Thursday, June 4, 2009

Why Not Us?

Why Not Us?
by the Knight who says Ni!




Roaming articles and blogs I see a lot of "we're 2 or 3 years away" talk and I say why?


We went 11-5 last year after a horrible 1-15 season in 2007. We did compete in half of those games and with better coaching we weren't that bad. But the injuries mounted and the coaching got worse. The writing was on the wall for all of us when Cameron handed over the reins to Capers in the last preseason game. As if he was so accomplished he could do that. Sparano would never do that.


So here we are, the trifecta runs the show. They've brought in their kind of players and they've been more active than some of us realize. The roster has been overhauled to the tune of 75%. Of the 85 players currently on our roster only 21 are from the pre-trifecta era. My guess is "at the end of this thing" (to quote Tony Sparano), there may only be 15 of those players left by the time we get down to 53. Pretty significant turnover in two years.


By the way I counted JT as part of the 21 even though that's not really accurate. That whole thing was highway robbery on our part. A 2009 2nd (#44 Pat White) and a 2010 6th (yet to be determined) for JT in 2008 who then comes back in 2009. LOL


The trifeca knows this team much better heading into the 2009 season. A good portion of the team including newly signed free agents have been involved in the off-season conditioning program. Some for two years and some currently participating for the first time as we speak. The team is bonding and there is plenty of veteran leadership and improved talent at multiple positions. Coach Sparano and his staff expect the best out of every player and they work them hard. The 2nd season, this year, they've already got their system in place and there is a core group that knows how to run it.


Let's take a look at the core players who are crucial in leading this team to a championship this year.


QB Chad Pennington - The savvy, veteran leader who is 4 years removed from his last surgery has a fire in his belly to win now. We know what Penn brings to the table. Enough said!


QB Chad Henne - The young, big, confident, strong-armed QB from Michigan who has always started wherever he's been. He has no desire to be a #2. He wants to start now! He's a good, young QB prospect who's being groomed in a good situation. John Beck recently said he's fine being the #3 QB. Henne would never say that. John Beck is now back with Cam Cameron in Baltimore.


QB Pat White - We all know what he is. He's a talented offensive player who doesn't have the size to be a traditional QB. But his unique skill-set is very intriguing. He was picked at #44 because he's a better passer than a lot of us give him credit for. Most teams had him in their top 50 as a best player available in this draft. That doesn't mean he'll pan out. But in a relatively weak draft, he was one of the more interesting prospects. The Wildcat and spread offense is where White will make his mark.


Side Note: Some teams have a 3rd QB who will never be a starter or impact player. Pat White may never be a traditional starting QB, but he can be an impact player. His running ability makes him dangerous.


I chose all 3 QBs because it's the most important position and at anytime they will be called upon to lead the offense.


RB Ronnie Brown - The sky is the limit for him. He has all the tools and he's 100% healthy and word is he's in fantastic shape. At 230 lbs. with improved strength and speed, that's bad news for Miami opponents.


RB Ricky Williams - He can still play at a high level and with an improved OL he should be a difference maker. Like Ronnie he can do a lot of things.


TE Anthony Fasano - He could have big year this season. I think he'll be a common target for the QBs this year, especially Penn who throws those 15 yard middle routes real well. He showed last year he can find the endzone. If he can step it up and be a complete TE, we have another weapon in our arsenal for both the running and passing game.


WR Ted Ginn - Could he breakout this year? I think so! His speed is lethal and hopefully this year he can take some to the house without a penalty. He has good hands, if his route running improves his speed will take over. If Ginn can double his overall TD production from last year that could be the difference in the team getting to the next level. That number is only 8, but an additional 4 TDs from one guy could make a big difference. Get him back on returns! We need his big play ability.


The O-line - The entire group getting to the next level is as important as any group on the team. If the revamped OL can open up holes for the RBs between the tackles, we're going to be that much tougher to beat. We all know that Jake Grove, Justin Smiley, Jake Long and Vernon Carey are the big horses. We can't afford to lose these guys if we want to get to the next level.


