This team doesn't have the FEEL of a collossal failure...

[Danny]

some people on here see the glass half full and some see it half empty.......I'm just happy to have a glass.....we're going to have a fine season, at least but if we don't, I'm still bless.

Ozzy rules!!

 

[NBP81]

I'll wait till after monday night against the Pats to chek in with my feelings... Till then, I will 100% think we'rre headed to the super bowl...

 

[endorPHINS72]

Many people in the media, and some fans, expect the Dolphins to fall apart this season. They expect them to collapse under the pressure of a coaching staff on the hot seat.

We have all witnessed it before, with the infamous Wanny breakdown in 2004, and even with Saban in 2006. You got the sense with those teams were ready for a downward spiral. Wanny and Spielman went into all out desperation mode in 2004 once Ricky quit. The writing was on the wall from the onset. To top it off, you could clearly see that Wanny lost control of the team and himself. He was a nervous wreck.

I believe the same could be said of Saban, even though many of us had high expectations for that season. You could tell Saban was lacking in confidence from the first game when he was hesitant throwing that challenge flag. Culpepper wasn't healthy and everyone knew. He realized his mistake early on and was prepared for the failure.

Now, with this group, I get a different feeling. Sparano and Ireland don't appear desperate. They actually appear confident. They have made no moves of sheer desperation such as Wannspiel did in 2004 (3rd round pick for Lamar Gordon?). Instead, Sparano has calmly gotten the team ready, embraced a philosophy change and has spoken with confidence. You see that confidence coming across within the team itself, with veterans and newcomers each putting forth a confident persona to the outside world.

Henne is a question mark, but I have also noticed a change in his demeanor and attitude as well, and his teamates appear to notice that as well, having mentioned it.

I could be wrong, but this just feel like one of those years where everything rides off a cliff.

Seriously??? A lot of the media and Dolphins fans (myself included) thought we were realistic Super Bowl contenders.

 

[SkapePhin]

Seriously??? A lot of the media and Dolphins fans (myself included) thought we were realistic Super Bowl contenders.

Yes, at first. But even in the first game, you could sense something was off. Saban was already questioning himself once he realized Culpepper was still injured. That, along with the failure of Jason Allen to contribute during the preseason set some at unease. I will admit I was more optimistic in 2006 too, but I could sense something was wrong early in the season.

 

[endorPHINS72]

Even in 2007, we had so many supposed good things coming our way, like getting an offensive brainiac as our head coach ("It's about time! We've always had defensive coaches.") who wasn't a petty dictator, adding speedy playmakers through the draft (Ginn and Lorenzo Booker), added a pass-rushing demon in Joey Porter, adding a talented rookie center in Samson Satele, letting Dom Capers run the defense without Saban breathing down his neck, adding a future franchise QB in John Beck, and so on, and so on. These were the things that were supposed to give us hope, but I had my doubts, as I do now.

 

[twg76]

Talk is talk. What we've seen are the leaders of this team doing exactly what they want to do. They made the choices. They feel good about their choices. Now what will the results be? We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[endorPHINS72]

Yes, at first. But even in the first game, you could sense something was off. Saban was already questioning himself once he realized Culpepper was still injured. That, along with the failure of Jason Allen to contribute during the preseason set some at unease. I will admit I was more optimistic in 2006 too, but I could sense something was wrong early in the season.

You're right. I was in denial for the first three games or so. But that first game was awful. I remember thinking "Daunte just needs a few games to shake the rust off and trust his knee again". And that really long pass to Heath Miller was sickening. It really showed how bad our safeties were.

 

[SkapePhin]

Even in 2007, we had so many supposed good things coming our way, like getting an offensive brainiac as our head coach ("It's about time! We've always had defensive coaches.") who wasn't a petty dictator, adding speedy playmakers through the draft (Ginn and Lorenzo Booker), added a pass-rushing demon in Joey Porter, adding a talented rookie center in Samson Satele, letting Dom Capers run the defense without Saban breathing down his neck, adding a future franchise QB in John Beck, and so on, and so on. These were the things that were supposed to give us hope, but I had my doubts, as I do now.

I always thought Cam was the wrong man for the job, despite his offensive success. I never got the impression that he was much of a leader, just from seeing interviews of him from San Diego. He didn't help his case in the offseason when he was coming up with ridiculous sayings like "we want to fail!" and "turn those thumbs this way!". And they when he started using Ronnie Brown in kick returns in the preseason and even let his coordinator be HEAD COACH for a preseason game so he could "watch" I definitely got the sense he was a bit off. Of course, I also didn't expect to win just ONE game all season... I thought we would have about 6 wins... But ya, I was optimistic about that draft, even if now we know it didnt pan out. However, Beck could still prove us wrong this season.

