First of all, let me first say that I LOVE the PHINS! I just love them and have done so since I was 6 years old! I'm not jumping off any bandwagon or any other ridiculous cliche that means that I'm going to root for another team or against my own team. Got that? Good.
However...
This team is in trouble. Pre-Season games don't tell you anything about the coaches ability to game plan because they don't do it. They DO tell you about your talent levels, however. And here's the facts:
1) Our #1's are no where near as talented as we think. Our offensive line provided slightly better pass protection but still can't run block a lick. That's talent on talent. Oh sure, we'll get SOME yardage on clever plays the coaches gameplan, but straight up talent on talent, we're pathetic. We may be the least talented team in the NFL. We definitely are the least talented Offensive Line and Secondary in the NFL. The #1 Defensive line ONLY got pressure off of 3-4 blitzes. Where was Jason Taylor on the 4-3's? Without pressure we're going nowhere.
2) We have the worst 2nd - 3rd teamers in the NFL. Our safeties, Tillman, Schulters, Bell, Bua... none of them can play a lick. We're going to be ranked 32 in pass defense this year. We have no quality depth anywhere.
3) What I've seen is that we have 2 QB's that both suck. One telegraphs his throws because he's so lost in the offense and the other knows the offense but doesn't have the ball skills to deliver the passes on time and on target.
Conclusion?
My offseason optimism is gone and I find myself agreeing with the pundits for the first time ever! We're gonna be bad and it's not going to be pretty. With the schedule that we face and the learning curve the players are facing and the age of the few decent players we have and the propensity for those guys to get hurt during the season and our terribl depth, 4-12 might be a lofty goal for us.
I know, I know... Now you hate me. You're going to insult me, call me names, point out all of the bright spots in these games like TE Diamond, etc.. and remind me that it's only pre-season, yada, yada, yada...
But I've been watching pre-season football for 35 years my friends...
We're in trouble.
Ricky provides a spark, but he won't be there until week 6 and even then, will he be mentally there by then?
We've overated BOOKER because the man has no speed. In this offense a pure possesion reciever can't do well. We need to trade him while the deadline is still open and pick up a servicable CENTER to replace McKinney, who is a baboon. We've got 4-3 linebackers that can be dealt, like Eddie Moore and Bua and Pope that have talent and ability but no longer fit this team's scheme. We need to pick up draft picks for next year and undure one of the toughest seasons in Dolphin's history.
We'll find out a lot more in pre-season game #4, but until then I'll leave you with one thought, those of you convinced that we're going to go 8-8 or 10-6 this year, on pure talent which Dolphins scare opposing teams?
Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams, Chris Chambers (Maybe).
THAT'S IT. If you scheme offensive and defensive plays designed to neutralize THOSE 3 guys, this team becomes a sorrry collection of rookies, castoffs, wannabe's and neverwere's.
There's no talnet here, yet. There will be, but not yet.
FEELEY, FREROTTE, ROSENFELD, GORDON, SCHULTERS, HOWARD, LEE, GILMORE, WELKER, TILLMAN, and on and on... These VETS wouldn't start on ANY NFL team this year or any other year. Yeah, we have a few promising rookies, but potential gets coaches fired. We don't REALLY know how ROTH, CROWDER and DANIELS will do in a real game yet, how they'll handle adversity.
This is a young team running headlong into the brick wall known as lack of NFL caliber talent. Saban has brought together a hell of a college team with these Dolphins, but we're in real trouble here in the NFL.
How many clear misses and terrible throws from both QB's will it take before I get some support for what I'm saying? And WHY am I saying it? Cuz I believe a lot of you fans, like me, suffer terribly during the season. I suffer emotionally like you wouldn't believe. But if my expectations are down and realistic, I watch the games like a passionate observer and not in life or death mode as I usually do. This is about mental stability and well being.
Say it with me, We're Not Going To Be Good and Chances Are We're Going To Be QUITE Bad. For awhile, anyway...
I love my Dolphins and pray for the day that come back strong and focused.
Thank you guys.
GO PHINS!!!!!!
