What are we missing to make a run at the SB? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

What are we missing to make a run at the SB?

FINintheMOON

FINintheMOON

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I have been reading a lot of posts since December that have us missing the playoffs to winning the SB next year. There has been a lot of discussion on the needs of this team and what players should be drafted to satisfy those needs. To be honest with you, my head is SPINNING like HELL!!!



We have those that KNOW football and those that THINK they know football out here arguing and insulting everyone that disagrees with them. Although I can find the HUMOR in most of these threads, there are only a few that makes REAL sense…



I have taken it upon myself to prove no one wrong or right, but to put the facts in black and white. I WILL NOT claim to be a football guru, but I believe that I have enough knowledge about the game to be within a ballpark…



With that said, and hopefully not offending anyone,:rolleyes: I would like to offer my 5 cents worth… Inflation you know!!!:sidelol:



IMHO, I believe that the FINS could very well be in the SB next year with a minimum of 2 additions to the team… We have 7 draft picks, or is it 6?, and the FA to find them. The only question is, do we want to get there next year or in 2007? If we want it next year, we need to find a QB and a SS in the free agency. We pick those positions in the draft as well, to groom for 2007. I think this is the most reasonable approach in order to maximize the talent we have on the “D†and the “O†that we currently have… A LT would be a great addition also, but I feel that with HOUCK, we can get by on what we have on the roster currently… LOOK at what he has done in the past year with the 2004 squad!!!



Now the reason that I am saying we only need these 2 key players is that these are the difference between the current SB bound teams and the FINS. With that said, I offer you the statistics that will prove this thought. I know statistics are NOT the “10 Commandments†but they DO give us a great picture of the production/effectiveness of a team.



Below are the Offensive and Defense statistics of the current SB contenders and the FINS. I found that during my research, I was able to see the differences of each team and where their weaknesses were… Funny how it pointed out the obvious!



First the Offensive stats…



OFFENSE PITT HAWKS FINS

Penalties 120/1031 123/909 105/827
Sacks Allowed 23 24 26
QB
%comp 62.7 65.5 52.0

TD/INT 17/9 24/9 18/13

YDS/P% 8.90 7.70 6.06

YDS/P/G 198.0 222.4 206.7

Rating 98.6 98.2 71.9

Rushing

Avg P/G 138.9 153.6 118.6

Avg yds/R 4.0 4.7 4.6



Now based on these statistics, we can see a few things that the FINS need to focus on:
  • We need the OL to tighten up a bit more, even though they were 100% better than last year 52… I believe HOUCK and time can correct this with what we have on the roster currently. The longer they play together, the better they WILL gel!
  • We need a QB that can throw accurately! DAHHHHHH!!! Everything about the QB comparison says this! And EVERYONE on this forum KNOWS this!!!
  • The rushing yards per game look to be a concern, but this, as we ALL know is due to the rough start with LINEHAN and having to play catch up in the first half of the season… Which leads me to the “Dâ€Â

DEFENSE PITT HAWKS FINS

SACKS 47 50 49

Sack yardage 312 302 375

Yds allowed P/P 5.32 5.73 5.53

TDs allowed 15 18 23

INTs 15 16 14

Pass comp% allowed 57.4 58.0 58.8

Rushing YDS per play 3.4 3.6 3.7



With these statistics it is obvious that we need help in the pass defense… Again, WE ALL KNOW THAT!!! This has allowed the opponent to get an early lead and when that happens, we abandon the running game to try and catch up with a QB that has a completion percentage of 52%!!!



The yards allowed per play do not look that impressive in the stats, however, if you take away some of the BIG plays given up by the passing “Dâ€Â, they would be MUCH more impressive!!! We allowed 23 touchdowns!!!:shakeno: 7 of those where for 20+ yards in the passing game! We allowed 3 over 40+ yards!!!:yell: It is obvious that we need another man to beef up the secondary… I think one would be enough for the short term.



Penalties where an issue to start the season but the team finally began to gel and ended the season with 105, which ranks them at 23rd in the league. A good spot considering the beginning of the season… This is only another indication that this team is becoming A TEAM!!!:eek:



Get a BIG BEN, BREES, GREEN, BRADY or someone close for a QB and a CHAMP BAILEY, POLAMAOU, CLEMENTS, LAW or someone like them in the secondary and I see US, THE FINS, playing in the BIG GAME in MIAMI next year!!! :spot:



Just my 5 cents worth!:D
 
Simple we are missing a Legit Quarterback.

