good lord we suck

[MikeO]

NEWSFLASH - The secondary sucked last year.  The only reason they weren't shown as so inept last year is because the offense wasn't a scoring power.  When the offense did have a lead, the defense blew it, see the Giants and Denver games last year.  That said MikeO is exactly right, it is still preseason.  Do you guys complaining so much actually think this team is even a Divisional contender??  Im holding out hope that if the Fins catch a couple breaks they can squeek out a wild card spot.  The offensive line will be fine by week #3, gotta remember they have new players and a new system, takes time and full speed games to get their timing down.

Totally agree. Great points masterfins!! Plus name teams that have great secondary's? If there are any you can count them on one hand. Few teams can cover anymore in this league. Very few. It's the teams with the elite pass rushes that can get to the QB's that help out their secondary's. The best teams last year (NYG, GB, NE...etc) were bottom of the league  in total defense and defense and couldn't cover stop anyone in the passing game. Hell NE made Chad Henne look good. Nuff said! 

The entire league is built around QB's and Pass Rushers. It's about throwing the ball and getting to the QB to stop him from throwing the ball. The rules are set up AGAINST CB's and Safety's. You can't touch anyone. So if you don't rush the QB and rattle him, big plays happen. Even the elite teams that win can't cover anyone. Which is why I say don't spend big bucks on CB's and such. Just give me a bunch of CB's who can run, have speed,  and chase guys down. I would rather stockpile pass rushers and have marginal CB's who just have speed.  Because the league is tilted against a having a good secondary. So why waste cap space there. Unless you have Revis and he is the 1 exeception to the rule!

[EKnight]

NEWSFLASH - The secondary sucked last year.  The only reason they weren't shown as so inept last year is because the offense wasn't a scoring power.  When the offense did have a lead, the defense blew it, see the Giants and Denver games last year.  That said MikeO is exactly right, it is still preseason.  Do you guys complaining so much actually think this team is even a Divisional contender??  Im holding out hope that if the Fins catch a couple breaks they can squeek out a wild card spot.  The offensive line will be fine by week #3, gotta remember they have new players and a new system, takes time and full speed games to get their timing down.

I said the secondary sucked all last year. I even said that was a bigger issue for Miami than QB. Where have you been? Contender? Wild card? With the current D, last in the division and 6-7 wins. -EK

[el diablo]

Until the right side of the O-line learns how to block. Until the receivers start showing that they can at least catch a cold. Until they stop running into run blitzes. They are lucky to get 5 wins this year. I wad optimistic until I saw them play.  Right now, they are not fundamentally sound. Until that changes, game plans & schemes don't matter.

[MikeO]

Until the right side of the O-line learns how to block. Until the receivers start showing that they can at least catch a cold. Until they stop running into run blitzes. They are lucky to get 5 wins this year. I wad optimistic until I saw them play.  Right now, they are not fundamentally sound. Until that changes, game plans & schemes don't matter.

You should watch the Sherman, Philbin, and Coyle press conferences from today.
http://www.dolphinstalk.com/2012/08/video-press-conference-sunday.html

They actually explain alot of what they do in these preseason games and why some things happen.  I am NOT disagreeing with you at all. This team might be a 4-7 win team when all is said and done, but I am just saying if you watched the press conferences you might get a perspective on why they are doing certain things in these preseason games the way they are doing them

[el diablo]

I took your advice and watched most of the Philbin press conference. He was right about them not turning the ball over. He was also right about being beaten in the "explosive play" department. Which I will admit was a new term for me. I understand where he's going with that. I understand that there are things that they "work" on in preseason. But, I look at things through the fundamental prism. I don't care if they got beat 24-0 in preseason. I'm not seeing the level of fundamental execution that will enable them to expand their number of explosive plays. Hopefully they prove me wrong over time. After all, it is a work in progress.

[Landshark]

I was listening to Mike Norris on Fox Sports Radio Saturday night and he was talking about quarterback battles in different camps.  When he got to the Dolphins, he mentioned that Philbin seems to be in way over his head.  I'd hate to say this, but Philbin's laid back attitude is giving me some concern. 

