** and it's been two season's and he still can't run his offense. If anything he had to keep on dumbing it down. So this offseason we gets rid of coaches and players that might not have been buying in or fully committed. The draft and free agency yielded high character and talented players to build on the culture.
I for one can not wait to see Tannehill take the field again after two years in Gase's system. The offense should be improved with Tannehill, Drake as full starter, a real threat at TE, speed at wr and at worse an average offense line. On defense you add talent with Fitzpatrick, McMillan, Quinn and Lippet.....but you do lose Suh which will hurt, but not season ending. How many great DTs are really in the league? I would say most teams don't have them and still survive. So I see no reason why we can not hit double digits wins unless the injury bug hits than it can turn into a **** show real quick.
