Where do the upgraded Dolphins rank now?
I think no one will argue the Dolphins were the NFL's worst team last season. They had the worst record. They had the No. 1 overall pick this year. They fired their coach and general manager after only one season.
They were the worst.
But where are they today?
Although no one has played a game lately, there has been plenty of activity around the NFL since February when the Giants were crowned kings. Coaching changes, free agency, and the draft have changed things in a lot of places.
Well, the changes have been exceedingly kind to the Dolphins if one studies Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback at si.com today. In his NFL rankings, he's got Miami at No. 27. The Dolphins, per King, are better than San Francisco, St. Louis, Oakland, Kansas City, and Atlanta, which he ranks dead last.
I have to disagree.
While I do think the Dolphins have addressed some issues this offseason, I am also quite familiar with the warts. So I don't see how the addition of Jake Long, Chad Henne, Reggie Torbor, Bill Parcells, Phillip Merling and Josh McCown has helped the Dolphins vault past the Raiders.
If you remember the Raiders pretty much handed it to the Dolphins last season. The score was 35-17 but the game wasn't really that close as Oakland so dominated the line of scrimmage that the offense needed only five pass completions to turn the game into a route.
The Raiders have the best CB tandem in the NFL today with DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha. They have a supremely gifted QB about to embark on his first full season in JaMarcus Russell. They just improved their running game with this guy, you may have heard of him, Darren McFadden.
And with a $143 million payroll somehow tucked into the $104 million cap, the front office is not as bereft of imagination as everyone believes.
King has the the Rams rated behind the Dolphins also. Really? Tell me how many Pro Bowls the Miami starting quarterback has been to. For that matter, who is the Miami starting quarterback?
Rams QB Marc Bulger has been to two Pro Bowls. Torry Holt is better than any receiver Miami puts on the field. The defense last year was better than Miami's and it has added Chris Long. And Orlando Pace is said to be on track with his recovery from injury while the addition of guard Jacob Bell promises stability.
Oh yeah, Steven Jackson has been more productive and more durable than Ronnie Brown. So while I don't think the Rams are ready for any sort of playoff run, I don't see how the Dolphins passed them considering the two-game difference between at the end of 2007.
King has Miami ahead of San Francisco also. I guess he believes Miami has picked up five games on San Francisco this offseason. Maybe he thinks the unsettled quarterback situation in SF is a problem. I'm more worried by the unsettled quarterback situation in Miami.
And while I trust Parcells to eventually get that QB situation addressed in Miami, I can also appreciate Mike Martz and his ability to turn OK quarterbacks -- Kurt Warner, Jon Kitna and Bulger come to mind -- into very good quarterbacks.
I do agree the Dolphins have moved past Atlanta and Kansas City, as King notes. Atlanta was the lone team that had a worse season than Miami last year, what with the Mike Vick debacle and the Bobby Petrino in-season departure and the inability to land Parcells.
The Falcons believe they've found their new franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan, the guy the Dolphins passed over. But the Falcons have holes along the OL, DL and in the secondary and Ryan may not play right away. So this team looks worse than Miami.
So does KC. The Chiefs traded away their best player -- something the Dolphins have so far resisted doing with Jason Taylor. And although they got a king's ransom back from Minnesota for Jared Allen, the Chiefs aren't likely to see the fruits of that trade immediately. The rookies selected with the extra picks will have to grow into the NFL game as might first pick Glenn Dorsey.
And talk about quarterback problems. With Brodie Croyle as their answer, KC is one NFL team with a worse quarterback picture than Miami.
So by my reckoning, the Dolphins should be ranked 30th ahead of KC and Atlanta. It is not No. 27 where si.com has them. But at least it ain't last anymore.
Your thoughts?
They were the worst.
But where are they today?
Although no one has played a game lately, there has been plenty of activity around the NFL since February when the Giants were crowned kings. Coaching changes, free agency, and the draft have changed things in a lot of places.
Well, the changes have been exceedingly kind to the Dolphins if one studies Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback at si.com today. In his NFL rankings, he's got Miami at No. 27. The Dolphins, per King, are better than San Francisco, St. Louis, Oakland, Kansas City, and Atlanta, which he ranks dead last.
I have to disagree.
While I do think the Dolphins have addressed some issues this offseason, I am also quite familiar with the warts. So I don't see how the addition of Jake Long, Chad Henne, Reggie Torbor, Bill Parcells, Phillip Merling and Josh McCown has helped the Dolphins vault past the Raiders.
If you remember the Raiders pretty much handed it to the Dolphins last season. The score was 35-17 but the game wasn't really that close as Oakland so dominated the line of scrimmage that the offense needed only five pass completions to turn the game into a route.
The Raiders have the best CB tandem in the NFL today with DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha. They have a supremely gifted QB about to embark on his first full season in JaMarcus Russell. They just improved their running game with this guy, you may have heard of him, Darren McFadden.
And with a $143 million payroll somehow tucked into the $104 million cap, the front office is not as bereft of imagination as everyone believes.