We need to find a RG or get Donald Thomas healthy. It sounds like Joe Berger will be the 6th man. He is the backup center which is the QB of the OL, and he can also play guard and tackle. Ike Ndukwe is probably the 7th man on game day because he can play every position. Unless he wins the RG spot. So we need to find a starting RG if Thomas can't go and Ndukwe doesn't win the job, and a pure backup tackle. Brandon Frye and Andy Alleman are probably the other leading candidates at RG. Is the rookie Andrew Gardner the best pure backup tackle? Can Shawn Murphy play? Will someone else step up?


NT Jason Ferguson - The big man in the middle needs to stay healthy. We need at least one more guy to step up and plays some snaps to keep Fergy fresh throughout the season and playoffs. You can't run an effective 3-4 without good NT play.


OLBs Jason Taylor and Joey Porter - Both of these guys off the edge is key to our pass rush and our defensive scheme. Without the edge rushers the 3-4 does not work. Matt Roth and Cameron Wake might bring something extra to the table this year, but we can't expect them to match what JT and JP can do. If they do, the defense goes to the next level.


ILB Channing Crowder - It's time for Channing to take it to another level. He was groomed under Zach Thomas for 3 years. He's the 'Mike' LB who calls the defense. Now that he has a year under his belt in the new 3-4 defense, it's time for him to make more impact plays. Last year he got the defense set and was solid making a lot of tackles. How about a couple of sacks and turnovers Channing! That said he's our best ILB and we all saw last year how our defense dropped without him in the lineup.


CB Will Allen - The quiet, underrated corner who has started every year he's been in the league just got an extension and he'll be with us for a few more years. Allen is a solid overall NFL corner who brings leadership and experience to a group that is suddenly quite young. His value may go unseen at times but he's more important than many of us may think.


SS Yeremiah Bell - The veteran safety with only a few years of actual playing experience under his belt is coming off his best season. He's not the ball hawk we wish he was but he can hit and tackle and does a decent job in coverage. He's a defensive leader and another key component to the 3-4 defense. Look for more attacking the line of scrimmage from Bell this year.


FS Gibril Wilson - He's an immediate upgrade at the other safety spot. He's bigger, faster and more of an impact player than Renaldo Hill. In our 3-4 defense the safeties are actually interchangeable. It's not always FS and SS. They're more left and right. Wilson can do a lot of the same things Bell can do. But he is more of a ball hawk.


I know I left out a lot of players to highlight but these are the players and groups I think are key to a championship run. I'm not sure we can get there without them.


For example our DEs. Well I view them as a group more than individually. We have some depth and I'm not sure anyone of them is key to the season. They're all big and strong and they do the dirty work inside without much fanfare. If any of them get to the next level as in pro bowl level, our defense goes to the next level.


Another group might be the young rookie additions to the secondary; Vontae Davis, Sean Smith and Chris Clemons. I'm glad we have them but can we rely on them to lead the way? Probably not. Can we expect production? Absolutely! But they're rookies who will have a learning curve. We need at least one of them to really make an impact. Again, if that happens the defense goes to the next level.


Some of you might say another player who should be on the list is Davone Bess. He's a fan favorite. But I still believe Bess is a situational player and not a stud. He does a nice job in the short passing game because he has the ability to make the first guy miss. He's part of our ball control offense. I don't see big play ability from him though. He's like Wes Welker and can he even get to that level? Maybe. If he does, our offense goes to the next level.


Who knows, maybe one of the other WRs has a big year. Brandon London, Patrick Turner, Brian Hartline or Greg Camarillo. I view these guys as a group too. They all need to produce. If one of them really stands out and has a big season, our offense goes to the next level.


I don't mean to underrate Camarillo, but he's only 6 months removed from knee surgery. I'm not sure how much impact he can make, especially the first half of the season. Anthony Armstrong is another guy but it's going to be tough for him to make this team. You know Turner and Hartline are in the long-term plans. Ginn is the most explosive player on the team. Then you have Bess, Camarillo and London. There is a minimum of 5 spots and a maximum of 6 spots on the roster for WRs.


Tony Sparano said there will be some tough decisions with the WR group this year and that's a good thing to have. Camarillo might start the year out on the PUP for the first 6 weeks which might make one of those decisions easier and buy us some time to evaluate the roster and WR position as a whole. It might help Camarillo as well.


