How do you fix the Dolphins?

[Brian Fein]

For me, I think the big weakness is the secondary.  We knew this going into the season, but I don't think anyone expected it to be this bad.

I would like to see Andre Goodman and Chris Crocker benched in favor of Michael Lehan and Jason Allen.  I think these guys are a liability, as Goodman doesn't know how to cover any receiver, and Crocker doesn't know that safeties aren't supposed to let anyone run past them.

I think this would be an instant improvement.

As of the offense, I'd like to see them open it up more, call more balanced run/pass play mix.  I'd like to see them stretch the field more and make teams pay for stacking the box.  Today, the game plan was clearly "run, run, run" as the playcalling was extremely lopsided.  I want to see them trust the WR's more and give guys like Ginn a chance to shut up all the haters.

So, what would YOU do to fix the Dolphins?

(and try to give better answers than "start Henne" or "fire everyone" - let's try to make this a good discussion)

[bsfins]

I'll add a few things that you didn't mention...

I mentioned on the radio show,I think the problem with trying to Throw it Deep is Penningtons arm...He has to loft the ball,and have the Reciever run under it..The Ball is in the air a long time...Essentially he's throwing a Jump ball...

How about throwing the Slant more, it's a play That I think the Dolphins have damn near for got how to throw since Marino's been here.(Yeah we tried one to Ginn last week Ginn ran behind the DB)...The Skinny Post...Unfortunately, I'm not sure Pennington is comfotable throwing that....

How about running more screen plays,Move the Pocket....Last week against the Jets, we did it a couple of time.....

Get Fasano involved more..Today Zero Catches,Tried to throw it to him once in the endzone,Got the PI call....(Killed my Fantasy ass!) Yeah we threw it to David Martin,we ought to use Both..and then Go to WR's...

Defensively, Quit throwing kitchen Sink Blitzes,every other play....

Quit Having a LB cover a WR...twice already this year it's happened The Boldin First TD,Was against our LB.....

I'd also like to throw in...I think Our running plays are too Old school sometimes....They take too much time to Develop...Set up the Blocking,and require everyone to be perfect..IMO it seems like one guy gets through....The Play seems to be doomed really quick...

[Dphins4me]

 Fire Cam.  Oh wait

[dolphins4life]

See my criticism of Sparano

We haven't run a fake punt or tried a surprise onside kick in god knows how long.

Let's inject some fire in this team

[ethurst2]

I'll add a few things that you didn't mention...

I mentioned on the radio show,I think the problem with trying to Throw it Deep is Penningtons arm...He has to loft the ball,and have the Reciever run under it..The Ball is in the air a long time...Essentially he's throwing a Jump ball...

How about throwing the Slant more, it's a play That I think the Dolphins have damn near for got how to throw since Marino's been here.(Yeah we tried one to Ginn last week Ginn ran behind the DB)...The Skinny Post...Unfortunately, I'm not sure Pennington is comfotable throwing that....

How about running more screen plays,Move the Pocket....Last week against the Jets, we did it a couple of time.....

Get Fasano involved more..Today Zero Catches,Tried to throw it to him once in the endzone,Got the PI call....(Killed my Fantasy ass!) Yeah we threw it to David Martin,we ought to use Both..and then Go to WR's...

Defensively, Quit throwing kitchen Sink Blitzes,every other play....

Quit Having a LB cover a WR...twice already this year it's happened The Boldin First TD,Was against our LB.....

I'd also like to throw in...I think Our running plays are too Old school sometimes....They take too much time to Develop...Set up the Blocking,and require everyone to be perfect..IMO it seems like one guy gets through....The Play seems to be doomed really quick...

I agree with Brian and Lil B. These are great points.

[fyo]

While not nearly enough in itself, one thing that is badly needed is TIME.

Rookies on good teams, or at least good units, can excel. Rookies on bad teams, with no support around them, rarely succeed right out of the gate.

On the all-important lines, we need to give Long and Langford time to develop. To get better. To not get frustrated and make stupid penalties. Samson Satele is only in his second year. So is Paul Solai. If Donald Thomas hadn't gotten hurt, he would be on the rookie list as well.

While we're on the subject of penalties... we've had a total of 111 yards of (accepted) penalties in just two games. Our two rookie linemen account for a third of that.

Dolphin Penalties:

Matt Roth: 15 (PF)
Jake Long: 10 (TRIP) + 10 (HOLD)
Andre Goodman: 24 (DPI) + 17 (DPI) + 5 (HOLD)
Reggie Torbor: 5 (RIK)
Kendall Langford: 15 (FACE)
Justin Smiley: 5 (FS)
Other: 5 (12 men)


DPI: Defensive Pass Interference
FACE: Face Mask
FS: False Start
HOLD: Holding
TRIP: Tripping
PF: Personal Foul
RIK: Running Into Kicker

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I don't think Jason Allen is going to be seeing the field anytime soon other than special teams.  He had his chance when Chris Crocker got hurt, but the coaches opted for Renaldo Hill instead.  That shows me what the Trifecta thinks of him. 

