How do you fix the Dolphins?

[Doc-phin]

Unfortunately there is not much that can be done to fix the team this year. 

The offense is what it is and I expect gradual improvement from week to week as the line solidifies and the running backs get up to speed.  The receivers are under an evaluation process and so far Camarillo is the only standout (not to be confused with #1 receiver).  Bess could be included if you count his kick return performance.  Our #1 will probably be invisable all year because they aren't really #1 receivers.  Tight ends look up to speed and the quarterback situation may improve a little as blocking and running improve.

Offensive summary...  Offense will only improve at a slow pace due to youth and personel limitations.  The scheme is not the issue.  The coaching is not the issue.  Time in the scheme and personel is the issue.  At least Henne is showing good stuff to give hope for the future.

Special Teams is on par with the league.  They just need to work out some of the mistakes that are penalty related.  These mistakes are not necessary but tend to come with young players and new coaching staffs.  The kickers are young and we are stuck with them (like them or not).  I wouldn't be surprised if we had a new punter next year but that means very little for this year.  I really don't think it would make much of a difference having Ginn return instead of Bess. 

Special Teams summary... Nothing can be done except a coaching change and more time solidifying.  We do not have a magic return man in Ginn (not saying he is bad).

The defense has as much of a scheme issue and coaching issue as a personel issue.  I think Jason Allen is better at playing the ball than Crocker, so I would play him more.  If we get behind in a game, I would find a way to get Jason to do little but find a way to watch the QB and try to come up with an INT.  We give up big plays no matter what so we might as well look for a few picks and take some chances with our safeties.

Ultimately we rush the passer too much and our front gets caught out of possition on run plays.  I think we would be better against the run without blitzing.  Our secondary has to watch the backfield too much with the way we are currently setup which hampers their play.  Crowder is not a good pass rusher, so I would give up on that.  I would send more corner and safety blitzes instead, to mix up where the rush is coming from.  Porter has become a liability, so I would play Torbor and Ayodelle (sp?) more and limit Porter's time on the field.  Maybe this would piss Porter off, which he seems to play better angry. 

Defense summary...  Less linebacker rushing, occasional backside rushing from safeties and corners, play J. Allen and hope for picks, play Porter less.  Take chances in hopes of creating turnovers.  This is the only area of our team that has a legit chance of change in the short term but is still severely hampered by lack of size and talent in the backfield.

Next offseason, we need to get bigger and stronger in the D-backfield.  We need to ditch Porter as soon as possible if he doesn't start playing better in the next few games.  We need at least two relevant star players, preferably at least one at WR and another on defense (preferably linebacker).  Crowder is servicable and can stay, but we need someone with better instincts to lead the linebacking core.

In the end, don't expect much till 2010 or later.  This team is not ahead of schedule on its progress.

[flacoman]

Wipe out the defensive backfield ,or we'll have to watch the guys chase recievers into the end zone all year! This, by default ,will make the d-line better and by getting some 3-and outs the defence will get better . They're too small and too slow to do much good.
On the offensive side , toss Pennington on the trash heap where he belongs!
Slow footed , slow to release , cannot make the deep throw (rag arm) .
Opposing defenses can pack it in against the run and it shows. Making some throws ,DEEP will spread things out. 
Schematically, going vertical and airing it out will keep things less bad ; if nothing else a 12-yard square in or curl route will get the linebackers to back off some .\
My2c

[Sunstroke]

Fixing the Dolphins is easy... Just take a little duct tape, and seal the pie-holes of all the impatient bitches who want to win now AND completely rebuild all at the same time.

Voilla! Fixed...

[Phishfan]

Fixing the Dolphins is easy... Just take a little duct tape, and seal the pie-holes of all the impatient bitches who want to win now AND completely rebuild all at the same time.

Voilla! Fixed...

Seriously. What did people expect from this season? If they carry this same outlook around their personal lives they must be absolutely miserable.

[Tenshot13]

I don't see the phins that far away...One stud WR....get rid of Goodman and Crocker pronto...One impact LB....let the OL gel with time...that's all we need IMO....So we're looking at 1 WR, 1 CB, 1 FS, and 1 LB to improve by next year....Henne will be ready by then and BAM...back on top 

[YoFuggedaboutit]

I don't see the phins that far away...One stud WR....get rid of Goodman and Crocker pronto...One impact LB....let the OL gel with time...that's all we need IMO....So we're looking at 1 WR, 1 CB, 1 FS, and 1 LB to improve by next year....Henne will be ready by then and BAM...back on top 

We need at least two stud WR's and two stud DB's. 

[fyo]

I don't see the phins that far away [...] that's all we need IMO....So we're looking at 1 WR, 1 CB, 1 FS, and 1 LB to improve by next year....Henne will be ready by then and BAM...back on top 

You're absolutely right. We'll just get Anquan Boldin, Rashean Mathis, Troy Polamalu and DeMarcus Ware... and then we're set

Seriously, a top player at EVERY major position off the lines is what we're looking for. We may have one in Henne, but other than that, all we have is a pair of running backs coming off season-ending injuries (and not getting any younger). Even if we got 2 top players in every draft, that's 2-3 more drafts.

If we really want to be "back on top" (whatever that means), we really need some depth as well. Right now, we've got squat. Those 2-3 drafts really need to go EXTREMELY well to get not only the top players we need, but also the backups.

Basically, that's saying we're 2-3 years away if everything works out perfectly. If that's what you mean by not "that far away", then we're in agreement.

[Defense54]

I don't know what your all complaining about. Its in the bag..........we are gonna win this sunday.   

[Tenshot13]

You mean a draft like we had this year?  Seriously...Will Allen is a good #2 corner...We keep him around and get a stud next year in free agency or the draft...I think Jason Allen is our answer at FS but apparently the trifecta doesn't think so...Bell is solid until we get a younger replacement a couple years down the road...We only need one impact WR so guys like Camerillo and Bess (maybe even *gasp* Ginn?) can step it up as a #2 and #3...I think our front 7 is pretty solid, but looks bad because of a crappy secondary, but we could use another impact LB...I think Brown will get back to form...I just seeing us improving drastically by next season, hell even by the end of this season maybe...I know it seems like a lot of wishing that guys will pan out, but I have to counteract all the people saying every player we have is a bust just because they aren't producing right now...other side of the coin guys.  I'm still sticking with 10-6 this year

[fyo]

What has me doubting any sudden improvement on offense is that our two worst linemen are veterans (Smiley and Ndukwe). Not OLD veterans by any means, but it's not like they are rookies either. Ndukwe has been in the league since 2005 and Smiley since 2004. I have slightly more confidence in Ndukwes ability to improve, just because he's the more inexperienced player, so maybe there's a better chance of a something just "clicking" for him.

Either way, we can scheme around one weakness on the line, but not two. Maybe Sparano, an old o-line coach, can figure out a way to expose them less, I don't know, but without improvement on the line, our offense isn't going to get better.

[Defense54]

 

Either way, we can scheme around one weakness on the line, but not two. Maybe Sparano, an old o-line coach, can figure out a way to expose them less, I don't know, but without improvement on the line, our offense isn't going to get better.

QFT...........But one thing that would help alot is if we had a receiver or two that would help stretch the field a bit. They know whats coming almost every play. And why doesn't Chad ever line up in the shotgun? Play action fake somemore? If we don't get some respect for the passing game our running game will never take off either. As it is I think our running backs and tight ends are our best receivers.........