I'm okay with a 2-3 record right now.

[Pappy13]

5 games, 2 at home 3 on the road, only 1 against a lesser opponent and 2 against very good opponents. Would love to have the Jets game back, but 2-3 is about where I thought they would be right now. Still a lot of season left to play. Could be better, but it could also be a LOT worse. Let's see how it all works out, but right now I can't complain. All the games have been entertaining, even the Houston game. Been a LONG time since I've been able to say that.

[EDGECRUSHER]

I think right now at 2-3 is our worst case scenario. We gave away 2 games to the Jets and Cardinals. At the beginning of the season, I think we would've taken 2-3 and been happy about it. However, with the way they have played, 2-3 is a letdown considering how we got there.

[el diablo]

I'm fine with it too. One more win and they beat my preseason prediction of 2-14. They show progress every week. Gotta love the direction. It just sucks to know that they could be 4-1. But I'll take what we have.

[MikeO]

While I didn't expect playoffs this year and I still don't, I  see this year less about the amount of wins as I do setting the foundation going forward. The 3 biggest things that stand out so far are...

1) Tannehill is the answer at QB. He might not be a superstar (although the potential is there) but he gets better each week, he isn't overwhelmed or have that deer in the headlights look some rookies have. The guy makes tough throws, has an elite NFL arm that can make all the throws, he comes up big on 3rd and long's more often than not thus far, AND...with little help at WR he is playing well. It's not like Tanny is getting "bailed out" by great talent around him.

2) The o-line is fixed. Jon Jerry and Jonathan Martin fixed the right side of the o-line. Pouncey might be going to the Pro Bowl this year. Ireland fixed the o-line. Just gotta make sure Jerry doesn't gain a bunch of weight in the offseason. It's up to his teammates to stay on him about that.

3) The secondary is actually better and improves each week. Yes, overall the unit is weak, not going to deny that. Not denying that. BUT, Jones and Smith are legit NFL starters now. Sean Smith finally gets it and is becoming a #1 NFL CB in this league. He improves each week. He has done well the past 2 games vs Fitz and Green. Jones is an outstanding safety. He really is good. He also improves each week.  Now the rest of the CB's stink and Clemons isn't anything special. But the unit was good for most of the Arizona game, broke down in the 4th quarter and OT. And it was good today vs Cincy. The unit will probably still be "BAD" overall the rest of the year. They are clearly a weak link. But if we come out of this season with Smith and Jones as legit players in our secondary, then man does that solve a lot of things moving forward and make it easier to fix this unit!

This team has a great d-line. A great o-line. A good looking young QB who improves every game. A nice trio at RB. Jesus christ, get some CB's and WR's and this team is legit!

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I'm fine with it too. One more win and they beat my preseason prediction of 2-14.

I predicted the Dolphins to go 6-10.  They are right on pace for that.

[MikeO]

I predicted the Dolphins to go 6-10.  They are right on pace for that.

I think they will get more than 6. Might only be 7 or 8 but they will get more than 6 wins. Fins still got Jags, Titans, Indy, Buffalo TWICE, Jets, Rams, Seattle.  Out of those 8 games at worse they win 5, they might win 6 or 7 in reality! At Buffalo on a short week could be tricky. But the rest of those games the Fins should be favored in.  And I see ALL of those teams struggling to score on the Fins defense.

If Miami went 7-9 or 8-8 I wouldn't be shocked.

[Brian Fein]

Great post Mike, agree on all points. Something to be excited about on Sundays again...

[EDGECRUSHER]

Yeah, I am enjoying watching Tannehill grow. He's not flashy, but showing poise and limiting mistakes is pretty much the ceiling for a rookie QB. Unfortunately, Cam Newton, RG3 and Luck have created some unrealistic expectations for a rookie QB.

To me, the biggest thing the team needs to learn is how to close. Bigger than even Tanny's growth. We can't give away games and we have done that twice already and almost a third time today. If we just play tougher in the 4th, I think we can contend for the division next year. The Jets and Bills suck and Brady will be another year older, it's getting to be that time.

[tubba marxxx]

While I didn't expect playoffs this year and I still don't, I  see this year less about the amount of wins as I do setting the foundation going forward. The 3 biggest things that stand out so far are...

1) Tannehill is the answer at QB. He might not be a superstar (although the potential is there) but he gets better each week, he isn't overwhelmed or have that deer in the headlights look some rookies have. The guy makes tough throws, has an elite NFL arm that can make all the throws, he comes up big on 3rd and long's more often than not thus far, AND...with little help at WR he is playing well. It's not like Tanny is getting "bailed out" by great talent around him.