All this next level stuff is what will make us a championship team. We still have some questions that need to be answered. The difference this year is I think we have more players who can answer those questions. There is no question we have more talent and depth. Just how good is it though?


(Tinshaker) The following video is a bit old but too good not to share. For some reason, they didn't edit off the first 18 seconds of black screen. For some reason, neither did I, so don't freak out. I just thought it would be a fitting way to close out the subject of 'Why Not Us' since we are so far removed from the mid-2000s era Dolphins. If you asked 'why not us' back then, it was a legitimate laughing fit you heard in response. We are no longer the joke of the league, we are a contender, so Why Not Us?

33 comments:

  1. I like it, Mr. Knight!  You are always fair in your assessments of players, rather than the cliched, sterotypical comments that some others have. I hope that TGJr has that breakout year, almost more for the reactions it will cause, than the benefit the team will get from it.  A win/win in my book.
     
    You didn't mention Haynos, who I really hope makes the roster.  There is some upside there IMO.
     
    When I first started following the Dolphins news at the beginning of last season I couldn't understand how some had already given up, before it started. Almost PO'd their team was winning some games because it would give them a lower draft pick.  A loser's attitude.  I'm just glad the players and coaches had a different one.  
     

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  2. Knight,
     
    Since no-one else has chimed in yet, I thought I'd get the ball rolling. Nice pre-camp state of the union summary.
     
    I'm excited like you about the upcoming season and I say hell yeah, "why not us". We're going to have a better line to plot our opponents downfall behind, we should end up with at least as good so called "skill" players this year as last, but with more toys in the box to play with and (potentially) more smoke, mirrors and distractions to add to the confusion. We also should have a better secondary, but I'm sure we'll have a better rotation in the front seven, with some players there who could line up anywhere and cause some real disruption. I can't wait to see what Pasqualoni does with the pass rush this year - I have high expectations.
     
    Speaking of coaching, that is the one thing you didn't turn the spotlight on except in terms of hard work and conditioning. Whilst these are the foundations, I can't wait to see the building go up. As well as the majority of the players having a year under their belts, so to do most of the coaches. Sparano was nothing short of inspirational last year turning a directionless franchise into a fit, well-drilled, disciplined outfit that made the most of the talent available. This year, the talent is better, but the coaches must have benefited from that first year and I also expect to see improvements "that way" from the sidelines, both in terms of game-planning and play-calling and game management.
     
    We face Ryan, Manning and Rivers  in the first 3 weeks (barring a freak "Brady" before then). If that doesn't get our D fired up, then nothing will. September seems forever away.

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  3. herdfan, if we won the Superbowl last year, there would still be a large group of fans shouting for people to be waived. fired, etc. 
     
    I personally don't believe that Dolphins fans are as negative as it seems, but the negative ones tend to be louder on these forums than the positive.
     
    I remember when I first started reading the SS blogs last year and the overall tone, and then I'd read a Mr Bungle comment and think the guy was on happy pills!
     
    Not because he was crazy, but just sounded so chipper in a sea of groaning guses!

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  4. I think I inadvertently brought out the 'Sparano' in everybody.  These cliches are coming from everyone now, even a Brit!

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  5. Bungle on happy pills - lol
     
    Herd - I was wondering last night after watching the Chad unfiltered, there will, inevitably be a time when he hangs them up and rides off into the high school football coaching sunset (personally, if his talent matched his attitude, I wouldn't be upset if he joined the fins staff). But assuming he has no affilition to the fins, will you still be a Dolphins fan. Just curious to know if the franchise has got under your skin, or just Chad. (I'd hate to think of your dog sleeping on a fins jersey one day ;) )

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  6. "At the end of the day", that's all there is "right now", "until they get their pads on". :-D

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  7. She already picked up Joey Haynos for her 'side-dish' so I'm sure she'll stay a fan for a while ;)
     
    What other choice does she have?  (don't say the P-word)

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  8. Well, there's still Leftwich/Bucs if he sticks around (ffr would never talk to her again) and any new Marshall blood coming through?

    I just hope the dog still gets the Jets jersey if it's rolled in something unpleasant!

