3-8…..Some fans can take the high road and remain optimist but I have chosen to see this season for what it really is, a big disappointment. The Dolphins started 0-7 arriving way too late to the party before rallying for a couple of wins and taking themselves out of the Suck for Luck sweepstakes.

Currently the Dolphins stand at 3-8 and in position to be drafting 5^th overall. Obviously there is no way to predict how the season will end and where the Dolphins will officially be on the draft board but hey, one can have some fun.

Hopefully the 13 year tradition of not drafting a QB in the first round has ended. This year’s QB class as most of you already know is a pretty darn good one.

Andrew Luck leads the way as the clear number one pick, followed by a debate on whether Robert Griffin the third (RG3) or Matt Barkley will go next. Both QB’s seem like prime time NFL prospect and have a shot at being really good NFL players down the road. Landry Jones is a little bit behind having his stock drop a little this year but still makes a strong case to be a top 10 draft pick. Ryan Tannehill will be a border line 1^st rounder but seems like an adequate project for a team looking for a solution long term at QB.

The Dolphins will have some competition in terms of drafting a QB, most likely coming from Washington, Seattle and Cleveland. It appears all but a certainty that Andrew Luck will go number 1 to Indy leaving them out of the conversation. I can live without Luck if the Dolphins snatch Barkley. Watching Barkley put one thought in my mind : Drew Brees !

 

Washington is sitting at 4-7 with winnable games against Minnesota and Philadelphia still on the schedule, if the Skins can manage one more win 5-11 could put them at a higher picker then the Dolphins giving them the Phins the choice of RG3 or Barkley. Washington is the Dolphins biggest threat at this point in terms of the draft. RG3 would seem to fit more into Shanny's system then a guy like Barkley or Jones but who knows. 

Seattle now 5-7 coming off a big Thursday win still plays St Louis and Arizona and one would have to think they will finish with at least 6 wins this year which most likely will take them out of the top 8. Pete obviously has connections within USC and probably would love the chance to connect with Barkley.

Cleveland is 4-7 and only really has one winnable game on their schedule being Arizona.  The Browns get Pittsburg twice and Baltimore, so anything more then 5-11 might be a stretch. The Browns have other needs but could be a real dark horse in terms of going after RG3 or Barkley.



 

An outside player in this might also be Kansas City also at 4-7. I wouldn't be suprised if this was the landing spot for Landry Jones. 

Arizona and Minnesota and Jacksonville are three other teams in the pits however they seem to have their QB situation figured out at least for the time being and most likely would address other needs.

No one really knows what will be for the Dolphins down the stretch as 6-10 is a possibility but so is 3-13. While I never will be rooting for a Dolphins loss, I think it is pretty clear to most rational fans that this team is better off with Barkley or RG3 going forward.

My hope is that the Dolphins can land a top 8 pick and have the option between the two, but usually my hopes for the Dolphins are unfulfilled so we shall see.

I said I would not do this in one of my twitter posts, but I really have to now.  I said I would refrain from playing NFL front office, but I will.

Things are heating up in the way of college coaching black Monday if you will.  There are at least 10 new job openings for NCAA Division 1A coaching positions and soon there will be more.

The aftermath after a dismal performance in Dallas is that the Dolphins are no longer going to have a winning season and at best they can win maybe 1 or 2 more games. 

But, why do so now?  Why put in the hard work? Why have the players play for 8-8?

Why stay with the coach who will no longer be the coach after this season?

Why stay with the QB who will not be better than he is already?  Better is being 3 for 4 in the red zone as opposed to 0-4. 

Better is driving a team down the field and taking advantage of two early turnovers in the first half.

Matt Moore, thanks for keeping the seat warm, and now it's your job to train Mr. Rookie QB (The face of the franchise).

The best we will see Matt Moore is what we have seen already. 

Let´s move on.  Let´s not continue with this charade of hoping that the Dolphins can capture lightning in a bottle to go 8-8. 

I have as much Dolphin pride as any Dolphin fan and I can´t stand losing, but I really also want to find a way of starting over. 

I really want a GM (A tireless worker with a track record of evaluating talent), Head Coach with a proven track record of coaching in the NFL, and a QB that can start right away.  It would be fine for the QB to take bumps and bruises and learn how to win in this league with the support of a good running back and the leadership at wide receiver already in place. 

To get there, the Dolphins are going to have to find a way to part ways with Tony Sparano sooner rather than later, maybe after this week. 

Sparano is a hard-nosed, but yet staunch defender of his players.  In the NFL, players are expected to work hard because they are professional.  They are also expected to win and 0-7 is awful in the NFL.  It's as bad of start that a team can have and to turn it around is a monumental undertaking.  

 In college it´s acceptable to win only 6 or 7 games and make a bowl game for some programs.  Let´s have Tony look for an opportunity as a Head Coach in college this time and place an assistant such as Mike Nolan or Karl Dorrell as the interim coach for the final remaining games. 

Let´s do the right thing Mr. Ross, let´s make a change for the better and get your man in place by the end of the season!

Sucker punched four times. 

Knocked onto the canvas, no rope in sight. 

Blows the head, stomach, and side. 

Double zero, the final knock-out. 

Everything has finally come to an end for the Miami Dolphins and all the Dolfans who believed that 9-7 was a possibility. 

How the Dolphins were going to miraculously pull a Tebow and bring back the franchise, get to the playoffs, and win a Super Bowl at 9-7.  (Tebow is the only explanation I can use right now unless he starts to lose.)

How Tony Sparano would be a cult hero in the streets of Miami as children play in a park and rec center named after him.

How Matt Moore would be the face of the United Way commercials like every QB of yesteryear.