2) The o-line is fixed. Jon Jerry and Jonathan Martin fixed the right side of the o-line. Pouncey might be going to the Pro Bowl this year. Ireland fixed the o-line. Just gotta make sure Jerry doesn't gain a bunch of weight in the offseason. It's up to his teammates to stay on him about that.

3) The secondary is actually better and improves each week. Yes, overall the unit is weak, not going to deny that. Not denying that. BUT, Jones and Smith are legit NFL starters now. Sean Smith finally gets it and is becoming a #1 NFL CB in this league. He improves each week. He has done well the past 2 games vs Fitz and Green. Jones is an outstanding safety. He really is good. He also improves each week.  Now the rest of the CB's stink and Clemons isn't anything special. But the unit was good for most of the Arizona game, broke down in the 4th quarter and OT. And it was good today vs Cincy. The unit will probably still be "BAD" overall the rest of the year. They are clearly a weak link. But if we come out of this season with Smith and Jones as legit players in our secondary, then man does that solve a lot of things moving forward and make it easier to fix this unit!

This team has a great d-line. A great o-line. A good looking young QB who improves every game. A nice trio at RB. Jesus christ, get some CB's and WR's and this team is legit!

Great post Mike.  Agree 100%.  While it sucks that Miami could VERY easily be 4 - 1 right now, I"ll take the foundation this team seems to have laid.  Tannehill impresses me more and more each week.  You said it perfectly with him not being overwhelmed.  I like his scrambling and making something happen ability.  I also like that you mentioned Jones at safety.  He's looking like a beast and one of the sure tacklers in our secondary.  The O line seems to have FINALLY been solidified.  Good trio of RB's, QB of the future, stout defense.  I like the outlook of this team.  The couple close loses just leave a bitter taste in your mouth. 

[Spider-Dan]

I'm trying to contrast my opinion of Tannehill now with my opinion of Henne in 2009 at a similar point.

I think I was higher on Henne (because of the epic orange jersey Jets game).  However, Tannehill is a true rookie starter and has had to face tougher opponents, I think.

Outside of a deep playoff run, I can't really pass judgment either way until the end of next season.

[Stinger24]

I predicted the Dolphins to go 6-10.  They are right on pace for that.

To bad you won't go away!

[Fins4ever]

Mike nailed it. Get some key guys on the D re-signed, get a CB and ball hawk Safety & a WR.

[suck for luck]

Not sure if this it true but I read somewhere that of the rookie qbs RT has the best 4th qtr qb rating @ #11.

[Fins4ever]

Not sure if this it true but I read somewhere that of the rookie qbs RT has the best 4th qtr qb rating @ #11.

RT is 19th and rising. Throw out the Houston game and he is in the top 12 or so. Was real happy to see he had a game with no turnovers.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/qbr

[Spider-Dan]

Actually, there's an interesting related article from ESPN Insider; it gives an adjusted QBR based on the strength of the defenses the QB has faced.  It's behind a paywall, so I'll just give the meat (these stats were prior to yesterday's games):

Opponent-Adjusted QBR Rankings
Rank    QB              QBR    Adj.QBR  Change in rank
01      A. Luck         81.9   87.7     0
02      J. Flacco       69.7   83.0     +7
03      Big Ben         80.4   83.0     -1
04      E. Manning      63.7   80.0     +10
05      M. Ryan         80.0   79.7     -2
06      M. Schaub       74.3   79.2     +1
07      P. Manning      76.7   77.8     -2
08      A. Dalton       78.3   76.6     -4
09      C. Ponder       68.9   69.2     +1
10      T. Brady        76.6   69.2     -4
11      R. Griffin      68.7   66.4     0
12      R. Tannehill    48.9   63.7     +10
13      C. Palmer       63.1   63.2     +2
14      A. Smith        69.8   62.9     -6
15      J. Locker       68.5   59.9     -3
16      A. Rodgers      60.9   59.7     0
17      R. Fitzpatrick  53.3   57.1     +4
18      M. Vick         55.4   55.7     +1
19      M. Stafford     59.1   53.3     -2
20      K. Kolb         41.7   51.8     +7
21      T. Romo         47.0   51.1     +3
22      B. Gabbert      44.2   48.9     +3
23      P. Rivers       68.4   46.8     -10
24      J. Cutler       43.3   45.9     +2
25      C. Newton       57.9   42.8     -7
26      D. Brees        53.8   39.9     -6
27      S. Bradford     37.3   36.6     +1
28      R. Wilson       30.4   35.9     +3
29      M. Sanchez      36.5   33.0     0
30      M. Cassel       48.7   25.4     -7
31      J. Freeman      33.1   23.1     -1
32      B. Weeden       10.1   9.4      0

Tannehill was tied with Eli for the biggest jump when it came to adjusted QBR.