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  9. uk:
    I will always have a place in my heart for the dolphins!  And I don't even have a jersey yet, although I asked for one for Christmas and Mother's Day. Who knows about the post Chad days?  I think my feelings about that will have a lot to do with the way it happens.  And then, as with most my hobbies/addictions/whatever you want to call them, I tend to get totally wrapped up in it, and then slack off at some point.  It's funny, people who know me in 'life' would be shocked I do this.  Gobsmacked, in your lingo I think.

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  10. All the potential new herd blood keeps getting arrested.  The last one being a couple of weeks ago in Florida.  :(

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  11. I can just see it now...
     
    'um, herdfan is constantly slinking out of the room and disappears for several minutes at a time.'
     
    'she's clearly on the drugs.'
     
    'yeah, I could swear it's turning here hair aqua.'
     
    'and her skin has an odd orange glow to it these days'
     
    'must be that marrigewana all the kids are on these days.  I saw something about that on 60 minutes!'
     
    meanwhile, herdfan is salivating over Omar's Pennington video...

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  12. email is optionalJune 4, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    Florida, young men with lots of money and law enforcement are an accident waiting to happen huh?

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  13. I feel if we break down the dolphins player by player as Knight did it appears we really don't look very good.  But looks are decieving.
     
    We don't have many so called super stars for sure.  Actually only Porter and Penny come even close.  We could say that Ronnie and JT should be in that status.  Yet until they show us they are then they are not there.  JT I don't think will be on the field enough this year to reach what many fans think he will be.  RB has the potential to be very good indeed, but for one reason or another mostly due to injuries he is still trying to be what he was brought in here to be "THE MAN".
     
    We also have to many if's to think about.  If the OL stays healthy, ifthe WR can get better, ifthe DBs can improve.  if Crowder, Bell, Long, Penny, Porter, W. Allen, Grove, Brown, Ferguson, Roth, or any starter goes down we could be in trouble.  If, if, if.
     
    Yet along with all the if's is one thing.  The other teams have the same if's, and the biggest if is. Are our replacements as good as the other teams replacements in our division.  I think they are, I think we are deeper than NE, Jets, and the Bills.  In the course of 16 games, Guys like Smith, Davis, Clemons, Henne, Hanos will step up.  The youth of this team is where we are better then most of the teams in the NFL.  Our playoffs lie in them and how quickly they develop
     
    We have the coaching finally, we have the starters that can get us there.  We have the QB even though his arm could be stronger, we have the running backs.  We have what I see as the makings of a great defense.  So yes Knight, WHY NOT US.

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  14. to be honest, it's usually not an accident, but pre-meditated.

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  15. email is optionalJune 4, 2009 at 1:31 PM

    Gobsmacked indeed! Sounds like you have a mildly addictive personality. Most people on the SS have a lifetime obsession. I tend to flit around from hobby to hobby, but I'm a finfan for life.
     
    I don't think there will be bad blood with Chad. I have a sneaky feeling that if he plays up to last year's level, he may get an extension. If he doesn't, the usual what have you done for me lately rule will apply!

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  16. Knight apparently doesn't realize I posted his article.  He's having too much fun over in the SS forum.

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  17. Fun?  That's not a happy place these days, IMO. 

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  18. <span style="">""There is no question we have more talent and depth. Just how good is it though?""</span>
     
    NEXT LEVEL GOOD!!
    IF HEALTHY,WISE,with a few good bounces,and continued growth of those that TriTuna evidently considers the backbone of the overall plan,depth,and special team's !! IMHO!!
     
    FUNNY as hell closing video,GREAT EFFORT BKnight,THANKS!!!
     
    Your thought yesterday,of ROTH possibly being that other guy..
    I can't disagree w'that,he does seem to be seeing the light,(I've liked him since day one).. I could see the importance of him being that other guy @ this time,more than MY reasonable thought of Henne,and I don't believe TS would balk @ stating it were Henne,(IF it were)..
     
    TS NOT wanting to name that other player,possibly cuz negotiations are being held,(w'Roth in a contract yr),and all..
    I could see him as the other top 2 guy,besides Ginn according to TS... ROTH,and TS both seemed ammused about talks of ROTH's future w'OUR FINS,Hmmmmm...
     
