Why the Miami Dolphins Could Contend in 2008

First of all, you readers must be thinking: Why is a die-hard Oakland Raiders fan interested in talking about the Miami Dolphins?  The answer is quite simple, I enjoy analyzing teams other than the Oakland Raiders (it eases the pain). 

Aside from the fact that Josh McCown was the "starting" quarterback in Oakland for 2007, I opine on other teams quite often.

So here we go.

Am I the only one who thinks that Miami could actually turn things around in 2008?  Dare I say, .500? 

In one such example of a team that went from 1-15 to 7-9 in one season was the Carolina Panthers when they finished 2001 at 1-15 on a 15-game losing-streak and thus selected DE Julius Peppers with the second overall pick of the 2002 NFL Draft and went defense the rest of the way, selecting LB Will Witherspoon and DB Dante Wesley. 

They did so to the chagrin of sports writers who believed that the Panthers needed a quarterback right then.  So the Panthers passed on Joey Harrington and Patrick Ramsey.   Hmmm, I wonder who got the better end of that argument. 

Well, the Panthers went into 2002 with a new coach, John Fox, and a revamped team that consisted mostly of unwanted and unseasoned players (Kris Jenkins, Steve Smith).  Yet, the Panthers finished 2002 at 7-9 after starting 3-0 with quarterback, Rodney Peete. 

By mid-season, Rodney Peete was no longer able to fool anyone and the Panthers limped down the stretch.  The Panthers then selected OT Jordan Gross in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft, plus d-backs Ricky Manning Jr and Colin Branch; and signed journeyman QB Jake Delhomme in the offseason and castoff RB Stephen Davis.

The Panthers then went into the 2003 season as the underdog. But by riding the legs of Stephen Davis and speedster DeShaun Foster; plus some heroics by Jake Delhomme, the Panthers found themselves in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. 

They lost, but they were there nonetheless and have been respectable ever since--now when they lose, it's unexpected.  And there was only one season between 1-15 and their also-ran season.

Enter the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins finished 1-15 in 2008.  Then, they lured Bill Parcells to be in charge of personnel.  In the 2008 NFL Draft, they bucked the popular opinion of taking a QB or RB by selecting OT Jake Long. 

Now obviously, for the Dolphins to turn around in 2008 from 2007, they will need to stay healthy (duh), step-up and strike-down.  That means you Ricky Williams, Ted Ginn Jr, Ronnie Brown, and Josh McCown.  And of course the defense needs to progress and stay healthy.... and would benefit from the addition of a polished cornerback, say, Lito Sheppard. 

Perhaps a trade of Jason Taylor for Lito Sheppard and one of Philadelphia's strong-safeties (Quintin Mikell, Sean Considine) would suffice.

First of all, when Ricky Williams was healthy and not impersonating Afroman, the Dolphins finished 9-7 (2002), 10-6 (2003), and 9-7 (2005), and have looked pathetic with, and without him.  The trouble was, no quarterback and lackluster protection from the offensive-line.

They seem to have shored-up the protection from the O-line with Jake Long.  I also believe that the RB combo of Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Jalen Parmele could suffice if used correctly, and new coach Tony Sparano knows how to do that from the Dallas days of coordinating Marion Barber and Julius Jones.

Maybe Ted Ginn Jr will step-up and be the next Steve Smith.  The most important question mark however, is Josh McCown.  Can he be a Trent Dilfer-esque game manager in Miami, or dare I say, Phil Simms?  Or will he try to be the second coming of Brett Favre as he tried in Arizona and Oakland? 

If the Dolphins can control the clock by keeping the defense off the field with their running backs, then the game will come down to whether Josh McCown can make the critical plays (not the majority of plays), and not make so many mistakes that his flashes-of-brilliance become meaningless (see, Oakland for most of 2007).

So...calling Josh McCown: You aren't Brett Favre.  You aren't Tony Romo.  You're better than Rodney Peete.  You might be as good as Jake Delhomme.  But all you need to be is Trent Dilfer, and the Dolphins will have a chance.