Those were the lofty expectations that surrounded the halls of the Davie headquarters and the mood that swirled the pages of the Herald and Sun Sentinel.

Ok...maybe not the Super Bowl, but Jim Nantz and Phil Sims acknowledged for the first time that this Miami team was a tough bunch of guys that were learning how to win and maybe just maybe they would earn that respect by running the table.

So, what now?  8-8?  8-8 screams Jimmy Johnson's first season with a win in St. Louis versus a terrible Rams team.  8-8 screams NFC West and not making the playoffs (St. Louis last year). 

8-8 is not what the halls of Davie and the offices of our beloved owner should be focusing on. 

The Dolphins need to now wake up today, realize that everything they fought for was because they themselves pushed the envelope too far.  They pushed the coaches too far about doing it their way only to realize that they fell flat on their face yesterday.  They all tried to be heroes and became goats.

That drive was capped with a Texas Style ground and pound like Emmit Smith once did or Tony Dorsett or anyone before them. 

I am frankly very disappointed and my thanksgiving turkey gave me such indigestion because it was hard to swallow this loss.
This loss was so magnifying because it had such an "I told you so" element from Jerry Jones who knew he lost a good O-line coach and good scout.    (Sparano and Ireland) But never bothered to blink when both Ireland and Sparano were gone to Miami.  Jerry responded clearly with an even better team, a team with talent.

The end of this regime is near and not one Dolfan, Dolphin player, or current scout can change at this moment.

Dismal is the title of this post because we are back in the doldrums of the Dolphins losing ways.

Don't get me wrong, there are some glaring issues with the Miami Dolphins.  The fact that the Dolphins could be heading to near mediocre status is nothing new in the last 10 years.

However, here are the aspects of the team that I really like and can appreciate as a Dolfan.

1.  Charles Clay: as that H-Back threat.  Last week we saw why Charles Clay was drafted and what he brings to the table.  He brings speed at his position and hands.  He brings a Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins type of player to the Dolphins.  Combined with Anthony Fasano as threat, that combination can be special.  Charles Clay can be set out wide or off the line.  I like him in a play as a TE screen.  Will we see him go Keith Byars 1993 versus Dallas on us???  I sure hope so.

2.  Reggie Bush: He can continue to thrive if he's being used in space.  When Reggie turns up field and has nothing but green turf/grass in front of him, he shows you what he can do.  He has the speed and agility to make defenders miss.  It's actually quite comical when defenders are flying and flailing to catch him.  Reggie has also shown he can catch the ball out of the backfield.  Will he rush for 200 yards in a game?  No, but he will threaten a defense because you never know where he will be. 

3.  Matt Moore: Matt Moore has been a very productive QB and has thrived in this offense.  You can't discount that he has gotten better and shown greater efficiency every week.  He rebounded from the Jets game to the Chiefs game where he threw for 3 TDs and no interceptions.  Matt Moore has also showed leadership and earned the respect of Jake Long and others which helps with team chemistry when you win.  The key for Matt Moore to be the guy in Miami is to throw for 3TDs versus Dallas.  Is he better than Romo?  Romo is 18-2 in November.  Moore is headed that direction.   

4. Brandon Marshall: Right now, I like Brandon Marshall on first and second down.  I like his chances in the redzone, but he has to catch the ball.  He's still a very real threat.  I believe he has something in store for the Cowboys.  If he scores, I encourage him to go T.O. and spike the football on that stupid star at midfield. 

5. Jimmy Wilson:  I know he's a young player, but he is a total stud.  He hits with a fury and he loves to play defense.  Not to mention, he's fast and in 3rd down or nickel packages he can change the game.  Yes, as a CB he's been beat, but I will take this 7th round talent any day and count on him to make a stop more than Sean Smith.  Is he better than Jimmy Smith of Baltimore?  It sure looks like the Dolphins drafted the better Jimmy.  At least Jimmy Smith can hold on to the ball after an interception.

(Tied for 5th):  The Dolphin secondary:  Much beleaguered to start the season.  They have become a physical bunch.  I am starting to believe that most teams do not want to throw into the secondary with Yeremiah Bell and Tyrone Culver running like a freight train at a "defenseless" receiver.  Having Vontae back has taken away the deep threat for teams that like to go deep. 

(Tied for 5th):  Jared Odrick:  I am starting to see why the Dolphins drafted down to get him in 2010.  However, I want to see more.  I want to see him get more sacks and would be curious to see if he can stop the run more frequently.  Is the 3-4 the best D for him?  I believe that the 4-3 might suit him more because he would have more freedom to pass rush from the outside.  Jared Odrick's dance ranks up there with the best of them after a sack.  He made it his own, even though it's Pee Wee Herman's dance.  Classic.   

So, there you have it.  5 things that I really like.  After tomorrow's game v. Dallas, I am hoping there will be Moore of more.  A totally pounding of the Cowboys offense that they'll have to peel their line and QB off of the turf like the decals on their helmets!

This blog might be a little hypocritical because I live in Montreal, Canada and I only attend 2-3 Dolphins games a year however can Dolfans start showing a little more love. This Sunday in a home blow out against the Bills the Dolphins improved to winning their 3^rd straight game however no one was their to witness it.  The crowd was non existent and I don’t mean that because they were quiet, I literally mean there was hardly a crowd.

 

I know this is a frustrating team to follow but when you’re a fan you have to stay loyal and support your team. So I encourage all Dolphins fans, if it is financially within your means and if you have the time to do so please make an effort to go to Dolphins game so I don’t have to be continually embarrassed by the empty quiet stadiums at Sun Life.

Note to Steve Ross, stop with the celebrity ownership stupidity and do something about this issue and create fan excitement and put the fans back in the seats where they belong.

That’s all for now! Fins Up!