King has the the Rams rated behind the Dolphins also. Really? Tell me how many Pro Bowls the Miami starting quarterback has been to. For that matter, who is the Miami starting quarterback?
Rams QB Marc Bulger has been to two Pro Bowls. Torry Holt is better than any receiver Miami puts on the field. The defense last year was better than Miami's and it has added Chris Long. And Orlando Pace is said to be on track with his recovery from injury while the addition of guard Jacob Bell promises stability.
Oh yeah, Steven Jackson has been more productive and more durable than Ronnie Brown. So while I don't think the Rams are ready for any sort of playoff run, I don't see how the Dolphins passed them considering the two-game difference between at the end of 2007.
King has Miami ahead of San Francisco also. I guess he believes Miami has picked up five games on San Francisco this offseason. Maybe he thinks the unsettled quarterback situation in SF is a problem. I'm more worried by the unsettled quarterback situation in Miami.
And while I trust Parcells to eventually get that QB situation addressed in Miami, I can also appreciate Mike Martz and his ability to turn OK quarterbacks -- Kurt Warner, Jon Kitna and Bulger come to mind -- into very good quarterbacks.
I do agree the Dolphins have moved past Atlanta and Kansas City, as King notes. Atlanta was the lone team that had a worse season than Miami last year, what with the Mike Vick debacle and the Bobby Petrino in-season departure and the inability to land Parcells.
The Falcons believe they've found their new franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan, the guy the Dolphins passed over. But the Falcons have holes along the OL, DL and in the secondary and Ryan may not play right away. So this team looks worse than Miami.
So does KC. The Chiefs traded away their best player -- something the Dolphins have so far resisted doing with Jason Taylor. And although they got a king's ransom back from Minnesota for Jared Allen, the Chiefs aren't likely to see the fruits of that trade immediately. The rookies selected with the extra picks will have to grow into the NFL game as might first pick Glenn Dorsey.
And talk about quarterback problems. With Brodie Croyle as their answer, KC is one NFL team with a worse quarterback picture than Miami.
So by my reckoning, the Dolphins should be ranked 30th ahead of KC and Atlanta. It is not No. 27 where si.com has them. But at least it ain't last anymore.
Your thoughts?
posted by Armando Salguero at 1:46 PM
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How can I possibly be the first poster?
Armando, I don't believe you are respecting the code...
Leave it to our boy here to put a negative spin on everything dolphins wise. If you want to talk symantecs, then that's fine, but until any of these teams hit the field, neither you or anybody else can ranked them anywhere. We don't know what to expect from this team period. Don't underestimate the power of the Trifecta.
I think we're going to the playoffs. Of course, I also believe in UFOs, Santa and the tooth fairy.
We're not talking symantics horse dung. It's a poll sorta thing. It's in fun. Armando gave us his opinion and asks for ours. If your opinion is I don't wanna participate, then go back to surfing porn sites without talking crap.
I think I agree with your assessment. Something that keeps sticking out to me though is just how inept our coaching staff was last season. How many games did we lose by less than a TD? We could arguably have won at least three of those games, with a coin toss of a few more going either way. So if you fast forward to this coming season, the coaching by defaut looks to have been upgraded (getting rid of Dom Capers was a HUGE upgrade, I don't care who you replace him with) and Dan Henning is an upgrade over Mularkey for sure. Even if Sparano struggles out of the gate, you gotta believe that Parcells is at least going to give advice and pointers to his boy. You could argue then that he won't make the mistakes that Cameron made ALL SEASON LONG, thus improving as he goes. Also, the mentality is that Parcells builds winners, and this type of thinking can only help the current Miami players and coaches. What does all that mean? I think the Dolphins have 4-6 wins in them, if not on talent then on sheer will and dumb luck in general. Last season 8 teams finished with 5 wins or fewer. Can we finish better than 6 or 7 teams? I think we can. But are we TODAY better than 6 or 7? Not yet.
We just went from last to No. 30 in the NFL without playing a game. How is that negative?
We did loose several games by three points or less and had injuries out our a??. So you never know. All I know is I never thought we would only win one game last year. I wasn't thinking super bowl, but one win. I think if get average QB play we can win 5 to 7 games this year, if not we may only win 3 or 4. Heres to a new year and new hope.
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Does it really matter how bad a team rates amongst all the other sorry teams???
At this point, I think fans are more focused on whether this franchise is headed in the right direction with the trades, releases, and acquisitions so that the team can play completitive ball and get to the play-offs.
You have to remember that none of those teams added Bill Parcells to their front office.
The Dolphins lost 5 games by 3 points or less. They were close in almost half of their games. Better coaching and motivation can overcome atleast a 5 win improvement.
I would think that if Bill Parcells had been able to get a first-rounder for JT, we would be much better off. From reading your piece Armando and LeRetard's today, I'm thinking he's not going to play for the Dolphins this year.
That makes us worse, not better, particularly since we didn't get anything back for him.
Armando, I do buy your arguments however other posters make a good point that coaching and decision making also cost us a few games. The quarterbacking can't be worse than last year's. Running game will be better by miles and there was some injection into the defense. In short, who the heck knows what will happen.
