Did anyone else sit through the Bills-Dolphins shambles on Sunday? I had really high hopes for the Fins this year, but after a so-so start against the Steelers, we just looked dire against the Bills. The pass protection just wasn't there for most of the match and even when he did get a bit of time, Culpepper was all over the place. Even McMichael got infected as he dropped an easy catch (I guess he was just surprised that Culpepper managed to get the ball away!). Got to question some of the calling as well - Ronnie Brown was the only thing working on that offence, so why didn't they give him the ball more often?! Would've taken the heat off Culpepper a bit if nothing else.

Anyway, rant over. It's early days and there are still 14 games to turn things around, but there's a lot to turn around there! I know there are a few other Dolphin fans on this forum, so just wondered what they thought?!

As a Vikes fan you're welcome to Culpepper. Happy to see him playing much like last season. As much as I'd liked to see us get more for him, he made noises to leave while rehabbing after a dreadfull season. Childress looks to have made a smart move turning to the "Old Man" in Johnson. Early days though.

I'm fearfull though that our decent chances this season are slipping as defensive injuries mount up.

I'm a Dolphins supporter and yes I sat through the game.  We were quite simply pathetic in almost all aspects.  Unlike many, I did not have high hopes for this season and fully expected us to have a losing season.  Signing Culpepper was not a good move.  He is not healthy in my view and his lack of mobility makes him a shadow of his former self (when he was over-rated anyway).  Admittedly, he is not helped by whar looks to be a pretty shocking O Line.

So, we have a poor O Line, nothing great at QB, only 1 WR of note (though he is very good) and a defense that is steadily again and not as good as it was.  In particular, the secondary is very ordinary.  Other than that, things are great.

I must also comment on the coach who was being regarded as some sort of genius.  I just don't see it and seeing him applaud on the sidelines (I know it is to try and encourage) after yet another bad play has eerie similarities to the man who descended the Dolphins into their current mire - Dave Wannstedt.  I also agree on Jon's comments re playcalling.  There continues to be no direction to the franchise which may not all be Saban's fault but we are miles away.

I wonder if there are many people still tipping us to win the division from the Patriots?  I see 6-10 or 7-9.  Another happy season for Dolphin supporters!!

It looks to me like we are heading for another mediocre season too, probably just breaking 0.500.  I don't know where all these high hopes at the beginning of the season were coming from, I think the Dolphins were ranked as a top 4 team in the AFC by most pre-season pundits, I still think we're some way off being a contender...I don't see Culpepper as a QB that can take a team deep into the playoffs.  

--Last edited by Mikep on 2006-09-20 07:59:07 --

I think a lot of it was based on getting Culpepper at QB. A lot of pundits seem to overlook just how bad he was for the Vikes last season. Observations in Minnesota was that he decision making had become very bad. Our OL may have been a little down and our WRs still trying to find identities but Johnson showed poise where Culpepper fumbled or threw picks.

I think a few people thought the Vikings sold him cheap and we possibly did. I think we were a little forced there by circumstances.

I'm far more comfortable having lost Culpepper, starting with Johnson and getting Richardson, Taylor, and Hutchinson.

gees, how many fins fans are there? Their as bad as Dallas- hogging all the fans!

Week 2 is abit early to be bagging your teams folks, <sigh> at least fans of less popular teams are real fans and won't start wailing after 1 loss! Get a grip folks!



{tongue firmly in cheek}

Could be worse, you could be a Lions fan!  

Alex, Alex (tongue firmly in cheek here as well),

It's never too early for me to start writing off my Dolphins chances!! I was writing them off before the season even started!  I have a love-hate relationship with my team.  I would love them to be winning but I get some perverse (oo-er!) pleasure out of seeing our constant struggles.

Kind rgds, Ian

If you think the Dolphins are bad you should try being an Arizona Cardinals fan, like me.

I've followed them since 1981 and they are the most underperforming franchise over the past 20 seasons. At least you Dolphins have won something in that time!

GO ALAN!!!

ANOTHER CARDINALS FAN!!!

THAT MAKES THREE THAT I AM AWARE OF (APPLE IS THE OTHER ONE)!!!

Well I take perverse pleasure in us not making the Superbowl so we can't lose again! At least we're tied with the Bills now.

We had some great offences of late but managed to fail before the big dance thank goodness.

Keep the faith Fins fans! It has been a most disappointing start to the season.  I felt we should have nail the Steelers in week 1 despite all the mistakes, not many excuses for the inept perfomance in the home opener vs the Bills mind you.  Not sure how we lost that one, especially when we nearly doubled thier offensive yardage!

Dunate has struggled, but he needs some time.  he has been rusty, but i felt for most of the game vs Pitt that he was really good.  He is still struggling for mobility which is not helping his cause.  I think the doomsayers are getting in a little ealry on him.  Our OL has really struggled again, but like last season will improve as they cohesion comes with more game time.  the odds are against us to make the playoffs already, something like only 12% of teams this century have made postseason after such a sloppy start, but on the good side one of those few won a SB!

We will bounce back.  

No offence Dave but I think you're being over optimistic with Culpepper.  He didn't look bad for a while against the Steelers but they were just stacking against the run so he should have been.  Also, their pass D is notoriously bad early in the season.

I have a very good reason why we lost to the Bills - we were absolutely crap and did nothing of any note on either side of the ball!  We might have doubled their yards but 'lies, damn lies and statistics' comes to mind.

I'm sure we will bounce back but no idea when.  On Channel 4 in Britain, Nicky Horne (presenter of the show) said the famous words that the Dolphins 'would be back' after our SB loss to the Niners.  I'm still waiting......  I blame him really - I think he has put a jinx on us!?!??!

Kind rgds, Ian

Jinx, yeah that'd be it  

--Last edited by alex on 2006-09-23 15:16:35 --