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An interesting parallel...
The one team in the NFC that a lot of analysts were picking to make a playoff push was the Arizona Cardinals. Here is a team with a solid, although declining QB, with a serious lack of mobility. It is also a team with an excellent RB, all-pro Edgerrin James. It is a team with a pair of receivers that are the envy of basically every team in the NFL, Anquan Boldin (Dolphins fans remember him...unfortunately, Dave Wannstedt was not familiar with him) and Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals also have a solid defense.
Similarly, the Dolphins have a solid QB (even though some on this site would like everyone to believe Daunte Culpepper is somehow worse than AJ Feeley) with a lack of mobility (due to a serious knee injury). The Dolphins have a very good RB (an strong blocker, a strong receiver, and a tough runner) in Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins also have weapons in the passing game in Chambers, Booker, Welker, and McMichael. Chambers and Booker are not up to the standards of Boldin and Fitzgerald, but they are an above-average tandem.
The other similarity between the teams is both have an abysmal offensive line. The Cards offensive line has helped Edgerrin James average 3.1 yards per carry so far this season. Ridiculous. It has also contributed to 13 sacks of Cardinals QBs. The Dolphins biggest off-season acquisition on the O-line was LJ Shelton, a former Cardinals #1 draft pick that was cut after not living up to his lofty draft position. I think Dolphins fans understand why the Cardinals cut him.
In any event, neither team did anything in the offseason to improve their respective O-lines. As a result, two teams with excellent offensive talent and passable defenses are sitting at 1-3 today, playoffs hopes on life support.
The one team in the NFC that a lot of analysts were picking to make a playoff push was the Arizona Cardinals. Here is a team with a solid, although declining QB, with a serious lack of mobility. It is also a team with an excellent RB, all-pro Edgerrin James. It is a team with a pair of receivers that are the envy of basically every team in the NFL, Anquan Boldin (Dolphins fans remember him...unfortunately, Dave Wannstedt was not familiar with him) and Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals also have a solid defense.
Similarly, the Dolphins have a solid QB (even though some on this site would like everyone to believe Daunte Culpepper is somehow worse than AJ Feeley) with a lack of mobility (due to a serious knee injury). The Dolphins have a very good RB (an strong blocker, a strong receiver, and a tough runner) in Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins also have weapons in the passing game in Chambers, Booker, Welker, and McMichael. Chambers and Booker are not up to the standards of Boldin and Fitzgerald, but they are an above-average tandem.
The other similarity between the teams is both have an abysmal offensive line. The Cards offensive line has helped Edgerrin James average 3.1 yards per carry so far this season. Ridiculous. It has also contributed to 13 sacks of Cardinals QBs. The Dolphins biggest off-season acquisition on the O-line was LJ Shelton, a former Cardinals #1 draft pick that was cut after not living up to his lofty draft position. I think Dolphins fans understand why the Cardinals cut him.
In any event, neither team did anything in the offseason to improve their respective O-lines. As a result, two teams with excellent offensive talent and passable defenses are sitting at 1-3 today, playoffs hopes on life support.
