Saban Has Yet To Have a Meaningful Win in Two Years

[Da 'Fins]

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Saban fan. But, the reality is, the Dolphins have not had a single meaningful victory in Saban's two years. That is something he has to deal with if he is going to do a real evaluation in the off-season.

By the time the Dolphins began to win games last year, the season was essentially over with or the playoffs so unlikely - none of those victories were meaningful as far as playoff opportunities.

This year, the Dolphins started winning at 1-6. When they got to 5-6, they had a vital game against Jacksonville. A victory there, and it would have been a significant win as far as playoff potential. But, they lose 24-10.

Then, there still was a very outside shot at the playoffs with a win against the Bills - especially with the Jags losing and the chance to play the Jets next week. Once again, a loss. No doubt the QB play has contributed mightily. But, this game was meaningful and they lost.

The reality is, as evidenced by the Dolphins victory against the Bears, NFL teams are relatively closely matched and it often comes down to 3-4 plays in a game - a fumble, INT, etc. The Dolphins appear to be able to play well when there is nothing to lose - nothing on the line. But, when the game is truly meaningful with respect to playoff ramifications (and, btw, there are NO other meaningful games other than those), the Dolphins have fallen flat. Not a single victory with playoff ramifications on the line.

The reality is, the offense enters this off-season with more question marks than last year. That's moving backwards. It's going to be a long off-season. Thoughts on the solution?

 

[RHoffman]

I think you make a sound point...

I believe or believed in Saban. I'm sort of on the fence. I don't think you necessarily fire him, but I think the mistake this franchise has made is too fold. When we went 4-12...it was the wrong year to stink...Ronnie Brown is a nice player...not a franchise player. Also, I still think we needed to tear this team apart and start over. I still believe we need to do that even today.

Jason Taylor deserves a chance elsewhere and we need a pick. McMichael and Chambers might be able to be moved for picks. I'd blow the thing up and start over. This team isn't close...they just aren't. It kills me to say that, but it also kills me to watch games like today.

 

[jdang307]

Every game during the 4 game win streak and the pats win was meaningful, since it got us back into the wild card race, so I'm not sure of your logic on this one. Oh and was our season over last year before the first game? Since we won in denver and then carolina. Those were meaningless? I should just stop watching football then if our season is over before it begins.

 

[Desides]

Thoughts on the solution?

Complete Culpepper's rehab. Trade Chambers if it's possible to move up in the draft to obtain Calvin Johnson. Draft a Left Tackle. I really think that's all the offense needs in terms of personnel. We know Booker and Welker can get it done. Hagan should come along. The right side of the offensive line is playing well enough to be left alone.

I don't want to get into Mularkey, except to say that we need to start throwing deep. When Culpepper returns, we'll have a QB capable of delivering the deep ball: we just need an OC capable of calling a deep throw play.

 

[steveincolorado]

Last year early on, Denver and Carolina, this year, unbeaten Bears and spanking the Pats last week.

 

[phineffect]

Id look to see you of you guys be coach of the team...wow

 

[RHoffman]

Here's a start.

1. Fire Mularkey tonight.
2. Trade Chambers, McMichael and yes even Jason Taylor if you can get a No.1 pick
3. Release Culpepper and Harrington...take the accelerated cap hit next year.
4. Do not resign most of the 20 plus free-agents that you have coming up.
5. Draft a building block player. If he isn't there...trade away for a first rounder in 2008 to build ammunition.
6. Build the offensive line. with at least four draft picks
7. Draft a quarterback.
8. For better or worse let Cleo play 2007.
9. Angle for Darren McFadden in 2008 possibly.
10. Announce to your fans that you are going to outright stink for a couple of years, but you are finally going to try and build the right way.

 

[Muck]

Whooping Chicago and New England was pretty darn meaningful. Coming back to beat Buffalo last year and beating a better San Diego squad was meaningful. Whooping Denver to start the era was meaningful.

When you aren't a playoff team, it's easy to say things like that. But you'd be wrong.

 

[Cannonboy]

Tough loss. Its time to part ways with Chambers and McMichael. Chambers is a horrible WR. Hes afraid to fight for the ball. Instead of being aggressive and going after the ball, he lets the ball come to him which leads to ints and incomplete passes. McMichael is a joke who can't catch a pass if his life depended on it. It's time to start Lemon and the youngsters to see what we have for next season.

 

[kzarei]

I agree with the sentiment. I would say the NE win last week was meaningful in the sense that they dominated a good team that did not want to lose. Last year's win over NE was not meanful as NE had many reserves in. Today wasn't that meaningful. We were not going to the playoffs anyway. The most recent meaningful game for us in terms of staying in the playoff hunt was Jacksonville. However, every good team has a game like the Jacksonville game. The buffer for losing had already been destroyed by then.

 

[RHoffman]

Muck, I don't think he is wrong...

meaningful games are ones where the playoffs are at least at stake. Winning a season opener is ok, but really there isn't a lot of pressure.

 

[Muck]

1. Fire Mularkey tonight.
2. Trade Chambers, McMichael and yes even Jason Taylor if you can get a No.1 pick
3. Release Culpepper and Harrington...take the accelerated cap hit next year.
4. Do not resign most of the 20 plus free-agents that you have coming up.
5. Draft a building block player. If he isn't there...trade away for a first rounder in 2008 to build ammunition.
6. Build the offensive line. with at least four draft picks
7. Draft a quarterback.
8. For better or worse let Cleo play 2007.
9. Angle for Darren McFadden in 2008 possibly.
10. Announce to your fans that you are going to outright stink for a couple of years, but you are finally going to try and build the right way.

Good luck attracting free agents....or fans....or coaches....that way. Like it or not, both are an important part of building a team.

Also, there's no guarantee that you're philosophy will work.

 

[PROBALL9954]

[admin]Grow Up.[/admin]

 

[Disnardo]

I don't think I will repeat what others have stated...

but you can't win consistantly with a team that for the most part does not have alot of talent at the skill positions...

 

[jdang307]

meaningful games are ones where the playoffs are at least at stake. Winning a season opener is ok, but really there isn't a lot of pressure.

Even by that definition we won 4 in a row to get us there, and beat NE last year.