Playoffs ended in a ugly fashion, but what matters now is the fortunes of the future.
While the Miami Dolphins beat the odds for the season, the expectations of a thorough beat down by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Postseason was not — not even close.
The Steelers played a near perfect 1st Quarter, and the Miami Dolphins usual cold 1 Qtrs were as cold as the weather in their first playoff game in 8 years.
We all know the rest.
The only relevant concern now is the off-season?
As a quick pat on the back for the fans and the franchise, the team showed heart and resiliency all season. And probably most importantly, it appears that we have finally found the right Head Coach to get this team to where we all want to be.
And that H.C. cornerstone of Adam Gase is the key to having hope for the future.
In Gase’s post conference interview, he said that after the game he told his guys that he hopes they all remember this terrible feeling, so they can take this as motivation to work hard and get back to the playoffs –and make sure that feeling of loss does not happen again. For many of these Dolphin players it was their first taste of the Playoffs, and even though it was a bitter taste, it was still a taste.
Drug addicts need just a taste to have a relapse, so hopefully these Dolphin players will be similar and use this experience to be addicts of success by doing what it takes to earn more Playoff games.
Playoff games are won by good rosters run by good coaches.
Will Miami, from V.P. to G.M. to H.C. and most importantly the players, be hungry this 2017 season?
Even with an excellent H.C. , in order to build future success, it will mostly come down to talent.
A lot of fans are saying the future is bright. Some are saying, I don’t know. Some are even saying with a tough schedule next year, it won’t be pretty.
The reality is, if they have at least a good off-season, then they will succeed.
Conversely, if they fail this off-season, then it will be rough with equal degree of their talent acquisition short comings.
But, the key is not simply bringing in talent, but talent in needed areas: of which they have more than a few.
A lot of us questioned Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier in last years off-season. And while mistakes were made, they brought in some good players, brought back cap integrity, and made some good moves.
Even the best pay per head bookie service would agree it’s fair to say that Miami’s Front Office had a good off-season.
Of course, the devil’s advocate would say they had Laremy Tunsil thrown into their lap, and they spent 3 mid-round picks on Leonte Carroo who didn’t do much in 2016, and the back end of their draft hasn’t panned out yet.
Draft can’t be judged for a few years, so time will tell.
But, this will be a crucial moment for all involved. They will need 2016’s talent to step up and 2017’s talent to contribute immediately. If they nail these next few months and give Gase decent dose of talent, then 2016 will simply be a stepping stone to greater things in 2017. Bring on Free Agency and the Draft. Despite it’s end, this was a good year fans. Go Fins!!!
What it is, Jimmy sends me article…I ‘edit’ and add what I think he ‘missed’. Since I do most of the responding these days..ahem…cough..cough…it’s my due to turn the article the way I see it. So, if he sends me something, I label it as his. –even if I add my 2 cents on it. If it’s all mine, I put M.J…formerly known as Admin. But, you were right, I added about 30% on this one…this is Jimmy’s ship, but he is so busy these days, I mostly spin the wheel — and as Kato, I also do his dishes, windows and wash his car on occasion 🙂
And last, I always forget to put the author up…so, by default it comes out as Admin…so much to do, so little time — and brain power.
Wow, brother appreciate it….but, truth is, I was sucking at editing for a bit. Then, I realized my eyesight was shot…got glass, and it’s gotten a bit better. I appreciate it alot though, Fritz. And thanks for contributing — you nailed it on Williams. Gase is a nice guy.
…to be honest, mj, I’m not so hot on the FO’s record last off season ….Maxwell and Alonzo were ok, Williams and Foster, not so much
…as for the draft, three blind mice would have taken Tunsil after his fall …Caroo and Drake did not show as pups …and the QB is on the practice squad
…it looks like they did get the HC pick right, finally …and I think he will have a lot more say this time around, …but then he has some staff problems of his own to work out
…anyone ready to see Rex as the new DC? 🙂
…ok, ok, stop with the hate mail already! …sheesh.
Well, I’ll look at first tier: Tunsil, but he fell in their lap and add kiko and Maxwell. Howard was solid. Drake won a game and contributed but would be bellow avg. Carroo is an unknown, but they used alot of picks for…s0, he’s a ? Grant won a game this year, so for a 6th that’s push and Doughty is another ? This was a solid draft, unless Carroo is a bust. FA: Bushrod did well, Quddus was above average, Urbick was above average, Branch was above average. Rambo filled in but was avg. Young was avg. given he played out of position, Butler was avg. Jones was below avg, Steen filled in for a few games, but overall below avg. Mario was a bust. and so was foster.
So, big Winners = Tunsil, Kiko, Quddus Winners; Maxwell, Bushrod, Urbick, Branch, Howard, solid = Rambo, Butler, Below average = Jones, Steen, Young, Drake, Carroo (could be better or worse time will tell), Grant (but given he was a 6th and won a game which gave them 10 wins and Playoffs I’d say he is higher even he never plays again), Busts Foster and Williams.
