Dolphins Resurrection in 2008? Schedule, History on Miami's Side

There is nothing short of a complete transformation of the Miami Dolphins taking place.

Don't be so quick to immediately write off 2008, however, because a soft schedule and historical trends indicate the Dolphins could be close to a .500 team.

With the continuing stream of veterans being shown the exit, the Dolphins are undergoing a wholesale franchise change that has never been seen before in the team's storied history. While the Dolphins have never finished as poorly as they did in 2007, it is unprecedented for a new management regime in Miami to have the attitude that there are no sacrificial lambs, no one currently in uniform who couldn't be released or traded under the right circumstances.

Think not? Remember, when Don Shula took over in 1970, Bob Griese, Larry Csonka, Nick Buoniconti, Larry Little, Dick Anderson, Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris and Manny Fernandez were already Dolphins. When Jimmy Johnson succeeded Shula 26 years later, the team underwent many changes in philosophy that was built up during Miami's at-times frantic push to get Dan Marino back into the Super Bowl. The one thing Johnson seemingly couldn't do, however, was to dispense Marino. Whether he ever wanted to or was specifically asked to, Johnson saddled his success to Marino and not someone he handpicked and designed with his style of football in mind.

These actions are typically a bellwether of the dreaded rebuilding year, where a playoff spot seems out of reach before the leaves turn (or, as they say in South Florida, before the northerners arrive). Given the job ahead of them and the fact that they're in the deeper AFC, another January on the outside looking in seems a virtual certainty for next season. However, if there's any reason to believe that 2008 may at very least on paper prove to be a huge improvement over 2007, it can be found in the team's upcoming schedule. Away from home, the Dolphins will only face one 2007 playoff team, at New England. The remaining seven road contest teams had a combined record of 41-71 in 2007, and none finished above .500. They'll play three games indoors, and they've historically have had success against some of their non-division opponents.

Inside the conference, the Dolphins will have to travel to Kansas City, where they haven't won since 1981. A reason of optimism for an end to that lengthy streak is that Chiefs likely will have an unproven quarterback starting that game in Brodie Croyle or even perhaps a draft selection. A trip to Mile High might result fortuitous. Miami is 10-4-1 all time versus the Broncos, and has won three of its last four regular-season visits to Denver. Predictably, the victories came before Halloween and the one loss after Thanksgiving. If the Dolphins get a gift from the schedule-makers and get to face the AFC West foes early in the year, while the Chiefs are still trying to figure out what they've got behind center and the snow will stay in the clouds above Denver, a split is conceivable.

Miami has never beaten the Texans, has lost the past two seasons inside Reliant Stadium and must play there again in 2008. Attempting to split their eight road contests will depend on an NFC sweep, a possibility with trips to the domes in Arizona and St. Louis. The Rams were the only team in 2007 whose mediocrity resembled Miami's, don't figure to be greatly improved in 2008, are 2-8 against the Dolphins all time, and feature a coach on the hot seat in Scott Linehan. Miami also gets the Cardinals, and has never lost a road game to them.

Their non-division home schedule probably has two sure losses on it, to playoff squads San Diego and Seattle. Miami will get to face the only team that it beat in 2007, which will be working with a rookie head coach in the fall. Before last season's loss in Daunte Culpepper's triumphant return, the Dolphins had beaten the Raiders four straight times at home, and six regular-season battles in a row overall. What the Raiders will be in 2008 is anybody's guess at this point, given the public discord between coach Lane Kiffin and owner/emperor Al Davis, but another season of misery in Oakland seems certain. The 49ers haven't lost while visiting in Miami since 1980, but they are another puzzle as to charting a course for the future and won't have the benefit of an early first-round selection to address a glaring need. In these five home games, Miami should win at least two.

Assuming the Dolphins can go 2-4 in their six division games, anything less than 6-10 might be considered a bit of disappointment given the rest of their schedule. However, if the football gods gift the Dolphins in 2008 the way that they punished them last season, 7-9 or even 8-8 is possible. And while the housecleaning described earlier is new to Miami, victory bursts under new head coaches aren't. Shula's 1970 team won seven more games than the season before, while Nick Saban's first team improved by five wins over its predecessor. The last Miami division title came in Dave Wannstedt's initial campaign.