The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

It seems as though some people think we are a good quarterback away from being a championship caliber team.  I beg to differ with those people.  I think we need to beef up the O-line, get another speedy receiver and probably another running back as well.  The defense is pretty good as it is, but I wouldn't mind another good DB, either.

What do you guys think?

The answer to your question is six, eight if you count special teams.  I completely agree with your analysis.

I think we need help at linebacker too. Dansby can't do it all by himself. -EK

We are one average qb away from being a playoff team, and 1 good qb away from being an elite team.  I hope thigpen is given a chance to start next year, I think he will turn this team around.

Good point.

^^^ I'm sure Thigpin will be given a shot to compete for the starting role in the preseason.  Along with whatever third QB the Fins bring in.

^^ I'm pretty sure that Thigpen won't even be on the Dolphins come spring training.

^^^ Just curious, why do you  feel that way??

^^^^ I would guess because he isn't under contract and they made no attempt to sign him. Usually you wouldn't let the season end before you re-signed a player you wanted to keep.

For the record this is also the same position they are in with Ronnie.

^^ Yup.

I like Misi, Wake, Dansby and Alma-Francis.  We have yet to see Edds. One more ilb  couldn't hurt.

I don't know about a specific number, but I think that if you can find a good QB, he can actually make his other players better.  So, players that look like a problem area now, will be improved via competent play.  I think that a QB can make a big, big difference in the way an entire offense works, including the running game and blocking.

^^^ bingo

doesn't have to be elite qb (for now), just good play from the qb position. something like 20 tds 9 ints, middle of the pack type production and this current team in in the playoffs contending.

I'm fine with our receivers. We have one elite "big" receiver, one elite "small" possession receiver and some decent (but not great) speed. That's plenty. I'm even okay with the receiving talent of our tight end, although that is certainly an area where improvement would be possible.

My biggest areas of concern (in no particular order) are middle linebacker, offensive line, cornerback, and safety.

Then, following those, quarterback and defensive end.

Given the relative inexperience of our backfield, I'd be willing to give them time to develop. Still there's no depth behind those young guys and depth is critical if you want to compete year after year.

So, in terms of "players away from being a contender", I'd say about a handful, plus a few special-teamers. To clarify, I'm not talking about replacing existing players with better ones... we'd need to keep the existing ones for depth.

On Offense
QB
Speed WR
TE
RB
Couple O-line spots

On defense
CB


I'm not even that worried about LB really, 3 of the 4 we have are damn good. We can find a 4th LB somewhere. Maybe even AJ Edds is the guy for the job.

Okay, I'll accept that.  But please don't let all the other members on here that think Thigpen is the best thing since sliced bread know that.

I'm gonna say less than 10 and you guys will see my reasoning below.

1.  Defensive End.  This is on here mostly because Odrick spent the season injured.  He might be the answer, he might be half the answer if we draft one for the other side. 

2.  Nose Tackle.  We got by on this last year, but I still think we should draft one.
3.  Corner.  Need 1 more.
4.  Inside linebacker.  Don't think much of Crowder in pass coverage.
5.  Wide reciever- Need one more, preferably somebody who can play outside and fly.  Bess and Hartline are plenty as slot recievers and in extra WR sets.
6.  We need a couple guards who will last a whole season.
7.  I'd draft a tackle in case Carey doesn't stick around.
8.  RB.  It's time to ditch Ronnie and Ricky.
9.  We've got a case of Bi-Polar Quarterback still.  If that doesn't shake out, you need one of those too.

That's somewhere between 8 and 10 players.

The needs as I see them in order of most needed:  1st QB,  2nd Speedy Wide Receiver, 3rd  Speedy RB, 4th Interior Offensive Line,  5th Inside LB who can cover receivers, 6th Nose tackle, 7th Corner or Safety who actually catch the ball. 

The only good thing about our needing so much help is that we should be able to improve on at least one of our weak spots in virtually every round of the draft.  I doubt a quality qb will fall to the 15th spot, but surely we can improve somewhere.  Other than the terrible quarterbacking, the thing that bothered me the most is just how slow this team is. Our running backs and receivers don't scare anybody, and Channing Crowder can't cover anyone.  Finally, is it too much to ask that the secondary actually make a catch every once in a while?