Not a game manager, not a guy who knows the system, we are missing a play maker,
difference making , winner at QB.
 
Wow! Nice post. Are you Nick Bakay and are you going to tell us how simple it is when you break it down, scientifically? lol.. j/k.. seriously, good job. Like you said, most of us know where our deficiencies lie.. I agree, that a QB, CB, and Safety that play up to the level of the guys you mentioned would go along way towards getting us to where we need to be... I can see a couple of safties that might be available to us.. ( Huff from Texas and Watkins from FSU)... the QB will be a touchy thing.. It's hard to know who will produce and who won't when you put them in a situation new to them... there are going to be some Free Agents CB wise.. (Ty Law, Nate Clements) to add to Poole and Daniels, assuming Sam is done here. I don't know how any of this is going to play out, but, I know one thing.. the excitement and atmosphere around what is happening with our Dolphins is unlike anything i've felt in years.. and this is going to be one fun offseason watching the moves that are made.. again, good post..
 
Very nice article man.

In my own opinion I think we need a quarterback. And maybe to strengthen up that secondary a tad bit.
 
fishfan34 said:
Wow! Nice post. Are you Nick Bakay and are you going to tell us how simple it is when you break it down, scientifically? lol.. j/k.. seriously, good job. Like you said, most of us know where our deficiencies lie.. I agree, that a QB, CB, and Safety that play up to the level of the guys you mentioned would go along way towards getting us to where we need to be... I can see a couple of safties that might be available to us.. ( Huff from Texas and Watkins from FSU)... the QB will be a touchy thing.. It's hard to know who will produce and who won't when you put them in a situation new to them... there are going to be some Free Agents CB wise.. (Ty Law, Nate Clements) to add to Poole and Daniels, assuming Sam is done here. I don't know how any of this is going to play out, but, I know one thing.. the excitement and atmosphere around what is happening with our Dolphins is unlike anything i've felt in years.. and this is going to be one fun offseason watching the moves that are made.. again, good post..
Click to expand...

I am getting SIKED too!!! I have always looked at all the major sites for news, but now I am watching ALL the sports channels every day and reading all the papers trying to get the info... It has started affecting work anf marriage!! OK... I WILL SAY IT!!! I AM A DOLPH-A-HOLIC!!!! I need a 12 step program!!!!:sidelol:
 
Nice post Dolphin brother, we need a QB, plain and simple if we draft a QB it takes time to that QB to adapt to the NFL. We also need more speed in the secondary and more good players in the OL.
 
houtz said:
Very nice article man.

In my own opinion I think we need a quarterback. And maybe to strengthen up that secondary a tad bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback and I agree with your assessment!:D
 
Wow you put alot of work into that post!!

But I disagree on what our needs are. Even though our OL improved dramatically, the dramatic improvement got us to a level of mediocrity. While, Gus is not Hasselbeck or Rothlisberger, I will tell you that what is even more glaring between those teams and our teams is the OL. Those teams have bonified OL they pass block, straight run block and they pull with speed and explosiveness. Our guys just don't have the athleticism to do that. So we can improve all the skill position players we want, we have done this for many years. Think about all the great skill position players that have come through our oraganization and no rings. Now think about all those terrible years in the late 80's going .500, early 90's where the Bills dominated our division (how many times did marino get sacked in those games, or how badly did they just physically kick our buts), the straight 11 losses to the jets, and finally the total domination of the Pats in our division. We have never had a great offensive line which is a combination of good coaching but you need the studs up front. We have never had an offensive line wherer teams go, "Damn, I really don't want to have to deal with that OL" Well this Sunday, I saw OL on the Seahawks and Steelers that were physical and brought a presence to the game. Before we can talk about rings we need to get OL. Size, speed and strength matters, I assure you that will be sabans top priority. Count my word on it.
 