The dolphins were not the worst team last year based on their record of 1-15 . How many games did they lose by 3? With poor coaching decisions and pooor play calling? How many starters did we lose to injury? Sure when you look at a 1-15 record it bad, but if u watched the games its obvious they werent the worst team overal. Their run defense...sure that was worst overall but the rest was not. I'm sure the same way u downplay chad henne and the rest of the young signed freee agents is the same way dallas fans downplayed the tony romo decisions or even jason whiten. Tuna knows how to look at players. And even if they are ranked 30th according to you there are enough of those 3 point game that we lost last year that we can win this year and not be ranked 30th come the end of the season. You wanted alen Faneca so bad but we got two good young guard on the team, not including smiley, that will do just as well and without the high salary hit. I dont think it woiuld be good to tie up 50 million dollars and the left side of the line with long and faneca. the dolphins are alot better than last year. and most of the lineup was changed and i find it hard to belive that a brand new team and new starters will go 1-15 again. the chances with luck just arent there
Armando,
I don't think PK at SI is making quite the reach you think it is for the following reasons:
a) We could have just as easily won 5 more games last year when you look at the close losses. Terrible play calling and poor, poor physical shape at the beginning of the year cost us the the month of September. Rember JT and Zach arm-tackling the Redskin runners in the first game? That being said, a tougher coach with a realistic conditioning program, and a separate offensive coordinator was called for in the off-season. Mission accomplished.
b)Our special teams screwed us royally last year. From allowing TDs to costing us TDs to poor field position. This year, via free agency, we got a bunch of special teams aces and revamped nearly the whole damn squad. Getting rid of coach Keith Armstrong bumped us up a couple of notches AT LEAST.
c)Our defense was getting old. Well, its a helluva lot younger now.
d)We got a lot bigger on both sides of the ball.
Are there still question marks? Sure. Is this young defense better than last year's old one? Will the rookie O-line perform? Who will step up at QB? Is Ronnie OK? Will Ginn continue to grow as a Number 1? Can Jay Feely EVER kick a touchback? Will the new coaching staff gel under Parcells and how much resistance ( a la' Taylor) will he get from the oldtimer?
Sure, lots of questions, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the once formidable House of Shula. But I like the direction the new construction crew is headed in. But for the record, I liked what Mueller did in last year's draft as well, so what the hell do I know?
Matt in NC
Judging from the manner in which you compared the 'phins to the Raiders, you seem to insist on judging the '08 'phins based on their 2007 performance. 2007 was a complete fiasco. For all intents and purposes there was no real "team" effort; there was no coaching!
The '08 'phins are transitioning from 2007 in much the same way the '04 'phins went into '05. In effect, the '08 'phins are a mirror, and I think, improvement of the '05 season. Here's why. For '08, just like in '05;
- the previous year team was "debacled"
- vet free agents were acquired to shore up defense. It's better in '08 because vet FA's are young!
- the OL is new but, for
'08 no one is complaining about the OL's potential nearly as much as in '05,
- the QB situation is still in transition. No real drop and no real improvement as of yet.
- Coaching has gone through a complete makeover. And just like in '05, the '08 staff is strong with Pasqualoni as strong as Saban on defense and Henning and Maser getting the edge over Linehan and Houch mainly because of Maser and Henning's immense success with the running game when they were in Jax.
Given the symmetry of activity between the two seasons (with '08 looking to have the advantage due to coaching and OL expectations) and the fact that in '05 the 'phins won 9 games with Frerotte at QB, I have to agree with King on his assessment. Additionally, R. Brown and R. Williams had great seasons on '05 with what everyone had said was going to be a poor OL. What will they do in '08 with many expecting great things from the OL? I think they'll be a rushing machine!
And I'll add that I think the '08'phins are even better than King says. 10-6 in '08!
You can't play the bad coaching or how many games lost by 3 points game because in the NFL, 72 percent of games are decided by 7 points or less. So you have to figure the other teams we're supposed to be passing also had close games they lost. I know St. Louis had a bunch and so did Atlanta and KC. So forget that part.
Stick to the argument. Are the Dolphins better than those teams PK said or just the ones Armando said.
...Or neither.
And by the way, Tony Romo took three years to develop so he played no factor in making the Cowboys better the year he was drafted.
i agree that kc and atl and even maybe oak....but i dont see how we are better than the high poweed offense of stl and the stout d and running game of sf. That alex smith sure does suck tho.Jamarcus will have to prove he can move that offense for oak an besides there cb'c the rest of D sucks too.
Q. What did the guy say to the other guy standing in the gay bar?
A. Mind if I push in your stool?
So I don't see how the addition of Jake Long, Chad Henne, Reggie Torbor, Bill Parcells, Phillip Merling and Josh McCown has helped the Dolphins vault past the Raiders.
You left out some valuable players. What about Ferguson, Ayodele, Charlie Anderson, Wilford, Fasano, Randy Starks and Crocker? There are probably three starters out of this group that you fail to mention. This team will be better from top to bottom. The main question is still at QB. You are way too negative.
