Countdown to Miami Dolphins Training Camp 2008: 25 Topics, 25 Days

[Rick]

  McCown will start the season at QB for Miami....

   Henne starts the last 4 games of the season for Miami and all of 09 ....

     Beck only plays if McCown gets hurt or struggles very EARLY in 08

[dolphins4life]

I think Ginn had a fairly good rookie season.  I only saw him drop one catchable ball in the Week 16 vs. NE.  He showed the speed to be a legitimate number one threat.

The quarterback will also be important to Ginn's ability to make plays.  Here are a couple of telling excerpts from cbs's live game blogs:

1) week 6 vs. Cleveland:

The Dolphins miss a chance for a big play as Lemon can't connect with a wide open Ginn on 3rd-and-three. Ginn ran a drag route on the play and was left alone by the Browns defense, but Lemon threw the ball behind the receiver, one of his poorest looking throws of the day, resulting in the incomplete.

2) week 7 vs. NE

The Dolphins just miss a big play on a deep pass to Ginn but Lemon over threw the ball slightly. Ginn showed why Miami made him such a high pick as he was open deep and it's only a matter of time before those just misses become big hits.

So Ginn did show some ability that didn't show up in the stats because of poor passes.

As for Hagan, well this is a make or break year for him.  He needs to overcome these dropsies and show that he can be a starting receiver

[YoFuggedaboutit]

  Just to clear the air, when I started this thread I had all these topics planned in advance.

So did I.  Let's ask a mod to merge the thread

[Sunstroke]

Let's ask a mod to merge the thread

Let's try next time not creating duplicate threads five days after the original thread starts, and merging won't be necessary at all.


And...to throw this forceably back on track, a follow up question to the QB question whilst we wait for the next day's nugget to come. If Beck doesn't start this year, will he ever start another game for Miami? Or would it signal that the new regime doesn't see him as the answer?

[DolFan619]

Let's try next time not creating duplicate threads five days after the original thread starts, and merging won't be necessary at all.


And...to throw this forceably back on track, a follow up question to the QB question whilst we wait for the next day's nugget to come. If Beck doesn't start this year, will he ever start another game for Miami? Or would it signal that the new regime doesn't see him as the answer?

  I would say the answer is no.  If Beck doesn't start a game this year, I think that the regime just simply didn't see enough in him to be the long term starter.  If Beck fails to be the long term starter here, he'll probably wind up as the backup for Henne, or shopped around for a draft pick.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

T MINUS 13 AND COUNTING

Issue of the day-  The Offensive Line

After years of being the weak unit on the Dolphins offense, it now looks like the offensive line will be one of its strengths.  With the number one overall pick, the Dolphins drafted mammoth left tackle Jake Long from Michigan and were smart enough to have a contract agreement in place before the draft.  Long is expected to start immediately, allowing Vernon Carey to move back to his natural right tackle position. 

Samson Satele, who was drafted in the second round last season and chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate, anchors the center.  Free agent signee Justin Smiley steps in at right guard, so the only question mark here is left guard.  Will it be free agent signee Steve McKinney, or draftees Shawn Murphy or Donald Thomas?  Who will it be?  Also, what are your thoughts on this unit for 2008?   

Discuss

[Doc-phin]

I would hope it would be McKinney because it worries me to have two rookies on the left side.  McKinney has an injury issue that I don't know much about so I really don't know how likely it is that he will be ready.

With that said, how much of a strength for the team can the O-line be with two rookies on the left?  The O-line could be a weak part of the team (this year) if they aren't careful.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I would hope it would be McKinney because it worries me to have two rookies on the left side.  McKinney has an injury issue that I don't know much about so I really don't know how likely it is that he will be ready.

With that said, how much of a strength for the team can the O-line be with two rookies on the left?  The O-line could be a weak part of the team (this year) if they aren't careful.

That's what they said before the 1990 season when Don Shula drafted two rookies by the name of Richmond Webb and Keith Sims.  Look what they turned out to be.

[Doc-phin]

That's what they said before the 1990 season when Don Shula drafted two rookies by the name of Richmond Webb and Keith Sims.  Look what they turned out to be.

I don't know enough about their play in their rookie year.  I agree they turned out to be very good and I would just like to say that my comments are only in regard to the rookie year and if the two rookies are next to each other on the left. 

Also, keep in mind that we will have a young quarterback this year pretty much no matter what.  Most defenses like to stack pressure on young QB's.  Be expecting plenty of blitzing from the blind side!

[bsfins]

**Complete an udder hijack***
But when you guiy's were talking about Captains...The coaches don't have anything to do with who's the captain..it's voted upon by the other players....So no PR move for the Management **end hijack****

[Guru-In-Vegas]

T MINUS 13 AND COUNTING

Issue of the day-  The Offensive Line

After years of being the weak unit on the Dolphins offense, it now looks like the offensive line will be one of its strengths.  With the number one overall pick, the Dolphins drafted mammoth left tackle Jake Long from Michigan and were smart enough to have a contract agreement in place before the draft.  Long is expected to start immediately, allowing Vernon Carey to move back to his natural right tackle position. 

Samson Satele, who was drafted in the second round last season and chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate, anchors the center.  Free agent signee Justin Smiley steps in at right guard, so the only question mark here is left guard.  Will it be free agent signee Steve McKinney, or draftees Shawn Murphy or Donald Thomas?  Who will it be?  Also, what are your thoughts on this unit for 2008?   

Discuss

Damn dude.  Talk about taking someone's mojo.  I think the term "thread hijacking" has taken a new meaning.

[DolFan619]

  Welcome!  Or I should say welcome back to "25 Topics 25 Days."  It's Day 13, and today we're talking about the coaches.  We've talked a lot about the players, but it's now time to show some love towards the new coaching staff.  So, that being said, which memeber of the Miami Dolphins coaching staff will have the biggest impact and why?  

[Dave Gray]

I have to think that it's Sparano.  I know pretty much nothing about him, and I think he's had the luxury of flying under the radar a little bit, while Parcells gets most of the press.  I hope that this will continue and give him some time to do his job.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I agree with Dave on Sparano having the biggest impact on this team.  He's already made his presence felt by implementing one of the most grueling offseason workout programs this team has ever experienced. And considering the players were sucking wind at the end of games last season, he had every reason to. 

He's a tough taskmaster, but he doesn't seem like the type to yell or get all bent out of shape.  This is exactly what we need.

Damn dude.  Talk about taking someone's mojo.  I think the term "thread hijacking" has taken a new meaning.

Actually, it's more like collaborating.  Aint ever heard of it?   

[Rick]

  I would have to go with Coach Sparano as well....after last season's embarassment of a head coach, it is important for Coach Sparano to show the skills that Camoron lacked....game planning, clock management, working the refs, when to call timeout, when to go on 4th down etc. .....Sparano and staff already have earned more respect then last years regime because they see the differences between him and last years head coach...Coach Sparano will put Miami in better position to win games this season, so his impact will be tremendous!!!!!

  Karl Dorrell will also make a big impact on this team...  he will have to given Miami's weak WR corp.... Paul Pasqualoni changing the entire defense will be huge as well!!!