Why are the Dolphins winning late and not early in the season?

[stickman]

I get the whole Ricky thing and the fact that the offensive line was shuffled week to week. Not to mention a new QB and secondary. I wish Nick would leave this team alone and let them play. Stop the shuffling. I understand upgrading is key, but it is like starting over. Now that this team is gelling, they are very dangerous.

 

[BrazForPhins]

too much personnel moves and too much complex schemes

 

[CChambers7284]

cause pressure was on.

Now once we "sucked" we started playing.

 

[muscle979]

It was the new QB and change of coordinators IMO. He didn't have the option of keeping Linehan so you can't really blame that one on him. You can blame him for Culpepper though. He should have benched him after the Bills game, we'd be much better off.

 

[feelthepain]

too much personnel moves and too much complex schemes

That's pretty close to why IMO, we struggle. New QB every season Sabans been here, new OC and DC. Players learning a new system every year for the past 4 years, it amazing we can win at all given the circumstances. I do like Saban's philosophy and it looks like the players do as well. Ill be interested to see what Saban can do once the QB situation is resolved and that position settles down. I think MM is doing a very good job considering and Dom Capers is got us playing some sound D. Everyone just needs to get comfortable with each other and we will see what Saban can do.

 

[GCD960]

yeah, its the complex schemes and new personnel both years...next year the secondary should be ok..not sure about the oline

 

[steveincolorado]

We're not commiting a lot of penalties, we're also getting some turnovers as well. First part of the season, we couldn't overcome our mistakes, now we are.

 

[brandon27]

Thats what I've been blaming it on is all new systems, shakey o-line play, and shakey play in the secondary early. Now that these guys have gotten more experience playing with one another, its all coming together. It would be nice to have some continuity into next year now too... no more changes in offensive and defensive co-ordinators... lets keep the same system... its working. With a strong finish this year, keeping all the key pieces in place, next year there shouldnt be that slow start. However, Id much rather prefer a slow start... instead of a slow finish like the Wannstedt era... You want to be hot at the end of the year, rally your way into the playoffs(hopefully), that usually gives you the best shot... as long as the slow start... isnt as slow as ours was this year...

 

[TampaFinsFan01]

Coaching decisions. I have no doubt that if JH would have started the season at QB, we would have at least one more win, maybe two, and possibly three. We surely would have beat the Bills, probably the Texans, and maybe even the Steelers. But Saban made the wrong choice and it destroyed our post season chances. Now all we can do is lay our hopes on next year.

 

[muscle979]

Coaching decisions. I have no doubt that if JH would have started the season at QB, we would have at least one more win, maybe two, and possibly three. We surely would have beat the Bills, probably the Texans, and maybe even the Steelers. But Saban made the wrong choice and it destroyed our post season chances. Now all we can do is lay our hopes on next year.

I agree with you pretty much 100% on that. Of course if Joey would have started, Daunte might have worked his way in in the middle of the season and messed us up there. Who knows.

 

[CitizenSnips]

cause we flip-flop like politicians, thats why.

 

[FemaleFinFan]

I think part of it was the pressure that we were supposed to go to the SB this year. That kind of pressure is difficult for any team to over come, espically one with new qbs, coordinators, etc....

 

[rafael]

It's the new systems we've installed the last two seasons. The QB change was a non-factor. The real difference there is that we realized our OL couldn't block so a shorter passing game was installed.

 

[Metal Panda]

If Nick hadn't "shuffled", we wouldn't be 5-6 right now. If he had left last year's secondary intact (minus Madison, of course), we'd likely still be looking for that second win.

Last year Miami ultimately woke up after the Bills comeback game.

This year, the defense stepped up and started making plays to bail out its offense. That doesn't happen without the upgrades Saban made. Last year's defense was actually worse than the offense.

 

[Metal Panda]

too much personnel moves and too much complex schemes

Err, is it not standard practice to make personnel moves when you have a deficiency at a position? Or is it your belief that we just let them be and that they'll turn into Pro Bowl players on their own?