Sheets out for the season

[StL FinFan]

Torn Achilles.   Someone kill the injury bug!


http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-dolphins-sheetshurt

[Dolphster]

The injuries are beginning to concern me.  Often times the difference between a middle of the road team being either really good or really bad is how well they stay away from injuries.  I've seen good teams fall apart because of injuries and I've seen "average" teams play to a higher level because they stay healthy.  The Dolphins have a decent team and a fairly cooperative schedule this season so I'd hate to see this opportunity get away from them because of injuries.

[Pappy13]

I'm not concerned at this point because only Merling was considered a possible starter.  Edds and Sheets were going to be used only sparingly if that.  We all know that injuries are a part of the NFL and in my humble opinion the Dolphins have been lucky so far that no one of great consequence is hurt.

[Phishfan]

I think Edds will the most missed. Word was he was going to play as out coverage linebacker and we all know hoe badly tight ends burned us last year. I don't even think Sheets was going to make the roster.

[Pappy13]

I think Edds will the most missed. Word was he was going to play as out coverage linebacker and we all know hoe badly tight ends burned us last year. I don't even think Sheets was going to make the roster.

The difference is that last year our 2 inside linebackers sucked in coverage.  This year Crowder is going to be blitzing more and Dansby is actually decent in coverage.  Sure Edds may have helped a bit in some situations, but I don't think he would have been on the field much.  For me Merling will be missed the most.  How much will depend on how well Odrick does.  If Odrick plays well, he may have replaced Merling anyway, but still he would have been a nice backup.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

The injuries are beginning to concern me.  Often times the difference between a middle of the road team being either really good or really bad is how well they stay away from injuries.  I've seen good teams fall apart because of injuries and I've seen "average" teams play to a higher level because they stay healthy.  The Dolphins have a decent team and a fairly cooperative schedule this season so I'd hate to see this opportunity get away from them because of injuries.

 

Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL.  I doubt there has ever been a team that started the same 22 players on week 17 as started week 1.  What separates the good teams from the bad teams is how well they adjust to the injuries they have.  Not at avoiding injuries.  The '72 Dolphins didn't go undefeated because they went injury free.  

I am not saying that the injury luck aspect isn't a factor.  It is a factor.  But a special teamer and a rookie backup doesn't make or break a season.  If you had lost Jake Long, it certainly would warrent injury bug whinning, but not b/c of two Jags.  

[bsfins]

The difference is that last year our 2 inside linebackers sucked in coverage.  This year Crowder is going to be blitzing more and Dansby is actually decent in coverage.  Sure Edds may have helped a bit in some situations, but I don't think he would have been on the field much.  For me Merling will be missed the most.  How much will depend on how well Odrick does.  If Odrick plays well, he may have replaced Merling anyway, but still he would have been a nice backup.

I believe that Nolan's scheme will produce sacks from everywhere, instead of relying on a couple of players to get pressure....(IE J.Taylor and Joey Porter) Making us a lot less predictable,and looking more like the Jets scheme...

While fun to see his twit pics, and reading his twitter account...(through the Sun Sentinel). I agree with Phish, even if he made the team,I see him struggling for any playing time..

[Dolphster]

Agreed.  And I didn't mean to insinuate that the loss of these specific players was going to have a huge impact on the team's performance this season.  I meant that injuries in general can have a big impact.  And you are right about pretty much all teams having injuries.  The teams that excel in spite of injuries are the teams that have quality depth so that when a starter goes down, someone else can step in and fill that void.  That is where my concern about injuries to quality backups comes into play.  If your quality backups are hurt, AND the starter goes down, then you are stuck with having to dig that much deeper into your depth chart or pick up someone else's castoff mid-season. 

 

Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL.  I doubt there has ever been a team that started the same 22 players on week 17 as started week 1.  What separates the good teams from the bad teams is how well they adjust to the injuries they have.  Not at avoiding injuries.  The '72 Dolphins didn't go undefeated because they went injury free.  

I am not saying that the injury luck aspect isn't a factor.  It is a factor.  But a special teamer and a rookie backup doesn't make or break a season.  If you had lost Jake Long, it certainly would warrent injury bug whinning, but not b/c of two Jags.  

[Doc-phin]

Bummer.  I really wanted to see Sheets in preseason and/or returning kicks.  I think we could use some speed at running back and Ricky will need a replacement soon (not convinced on Hilliard).

At the same time, Sheets would be more useful in a year or two when Ricky is gone and this would keep him from going elsewhere I suppose.  I just hope his rehab goes well so that we can see his true speed when he returns.

Finally, supposedly Cobbs looks to be in top condition after his rehab.  The report was that you can't tell he was ever injured, so I feel a little better that if we had to lose a player that it be at this roster spot.

Good luck Sheets!

[Landshark]

The injuries are beginning to concern me.  Often times the difference between a middle of the road team being either really good or really bad is how well they stay away from injuries.  I've seen good teams fall apart because of injuries and I've seen "average" teams play to a higher level because they stay healthy.  The Dolphins have a decent team and a fairly cooperative schedule this season so I'd hate to see this opportunity get away from them because of injuries.

A perfect example of this is the past two Dolphins teams.  The 2008 Dolphins overachieved but stayed relatively healthy.  The 2009 Dolphins fell apart and lost their last three games of the season because everyone was hurt.  If they had been at full strength, they might've finished 11-5 instead of 7-9.