FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It is cold. There is fallen snow on the ground. And playoff football is in the air. As in years past, The Miami Herald will be at the NFL playoffs watching other teams play while the Dolphins ...
... Well, they're watching just like you and me. Actually, I'm closer to being in the playoffs than the Dolphins. At least I'm in the stadium.
I'm covering the Jets at New England today.
You remember the Jets and New England, right? They're the two teams that finished ahead of the Dolphins in the division. They're the teams the Dolphins must pass in 2011 to get to the playoffs.
So we should watch and see what the task might be like. There will be a live blog here starting at 4:30 this afternoon.
In the meantime, I would ask you to check out my Sunday column. It makes the point that Miami faces a tougher job in getting past the 2010 season than it did in the 2007 season. Yes, I know the Dolphins were 1-15 in 2007 and were 7-9 in 2010. And I repeat, the assignment is tougher now.
I explain why in the column, but suffice to say one of the reasons is the folks trying to turn things around don't have the luxury of working with the benefit of a honeymoon now.
Some extra things I did not have room to mention in the column that makes overcoming 2010 might be harder than overcoming 2007:
After four years of tooling and retooling and retooling again along the offensive line, the Dolphins have to, you guessed it, address the offensive line once more. They need a center and maybe a right tackle.
And they need to dump that idea of picking players who mostly offer position flexibility but no position consistency. Here’s a crazy idea: Rather than find a mediocre player that can play guard and center, how about finding a really good starting center and leaving him there until he retires?
The Dolphins need to upgrade the tight end position. Last year they loved Tony Moeaki and Dennis Pitta in the draft but couldn’t land either. They really must upgrade the spot this year or once again the red zone troubles that plagued in 2010 will haunt another year.
As I touch upon in the column, coach Tony Sparano, already fixing his rift with general manager Jeff Ireland, must broker a fix between receiver Brandon Marshall and quarterback Chad Henne.
Yes, Henne is very likely going to return in 2011. The Dolphins would be unwise to anoint him their starter and probably will not, but I doubt they will simply dump him. And unless an experienced, talented veteran can be added, it is unlikely any rookie Miami finds will be immediately ready to supplant Henne.
So you might find yourself with Henne under center in 2011. Again. Marshall might find himself with Henne under center. Again.
That’s not a comfortable spot. The receiver openly criticized his quarterback the last few weeks and in some cases he was right to do so. But Marshall never admitted that sometimes he blows his assignments and runs the wrong routes and causes problems that sometimes get blamed on Henne.
Both players need help. Both need improvement. And in 2011, both may be surprised to learn they need each other again.
Crazy right?
See you at the live playoffs blog.
Po, I take no pleasure being right Po. I would have loved to have been wrong.
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2011 at 07:21 PM
ya and where is Quinn today?
Posted by: Dan The Man | January 16, 2011 at 07:21 PM
2 year for ryan and sanchez....2 AFC Championship games......
i'm gonna be sick....
Posted by: Kris | January 16, 2011 at 07:21 PM
This regime would do better in the draft...any draft if it simply used MEL KIPERS draft board at each draft....we would be miles ahead....and that is actually TRUE...
Shows how bad our FO has been the last 10 years......they cannot DRAFT to save themselves
Hate the JETS
Posted by: bigalfy | January 16, 2011 at 07:22 PM
DB, you have one heck of an imagination. Nothing will help us next year. We'll still be much worse than both teams...Especially since the Pats have like 10000 picks
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:22 PM
ya and where is Quinn today?
Posted by: Dan The Man | January 16, 2011 at 07:22 PM
Pats losing doesn't help the fins, it moves them up in the draft.....
Posted by: kali | January 16, 2011 at 07:23 PM
Armando -
What's your gut feeling on this upcoming year.
Do you think there's a chance of the Dolphins fielding a decent team.
or
Are we just fooling ourselves now until we make changes at the top (GM,Coach)
I know the answer would be different if it wasn't for the Harbaugh fiasco, but as you stated prior in this blog it may be hard to lure a quality OC with the instability of the team in general.
Posted by: NHDolphan | January 16, 2011 at 07:23 PM
THE RIGHT TEAM FOR THE 2011 MIAMI DOLPHINS FORTUNES IS LOSING RIGHT NOW! LOL..........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:23 PM
Nope......
F*ck the Jets.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:23 PM
The wet naps are falling
Posted by: Dan The Man | January 16, 2011 at 07:24 PM
DB...what if the JEST win the whole shabangggg...the SuperBowl...what will you say then?....that it was good...DB..I respect you but NEVER EVER support those green maggots
We need a QB
Posted by: bigalfy | January 16, 2011 at 07:26 PM
NH, the Dolphins fielded a "decent" team last season. 7-9 is not terrible. It's not 1-15. It's about mediocre.
The truth is I just have a hard time seeing the Dolphins making up all the ground they need to make up on the Jets and Pats in one year. And that makes it hard to become a playoff team.
Posted by: Armando Salguero | January 16, 2011 at 07:26 PM
You tell em bigalfy!!!!
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:27 PM
KRAFT JUST LOST ABOUT 140 MILLION DOLLARS AS RESULT OF THAT DEFEAT .
BIGALFY.........BEEF STRAGANOFF IS BETTER .
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Marc,
Would you rather the Pats be coming off of a 2011 SB victory with 1,000 draft picks in hand?
Losing to a 3rd straight wildcard opponent severely tarnishes that aura of invincibility next season. Like I said, next season we need every single little edge that we can get.
Still also too soon to determine what we will be next season. Especially without free agency and the draft failing to come to pass as of yet. Are you sure you're a fan or feign?
