What the hell has happened to this franchise? Can it get any worse? I really thought we had found our long term replacement at the coaching position, but once again we sit here 0-2, 2 game back in the AFCE with everyone else 2-0... 0-2 in the AFC as well... Can anyone make sense of this? It can't just be Sparano, can it? I really don't have much to add to this thread, because honestly, I am at the point of confusion.. Or am I just numb? Maybe I don't care anymore? "Why not us"? Just a tease... "Why us" is really starting to frustrate me and I can't grasp how a franchise can be so inept for so long... If it wasn't for Pennington I don't think I could sustain myself anymore on a Dolphin diet.. What gives?
Coaching is really important in the NFL, so yes a lot of it can be Sparano. Ireland hasn't done an amazing job either.
Wildcat is no more. Henne is not as accurate as Pennington. The schedule was incredibly easy in 2008, and we got the assist from Brady getting hurt to Favre choking. 2008 is an anomaly. There's talent on the team...so it's not like they have to start from scratch, but there will be some big changes.
I know what you mean. I will continue to watch, but its just hard to care. I hope Henne is alright, I thought he looked out of it on the last drive.
We just played 2 of the elite 4 teams in the AFC, a category we clearly do not belong to. We missed 2 easy FGs. something you can't do vs a really good offense like Houston. We make those 2 FGs and the game's a lot closer and maybe turns out differently.
And if my sister had balls she'd be my brother. This team is like a dog chasing its tail. Not enough players seeing their games mature. The offensive line is in a constant state of flux. Everytime they think they've plugged a leak another springs up, or the mighty putty doesn't turn out to be so mighty.
seems like the dolphins draft talent but the talent never grows or matures it stays the same or gets worse.
I don't think you can underestimate how much of a difference good coaching makes. This Miami team is arguably the most talented they've had since 2002 to give you an idea.
Boy, how much does THAT sound like something we could have read about a half a dozen or so times back in 2007.
Agree, this is why we should call him Sparanstedt. Except Dave Wannstedt is currently ahead of the Dolphins in the standing as the Bills Assistant Coach. After kicking that Field Goal to make it 16-13, I knew the Texans were going to score, I called it. You don't kick FGs and beat a team like that. A touchdown maybe would've given the Dolphins momentum they needed, besides the lead. But the Field Goal was a win for the Texans defense. Anytime you have to kick a Field Goal from the goal line or in the red zone, it's usually a win for the defense. The Texans offense finished the job. The writing was on the wall.
I have had zero confidence in Sparano since last year. When was the last time the Dolphins dominated a good opponent in a game that mattered in the season? Like a 38-7 score? There just is no real potential for domination with this team. That's a problem both in coaching and the FO. Of course with an owner like Ross who has zero concept of how to run an NFL franchise, it will not get better. But, Sparano simply has no clue how to build a dominant offense.
Better yet when have they won by 17 or more points in Sparanos Span? When was the last time the Defense scored any points? Only one turnover this year so far for the defense. We just don't do things other teams do. Also we started 7 of our drives at the 20 or worse.
Im not really understanding why this is coming up. Everyone knows they changed the kickoff rules so kicks almost always go deep into the endzone...right? It's either accept it at the 20 every time or try for a better return. Its a terrible rule change and its affecting the whole league, not just us. i agree with everything else, but that parts not on the team.
Two things have not changed since Sparano took over: poor fundamentals, poor situational football. That has been the two constants with this team IMO.
That stat was also due to poor punt returns. Texans average starting field position was much better than ours. We never win the starting field position battle because we don't return well or produce turnovers
Did we run the ball when we were at the goal line? I don't remember. Why are we not pitching it to Bush or throwing a screen? Why not run Thomas at the goal line?? Anyone see the Falcons put up 35 points? I'm jealous. 5 TDs in the red zone. Also, what's with the O-Line? 2 top 15 draft picks and we've spent over 200 million dollars and it's still bad 3 years later.
And they did that against the Eagles defense. We couldn't do that against Jason Allen and the Texans.
Lots of reasons, all being discussed here today. But one big reason is that Parcells is an unprincipled asswipe who sent the guy who just might end up replacing Belichick as coach of the decade to the ****ing Jets, and left us with Sparano. I read an article yesterday that showed the results of a poll asking what the greatest source of job dissatisfaction was for Americans; the top two answers were cronyism and nepotism. We are victims of the former.
There's a dearth of talent on this team. It might be the most talented Dolphins team in recent memory (probably since 2005), but being the most talented Dolphins team in the last 6 years is a tallest midget kind of statement. Sparano is a terrible coach, but beating that drum over and over again won't change anything until we're 3-6 or something. I think we're in good company here. Didn't we turn down Mike Tomlin because he was "too hip-hop?"
Anyone see Matt Ryan lead the Falcons to 5 Touchdowns in the Red Zone against the Super Bowl contender Eagles? Wow...we sure lucked out getting Bill Parcells over the Falcons and drafting Jake Long over Matt Ryan. Remember when we were so excited for beating out ATL for Parcells?? Yes, I like Long, and yes it was the safe choice...but that's exactly why the Dolphins have been mediocre. Safe choices, play not-to-lose, 1990 mentality. And Ryan was getting heavily pressured and still helped them put up 35 points. Against Nnamdi, Rodgers-Cromartie, Asante... But we struggle against Jason Allen. Not to mention that 13-3 record they had last season...thanks again Parcells. And that Safe mentality is one big reason why we are where we are right now.
If Henne continues to look the way he has this season, I entirely agree. I fear the bad Oline will damage him.
Did you see how many yards Ryan had? he didn't light up the field. 3 scores were to his TE & FB, so please don't bring in the "Ryan shredded Nnamdi, Asante, & Cromartie" argument. Before Asante went out with an injury, Ryan had like 100 passing yards through 3 quarters. If you recall, his DEFENSE made some plays for him to provide one of his short field scoring opportunities. How many of those did Miami's D provide? Also, how many opportunities has Ryan had in the redzone during the past 4 year to help condition him for such situations? How many has Henne had? Do you honestly expect a young QB (Henne) to suddenly excel in the redzone without many reps in it? He's basically a rookie in this regard and still needs time to develop this aspect of his game just as Ryan has already been afforded the same opportunity. And it was 4 TDs, not 5. lol.
Why do we still have so many unanswered questions with the Dolphins? Seems like after three years there would be more answers than questions? I don't understand why we got rid of Polite either since he was very good at short yardage when we needed it in short yardage situations?