Club Comp of the 3rd Qtr!

I'll be interested to see the responses to this question. It is a good topic for those willing to put in the effort to answer it.

 

I remember entering one of these and it was fun. It was also how I got started in Club with a taste of it - which is more addictive than crack by the way.

Fun memories for me.

If you have an opinion, you should be doing this.

 

It's definitely a broader question than the one I answered but no less difficult and still a great topic. Hopefully more than one guy shows up unlike last time (not that I'm complaining about winning by default ). This is a great opportunity. I'm still enjoying my Club Comp prize and I'm sure the lucky winner will too. Props to you guys for holding another contest.

 

Definitely worth the time imo. Club Level is great. Soo many intelligent minds that many unfortunately don't get to hear or read lol. Guys like Shouright, Da' Fins, Pink_Dove, ck, Boomer and so many others are there and its great to read their stuff. I learned a lot.

Once my CL runs out, hopefully my parents are willing to pay for another year. If not, I'm entering this the first chance I get lol.

 

I know that always been your problem - not being able to get your opinion out.

 

I wish I had the football knowledge to do this. Best of luck to those that enter !

I can't wait to read the essays

 

I'd like to add, this is a real reason to be a Club member, average Joe's like myself get to read interesting musings from much more knowledgeable football minds than myself. I love the game, but never have played (except pee-wee ball in the 3rd grade) and its things like this that make every penny I spend worth it.

Good going FFIC and the rest of the staff in offering this contest

 

So if you already have a club membership I'm guessing you can't enter in hope of getting a free year when you are due to pay again (ie when my renewal time arrives I would be awarded with another free year)?

 

Wow. 11 replies and no essays.

What's up with these slackers? Hopefully everyone is taking their time writing some nice essays.

 

It was worth a shot.

 

Even if it's by default.

 

lucky

 

Thanks for clumping all of us together in that little statement. I take great offense.

Don't tell me that all a non-club level person has to do is post a smiley in this thread to win. Come on people!

 

my essay: i win

 

lol its okay i have a money order im going to send tomorrow

 

The Biggest Problem with the Miamie Dolphins is...

What is the biggest problem on the team, coaching, secondary, wr, offensive line, or line backing corps.

I will start out by saying "I don't see the games." I live in TN and don't have NFL network. So I can not intelligently comment on individual players. I come to all my opinions based on what I read in these forums from the excellent post games writes, game day threads, and the various highlight shows, internet sites. It really sucks not seeing the games but in a way, based on the last couple of years, it has probably saved me a stroke/heart attack or two. Anyway, on to the question at hand.

Each part has played a role in obtaining our current 0-2 record. To determine the biggest problem each one would have to be looked at in and of itself. Then you must determine which one is bigger based on how each one can be solved. Then determine which one is the hardest to solve and which one is most important for success (they might not be the same problem).

COACHING: This is the first area on the list and I think the one that may/or may not be a problem the verdict is still out on them. The coaching staff is new and many are knowledgeable "football guys" and some are filling positions they have not done before. Even the ones that are doing the same job they had last year, its with a different team, different set of personnel with different strengths and weaknessess. Things that worked in other places wont work here. (See the responce after the Miami game of "We have scored alot of Touchdowns with that play" by coach Sparano). The one feeling I get from this regime is the same feeling I want from the rest of the team. They are continueing trying things. We may or may not agree with some of the personnel moves, one and off the team, depth chart changes and game day inactives, but they are making moves and as long as we don't perform, they will continue to do this. I think they will hit on a formula this year. I think this "problem" is solved they will get this turned around. How soon is my only question.

SECONDARY: Well documented problem that was not seriously addressed during the off season. There is a serious lack of talent here. I think the staff really thought we were better then we are, maybe because they were practicing against such an apparently inept WR corps and lackluster QB play. This unit has been plague by mental errors, a coaching scheme that somehow put a LB on a deep threat Probowl WR, and lets face it a squad lacking in talent. This unit requires better play from each individual as a squad, and better play from the other units on the defense to be servicable at best. The coaches need to design and call defensive schemes that play to our strengths and provides overlap coverage to our weakness. While I believe improvement will happen this year, I don't think we are talented enough here and its is definately something that must and will be addressed in the offseason. Not going to get fixed this year.