'Mando-I agree with you. The sky is falling!! In reality, Fins went from bad to worse when they failed to sign Faneca & Hall.
Oakland has gotten better, but Russell hasn't done any more in the NFL than Henne and if Ronnie comes back strong then there's little difference between the two teams. I have to agree that the Rams shouldn't be THAT bad, with Bulger-Jackson-Holt-Pace, and so I don't get Miami being above them. KC and the ATL are both in deep trouble. I don't see what SF has over Miami.. no defense, muddled QBs, banged up RB, no offense. I'd put the Rams above Miami and rate the Fish 28 (with a bullet--rising!).
Hey, the Raiders put 35 points on the board against us, but we got Bill Parcells so we're going to the Super Bowl. Weeeeeeeee!
People, we're fans, but we should not be stupid.
Good debate, Mando ... Fun stuff.
30th or 27th?????? What's the difference? That's like saying, "I'm the tallest midget in the circus."
The talent level in the NFL is so tight it comes down to coaching, motivation and a few exceptional players that determine whether a team will be good or bad. With those 3 factors in mind, I think last year's disaster can be traced almost directly back to Cam Cameron and his high brow coaching style. With the infamous "fail forward fast" and the selection of Ted Ginn, I believe Cameron never was able to muster his troops. Couple that with his propensity for making bone head decisions and what you get is a poorly coached unmotivated team.
I think those issues were solved with Parcells and the boys. The team will be well coached and highly motivated. So what it comes down to is whether a great player or three will rise from the ashes. Namely that player needs to come from the QB position. Look at Cleveland and Derick Anderson, before Anderson the Browns were mediocre, now they are everyone's darling.
I don't think we have any less talent than other NFL teams, but now with the new staff we are only missing a game breaking player or 2. The teams that come out on top of those 72% 7 point games (nice stat BTW) are the teams with a QB who refuses to lose. If that guy steps forward the Dolphins might surprise a lot of people.
Now is not the time for bold predictions but if Beck gels or Henne turns out to be special we could be a lot better than people think including Peter King and, I guess, Armando...
I interrupt the comments, a couple of which are intelligent, to provide a news update.
The Dolphins today signed cornerback Scorpio Babers and linebacker Keith Saunders, both of whom attended this weekend's minicamp on a tryout basis.
The team waived defensive lineman Derreck Robinson, linebacker Abraham Wright, cornerback Aaron Lane and wide receiver Marcel Reece. Both Robinson and Wright were with the club last year, while Lane and Reece were signed as undrafted rookie free agents last Thursday.
Remember we get the following back:
1) Yeremiah Bell (hurt in the first game) ... it was supposed to be his coming out party!
2) Ricky and Ronnie - Both missed lots of time, but when they were both playing, we won 9 games that year, and barely missed a playoff berth
3) A rebuilt offensive line with additions of Smiley and Long. Carey moving over to the right side, and Satele getting another year under his belt
4) Tedd Ginn and John Beck getting a year of experience
5) And most importantly, a coach that knows what he's doing. Cam Cameron was a joke, and the players knew it.
If you have looked at the schedule, the fins should win 7 games next year, and I will be happy with that!!
Mando,
I agree the Fins are as bad as you say they are. But if you rank the teams based on projected wins and losses, the Fins are right around where King put them.... Why?
They have an easy schedule.
I completely agree. The Dolphins are in major rebuilding mode right now and the fact that they look better (on paper) than two other teams is amazing to me. It's going to be a process so there is no sense in getting our hopes up when we have questions at QB,FB,RB,WR,LG,TE,ILB,CB, and FS. I think we all know we will be better in the special teams dept. but that is all we can count on until after we see these guys play. Unless we have some REAL good luck come our way, the Phins wont be back in the playoffs until 2010. NYScott
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To the poster who said we can't use the "close game" defense, Mr. anonymous (hey, I think I know that guy!), your post is good, but it confirms what I said earlier. Yes this is a talented league where many teams lose close games. I totally agree. The point to that is simply that coaching matters, and the coaching staff from last season simply had no clue how to manage a game. As others have pointed out, Special teams cost us dearly as did many, many late game decisions by Cam and his staff. Now that we appear to have upgraded staff wise, those three point losses should swing our way some. And the difference between 30th and ??? is important to fans who have been looking for a bright future for a long time....
I wonder if Peter King wastes his time, and his readers' times, by having them debate the merits of an Armando article or blog? I would suspect not.
Armando,
I agree that in 2008 we are a bottom 5 team. They will ultimately trade "girlie dancing man" JT before the trade deadline, which will hurt them in the short term.
However,they need more high draft picks to complete the rebuilding process. Let's just hope that one of the QBs develops so we do not have to take another QB in the 1st or 2nd round!
