2007 Rankings
Rushing: 23rd (98.1)
Passing: 24th (189.4)
Total Offense: 28th (287.5)
Run Defense: 32nd (153.5)
Pass Defense: 4th (188.7)
Total Defense: 23rd (342.2)
What was the Dolphins’ best move during the offseason?
Turning this team over to new Executive Vice President of Football Operations Bill Parcells was the best thing the Miami Dolphins could have done following a season that was a complete and utter embarrassment to the franchise and its fans. Parcells has a history of rebuilding downtrodden teams and restocking them with young talented players, and you can already see his hand at work with this team in the limited preseason action they have seen thus far.
Picking up veteran quarterback Chad Pennington could turn out to be the best acquisition as far as player personnel is concerned. As long as he stays healthy, he immediately upgrades the most important position on the field, and his experience and leadership should be invaluable as Parcells continues to rebuild the franchise from the ground up.
What needs to go right for the Dolphins to succeed this season?
It’s far too much to ask Parcells to turn this team into an immediate contender in a tough AFC, so success for this squad will be measured in ways other than in the win-loss column. The presence of Pennington will Make Parcells’ job easier. The fact that running back Ricky Williams appears to be taking his job seriously, and actually appears to be running the ball very well, should help mask some deficiencies of the offensive side of the ball as well.
Defensively, the Dolphins were last in the league at stopping the run in 2007, which means there’s just about nowhere to go but up in that aspect of their game. Defensive tackle Jason Ferguson and linebacker Akin Ayodele, both brought over from the Dallas Cowboys by Parcells, should help somewhat in that area, but overall as a defense, this unit has a long way to go.
Where will the Dolphins finish the 2008 NFL season?
Miami is a long way from contention and may not show much improvement in the win column this year, but the players will buy into Parcells’ philosophy or they’ll be show the door. As the roster continues to turn over with the new talent brought in by Parcells, the team will continue to get better. But unless The Tuna is truly a miracle worker, this team is destined to spend another season in the AFC East basement. But brighter days should be on their way in the not-too-distant future.
Prediction: 5-11 and last in the AFC East.