WR CORPS: This one confuses me the most. Before Pennington came, I actually was feeling good about this group and thought it might be a real surprise this year. We read reports of how "fast" Ginn was playing. Hagan was "catching everything". Bess was "something special". Were these reports due to the fact that our Secondary was pretty bad but we didn't know it? Thats what I think. When Pennington came over I thought this unit would be very solid with a very accurate QB thowing them the ball. Maybe the "timing" thing is a problem. But to me they have been with Pennington long enough for timing to at least be pretty solid. Perhaps they just need 1 more second from the O-line to get open, perhaps a weak running game and playing from behind spells doom to this unit. Perhaps something else. The thing that really jumps out to me is, we have no #1 WR. Ginn may one day be very good, or he may be a bust, but he will never, IMO, be a #1 WR. He can be a very good #2 guy/slot WR. Wilford just boggles my mind. Hagan and Carmillo show promise and are young but I don't think they will ever scare defenses. Bess seems to be very exciting and someone who could be a gem found by this regime. This unit as a whole needs a #1 guy and I don't think he is here yet. Not going to get fixed this year.

OFFENSIVE LINE: This unit probably has the personnel in place to be very good. There are concerns here no doubt, but I think the biggest concern with this unit is depth. I think Long will be shakey early, solid very soon, and talked about quite a bit in the future as an All Pro Tackle. Carey, has been our best player on this unit and should be a high priority to resign. I think he has earned his payday. Satele seems to be stuggling this year and might not be the answer at center. But its only his second year. His problems stem from our guard play. This is the position that worries me the most. This, as a unit, requires more teamwork then any unit on the field. Its requires a well coordinated group of individual assignments that change, not only on each play, but during the development of the play itself. Cohesivness of this effectiveness comes with continuity of personell and time and that is what it is going to take. My biggest concern with this unit is thier inability to do the one thing we must do to be successfull. Run the football. While run blocking still requires them to operate as a unit, the assignments a easier to identify. They still need to recognize blitzes and such, but pretty much you go try and knock one of thier guys on thier keester. But overall I think this unit, with some depth, can be very good. The one thing I do know. For us to be successfull this unit must get better. We have to run the ball, that the kind of football this staff wants to play. A good running game sets up play action passes, the kind where Ginn on a double move can get deep. When we playaction or just drop back this unit pass block better. 1 second is a long time in the unfolding of a pass play in the NFL. Perhaps thats all our WR's need. Might be fixed this year.

LINE BACKING CORPS: I don't know if this unit is a problem yet or not. I normally look at the linebackers as middle management. They are responsible for so much that they have to do a little of both things. Stop the run, and stop the pass. While this is done by both the other units, the secondary is primarily out there to stop the pass plays, and the Defensive line is there to occupy space and stop the run. The linebackers are much more 50/50. If they can fill the gaps and stop the run we don't need to have our safeties up in run support. If they can blitze effectively and put pressure on the QB good things can happen. I really thought Porter was going to have a top notch year. I also thought Crowder would step up. I think there is talent here but these 2 guys need to step up or they won't be Phins next year. Crowder is on the shakiest ground being in his contract year, but I also think this FO would cut thier losses with Porter with no problem if he doesn't really earn his pay this year. So far he hasn't. The good news is some of the other players in this unit show promise. Roth has surprised me and I think he loves his new role and will only get better. Langford and Merling has shown promise. I think this unit definately gets influxed with new personnel in the off season, but overall I think we are in better shape here then Secondary or WR. Verdict: Might be pretty good this year, but will need tweeking during the off season. How much will be determined by how they grow together this year.
So which one is the biggest one?

Well is the biggest one the one that has the least talent, thus harder to solve right now, and requires a more long term solution? I put Secondary and WR in this group. They will not be much better until we upgrade the talent here. That will take another FA/Draft period to do.

Does the biggest problem come from the top and instead of getting better with time the coaches just aren't good?

I think the Linebacking Corps is still such an unknown that while they are a problem, I think we have the pieces in place if Porter and Crowder step up. If they don't, the youth here and another off season and we can be very good here quickly.

Or is the biggest one offensive line. Another unknown but I think the talent is here and we just need to work on solid depth.

I think the easy answer is either the one we lack true playmaking NFL talent thus will take longer to fix (secondary/WR).
But IMO the biggest problem of the Miami Dolphins is the one that must be fixed before we can have success........

The most important unit on any team. The offensive line. For any team to be successfull you have to move the ball. You have to keep your defense fresh, get thiers tired, and put up SOME points. Do do any of these the Offensive line must perform. The good news is, I think all this unit needs is time. They will get better and the Miami Dolphins will be successfull. Hopefully very soon.

My prediction is we come out of the bye week a much better football team. Normally I hate early bye weeks on our schedule but I think thats what this team needs.