lol. At least we can agree on the Jest fans :singing: JETS SUCK :rocker: So, where DO you see your team this year? Seriously..?
I could see anything from a 7-9/8-8 redo of the last two seasons... up to a marked improvement, and challenge for a wildcard spot in the playoffs. What I can't see... and think is ridiculous, are these 4 win season predictions by Peter King, Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, etc... Ain't gonna happen.
I'll personally eat a Nick Saban style Dolphins straw hat (on video!) if one of those guys is even close to being right. There's simply too much talent, and the defense is too good... to contemplate that type of a collapse this year.
The defense will be nasty in Nolan's second year.... with 10 out of 11 starters back, and Kevin Burnette proving to be a huge upgrade over Channing Crowder - especially in the Dolphins Achilles heal the last few seasons - LB pass coverage.
The D line is 6 deep... and they'll be fresh all game long for every game. Jared Odrick has looked fantastic as a pass rusher, and will join Paul Soliai, Kendall Langford, Randy Starks, Phil Merling, and Tony McDaniel... on one of the deepest D lines in the league.
The secondary is maturing, and will get back former PB cornerback Will Allen, as well as another good looking crop of yougin's (Jimmy Wilson, Nate Caroll, etc..) to add to stalwarts Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, and Yerimiah Bell.
Jason Taylor is back as a situational rusher, being added to a good young LB corp of Karlos Dandsby, Cam Wake, Kevin Burnette, and Koa Misi.
All the big questions are on offense... whither Chad Henne? He's looked good in preseason (meaningless)... and seems to fit in Daboll's style offense much better than he did Henning's. But you don't know until you see...
IMHO Dan Henning's offense make Chad Henne as predictable last year, as what comes after 1 2 3. He had no ability to audible, other than an antiquated "call two plays and check with me at the line" system... he was handicapped by consistent calls for max protect (limiting his receiver options)... and I don't think the Dolphins ran one pass play last season that wasn't a 5 step drop.
This year he has the ability to audible to the entire playbook at the line of scrimmage (which he HAS been using to good effect)... and the offense has displayed an amazing variety (to a Dolphin fan of the last few years anyway) of 1, 3, 5, a few 7 step drops, and *gasp* shotgun formations, and an even more amazing variety of 3, 4, and *gasp* 5 wide options - on passing plays. He's been feeding Marshall the ball (preseason, meaningless)... and seems to have learned, that when Marshall is covered - he's still open.
Reggie Bush has juiced up Chad's check downs this preseason (meaningless), and don't buy the "feature back" hype... Reggie will get a few between the tackles runs, but the reason he's here - is to turn those 4 and 5 yard check downs to Ricky and Ronnie, into some 15 and 20 yard big gainers. <-- An ability he's shown pretty consistently this preseason (meaningless).
The big changes on the O line are Mike Pouncey at Center. The kids looked good... especially his feet. and movement to the 2nd level. Its pretty clear that the Dolphins saw their biggest deficiency... in the abortion that was their plan to dump a few very good (yet injury prone) interior OL players, and try to rebuild the interior in one offseason of 2010... as a lack of player with movement. Pouncey can pull either direction, and can easily get to the 2nd level. He's a rookie, and might struggle man up with some of the bigger 3-4 NT's in the league initially... but he's going to be a good one.
The other change is not so hopeful... as the Dolphins moved Vernon Carey in to RG, and brought in Mark Columbo at RT. I think Carey will be more than alright at G (he's always had devasting run blocking ability) and Columbo is known as a very good run blocker... which he's shown at times. But he was also known for getting QB's killed in Dallas last season... and he's shown that ability in preseason as well. lol
Time will tell. Assuming Jake Long (who hasn't played in a single preseason game this year, although he's been practicing with the starters for two weeks) starts on Monday night (very good bet)... the OL will feature four former first round picks. But with the shortened off season... it wouldn't surprise me to see this group struggle somewhat for a few games. I do think once they gel though... this could be a very good line. <-- If Chad Henne survives that long. lol
At WR... Brandon Marshall spent his entire off season (well other than that time he got stabbed by his wife, allegedly. LOL ) working on regaining his speed. He seems to have been very successful in that endeavor.
Devone Bess has been his usual awesome slot receiver self.
Brian "white lightening" Hartline has been showing some ability to get deep, and had a strong preseason (meaningless) coming of his hand injury last year.
Rookie Clyde (Edmond) Gates, has shown off his sub 4.3 speed... and has displayed the ability to get behind opposing safety's in every game he's played this preseason (meaningless).... but rookie WR's are generally a useless lot.
Either Roberto Wallace or Marlon Moore will grab the 5th WR spot (assuming the Dolphins don't keep 6).... Wallace is a Marshall clone, whose still learning to use that big body... while Moore is a speedster.
Anthony Fasano returns at TE... and will be joined by rookie Charles Clay, whose more of an H-back FB/TE type. Clay looks like he can do some damage... if he's able to absorb the 3 to 4 different positions they are asking him to play (should be extremely easy for a rookie don't you think?) lol Beyond that, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Dolphins dump one of their mish-mash backup TE's in favor of a waiver claim this weekend. We'll see.
Anyway... sorry to write a book to your one liner question. But that's why I came... to talk a little about my team.