I cant believe they let go of A. Wright. Does anyone know if he's still injured? The team was raving about this kid last year and even Taylor and Holliday said it looked like he was going to be good. Kind of confused on this one. NYScott
Noone seems to take into account the numerous games that dolphins only lost by 10 or less last year. That was with many injuries, and terrible coaching. Now with a completely healed roster, and hopefully good coach, a few bigger and better bodies, and a quarterback that has a year more experience, theres a fair chance we win 3 or 4 more of those games. I remember reading an article that used a formula based on the points that we have scored, points gaven up, and how close the games were, showed that there was a very very low percentage of us going defeated. Actually 4 or 5 teams scored that they should of actually been doing worse then us. It seemed to me at the end of the game, we always found a way to lose it. I also believe we had the worst 3rd down % defense in the NFL... If we can improve that percentage a little. That could also booster our team by a lot
I think that you are reacting more to your own 10-6 predictions of last year than to reality.
Honestly picking the 6 or 7 worst teams in the NFL is really splitting hairs. You are talking about the difference between sucking (which all of those teams do) and totally sucking (which is what 1-15 is).
Regardless, your post fails to mention the many other good things that the Dolphins have in place: Ronnie Brown, Yeremiah Bell, Samson Satele, etc.
So while I, for one, have no illusions about 2008, I also don't think that they will rank 29th of 32 by the end of the 08 season.
I think that you are reacting more to your own 10-6 predictions of last year than to reality.
Honestly picking the 6 or 7 worst teams in the NFL is really splitting hairs. You are talking about the difference between sucking (which all of those teams do) and totally sucking (which is what 1-15 is).
Regardless, your post fails to mention the many other good things that the Dolphins have in place: Ronnie Brown, Yeremiah Bell, Samson Satele, etc.
So while I, for one, have no illusions about 2008, I also don't think that they will rank 29th of 32 by the end of the 08 season.
Actually, I read Armando's stuff all the time. I think him to be a fine journalist that I have respected for many years.
His work on the Jason Taylor story has been outstanding.
I got a boner reading this blog. Thank you.
I really believe there's some improvement and a lot of work ahead, but let's see it.
The OL with Long, Smiley and Murphy or Mormino (plus Carey and Satele in his 2nd year) is a lot better, the DL with fergusson, starks (baking him up) and merling plus holliday is also a lot better.
LB are okey Torbor or anderson, crowder, JT and Porter.
RB are good with ronnie and ricky and a good FB competition.
QB is an issue now but will be settled by the second half of the season.
TE, martin can be the 2nd or 3rd TE (if not realesed), so we're better, I don't think fasano is a great TE but it's a big improvement
The secondary and wide receivers are a big issue. We have a lots of backups in the secondary but starters Will allen and maybe Jason allen or bell (if healthy) and receivers only 2 decent guys (Ginn and wilford).
But as a whole there's a lot of improvement, next year will be needing to draft or get from free agency WR, CB a safety and an OLB to replace JT, which I think is doable.
It also requires to analyze all the teams but I think we're between 30 to 25, winning 5 to 6 games this year.
Manuel
Salguero I believe you're underestimating our draft, free agents and college free agents pick ups, and the potential of this new regime, and it is not about "semantics". My take is we'll be better than 27 at the ende of the season. Will see.
Armando, How do you still have a job? I normally ignore the bashing you receive for being so negative, but this is getting out of hand. It is another writer opinion and all you can do is bash it and drive the dolphins into the ground.
No wonder why there is no name reporter on ESPN from the Herald all the time. You have no journalistic talent.
there is no way you can compare this team to last years team....this team will end up with a roster 60% deferent from last year. Its hard to predict what will happend but i think they are much improved from last year. I am also sure that this staff could have won at least 4 games last year with the same team, so based on that and the fact that this is a hole new team I said we could win up to 10 games this year with a little luck and faith...les go Phins lets show them that we are for real again...Andy P
You know what Armando, go cover some other team, you're a disgrace for the dolphins fans. I used to respect your work a LOT, but recently you just became just a "vieja chismosa". I don't understand how come you turn everything into a soap opera and drama. C'mon!! u're a beat writer not some TMZ writer.
And let me tell you: if you were that good as u think u are, u should be writing where Cole or Marvaez are.
Ohh and btw, as I know that u can stand for a critic, I'll go blow it on my ass myself, because that's what u always say when u lose your nerve... so unprofessional.
And I'm not saying this because of this post, I'm saying it for your posts of last 10 months.
Vaya con Dios amigo y madure compadre.
Totally agree with you Armando. I think the Dolphins have improved somewhat as you state. But there is much more to be done.
Shaun
"Vaya con Dios amigo y madure compadre.."
Speak freakin' English you foriegn turd. This Dolphins blog is written in English. Read in English. Quit trying to hijack it back to Puerto Rico or wherever.
Hey Salguero, do us NY fans a favor and tell your Fish fans that their team is going to be great. That way when the Jets kick their ass in September it will come as a complete and utter shock.
Of course when you go 1 and 15 it can only get better! Don't expect too much however!
Certainly there must be something more worthy of discussing than whether the fins are now 27th or 30th. Meandering on that is like discussing a 2010 mock draft. I'd like to more investigative journalism and less debate on useless topics that can not be assessed by any measure.
my comment to this piece by Salguero is, exactly!