 

[theonefin]

I agree, I don't see a 3-4 win team as some have predicted. So far, they look better than last year. Burnett in place of Crowder alone makes the defense better. Dumping Henning alone makes the offense better.

The last sentence is the number one reason they'll be better. There were so many times last year that I heard... "1-10 on the Cleveland 35, Henne comes out of the game... Ronnie, Ricky, and Patrick Cobbs are all in the huddle..." and I wanted to vomit.

Nobody killed momentum and flow like Henning did last season, and Chad suffered big-time because of it. I know Chad didn't play well... but Henning did nothing to help the cause.

 

[endorPHINS72]

I always thought Cam was the wrong man for the job, despite his offensive success. I never got the impression that he was much of a leader, just from seeing interviews of him from San Diego. He didn't help his case in the offseason when he was coming up with ridiculous sayings like "we want to fail!" and "turn those thumbs this way!". And they when he started using Ronnie Brown in kick returns in the preseason and even let his coordinator be HEAD COACH for a preseason game so he could "watch" I definitely got the sense he was a bit off. Of course, I also didn't expect to win just ONE game all season... I thought we would have about 6 wins... But ya, I was optimistic about that draft, even if now we know it didnt pan out. However, Beck could still prove us wrong this season.

I remember doing a facepalm when he said that. He looked like a milquetoast substitute teacher who just lost the class.

 

[finfan54]

I don't know that it ever does feel like that.

Even in 2007, there was a lot of optimism. The idea was pretty simple. The Dolphins had a great defense built by Nick Saban that would continue to be coached by Dom Capers, in fact they added to that defense by signing Joey Porter, and the only big problem was the offense where you had "guru" Cam Cameron to revamp everything. To this day that all still SEEMS like a sound idea. But the wheels fell off all that rather quickly, and I think in hindsight is when people look back and say oh well we kind of knew that was coming.

Let's say the Dolphins ARE an abject failure this year. One year from now, are you going to look back on it and say, "Boy, I didn't see that one coming at all"?

I think we both know that's not true.

It's hard to predict awesomely bad, just as it's hard to predict awesomely good (in most cases). So there's no way you can go into this season thinking this team is going 1-15 or even 3-13.

But at the same time...there are lot of predictions within the 'normal' ranges of 6-10 to 10-6...and I think more of them steer toward 6-10 than 10-6. Could be that everyone is just being fooled and the Dolphins really will turn it around. Don't know if I'm betting on that, though.

I just know this. The defense is upgraded at LB in coverage. The Oline is better with Pouncey and gives us stability that was severely lacking at midway of season where mcquistan was a starter. The defensive plays left out on the field that should have been 6 points is unreal. The offense was as coach said "a crawl". Special teams letting in blocked punts and on and on.....
There is so much from last year that just reeked that the perceived changes and depth and talent will indeed show much better than last year by miles.

 

[hab321]

I gave up predicting this team years ago. I always hope for the best and expect the worst (the Cubs fan in me). My main concerns for the team are running back and o-line. If we get Long back, the line should be fine. I'm just not sold on Thomas and Bush being the main backs. One has no pro experience, the other is more of a gadget player. I really wished we could have kept Ricky (I know, after what he said it was impossible). The regular season is almost here and I am anxious to see how things pan out.

 

[miamiron]

The last sentence is the number one reason they'll be better. There were so many times last year that I heard... "1-10 on the Cleveland 35, Henne comes out of the game... Ronnie, Ricky, and Patrick Cobbs are all in the huddle..." and I wanted to vomit.

Nobody killed momentum and flow like Henning did last season, and Chad suffered big-time because of it. I know Chad didn't play well... but Henning did nothing to help the cause.

And where was Sparano during these epic screw ups you mention ?

On the sidelines pump fisting everything Henning was doing
How soon we forget Sparano saying it wasn't the play calling or Hennings fault but THE EXECUTION OF THE PLAYS!

I have no respect for Sparano as a head coach...none

 

[Heinegrabber]

I hope this isnt based of off last weeks game. Because right now the Bengals are carving up the same team that gave most of us a warm and fuzzy. Whats even funnier I think two rookies went deep for a forty yard TD.

 

[FinHopeful]

I think Chad Henne could have like an 85 QB Rating and this team still go 6-10. The ground game does not look healthy to me, and I'm a little worried about a defensive back slide to be honest.

I have a feeling that Chad will have an 85 QB rating. He looks more decisive within this offense. I do not see where you see a backslide. I understand your point that hindsight is 20 a 20, but I believe that Burnett is a better upgrade than Porter was. Why do you see a defensive backslide.