There is a little blurb in the most recent version of the Sporting news saying that members of the Miami press are calling Saban; the Nicktator, the Shadow, or Double 0 Saban because he shuts out the media. Boohoo! The poor media. Change happens. Deal! This little snippet closes w/ the fact that the fans may riot if improvement is not shown quick. Speaking only for myself & perhaps the Dwo, I don't not expect to see instaneous results. Come next January, there will marked improvement & the 'phins will be 7-9. Perhaps, 8-8 if Miami gets a few breaks. Miami is not in a total rebuliding mode like SF or the Browns IMO. Last season was something that had been brewing for 2 previous ones. Had Ricky not quit & Boston not got injured last training camp than Dolphins fans could expect more of what has happened since '98.
I am going to say they are in a process of rebuilding. Not like the Brown or Niners but they do need to find a RB. Their defense is getting older as well. I do believe hiring Saban and drafting Ronnie Brown was a good start. Next season they need to find a QB. If they somehow can trade with SF(Who I think will have the #1 pick again) before the Titans do to draft Leinart then the future will look nice for Miami.
Realistically, I expect 8-8 or so for Miami this year, but don't forget they are only one year removed from being contenders. If not for Ricky Williams' poor timing, they would have competed last season. I happen to think Ronnie Brown will do fine for them, but they also will probably put Ricky back out on the field too. I also can't help but think that while I am not enamored with Feely, he can't possibly be worse than Fiedler. The loss of Knight and Surtain will have a bigger impact, imo. I'm not making any bold predictions here, just saying 9-10 wins from the Dolphins wouldn't shock me. Stranger things have hapened. I also think the Pats will run much closer to the pack in the AFC East this year. It could be a competitive division.
Well we have different opinions. With an aging defense and the lost of their best corner and best saftey. Feely has never started an entire year. Ronnie Brown is a ROOKIE who won't carry this team all year. I no Ricky will be back but what kind of a player will he be. Plus he is going to be a major distraction all year.
My eye is on the offensive line. Now that Hudson Hauck is coaching them, we should be able to see if they're actually lacking in skill or just weren't being coached properly. If Hauck turns the line around, the Dolphins may win a few more games than most people expect. However, I'm very concerned about our secondary, but Saban's transition from man-to-man to zone may help buffer the loss of Surtain and Knight.
Im glad that Saban is being tough on the media....I wanted a coach different than Wannstedt, and Saban is in every way....Wanny made the media's life comfortable, so Sabanator shuts them out....I dont see a rebellion....if they win more than they lose, Saban becomes a S.Florida icon....if they win the Super Bowl, hes the mayor of Miami if he wants....as far as the upcoming season, if they play hard and they play well, I will be happy....its not all about winning when the team is young and talented....I want to see a team that is smart, determined, oppurtunistic and constantly improving....
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>However, I'm very concerned about our secondary, but Saban's transition from man-to-man to zone may help buffer the loss of Surtain and Knight.</div> Sgning Schulters will help & acquiring Bobby Taylor couldn't hurt. Losing Will Poole hurt. Reggie Howard needs to step up. However, I think Nick's philosophy to have an agressive front 7 will benefit the secondary.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TheBeef)</div><div class='quotemain'>I wanted a coach different than Wannstedt, and Saban is in every way....</div> I read something earlier today that stated addition by subtraction will work wonders for the 'phins. That so called loss being the Vanilla one.