    I don't think TS would have a problem mentioning whoever the other guy might be,UNLESS $$ amounts could possibly be swayed w'such high praise,in the middle of possibly present haggleing...
    But then again,maybe he thinks,that other somebodies heads won't fit through the neck hole of his jersey,IF given such praise,(but I don't think we have many of those types),other than possibly the rookies..
     
    ANYWAY's Thanx KnighTin !!  :)
      
     
     
     
     

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  19. The Knight who says Ni!June 4, 2009 at 9:08 PM

    Thanks to all for the good cheer!  :-E
     
    I've had hectic and unpredictable schedules. i did enjoy my aquatic adventure today! I'm a Dolphin fan but I love sharks.
     
    Enjoy this team this year, we're going to be better than last year. The leadership from the top down to Pennington, is top notch!
     
    I say 11-5 at the least. Call me crazy now, you won't say that in December. LOL

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  20. The Knight who says Ni!June 4, 2009 at 9:15 PM

    LOL, well said!
     
    I got the humor you were going for. Incase you were going for no humor, I got that too!  :-E
     
    As for Sparano, it's still early, but I get a feeling he'll be around for awhile. He's a good coach and we're seeing it happen real-time.

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  21. The Knight who says Ni!June 4, 2009 at 9:17 PM

    Thanks, man!

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  22. Where's not a happy place?

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  23. I think herd meant the SS blog? SS = shark studies btw. ;)

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  24. 1) Ni, great post ...don't agree with everything but it was a good, useful walkthrough.
    2) Tin ...love the vid.
    3) RG ...we go no better than 8-8 w/o a solid RG (no matter how good we are, that schedule is a holy terror) ...and we don't have a solid RG ...and if we don't get one, the turnstile will get our QBs hurt ...and then we are in really deep doo doo ...imnsho of course.
     
    ...I think we are going to see a major trade as in something like the two Allens (Will/Jay) to someone desperate for CBs ...and in return we get a really sound RG to fill out our OL
    ...laugh all you will but get ready to take the heat when it happens :)

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  25. lemmus, while I completely understand anyone being sceptical when a starter goes down to injury, keep in mind that we went 11-5 last year with the same RGs we have now. Schedules mean nothing.  You play each game one at a time and try to win them one at a time.  I can tell you things are not looking good for the Pats or the Just End The Season right now.  Long way to go, for every team so nobody knows what the 'strength of schedule' will be 3 months from now (we don't even know who will be on the rosters we'll be facing).
     
    There's really only one team in the league dumb enough to trade a 'really sound RG' for a cornerback.
     
    That's right, the Raiders.
     
    (FWIW, I do agree that there could be a major trade brewing, but I doubt it would me for an OL).

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  26. knight, check out lemmus' comment below, he didn't click on 'reply'

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  27. Not negative.  Just kinda dumb as a whole.  Singular fans are for the most part informed, but as a fanbase, too many fair weather asshole transplants who "used to root" for another team.  You guys are good though.  LOL ;)

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  28. Sorry Herd.  Slow day yesterday.

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  29. I should be the last one to say anything about off topic, no matter the topic, and I'm not.  More about the short tempers, or whatever it is lately.   I think its that nothing new is really going on, so everyone picks on each other. I try to stay more positive.
     
    And Omar's new cohort really got a friendly welcome.  yikes!

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  30. "But what did he not agree with me on, that's what I want to know. What I wrote is fucking law, man."
     
    LOL.

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  31. ...what we did last year was last year ...you look at the competition we faced and WHEN we faced them and you really have to take those rose colored lenses off, eh ...I'm not taking anything away from that team ...we went 11-5 and I loved every freakin' minute of it.
     
    ...but the result is that this year we face a much tougher schedule ...and yes we are better now and not all those tough teams on the schedule will be as tough this year ...but still and all ...we survived a turnstile at RG last year and kept Penne in the game because only one opponent was able to take real advantage of that weakness ...that won't be the case this year.
     
    ...we differ on what the trade will be ...I assume you think WR because there just won't be any decent 3-4 LBs available ...I think OL ...I think Sparano is pleased with our current WR crew but wants to fix that turnstile at RG ...remember that he fired a good friend at OL coach because he couldn't fix that problem last year ...I think the new OL coach is going to force their hand in finding a real solutuion at RG ...his job depends on it.
     