I think both are predictions. No one can possible know the ranks. I think King may be taking into consideration coaching changes and our new players. I don’t think pro bowl players necessarily equal wins either. Who knows, it’s all talk. And no offense Armando but your post do usually tend to be negative no matter what the topic.
As long as the 'Fins beat the Jets, the season will be a success!!!
Fins ain't beating no Jets. Fins ain't beating anyone in the division this year, but they're used to that so no biggie.
You can't compare last year's team to what we'll see in 2008 because they'll likely be a 66% change of personnel in 2008.
By this time next year they'll likley be only 6 players left from the 2007 team that will play in the 2009 season.
It's the actions taken in 2008 and 2009 that will determine when the Fins will be a playoff team agin.
I don't see how the addition of Jake Long, Chad Henne, Reggie Torbor, Bill Parcells, Phillip Merling and Josh McCown has helped the Dolphins vault past the Raiders.
You left out some valuable players. What about Ferguson, Ayodele, Charlie Anderson, Wilford, Fasano, Randy Starks and Crocker? There are probably three starters out of this group that you fail to mention. This team will be better from top to bottom. The main question is still at QB. You are way too negative.
--------------------------------
I whole heartedly agree. And Armando's made it clear he isn't expecting anything out of Chad Henne. He's said nothing positive about his workouts all weekend long.
I'm not going to rebut the blog point by point...that's fruitless. I'll just say that this is a TEAM SPORT, and it's about putting the right guys in the right spots. No team has all superstars. So it's childish to say..oh look their QB is better than ours! We're losers! Come on, learn what football is about.
By the way, did you notice that he threw Bill Parcells' name in that list? That says a lot. Maybe Armando's still mad he can't live blog. All I can say is no wonder Bill's not talking to the media. I wouldn't either.
Todays additions cb scorpio babers 4.3 40 and lb keith saunders. Deletions derrick robinson, last yr colo lb draftee abraham wright purdue cb lane and dropped passes wash wr marcell reese. What this tells me the fins now know how to evaluate talent under parcells and miss jason taylor can now dance with denzel washinton if he retires.Fins will possibly be better then oakland, denver,kansas city, bills, jets,tennessee,tampa bay,baltimore,bears, vikings,arizona, and redskins. My reasoning is the dolphins off line will be much better and the deletion of zach thomas makes the fins defense more physical. i think john beck will be a successful qb this year throwing to new receivers minus drops hagans. i think 8 and 8 a possibility.
Why the Heck does the Miami Herald continue to allow this dead beat writer of no better words than negative words towards Miami Dolphins who he clearly doesn't support and isn't all the dolphins are a miami team, write in this column. if he isn't a player not shut up and encourage instead of discriminate. It really sames he is a cry baby. maybe the teams ought to make these writers take a week in those coaches and manangers seat and put them to the test and see if there ways turns out any better, i bet there will be alot of failures. so until you can put up then shut- up Amando.
The teams i mentioned in my earlier blog all have questionable qbs.I hope this years fins will be motivared as theirs a blow torch being held by bill parcells up their ass if they screw up. Just watch mr parcells on nfl films when he gets disspleased with a players performance and effort.
Mando,
Sorry bout I respect you as a writer, but I will take Peter King view point before your's. Sorry.
Its amazing Mando, how you can sit here and NOW say that the fins are terrible (AFTER THE FACT), when you predicted they were going to go 10-6 last years. lolol.
You are starting to become somewhat of a fraud, if you ask me.
So what made you think they were going to become 10-6 again?? Did to think ginn's family was going to shine under cam's offence.
Peter King is right on point with his prediction's, the raider's have ALOT of names, but that does not win you nothing (A.K.A REDSKINS). They have QB QUESTION'S MARKS, just like the fins.
The fins have parcells and the raider's have Al Davis (ADVENTAGE FINS!!)
But Mando, you were real postive last year on the fins and they went 1-15. Plz continue to be negative this year and the fins may indeed go 10-6 like you said last year.
Armando, jamarcus russell isnt the brightest bulb and whose your daddy mcfadden will be a distraction , combined with whose the coach makes the raiders a dismal mess.
Mando, I would listen to Peter King long before I would listen to you. Omar at the Sun Sentinel is a better writer than you. I really believe that deep down inside you are a jets fan. Why wouldnt the Phins want a media "blackout" with hometown writers like you. Pathetic
Mando---looks like LeRetard has gotten out in front of you in the stoking-the-Jason-Taylor-crisis racket. It must be a real drag trying to get increased notoriety by dooming-and-glooming the fins & stirring up every minor contretemps into the apocalypse, and then watching Lebbie get the pub. Ah well . . . there's always a Peter King article to trash, or a minor front office gaffe to exploit.
nyscott---I don't recall anyone sincerely raving about Wright. I do recall the Camoron/Mulewhore regime TRYING to hype Wright because he was the 7 in the 2 & 7 we got as a result of the idiotic firesale of Wes Welker. And please don't tell me how great Satele (the "2" in that deal) is - - I agree he's fine (but not yet great), and has potential, but his value to the franchise is not the equal of Welker's.