060693 said:
But I disagree on what our needs are. Even though our OL improved dramatically, the dramatic improvement got us to a level of mediocrity. While, Gus is not Hasselbeck or Rothlisberger, I will tell you that what is even more glaring between those teams and our teams is the OL. Those teams have bonified OL they pass block, straight run block and they pull with speed and explosiveness. Our guys just don't have the athleticism to do that. So we can improve all the skill position players we want, we have done this for many years. Think about all the great skill position players that have come through our oraganization and no rings. Now think about all those terrible years in the late 80's going .500, early 90's where the Bills dominated our division (how many times did marino get sacked in those games, or how badly did they just physically kick our buts), the straight 11 losses to the jets, and finally the total domination of the Pats in our division. We have never had a great offensive line which is a combination of good coaching but you need the studs up front. We have never had an offensive line wherer teams go, "Damn, I really don't want to have to deal with that OL" Well this Sunday, I saw OL on the Seahawks and Steelers that were physical and brought a presence to the game. Before we can talk about rings we need to get OL. Size, speed and strength matters, I assure you that will be sabans top priority. Count my word on it.
Click to expand...

All good points bubba... We do need some work on the OL, but I think an LT is all we really need right now. This unit has begun to gel... I think they just need another season to be real good. HOUCK tooke the worst OL in SD and turned them into a great line within 2 years. I believe he can do the same with this unit. Changing too many players, no matter how good they are, will only set the unit as a whole back... Adding 1 new guy a year will insure a cohesive unit and maximize the training of the new guy, as well as minimize the impact to the overall function of the line... DAMN!!! I think I am starting to sound like NICK!!!:sidelol:
 
060693 said:
But I disagree on what our needs are. Even though our OL improved dramatically, the dramatic improvement got us to a level of mediocrity. While, Gus is not Hasselbeck or Rothlisberger, I will tell you that what is even more glaring between those teams and our teams is the OL. Those teams have bonified OL they pass block, straight run block and they pull with speed and explosiveness. Our guys just don't have the athleticism to do that. So we can improve all the skill position players we want, we have done this for many years. Think about all the great skill position players that have come through our oraganization and no rings. Now think about all those terrible years in the late 80's going .500, early 90's where the Bills dominated our division (how many times did marino get sacked in those games, or how badly did they just physically kick our buts), the straight 11 losses to the jets, and finally the total domination of the Pats in our division. We have never had a great offensive line which is a combination of good coaching but you need the studs up front. We have never had an offensive line wherer teams go, "Damn, I really don't want to have to deal with that OL" Well this Sunday, I saw OL on the Seahawks and Steelers that were physical and brought a presence to the game. Before we can talk about rings we need to get OL. Size, speed and strength matters, I assure you that will be sabans top priority. Count my word on it.
Click to expand...


Man I totally agree....I'm tired of hearing our line is "adequate" and with Houck "we'll be fine". I don't want an adequate line I want a line that can play, a line that can still block even when they know we're gonna run. How can we expect to improve w/o improving the weakest part of the team. Just think what Houck could do with some talent on the line. Saban said he was gonna improve the O-line, and I really think were gonna have atleast 2 new players that start on the team.
 
The biggest piece of the puzzle is a legit franchise QB who's playing in the same offensive system for a few years.
 
zodiak said:
Simple we are missing a Legit Quarterback.

Not a game manager, not a guy who knows the system, we are missing a play maker,
difference making , winner at QB.
Click to expand...

Gotta agree here.

If we want to make the big game next year it has to be either a vet QB or a backup that has the skills to readily step into a starting role and excel. We need to draft a rookie for the future this year but no way does a rookie win us a championship next year.

The secondary:
As another poster said, we need a good cover corner acquisiton and I agree. We also need Poole to come back healthy. If he's not fully recovered there is another hole to fill at CB.

It would solidify us greatly if we could bring in a top OL, pref. a LT and we need either Hadnot or Wade Smith to step up and solidify the Center position.

DL:
Keith Traylor likely won't be resigned. a MAJOR key to our D's success next year is finding a big, aggressive body to fill the middle of the line.

Personally, I think the order of importance is

1) QB
2) CB
3) NT/DL (Keith Traylor replacement)
4)OL we may be able to get by with what we have but I don't think we'll sit on this position. It would be nice to make at least one upgrade somewhere on the line and I'd be very surprised if we didn't.

priorities 2-4 I don't see as being too hard to make the upgrades we'd need to be a very solid team. It's QB that still worries me if your talking a chance at a super bowl next year. Who's really available... again I say who's actually available at QB that could come in and lead this team immediately at a high level. There's no clear cut obvious choices that will be available. We'll end up taking a "hit or miss" shot at someone and whether he's a hit or miss will define our season IMO.
 
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