Why were fans so delusional about this season?

[zicofirol]

As 30+ Dolphins fan this was the first year I didn't even follow the draft, that's because this is the lowest point the Dolphins have reached that I remember, imo (yes, worse than 1-15, at least we had the draft to look forward to)

The owner is incompetent and has shown that in how he has handled firing/hiring decision on this team. Sparano was let go too late, so was Ireland. The hires made to replace them were questionable, but the nail in the coffin to me was keeping Failbin and adding another failure in Tannenbaum.

This team will not get better until Ross is no longer the owner, that won't happen unless he wants to sell, but fans can certainly start showing their displeasure.

Having said that, I wonder why so many here were so delusional about the dolphins chances this year, even expecting an AFC East title, haha.

The team kept a mediocre coach that has not had 1 winning season, again drafted poorly (when was the last time they had a good draft?), and spent a ridiculous amount of money on a position that could be filled with less money. In turn they ignored the OL, LB's and the secondary.

I just hope fans finally see the light and realize Ross is the problem. Until he sells this team, don't expect anything more than a mediocre team.

 

[Bumpus]

Short answer - Because we're slightly delusional, and goddammit we WANT to believe.

:oldman:





Sigh.

 

[Chuck Willie]

I believed in the direction of this offense. I thought Tannehill would continue hid ascension and not regress. i liked the moves we made on both sides of the ball. Though this defense would be top five. I thought the strengths in other areas would mask our shortcomings......... I was wrong

 

[ReppinThe941]

I over valued our player development. Taylor, Thomas, Aikens, Turner, James... Thought could be improved, even slightly, but really only James has shown any improvement, marginal at best tbh.

 

[SoCal Finatic]

Classic sports fan fallacy: we were .500 last year,and we added some great players, we should be better right? Wrong.

 

[dlockz]

People are optimistic every year, cant fault them for that. I have just become too much of a realist to think that adding one DT in free agency made us a contender

 

[tcdrover]

Last year they started the season by beating the Pats, they blew out San Diego, they looked good at times.

Everyone, myself included thought that adding Suh would actually HELP the defense,

I mean, how could it possibly hurt?

The problem, or one of the main problems with this team is that they are coached to be

REACTIVE, instead of aggressive. Then they are for some mysterious reason, very slow to REACT, and they can't tackle or get off blocks.

The only way they can win is if the other team were moving in slow motion

 

[nate5413]

I love this damn team and want to believe. I thought tannehill would take that next step and lazor would scheme to help the oline, I was wrong. I thought the dline could mask the weakness on the back end,I was wrong. Thought this team could win despite philbins supidity, I was dead wrong.

 

[ohall]

The talent is here that's why.

 

[19-0_Dolphins]

i was convinced the dolphins had the personnel to have a top 5 defense i had no ****ing clue this defense would be one the league worsts that cant stop a nose bleed

 

[dlockz]

i was convinced the dolphins had the personnel to have a top 5 defense i had no ****ing clue this defense would be one the league worsts that cant stop a nose bleed

No top level lb at all most of the corp is below average, one good cb on team, that does not equal an elite defense

 

[zicofirol]

I just hope we all agree the problem starts with Ross.

 

[PCmor]

We were like Mulder from X-Files: We wanted to believe.

 

[Jamaicankid21]

I over valued our player development. Taylor, Thomas, Aikens, Turner, James... Thought could be improved, even slightly, but really only James has shown any improvement, marginal at best tbh.

I thought we'd sign a guard to the oline and Albert would be relatively healthy. No way I thought Dallas Thomas and Jamil Douglas would be our starting guards this season. I was thinking Albert, Mathis, Pouncey, Turner, and James until Mathis signed with Denver. Also I wasn't expecting Brice McCain to be a starting boundary corner either. Really thought Will Davis or Jamar Taylor would have won that job. And most importantly I dont think any of us could have predicted our defensive line would have produced 1 stack in 4 games is it with Wake, Vernon and Suh on the dline.

Our defense looked so good in preseason as well as the offense lol.

 

[Spiff]

I would not agree in that the problem starts with Ross. I value stability and I think it takes 3 to 4 years to put something in place and reap the benefits. So I can't really blame Ross for sticking with the program so long. Would I have liked to see Philbin being fired earlier? Sure. But this is really the first year where the majority of the players are "his" players (Philbin's that is) and I understand giving him a chance to go to battle with "his" team. Turns out it sucks and I believe Ross will pull the trigger this week.

In hindsight, if Ross sends Philbin packing this week I think he did all the right things during the Philbin tenure. Always remember, Ross doesn't interfere with football operations. Stability and hands off, not sure what else you can ask from your owner.