Why is this news? We have a better team in this city and we're talking about them?? Wow!! Now I know why they don't call this city a sports town.
The Phins suck butt until they win. It doesn't matter who you sign or who you draft. You have to win, win and then win some more. We have one win from last season. That makes us ass-toast until we win more than another team.
Paper/Internet rankings don't mean squat except using it to wipe your butt.
The Off-Season is for conjectures.
Mando,
Sorry bout I respect you as a writer, but I will take Peter King view point before your's. Sorry.
Its amazing Mando, how you can sit here and NOW say that the fins are terrible (AFTER THE FACT), when you predicted they were going to go 10-6 last years. lolol.
You are starting to become somewhat of a fraud, if you ask me.
So what made you think they were going to become 10-6 again?? Did to think ginn's family was going to shine under cam's offence.
Peter King is right on point with his prediction's, the raider's have ALOT of names, but that does not win you nothing (A.K.A REDSKINS). They have QB QUESTION'S MARKS, just like the fins.
The fins have parcells and the raider's have Al Davis (ADVENTAGE FINS!!)
But Mando, you were real postive last year on the fins and they went 1-15. Plz continue to be negative this year and the fins may indeed go 10-6 like you said last year.
former fins def tackle steve fifita signed by new england.
Bottom line is we have a bad football team. I love our team, but it stinks. Whats fun is knowing 5 years from now, when we are playing in the super bowl for the 2nd time in a row and New England is 2-14, we will be the ones posting on their message boards for 5 or 6 years while they struggle with an aging roster, lack of depth and a head coaching search for the third time in three seasons. Its all cyclical. We had a good run as the most winningest team in the history of the sport. Wannsteadt expedited our fall, but it was going to happen once Marino stopped carrying the offense. We had to redefine the team and I think you see it happening.
I read some of these comments and understand why people think Dolphins fans are idiots.
One guy thinks Salguero is not smart because he thinks quarterbacks are important. Well, quarterbacks are important.
Then there is the whole, "you're not rooting for us," whining. He's a writer, not a cheerleader morons.
And after you get pissed he's not rooting for you now, why are you pissed he picked the team to go 10-6 last year? Can't have it both ways.
I'm out.
I love Omar. Read his blog, please, because I like him and I'm intimidated by Armando.
I'm thrilled Armando and Peter King think we've improved from being the worst team in the NFL last year considering we didn't do crap in free agency.
Fifita will haunt the Dolphins. Parcell's latest blunder - he'll rue the day he let Fifita go. Start Scott Mitchell.
Yeah Bro, Fifita's going to dominate the NFL. Let's put him in the pro bowl right now. You guys with the Patriots can't do no wrong kill me. They got lucky & found a QB. We did that once with Marino & had a shot every year. Look at the Patriots draft last year. It was horrible. Look at it this year. It looks to be the same.
Yeah Bro, Fifita's going to dominate the NFL. Let's put him in the pro bowl right now. You guys with the Patriots can't do no wrong kill me. They got lucky & found a QB. We did that once with Marino & had a shot every year. Look at the Patriots draft last year. It was horrible. Look at it this year. It looks to be the same.
Patriots draft 2007
1 24 Brandon Meriweather DB Miami (Fla.)
4 127 Kareem Brown DT Miami (Fla.)
5 171 Clint Oldenburg T Colorado State
6 180 Justin Rogers LB Southern Methodist
6 202 Mike Richardson DB Notre Dame
6 208 Justise Hairston RB Central Connecticut State
6 209 Corey Hilliard OT Oklahoma State
7 211 Oscar Lua LB USC
7 247 Mike Elgin G Iowa
hctfeyrPatriots Draft 2006
Rd Sel # Player Position School
1 21 Laurence Maroney RB Minnesota
2 36 Chad Jackson WR Florida
3 86 David Thomas TE Texas
4 106 Garrett Mills RB Tulsa
4 118 Stephen Gostkowski K Memphis
5 136 Ryan O'Callaghan T California
6 191 Jeremy Mincey LB Florida
6 205 Dan Stevenson G Notre Dame
6 206 Le Kevin Smith DT Nebraska
7 229 Willie Andrews CB Baylor
Bill Belli is a g-d among men, The Anointed One, the Coach That Surpasseth All Understanding. Bow down before your Lord & Master. 18-1. The Cozmic Abides.
They can just do no wrong. They just know how to draft players...... Yeah, right!!!!! I think they may have hired Rick Spielman for his advice.
Patriots 2008 Draft
2008 - New England Patriots
Rd Sel # Player Position School
1 10 Jerod Mayo OLB Tennessee
2 62 Terrence Wheatley CB Colorado
3 78 Shawn Crable OLB Michigan
3 94 Kevin O'Connell QB San Diego State
4 129 Jonathan Wilhite CB Auburn
5 153 Matt Slater WR UCLA
6 197 Bo Ruud LB Nebraska
Parcells envies Paoli so greatly that he arranged his daughter's marriage to him after the Pats 2000 draft!
