Same old Dolphins, yet why does this year feel so different?

[DKphin]

After more than a decade of futility and numerous failed experiments at head coach, the Dolphins hired the most sought after guy in the league, bringing Adam Gase on board after the 2015 season. After a rough start to the season, Gase propelled the team to a strong finish, a 10-6 record, and the team’s first playoff game in eight years.
Hope sprang eternal in the offseason, as it was believed that a draft focused on defense would match the expected offensive juggernaut guided by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who had finally turned the corner as a franchise QB before getting hurt at the end of the 2016 campaign, and was expected to be fully healthy in the Year of His Jersey, 2017.
And then, hopes were dashed.

http://www.phinmaniacs.com/news/same-old-dolphins-yet-why-does-this-year-feel-so-different

 

[Third Eye]

It feels about as different as a worn out 29 year old porn star feels in her 7500th scene.

 

[artdnj]

Some of us had false expectations and expected progress not the shotstorm we have regressed to. I for one was blindsided by some coaching issues cause i really am rooting for Gase but now I don't know.

 

[ColoradoFin]

I felt we could win between 8-10 games this year with a healthy Tannehill. I was really surprised that we reached out to Cutler when Tanny got hurt, but it looks like the FO and coaching staff pretty much decided to mail in this season. Granted, there was not any franchise QB out there for us to bring in, but Cutler seemed like an act of desperation. I am glad we didn’t reach out to Kaepernick for numerous reasons, but this team’s has so many needs right now that I think we have regressed and I don’t see any signs that Tannebaum/Gase have a clue on getting things fixed.

On a side note, I Just heard that Aqib Talib will be suspended two games for the Broncos, next week’s opponent, pending an appeal, and Siemian will be the Bronco’s starter.

 

[artdnj]

He'll have his best game ever and we'll lose without much of a fight. Can't see us righting this capsized ship.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

I can't think of a season like this in franchise history. There would be reasonable anticipation toward 2018, but we may be the worst team in the league right now. Our coach could lose 10 straight and not be in jeopardy. Truly weird. In 2007 we had some laughable players like Cameron Worrell yet that team always battled and you had to pay attention given the potential infamy of 0-16. The 2004 season shares some similarities in terms of lofty expectations shattered but even that team had heart down the stretch. This team provides no indication they won't get out energized and out coached every week.

I'm old enough to remember the lame duck season of 1969 in which you basically knew George Wilson was coaching his final season. Even then the franchise had the chutzpah to tout the Bills home game as "Victory Sunday" well in advance. The winless Dolphins stood up to that pressure and thumped Buffalo handily. Can you imagine this team responding to a tag like that?

BTW, if you ever want to believe the league stacks things against the Dolphins now, check out that 1969 schedule. Miami opened with 3 straight road games and 7 of the first 10 on the road, including another string of 3 consecutive road games, before finishing with four home games.

Anyway, logically there will probably be one or two major efforts among the remaining five games. That doesn't mean any of them will be successful.

 

[TX-FinFan]

It feels different because every position group has regressed. Name one group that has taken a step forward this year and is something to build on for the future. I can't.

 

[Adam Strange]

Doesn’t feel different to me. This team has swung back and forth between mediocre and horrid for well over ten years at this point. Last year’s team was an average wildcard team that got punted in the first round; they weren’t world beaters. Tannehill’s injury guaranteed that this season would be horrid.

Why anyone’s shocked that this team is pathetic is beyond me. Probably has a lot to do with overrating Cutler, overrating the talent level of the defense, thinking that the offensive line issues were fixed, and believing that Gase was the second coming of Shula.

The real shock is going to be next year. Lots of people thinking that Tannehill’s return (if he does) means that the team is bound to regain its playoff form. That remains to be seen. Unless the team gets extremely lucky in the draft and upgrades the talent on both sides of the ball and on the coaching staff, 8-8 is going to be their ceiling.

 

[randomname]

Tannenbaum has screwed up the future of this team with his horrible contracts and signings and provides no hope he will replace the good talent we are going to be losing this offseason. Usually I have hope that "maybe next year will be better" but I just don't have that anymore. By all indications this terrible team will actually get worse next year, apart from Tannehill returning, and I like him but he's not going to carry a bottom dwelling team late into the postseason on his own.

 

[SkapePhin]

I think one of the most glaring problems is that there are not even any young players to get excited about. None of the draft picks are really flashing, some of our “high ceiling” young guys like Parker are turning out to be near bustville, and some of the bright spots like Landry seem to be on their way out he door and can’t even really do much exciting on game day because of the woeful line and QB play.

Usually, even in a down year, there is a young player or two who you want to watch to see how they’ll progress. This team has ****. There is just no excitement. No playmakers. Even our bell cow playmakers like Wake and Suh have had relatively quiet seasons. I can’t even remember many plays that made me pop out of my chair like last year.

This season seemed dead on arrival, even with a surprising 4-2 record to open the season, because they mostly played like crap in wins too. Not a single complete game.