[Dphins4me]

I don't think Jason Allen is going to be seeing the field anytime soon other than special teams.  He had his chance when Chris Crocker got hurt, but the coaches opted for Renaldo Hill instead.  That shows me what the Trifecta thinks of him. 

He was in a lot yesterday.   Frankly I think they have him playing CB, more than safety, but I frankly believe as with Beck he just needs out of Miami to get a fair shake.  He must really be bad in practice, because in the games he is the better player.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Time. 

Seriously.  This team was not designed to win this year.  It is a squad of rookies.  It is built to be competitive in 2010 (maybe a wild card shot 2009)

[MaineDolFan]

I still say Miami is on a good track.  You can't go into a war with spoons and that is what this team is doing.

Two blatant needs on this team:  a veteran (or two) wide receiver and bolster the secondary.  Teams are jamming the TE's on the line and stacking upwards of nine in the box to stop the run.  We can't pass, and that is NOT because of Pennington, and we can't stop the pass.  Pass rush is also a slight weakness but not as glaring as pass defense.

[fyo]

Two blatant needs on this team:  a veteran (or two) wide receiver and bolster the secondary. 

I've been thinking about this for a while and my main question is WHEN do you pull the trigger?

Should the Trifecta already have spent the FA money and brought someone in before the season?

Do you realize that there's a critical problem that your young players cannot overcome and work out a trade NOW?

Do you wait until next season? Before or after the draft?

Do you give your NEXT draft time to work itself out a little bit (i.e. a year), just to see what holes really need filling?

I'm honestly not sure. I really want to say "wait", but there's a psychological aspect that cannot be ignored. If players "give up" or become frustrated, it's much harder to tell what positions you actually need to improve; all players look like crap when they're not trying. I'm also not convinced players will learn as much if they're frustrated and not seeing ANY results on the field.

With the massive roster turnover, I'm actually quite curious as to what our salary cap situation is like. Not just right now, but what kind of (cap) money is owed in the next couple of years. The uncapped 2010 season is a wild card...

For reference, really good skill position players are about $10 million a year these days.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I've been thinking about this for a while and my main question is WHEN do you pull the trigger?

Should the Trifecta already have spent the FA money and brought someone in before the season?

Do you realize that there's a critical problem that your young players cannot overcome and work out a trade NOW?

Do you wait until next season? Before or after the draft?

Do you give your NEXT draft time to work itself out a little bit (i.e. a year), just to see what holes really need filling?

I'm honestly not sure. I really want to say "wait", but there's a psychological aspect that cannot be ignored. If players "give up" or become frustrated, it's much harder to tell what positions you actually need to improve; all players look like crap when they're not trying. I'm also not convinced players will learn as much if they're frustrated and not seeing ANY results on the field.

With the massive roster turnover, I'm actually quite curious as to what our salary cap situation is like. Not just right now, but what kind of (cap) money is owed in the next couple of years. The uncapped 2010 season is a wild card...

For reference, really good skill position players are about $10 million a year these days.

Good points, but don't count on an uncapped 2010 season.  Most of the owners don't want that, so I'm sure they'll make a deal before then. 

[fyo]

Good points, but don't count on an uncapped 2010 season.  Most of the owners don't want that, so I'm sure they'll make a deal before then. 

I don't know that it's possible to return from that particular brink... the uncapped year is worked into a lot of contracts... and several teams would be crippled cap-wise if the uncapped year DIDN'T happen.

2011 is a different story altogether. 2010 is uncapped, but rules laid out by the CBA are in effect. In 2011, nothing like that is the case, so definitely a deal will get done to cover 2011 onward. I'm just not sure if 2010 can be un-uncapped...

[CF DolFan]

We've got a coach that said we have strong depth at defensive backs and wide receivers. He even said our DBs are one of our strengths.    I certainly am not calling for his head but I'm predicting with talent evaluations like this ...  people will be on his and Ireland's back before the season ends.

According to this weeks Dolphin Digest, we have 27 new faces from the new regime, 10 from last year, and 17 from the previous 4 years. That means at least half the team should be = or better than it was.  With observations like I posted above  ... you have to wonder what they are looking at.       

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I don't know that it's possible to return from that particular brink... the uncapped year is worked into a lot of contracts... and several teams would be crippled cap-wise if the uncapped year DIDN'T happen.

2011 is a different story altogether. 2010 is uncapped, but rules laid out by the CBA are in effect. In 2011, nothing like that is the case, so definitely a deal will get done to cover 2011 onward. I'm just not sure if 2010 can be un-uncapped...

Oh absolutely it can.  2010 is uncapped because a deal is not in place.  That's all.  I'm glad to see the new owner, Ross has deeper pockets than HuiPINGA, in case there is an uncapped situation.