(i'll warn you that I ramble, but it's that smart, catchy kind of rambling you'll come to know and love, but if it puts you to sleep :sleep: I apologize.)
Phinfans...
It's not that I don't get all of your predictions, because I do. I'm right there with you. As a 24 year old Dolphins fan of 24 years (and 9 months if you count the time my dad used to read the sports section to me in my mom's tum). I totally understand why you are all looking towards the stars with that gleam in your eye. It's telling you that we "could" go 12-4. It's totally crazy and untrue, but nonetheless you can hope. That's what life is all about. But if you think for even a second that it's possible, then please please please step back from the ledge and put down the Alice and Wonderland "Jesus Juice".
Personally, I blame the shock factor for your reactions. I blame these jokes(predictions) on the fact that we haven't had a losing season in like 12 years and so now for the first year ever, we sucked. It was terrible, I agree. But it happens to everyone and now it's our turn on that ride. But with the moves we have made this year we will be better. There's no denying that. Only thing is, our competition has also improved DRAMATICALLY. Read that sentence again and try your hardest to take the "beer goggles" off. I'm saying all this with Tough Love for my fellow FINHEAVEN compadres only because I want you all to enjoy the progress this season and not relish on the fact that we will "most likely" finish at like 5-11, 6-10, or 7-9. We probably won't make the playoffs...THIS YEAR...but next...WHOOO!...watch out!!!
Was I the only one who saw teams like NE and TB suck for years before they dominated...NE is still dominating because they didn't take the same route as TB. NE invested in good staff and good players and then groomed the system to yield results. TB pretty much assembled an A-list Defense with no future prospects and bought themselves a Superbowl...then back in the toilet immediately. I like to think that we are following in NE footsteps here. We've got some serious seeds in the soil now and WHEN they sprout up it's gonna be like a Jack and the Beanstalk kinda huge. Right now, we just are there. Saban is watering and all and doing his part, but the other teams have just bloomed on us overnight. The Jets (whom I hate with all my heart...a trait I hope to pass on to my kids) lost a lot of close games last year...some of that was due to poor coaching decisions. I think those mistakes will go away and they will be tough. The Bills won like 9 of thier last 12 games. That's on-fire in my book. A couple of their losses were like flukes too, ie...Jacksonville. I'm just stating what I hope is the obvious to all of you, but in the case that it is not, consider this a kind slap in the face to knock the hangover out of your head so that you might be able to rejoice in the great things to come this season.
With all that being said...(I promise I'm almost done...I post rarely, but when I do I like to do it with everything I've got)...I do think a Great coach is worth a couple wins in this league. It's not the same weight as with college, but it does matter simply because there will be a lot of teams that think we still suck and that makes them vulnerable for a little December 20th action (if you don't know what that is then please kick yourself in the balls...we beat NE that day) so there is possibility out there. In addition, with the return of RW in week 5, could mean some more opportunity with Brown and the passing game. A duel attack in the NFL is always great (just look at Philly, Pitt, or KC). And hands down our WR are good, sometimes unbelievably great. Defense is always reliable.
Leaves me with this...I don't think we will win 12 games...no way...no how...I'm sorry, but it's just fact. But I do believe our incredible progress this year will mean this...we will not enter a game this year that we will not hang with the team we are playing against. Hands down...every opponent will have to work hard for that victory, unlike last year where our QB was on the other team for parts of the game. I think we will have a lot of close losses, but that's worth celebrating about. So that's my point in a nutshell. A very large one. :goof:
:yeahthat: