What are our biggest questions going into week one?

[CF DolFan]

I think the biggest question mark is our running game and/or our O-line. If we cannot run the ball then it really doesn't matter that our TE is hurt or that we paid big money for receivers.

I'm hoping they can come together to give us some sort of a balanced attack but it wouldn't surprise me if we are sitting here on Monday complaining about things that start and end with poor line play.

[Sunstroke]

Is Miami's O-line as bad as I fear it is?
If it is that bad, what is the over/under on how many games before Tannehill is killed?
Can Lamar Smith be an every-down RB and one of the main focal points of the offense?
Will the new players added on defense (Wheeler, Ellerbe, Grimes, etc...) improve Miami's defense from last season?

[Phishfan]

Lamar Smith

I've seen this about three times now. I gotta ask is this a mental block or on purpose?

[Brian Fein]

Sunstroke is living in 2001.  He posts via time machine.

[CF DolFan]

Sunstroke is living in 2001.  He posts via time machine.

That's funny!! 

He's done it so much I've begun to fill in the missing blank without thinking of it.

I really hope this season isn't spent with half the people claiming Tannehill sucks and the other half defending him by crappy O-line play. We've seen that movie about ten times now!!

[MikeO]

I really hope this season isn't spent with half the people claiming Tannehill sucks and the other half defending him by crappy O-line play. We've seen that movie about ten times now!!

Tannehill will be here beyond this year so anyone who cry's that he sucks and needs to go is just wasting their time. Short of having a beyond awful 8 TD and 23 INT type of year he has this job this year and next year at the very least. He was a project when they drafted him and will be given the time to develop.

But I fully expect 95% of the posts here on this site this year will be how he sucks when we lose.

[Brian Fein]

^^ That's the way of a Dolphins' fan

[Dolphster]

Is Miami's O-line as bad as I fear it is?
If it is that bad, what is the over/under on how many games before Tannehill is killed?

That's pretty much my thought as well. 

[masterfins]

Obvious concerns are RB and TE.  The O-line is decent enough, but its not the type of line that will make mediocre players look great.  Tannehill is going to have to up his game to make up for the lack of RB and TE.

[MikeO]

I don't see RB as an issue at all. TE is a big issue and WR depth might be as well if someone gets hurt.

Not enough offensive weapons yet. This team lacks firepower. Rome wasn't built in a day and this team (on offense) was a mess when Philbin got here. This is an 8-9 win team, borderline wild card contender. It's a process and we are still one of the youngest teams in the entire league. Anyone who expects double digit wins this year is fooling themselves.

Miami is one more draft and offseason away from being a playoff caliber team

[Sunstroke]

I've seen this about three times now. I gotta ask is this a mental block or on purpose?

It's a mental block...my bad.

I didn't know I'd done it more than this one time though.

[Pappy13]

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the biggest question mark is still on the defensive side of the ball?  Yes, I realize that running back and offensive line and TE positions are far from being settled, but I'm not really counting on them to be great this year either. For this team to make the playoffs this year, the defense is going to have to be good. Maybe very good. I still think there's a big question whether they can be that good. There's plenty of new faces on the defensive side of the ball and everyone seems to be assuming they are gonna be a top 10 or top 5 defense.

[MikeO]

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the biggest question mark is still on the defensive side of the ball?  Yes, I realize that running back and offensive line and TE positions are far from being settled, but I'm not really counting on them to be great either. For this team to make the playoffs this year, the defense is going to have to be good. Possibly very good. I still think there's a big question whether they can be that good or not.

Defense doesn't worry me one bit as of now. Secondary is improved by default....addition by subtraction. Linebackers are faster and more versatile. D-line is about the same as last year.

talk to me in a month though 


Top 10 defense is likely. Top 5 is asking alot but possible

[masterfins]

I don't see RB as an issue at all.

Huh?

Gone is the starting RB, Bush, who played in 31 of 32 games the last two seasons, scored (6) TD's both years, and rushed for 1086 yds and 986 yds.

His replacements:

Lamar Miller - UNPROVEN.  Only played in 13 games last year, only 1 TD, and 250 yds.

Daniel Thomas - two seasons of injuries, only played in 25 of 32 games, total of 906 yds and 4 TD's for the two seasons combined.

If either of these guys were very good they would have been starting ahead of Bush.  I sincerely hope they both have breakout seasons and live up to what was expected of them when they were drafted.  However, I don't know how you can't see RB as an issue MikeO.

[masterfins]

Am I the only one who thinks maybe the biggest question mark is still on the defensive side of the ball? 

You may be correct, but until the offense learns to put some points on the board and challenge their opponents offensively, the defensive problems will remain hidden.  You really only see how good your defense is when its late in the game and they need to make a stop.