The Miami Dolphins hung around the NFL playoff picture until the final two weeks of the 2009 season. Tony Sparano and the Fins could fall just short again in '10.
Things for the Miami Dolphins could've been a lot better last year, as a 7-9 record didn't exactly meet the goals coming into the year. However, crucial injuries to both RB Ronnie Brown and QB Chad Pennington really cost the team, and two costly losses in Weeks 16 and 17 at home to the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers eliminated any playoff hopes.
It's a new look Dolphins team this year though, and the NFL sportsbooks are showing a bit of confidence for them by lining them at 8.5 wins for the season. Don't forget to check SBROdds.com as well for NFL betting odds from top sportsbooks.
Too Tumulutuous to Touch: WR Brandon Marshall
Putting together a man that has had a domestic history with the bright lights of South Beach probably isn't the greatest idea in the world. But on the field, there's no doubt that Marshall brings the Fins an entirely new type of attack that they haven't seen in quite awhile. He can stretch the field, he can bail out his quarterback, he can go deep, he can run perfect routes. Quite simply, there isn't much that Brandon Marshall can't do from the wide out position.
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Still, we aren't totally on board with the fact that it will be Chad Henne throwing him the football. Yes, there probably isn't that much of a dropoff from Henne to Kyle Orton, who was tossing the pigskin to Marshall last season, but Miami's scheme revolves more around the running game. Marshall could get frustrated easily.
We buy that he'll be a difference maker for the Miami offense, but sell the fact that he can drastically improve a passing game that ranked 20th in the NFL last season at 198.1 yards per game.
Hot on the Market: LB Koa Misi
At this point, you may be asking who the heck Koa Misi is, but by the end of the season he'll be a household name in the NFL. The rookie out of Utah is incredibly quick around the corner and made a career with the Utes out of harassing quarterbacks for a very good defense.
Veterans Jason Taylor and Joey Porter are both out of the picture, which is going to set up the Dolphins' second rounder to immediately step into a starting role. The beginning of the year might be a little hairy with Misi learning how to play the OLB spot in a 3-4. Once he catches on, he could find himself good for at least a half dozen sacks and a slew of tackles. Buy low while the price on Misi's stock is still well undervalued.
Stock Stuck in Neutral: Tony Sparano
Sparano's stock took a big jump when the Fins went from a 1-15 team to the playoffs two seasons ago. He then proved that the '08 campaign wasn't a fluke by keeping Miami competitive all the way through the end of the regular season last year, and anything less now would be a disappointment.
Still, the Dolphins aren't Super Bowl contenders at this point, so it's hard for Sparano to see his stock rise much. It won't fall either. This is probably the closest thing to a government bond as you'll find, as Sparano is certainly safe in Miami, but your rate of return on your investment won't be as high as it could be if invested in other places.
Buying or Selling the Miami Dolphins
Getting to nine wins is going to be a tall task for the Dolphins this year in spite of the fact that the schedule is a lot more manageable now than it was a year ago. The AFC East is still a horror, and a 3-3 finish there would be a real triumph. Going 1-5 is a lot more likely.
Until Henne can prove that he can really lead an offense at the NFL level, we have a hard time thinking that Miami is going to progress much upon the .500 mark. The defense will be better than it was a year ago when it gave up 24.4 points per game, especially with Misi and rookie DT Jared Odrick now in the mix. It'll be a close call to see if the Fins can beat that 8.5 win mark or not, but we aren't quite buying it. Put Miami at 8-8 at best, and just outside of the postseason once again.
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