    ...as does, imnsho, our season
     
    ...I just don't see a RG among the present candidates ...you say they were adequate last year ...I disagree ...besides which, adequate doesn't cut it on a team looking to contend.
     
    ...and there is the Carey factor ...when he has good players on both sides of him, he plays up to them ...but when he plays with "adequate" teammates, he plays down to them.
     
    ...as for a trading partner, I trust Ireland to find one ...we are suddenly loaded at some positions and have only a couple real holes ...there are teams out there loaded at OL ...its Ireland's job to find a match that works for us ...so far, I like his record.

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  32. "what we did last year was last year ...you look at the competition we faced and WHEN we faced them"
     
    "...but the result is that this year we face a much tougher schedule ...and yes we are better now and not all those tough teams on the schedule will be as tough this year ."
     
    These two statements contradict each other, IMO.  last year WAS last year and we beat NE in NE, we beat a rejuvenated SF team, a hungry and improving Oakland team, Buffalo twice, and won a showdown with the Jets with everything on the line.  And we did that all while trying to mesh 'on the fly'.  It was a first time coach, SEVERAL rookie starters (Long, RG, Bess, Langford) a really banged up team (Satele, Roth, both Allens, Smiley, Camarillo, Thomas, etc)  and some disappointments (Wilford, Thomas again,  Brett Favre's ridiculous good luck in game 1, etc.
     
    Let's not forget that last year we started with Chris Crocker in the def. backfield.  Then we switched to Hill after about week 5...and our safeties had to play a LOT of snaps due to lack of depth.  Now our secondary is so deep we might have to cut some one who could end up getting a lot of snaps for another team.  We could definitely afford to trade one of them.  We got a 7th rounder for Michael 'can't cover anyone' Lehan last year, surely we can get more than that this year.
     
    You also have to take into account an extra year in the off-season conditioning program, and extra year with the playbook, and the addition of everyone's favorite, Pat White, the 100% healed Ronnie Brown, the progression of Ted Ginn, the addition of Turner and Hartline, both better than guys like Wilford, Hagan, Kircus, etc.  The 2009 training camp competition is much tougher than the 2008 one.  The 2009 Dolphins are much more confident and have higher expectations and goals than the 2008 one.
     
    There is much more to be positive about than negative.  As for the RG woes, keep in mind that Donald Thomas won that job outright from day one last year and no one else got reps with the first team.  That ended up hurting them once the season started, but now we have a rotating crew getting reps on each level.
     
     

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  33. ...no contradiction at all ...last year's success, at least a substantial portion of it, was schedule related ...we caught NE early without Brady and unveiled the wildcat on top of that ...we caught the Jets at the end of a downward spiral centered on Favre's failing arm ...we got Buffalo indoors in Toronto ...etc.
     
    ...as a result of that success, we have a far tougher schedule this year than last, based again on what those teams did last year ...which is of course, of only limited value in predicting how they will perform this year.
     
    ...I don't expect miracles again this year ...I'd be happy with 8-8 and ecstatic with anything better ...what I want is to see sustained improvements in our competitiveness over last year ...I don't mind losing to the best teams if we show that we belong on the same field ...we didn't do that last year against top teams ...they blew us out with a couple of fluke exceptions.
     
    ...I wholeheartedly agree that we look to be a much better team this year ...but I'm not going fan-happy and forgetting that we will be playing against much better teams who will no longer look past us on their schedule.
     
    ...so back to my original point ...if we are to actually have a chance to do more than just contend, we need to fix that hole at RG ...I'm not buying your pitch on reps being the problem with the left-overs from last year ...they got plenty of reps and never showed any sign of being the long-term answer there ...unless one of the udfas suddenly spring forth out of nowhere, its my opinion that our RG isn't on the roster as yet.
     
    ...but that's just my opinion and wtf do I really know ...Sparano makes 20 times what I do because he suypposedly knows ...so I'll post my opinions and then set back and watch the trifecta do what they get paid to do ...and win or lose, I'm going to enjoy the hell out of every game because I'm a hardcore fan ...as will you.

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