Nick Saban's streak of non-losing seasons is safe in my opinion. If we examine why the Dolphins went 4-12 last year, it isn't hard to see why Saban will not have a losing season this year.
1) Just the addition of Saban, Linehan, and Houck adds 2 games from last year's record. Our coaching was absolutley the worst in the NFL last season but the stability and track record of the current staff alone brings us to 6-10.
2) The QB fiasco of last year is over. AJ Feeley will either play up to his potential and be much improved from last year or Gus Frerotte will be our starter. Either way, the FeeFee era is over and the QB play will be improved. This adds 1 more game versus last year - We're at 7-9.
3) Injuries/problems with key players were disastrous last year. Enough has been said about our starting RB. That won't be a problem this year, even if Ricky doesn't return. RB is actually a strength now. Our D-line is fairly deep this year as opposed to being a swinging gate last year with the absence of Bowens and Chester. We have depth almost everywhere now but the secondary. Add another game which brings us to 8-8.
4) The main problems from last year have been corrected. We couldn't run the ball and we couldn't stop the run either. Enter Ronnie Brown, et al. An improved o-line, better blocking scheme, a more balanced offense and we will be running with the rock this year. The D-line has been fixed with Carter, Holliday, Roth, Traylor, etc. Our linebacking group is deeper and Saban's great defensive schemes will put pressure on opposing offenses. We were more predictable than Madonna's sex life during the Wanny era. No more, we will be hard to run against, opposing QB's will be pressured, and we will run the ball. We have enough receivers to compensate for mediocre QB play and we should have improved blocking. This adds up to another game, now we're at 9-7.
5) I will subtract a game because we play in the toughest division, have a brutal schedule, everything is new this year, I'm not sold on our defensive secondary, and I'm a homer. That leaves the Dolphins at 8-8. Saban's streak of no losing seasons as a head coach stays intact.
1) Just the addition of Saban, Linehan, and Houck adds 2 games from last year's record. Our coaching was absolutley the worst in the NFL last season but the stability and track record of the current staff alone brings us to 6-10.
2) The QB fiasco of last year is over. AJ Feeley will either play up to his potential and be much improved from last year or Gus Frerotte will be our starter. Either way, the FeeFee era is over and the QB play will be improved. This adds 1 more game versus last year - We're at 7-9.
3) Injuries/problems with key players were disastrous last year. Enough has been said about our starting RB. That won't be a problem this year, even if Ricky doesn't return. RB is actually a strength now. Our D-line is fairly deep this year as opposed to being a swinging gate last year with the absence of Bowens and Chester. We have depth almost everywhere now but the secondary. Add another game which brings us to 8-8.
4) The main problems from last year have been corrected. We couldn't run the ball and we couldn't stop the run either. Enter Ronnie Brown, et al. An improved o-line, better blocking scheme, a more balanced offense and we will be running with the rock this year. The D-line has been fixed with Carter, Holliday, Roth, Traylor, etc. Our linebacking group is deeper and Saban's great defensive schemes will put pressure on opposing offenses. We were more predictable than Madonna's sex life during the Wanny era. No more, we will be hard to run against, opposing QB's will be pressured, and we will run the ball. We have enough receivers to compensate for mediocre QB play and we should have improved blocking. This adds up to another game, now we're at 9-7.
5) I will subtract a game because we play in the toughest division, have a brutal schedule, everything is new this year, I'm not sold on our defensive secondary, and I'm a homer. That leaves the Dolphins at 8-8. Saban's streak of no losing seasons as a head coach stays intact.
