New regime puts focus on intensified effort and accountability

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdol02sbsep02,0,3922258.story

A sense of urgency -- and fear: Dolphins put focus on intensified effort and accountability

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

September 2, 2008

DAVIE - When training camp began nearly five weeks ago, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano told 80 players that it was "very dark out" and there was "no light at the end of the tunnel, so don't look for it. We'll find it somewhere down the road."

Monday, during their first day of preparation for Sunday's season opener against the New York Jets, a light began to flicker for the 53 remaining Dolphins, including 27 who weren't around during last year's gloomy 1-15 season.

"You see guys flying around a little more," Sparano said of the first regular-season practice. "There's a greater sense of urgency. Back when I was telling them it was dark and no light at the end of the tunnel, well, it's hitting them in the face right now. So I think they understand what we were talking about back then. All of a sudden you're getting ready for this game and it's here and it's on us."

Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Joey Porter said the new regime, led by Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells, has instilled team confidence via the fear factor.

"It's a whole confidence, the whole locker room is carrying itself, it's a whole different demeanor," said Porter, who added his sore back felt good enough to start Sunday. "It always starts at the top but it's up to your players to believe in what the message is being sent down.

"The way [Parcells] came in and cracked the whip, nobody's walking around here feeling safe. There's a sense of urgency about everything you do. I can honestly say we lost that last year.

"This year you could just see it. You could see the way guys are hustling on offense, defense, special teams. Everybody just stepped it up. He made you feel like if you didn't do that you wouldn't be here, and as long as you keep that fire up under everybody you get their best effort on Sunday."

Cornerback André Goodman is cautiously optimistic coming off a sound 3-1 preseason, but after playing on losing teams throughout his six-year career, he's not ready to have his ring finger measured.

"The energy around here is good and it starts with the guys upstairs," Goodman said. "It's a very competitive energy. Every play is a competitive play."

Running back Ricky Williams, one of three Dolphins who have survived five head coaches in the last five years, is a believer.

"They've turned it around. Coach [Nick] Saban started to change it a little bit, but they've been around. They know what they are doing," Williams said. "They make everyone accountable. The feeling I get from Tony is he's not going to let us lose."

Sparano said that even though CBS has upgraded the Jets-Dolphins to its marquee matchup, no extra motivation is needed.

"As I said to my team ... you wake up Monday morning and all of a sudden it's Week 1," Sparano said. "You should be like a kid at Christmas, so that's where I am now. Every Sunday is special, Game 1, Game 10, Game 15, they're all special in this league."

Porter seemed ready to race out of that dark tunnel toward the sunlight at Dolphin Stadium six days early.

"We're fired up," Porter said. "We don't care too much what everyone else thinks. We're ready for the season to start and we got a big chip on our shoulders. We got a lot to prove. We can't do no worse than we did last year, so we're definitely looking up and are excited about it."