Late round picks are filler or gone….does Doughty develop? you got 8 starters from outside sources this year. So, i’d say that’s good. Not to mention you controlled your cap. kiko had a good year 115 tackles, 2 picks 4 FR, 1FF, 4PD..that’s a good year — not great. Now, I agree they had some luck this year…doubt they’ll get that kind of luck again.
…yeah, you can write it either way …me, I don’t like Tannenbaum or his prior record and believe the credit for this year belongs at Gase’s door
…Tannenbaum fell into a potential HoF draftee …and yes, Gase got a couple good plays out of Drake and Grant …but that’s like thinking Thomas is ever going to be more than a backup because he saved us from a 0-16 record as a rookie with a lucky interception …just not buying it
…as for the cap, he was the one that put us in cap he’ll in the first place …so lets not give him a pat on the back for a job that is no where near done …he gets Suh and TH to do a cap friendly restructure …and signs Jones without busting the bank, then I might reconsider …fat chance imnsho, eh 😄
…you made your case well though, I’ll give you that 👍
What it is, Jimmy sends me article…I ‘edit’ and add what I think he ‘missed’. Since I do most of the responding these days..ahem…cough..cough…it’s my due to turn the article the way I see it. So, if he sends me something, I label it as his. –even if I add my 2 cents on it. If it’s all mine, I put M.J…formerly known as Admin. But, you were right, I added about 30% on this one…this is Jimmy’s ship, but he is so busy these days, I mostly spin the wheel — and as Kato, I also do his dishes, windows and wash his car on occasion 🙂
And last, I always forget to put the author up…so, by default it comes out as Admin…so much to do, so little time — and brain power.
You did a great job this year. Thank you
Wow, brother appreciate it….but, truth is, I was sucking at editing for a bit. Then, I realized my eyesight was shot…got glass, and it’s gotten a bit better. I appreciate it alot though, Fritz. And thanks for contributing — you nailed it on
Williams. Gase is a nice guy.
…to be honest, mj, I’m not so hot on the FO’s record last off season ….Maxwell and Alonzo were ok, Williams and Foster, not so much
…as for the draft, three blind mice would have taken Tunsil after his fall …Caroo and Drake did not show as pups …and the QB is on the practice squad
…it looks like they did get the HC pick right, finally …and I think he will have a lot more say this time around, …but then he has some staff problems of his own to work out
…anyone ready to see Rex as the new DC? 🙂
…ok, ok, stop with the hate mail already! …sheesh.
Just FYI Admin = M.J. 🙂
Well, I’ll look at first tier: Tunsil, but he fell in their lap and add kiko and Maxwell. Howard was solid. Drake won a game and contributed but would be bellow avg. Carroo is an unknown, but they used alot of picks for…s0, he’s a ? Grant won a game this year, so for a 6th that’s push and Doughty is another ? This was a solid draft, unless Carroo is a bust.
FA: Bushrod did well, Quddus was above average, Urbick was above average, Branch was above average. Rambo filled in but was avg. Young was avg. given he played out of position, Butler was avg. Jones was below avg, Steen filled in for a few games, but overall below avg. Mario was a bust. and so was foster.
So, big Winners = Tunsil, Kiko, Quddus
Winners; Maxwell, Bushrod, Urbick, Branch, Howard,
solid = Rambo, Butler,
Below average = Jones, Steen, Young, Drake, Carroo (could be better or worse time will tell), Grant (but given he was a 6th and won a game which gave them 10 wins and Playoffs I’d say he is higher even he never plays again),
Busts Foster and Williams.
Late round picks are filler or gone….does Doughty develop? you got 8 starters from outside sources this year. So, i’d say that’s good. Not to mention you controlled your cap. kiko had a good year 115 tackles, 2 picks 4 FR, 1FF, 4PD..that’s a good year — not great. Now, I agree they had some luck this year…doubt they’ll get that kind of luck again.
…could have sworn it was your tag on the story 😱
…yeah, you can write it either way …me, I don’t like Tannenbaum or his prior record and believe the credit for this year belongs at Gase’s door
…Tannenbaum fell into a potential HoF draftee …and yes, Gase got a couple good plays out of Drake and Grant …but that’s like thinking Thomas is ever going to be more than a backup because he saved us from a 0-16 record as a rookie with a lucky interception …just not buying it
…as for the cap, he was the one that put us in cap he’ll in the first place …so lets not give him a pat on the back for a job that is no where near done …he gets Suh and TH to do a cap friendly restructure …and signs Jones without busting the bank, then I might reconsider …fat chance imnsho, eh 😄
…you made your case well though, I’ll give you that 👍