Hey, I think that they will be better than 1-15. No where to go but up.
Comparing the bottom feeders is a waste of time because Parcells won't plan on being there. They are going to wear teams out. The start will be slow but the size of this team is going to make it tougher on the opposition. They will run the ball a lot. Schedule doesn't appear too crazy, so why not say 5 or 6 wins.
I will go out on a limb and say they will still suck and come in at 23rd.
Kevin in Halifax
armando how many players from last yrs team are no longer dolphins? how many new faces do u think will be on the team im thinking matt roth and paul solari could be gone too.
Remember that we also have the entire Ted Ginn family that Cam drafted last year...JT will dance all way to the playoffs.
Rick
Miami gets 10 wins....minimum!
miami lost 6 games last year by 3 points or less. they were more competitive than their record shows. a major problem with the team was motivation and conditioning, aside from the lack of good coaching, which will all be addressed this year. this alone will account for 3 or 4 wins.
I don't think its unreasonable to predict 6-7 wins THIS year. if the QB situation some around, we could bump that up to 8-9 wins, but that's a big 'if'.
this season should be better. we lost so many starters due to injuries lat season. I feel this coaching staff is more experienced at what players need to do to be conditioned so injuries will be at a min. How many games would we of won if we had our starters in there. Yes, there will be a huge improvment this year, we may not 7 games, but we will be in contention.
I hate that Cheatriot bootlicker Peter King. His dreck is downright unreadable.
Armando your so wrong ! Yeah Miami was terrible last year but keep in mind all the injuries and close games they had. With a healthy team and new coaching staff Miami will win quite of few games. The addressed alot of needs and that offensive line looks much better than last year so the Qb should do alot better and as for the defense. Well they look strong. I predict Miami will go 9-7......Copy, write, take a picture of it quote me ...I dont care....but at the end of next season you will see.!!!!!
The biggest change for Miami has been the coaching and front office. The coaching last year was down right awful. That change alone will net the Dolphins 3 or 4 wins. With some added talent and the biggest factor in all of sports, luck, Miami might approach 7 wins this year. I like King's rankings. I am sure there are some teams ranked higher than Miami that will have an unexpected free fall this year. Remember two years ago, Miami was predicted to go to the Superbowl by SI. Since then, they are 7-25. Baltimore went from 13-3 to 5-11. New England is one injury to Tom Brady away from an 8-8 season.
wow, I didn't want to have to go here but....here goes!
I agree that the fins will be better this year than last year (or at least that is my hope) but here is where I take issue with many of the posters, many assume that we have improved our coaching staff, now, that's all well and good, I too, hope that we have improved in that area. but you say that our coaching was terrible last year, you claim that we lost several close games because of poor coaching decisions. The reality of our situation was this. We had a rookie HC last year by the name of Cam Cameron. The guy was an offensive wizard by several valid accounts. There is no guarantee that our newest rookie HC will not suffer from some of the same green, naive, mental lapses that the previous coach did.
"oh, But Antonio you forget that this Rookie Head Coach has BP helping him out."
Got more news for you, BP wont be on the sideline at game time. The mistakes may already be made and game lost before BP comes along with instruction. I mean really, We are dealing with an OL Coach, remember! Not saying that is a bad thing, but you cant claim that we have gotten better at the coaching positions. The team sucked last year due to mistakes and misfortune. Dare I say, that there is a greater chance that we repeat many of the mistakes that Cam wouldn't make again as a veteran coach. and that there is still the very real possibility that a number of our starting players get injured. not wishing it, just saying it could happen.
Forgive the blasphemies my fellow Dolphin fans.
Mondo,
Maybe you missed it...but we lost our starting qb, ss, mlb, rb, fs, wr, 4 backup safeties, and 2 backup RB's to injury or trade at various points of the season. All of this in the maiden voyage of a rookie head coach and a new offense. Do you really think that those were non-factors in our record? Ronnie Brown was among the league leaders in YFS when he went down and that was done without an experienced qb to keep the other teams honest.
Cook up that crap sandwich and feed it to any other NFL team and I bet you get the same vomit.
Armando, the most significant upgrade the Dolphins will enjoy next season is the return of Ronnie and Ricky...had they played all 2007 we would hardly be talking about the infamous 1-15...about couching staff, what can I say??
I agree. QB situation is a MAJOR concern. The defense will be better by default, from what we saw with Capers. I also believe that our special teams will be much better. Offense will struggle as it has last year.
The only team worse than the Fins, IMO, is Atlanta. No one else.
JaMarcus Russell? Culpepper talent with the head of Ryan Leaf.
He might have had a shot if he'd been drafted by a team other than the stinky Raiders.
I lost you at "They have a supremely gifted QB about to embark on his first full season in JaMarcus Russell." Russell has proven nothing yet and if he is the flop I think he'll be he will set the Raiders back even more due to his contract.
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