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Dolphins should have been 11-5 this year just had the bad reffs and the ball bounce the wrong way
Posted by: Dan The Man | January 16, 2011 at 07:28 PM
Armando....you have influence...can you do a comparison of how we would look if we had of drafted using MEL KIPER over the last 3 years?...i mean this FO is poor at best with the draft...
This FO cannot build via the draft....
Please LOSE jets.!
Posted by: bigalfy | January 16, 2011 at 07:28 PM
REX RAYN DID A GOOD JOB LIMITING SANCHEZ INT'S
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:29 PM
Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll tie...Would that mean they both lose?
How about the new ghey college rules playoff OT rules?
Ghey, I say
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:30 PM
BigAlfy,
I hate the Jets too. But when it comes to best interests of my team Im just as big a Pats hater. Steelers take home all of the marbles this year.
FYI, I hate every team that is not the Miami Dolphins that wins the SB! I have no preferences. LOL.............
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:31 PM
Aloco...try Stroganoff with baked potatoes with rosemary....nice.!
Posted by: bigalfy | January 16, 2011 at 07:32 PM
THE BLAck magic of the dolphins ARMANDO brought it up WITH HIM to BOSTON .
ARMANDO, DID YOU BOOK ANY ONE YET FOR THE RADIO SHOW TOMORROW ?
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:32 PM
DB, you just have all of these unfounded theories, it's cute...
The Pats will be the team to beat in the division next year, as they were this year whether or not they win this game.
And, unless we make a move for Manning we won't compete with either...
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Go Steelers!!!!!
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:32 PM
Game over
Posted by: cocoajoe | January 16, 2011 at 07:33 PM
How does that happen?
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
I LOVE SEEING ROGERS WINS IT ALL
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
ITS A WRAP! THE GREAT BELICHICK JUST BECAME ONE GAME CLOSER TO BEING MORTAL! LOL.........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Its a cruel cruel world...........
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:34 PM
Good night the partys over
Posted by: Dan The Man | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 PM
KA................CHING! LOL..................
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Vomit! Puke! Vomit!
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 PM
NOW JETS GO TO STEELERS WHO MUST BE VERY HAPPY RIGHT NOW
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Can anyone believe the JETS...????....and we criticised them for buying so aggressively....wont work....your mortgaging the future...you build from the inside out and all that BS...
You gotta get PLAYMAKERS....you need to SCORE
Our drafts obtain soldiers only...no PLAYMAKERS
Id prefer KIPER to draft and keep it at that..
Hed probably do better....any one of us could..
You know what?...even if we picked the next BEST RATED dude, we would do better and even if we knew jack shyte about him.....next best on the board gets the nod....we'd be in the playoffs by now...
Dirty Jets
Posted by: bigalfy | January 16, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Hey DB, appreciate the positive spin. I've stopped puking now but I still hate the stinking Jets!
Go Steelers!
Posted by: Finfanfred | January 16, 2011 at 07:37 PM
BRADY LOSES TO 3RD STRAIGHT WILDCARD PLAYOFF OPPONENT! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS...........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:37 PM
Right Loco......
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:37 PM
I CAN SEE THE STEELERS FANS STANDING RIGHT NOW TO BUY HOME TICKETS VS JETS...LUCKY STEELERS
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:38 PM
I can't see rooting for the Jets, no matter what the reason. I'd root against the Jets if they were playing the Taliban, and a loss caused the loss of California.
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:39 PM
JETS AINT WINNING IN PITTSBURGH! BELIEVE IT! LOL...........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:40 PM
Thank God I don't have to work tomorrow; I'm getting tore down tonight.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:40 PM
po,
how you see GB VS CHI IN CHI ?
PLEASE SAY GB WINS
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:41 PM
JETS TOUGH AND PHYSICAL. STEELERS TOUGH, PHYSICAL, MEAN, AND DOWNRIGHT NASTY! LOL.........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:41 PM
DyingBreed,
From your lips to God ears.......
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:42 PM
IF GB WINS IN CHI THEY WILL WIN THE SUPER BOWL
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:42 PM
Loco, GB.
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:43 PM
PATS ONLY RELY ON BEING BETTER THAN YOU ARE TO BEAT YOU. THAT'S WHY THEY LOSE THESE THESE KIND OF GAMES. THEY ARENT MEAN OR NASTY UNTIL THEYVE GOT YOU FIRMLY DOWN THEN FOOT ON THROAT!
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:43 PM
DB, YOUR WISDOM ?
GB VS CHI WHO WINS ?
PLEASE SAY GB .
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Are ALOCO and DB one in the same?
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Luv Aaron Rodgers.....
Posted by: Po White Trash | January 16, 2011 at 07:44 PM
THOMASINA BRADY HAS THAT HELP I'VE FALLEN AND CANT GET UP LOOK! LOL...........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:45 PM
NO, I AM NOT DYING BREED,FOR HE HAS WISDOM AND I HAVE FOOD .
Posted by: ALoco | January 16, 2011 at 07:46 PM
Well, that was fun...
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Lost another bet, now I gotta wear a dress AND let dad bang me in my ass. I cannot win
Posted by: Marc | January 16, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Fat boy beat Darth Vader-go Steelers!!!
Posted by: David | January 16, 2011 at 07:48 PM
ALoco,
I dont see GB scoring a whole lotta points against that Bears D. But I see the Bears offense scoring even less against the GB defense. I see Cutler throwing at least 2 picks. I say GB 24 CHI 10, because of the picks Cutler throws.
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:48 PM
green bay vs pitt
Posted by: bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com | January 16, 2011 at 07:49 PM
I believe the real Super Bowl was played between the Ravens and Steelers yesterday! LOL.........
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 16, 2011 at 07:51 PM
Marc, can I blow my wad on your ugly, bald stupid Dolphin head to??
Posted by: TorturedDolphan | January 16, 2011 at 07:53 PM