[EKnight]

I'm seeing/hearing this and similar stories all over the place. I know the "it's only the preseason" camp will make light of it, but the Herald, Sun Sentinal, and ESPN are all pointing out that the defense- which was supposed to be the best unit- has given up scores on all but one drive the starters have played; the O-line is disastrous; and the receivers drop too many passes and lack speed. Someone even mentioned that the team got worse between games, and Vontae was replaced by Nolan Carrol because of poor play against Carolina. Not good, folks. Not good. -EK

[Dolphster]

I usually try to be rational and not get overly high or overly low on a team before the season even starts.  And I'm not basing this on the pre-season "team" performance as much as just assessing individual talent.  But I have a feeling that the Dolphins are going to "make me cry" a lot again this year. 

[Pappy13]

I was listening to Mike Norris on Fox Sports Radio Saturday night and he was talking about quarterback battles in different camps.  When he got to the Dolphins, he mentioned that Philbin seems to be in way over his head.  I'd hate to say this, but Philbin's laid back attitude is giving me some concern. 

I'm not concerned yet, but I do think it's time for Philbin to make some decisions.

I know that he wants to give all the QB's a fair chance to prove they are worthy, but there's been enough time to evaluate all the players now, it's time to name a starter and give that player all the first team reps this week. If it's gonna be Matt Moore, I'm fine with that, but then Moore should not be splitting 1st team reps with Tannehill anymore because in my opinion Moore has a LONG way to go to be ready for week 1. He needs to play a full 3 quarters in the next game and the backup should get a quarter or so and Devlin shouldn't hit the field at all.

Same thing with the WR's. He needs to choose who is going to be his top 4 or 5 WR's and play them extensively in the next game. At least 3 quarters so they can build some consistency with the QB.

They also need to run the ball and get work out of all the running backs. Start running the offense how you expect to run it during the year. I know they have been calling more pass plays for instance since they wanted to evaluate the QB's and WR's, but the third preseason game is normally the time that you quit evaluating and you start preparing for the real games to begin.

I'm a little concerned that Philbin is afraid to start making some hard decisions. He said all along that it usually comes down to a gut feel, well it's time to find out if your gut instincts are any good or not. Time for you to become the head coach and stop waiting for the decisions to be made for you.

[Pappy13]

I'm not concerned yet, but I do think it's time for Philbin to make some decisions.

Just when I start to doubt him, he comes through again. Man, I like this guy. He really seems to have a "pulse" on the team and what it needs. The only decision that I have questioned him on has been the Johnson signing, but even that worked out alright as he jettisoned him quickly as soon as he saw he was going to be a distraction.

[MikeO]

When he got to the Dolphins, he mentioned that Philbin seems to be in way over his head.  I'd hate to say this, but Philbin's laid back attitude is giving me some concern. 

Tony Dungy was as laid back as they come and he won a lot.

[tepop84]

Tony Dungy was as laid back as they come and he won a lot.

Dungy wasn't very good.

[Pappy13]

^^ He was better than the last 3 or 4 coaches the Dolphins have had.

[Spider-Dan]

Dungy wasn't very good.

In 13 years as a head coach, he had exactly one losing season: his first one.

He finished with ten seasons of 10+ wins.  He failed to make the playoffs two times in his career, total.  As a head coach, he retired with the 6th highest winning percentage of all time.

And lest you think that he pulled a Phil Jackson (i.e. lucky enough to inherit the best player), remember that Dungy built up the worst franchise in the league from nothing.  Tampa Bay was absolute garbage for decades until Dungy arrived, and within 2 years he built them into a contender.

[tepop84]

In 13 years as a head coach, he had exactly one losing season: his first one.

He finished with ten seasons of 10+ wins.  He failed to make the playoffs two times in his career, total.  As a head coach, he retired with the 6th highest winning percentage of all time.

And lest you think that he pulled a Phil Jackson (i.e. lucky enough to inherit the best player), remember that Dungy built up the worst franchise in the league from nothing.  Tampa Bay was absolute garbage for decades until Dungy arrived, and within 2 years he built them into a contender.

And one year after Dungy left, they won the superbowl, after he had one and done playoffs the previous 2 years.