With a 4-5 record the Dolphins are hanging on for their playoff life by a single follicle of Rapunzel’s hair. I loved the win this week and I think we have a several games that are very winnable, but right now nothing exciting comes to mind when you look at this record so far because of our standing in the division. A deeper look shows that the Dolphins are 0-4 against the AFC East (with each of those teams having winning records), but against the rest of the teams that they played, which are all from the NFC East and AFC South, they are a combined 4-1. What blows that nice looking statistic up is only one of those teams has a winning record.
For starters, most sports gambling fans would agree that the AFC East is THE best, or one of the best divisions in football (The NFC South is tied with a combined 23 victories, but they only have two teams with a winning record). We all thought before the season that the AFC East had the potential to be the best and most competitive division in football, and thru 9 games it is becoming a reality.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, so far they are the worst team in their division, and have not even been competitive in any of their division games. This is something that probably isn’t going to get fixed this season, especially since they only have two more division games, and one is against a team that looks poised to have an outstanding record. However, the Dolphins are going to have to focus their off-season acquisitions on getting players that can help them better compete in their own division, because if you can’t win in your division they you are never going to get very far. At this moment, Miami has not displayed enough physicality to compete within their own division.
When looking at the other games the Dolphins played outside of their division, it is clear that these teams are all mediocre. Fortunately the Dolphins do have play makers on their roster, so they can compete and win against mediocre or sub-par teams. However, a true playoff team needs to be able to win against other teams that have winning records. In that regard the Dolphins are 1-4 against teams with winning records. Once again this problem comes back to being able to win against their division foes, because those teams have each made improvements from last year, whereas the Dolphins are still treading water, and playing like a middle of the road 8-8 type of team, that is still searching for it’s identity.
Just based on this analysis of their record, there is evidence that there’s not many very good football teams in the league right now, and most of the teams are around the same mediocre level. However, with the best franchise in the league is in their division as well as two young and competitive teams are also in their division, the Dolphins need to be far more than mediocre to become a relevant football team in the NFL going forward. What does the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans think about the Dolphins chances for success in their own division?
Jimmy, you are completely correct. I have been saying all along that this team NEVER addressed fully the areas to compete within our own division. No OG upgrades. No LB’s upgrades, just to name a few. Campbell wants this team to play more physical, however, right now, the team is not really built that way. I said from day one before training camp that if the team did not upgrade at least one (1) of the OG’s and secure a quality MLB, they would have a very tough time competing against the Bills, Jets, and Pats. You have to win in your own division first to have a shot at the playoff, and this team did nothing other than Suh to address these issues. Right now, our OL and DL don’t stack up to our division foes. Plain and simple. This team would be very lucky to be 1-5 in our division. The lone win coming vs. Pats who may very well not need the final game of the year in Miami since they will most likely have home field advantage locked up. Bellicheat will most likely bench most of his starters and play a conservative game. He won’t care if Miami wins. What are your thoughts? Steve.
Yeah brother, most teams design themselves to beat div. foes…doesn’t seem Miami does it…or has been too inept to do it right. Still don’t know why they havent drafted to slow down Gronk. As far a OL, we have just struck out soooooo badly on that front using high picks its near pathetic. Think of all the 1st and 2nd picks we have used and we have not nearly enough to show for it. We had to go to FA to get a LT. Basically 10 plus years of bad player acquisition is killing us…then again maybe its been that long of bad coaching that has nt coached up good talent…a la all the talent let go that works elsewhere.
Well…fins are not an 8-8, maybe at best 7-9 but dont be surprised with 6-10.
As far as player personnel, what the hell has this franchise been doing all these years?
No LBers, No OL (one gimpy LT, one rookie/2nd year RT, two weak ass OG’s, and a C that cant snap the ball when the QB wants it).
No shut down CB, only one S, and a QB that cant call audibles nor see backside blitzes.
And you wonder why we suck?
Jimmy, you are completely correct. I have been saying all along that this team NEVER addressed fully the areas to compete within our own division. No OG upgrades. No LB’s upgrades, just to name a few. Campbell wants this team to play more physical, however, right now, the team is not really built that way. I said from day one before training camp that if the team did not upgrade at least one (1) of the OG’s and secure a quality MLB, they would have a very tough time competing against the Bills, Jets, and Pats. You have to win in your own division first to have a shot at the playoff, and this team did nothing other than Suh to address these issues. Right now, our OL and DL don’t stack up to our division foes. Plain and simple. This team would be very lucky to be 1-5 in our division. The lone win coming vs. Pats who may very well not need the final game of the year in Miami since they will most likely have home field advantage locked up. Bellicheat will most likely bench most of his starters and play a conservative game. He won’t care if Miami wins. What are your thoughts? Steve.
Yeah brother, most teams design themselves to beat div. foes…doesn’t seem Miami does it…or has been too inept to do it right. Still don’t know why they havent drafted to slow down Gronk. As far a OL, we have just struck out soooooo badly on that front using high picks its near pathetic. Think of all the 1st and 2nd picks we have used and we have not nearly enough to show for it. We had to go to FA to get a LT. Basically 10 plus years of bad player acquisition is killing us…then again maybe its been that long of bad coaching that has nt coached up good talent…a la all the talent let go that works elsewhere.