Is this finally the year?

[FinFan in KC]

This is the question on the minds of Dolphins fans everywhere. Is this finally the year we get over the hump and return to the playoffs? Are the additions of Suh, Stills, Cameron and Jennings, plus the drafting of Devante Parker enough to get us into the postseason? Will the inconsistencies along the offensive line be our Achilles heel once again? Can Philbin contain his queasiness long enough to make the gutsy calls that win games? I believe this is the year we make it back to the playoffs. Detractors will say there are a lot of new faces or it's the same old Dolphins. But I think there is something different about this team. Something that can't be measured in the weight room or with a stopwatch. I believe this team has a lot of heart and determination. New guys that don't want to start losing and returning players that are tired of losing. Yes this is a different team and I fully expect different results. I would not be surprised by 10 or 11 wins and a home playoff game. This team is more than capable of that.

[Finatic]

The areas that MAY trip them up:

1. Many new players on offense, and many of those have not been practicing like Stills and Parker.
2. Offensive line. That is pretty explanatory. They are bad and no real upgrade from last year
3. Linebackers are questionable. No depth.
4. Philbin. Still not sold on the guy.

With that said, these things can evolve quickly or be compensated for by improvements elsewhere like the dominant D Line, improved Tannehill, etc.

I am optimistic.

[FinFan in KC]

They need to have some success early to get players believing and get them to buy in. If that happens and we're able to take advantage of the rest of the division's early QB problems then I think we can make a run for the playoffs.

Playoffs?! PLAYOFFS?!

[Finatic]

They need to have some success early to get players believing and get them to buy in. If that happens and we're able to take advantage of the rest of the division's early QB problems then I think we can make a run for the playoffs.

Playoffs?! PLAYOFFS?!

Holy Crap!! A Jim Mora sighting!!

[Phintim Menace]

I think we make the playoffs this year. We have 3 good offensive linemen, maybe or maybe not some of the others will come around, maybe we get EM. 2 out of 3 pretty good linebackers, 3rd looking good in camp, covered by best D line in football. The coach..... okay you got me there. But he does know how to coach, just not sure about game planning, motivation and leadership.

[Loserbugman]

Without saying anything for personnel, our schedule alone gives us a pretty good shot. 8 of our first 11 games are away from home, but 4 of the first 5 are against teams with 4 wins or fewer last season. Consider that half the division will be missing their starting QBs for a good portion of that stretch, and what could be a brutal, globe-trotting stretch instantly becomes a lot more manageable. Unless we completely tank there, we should have no trouble staying in the hunt. We then close the season with 4 of 5 games at home; the only road game in December being a trip to San Diego, eliminating weather as a factor. Compared to the last few years, that's a blessing. 2013 alone saw us play @NYJ, @PIT, and @BUF in December. The 2009 season was the last time we had this low a total distance to travel for December and January games, and was also the last time we didn't have a road divisional game after December 1^st. In addition, this is the first time since 1996 we've only had a single road game in December, primarily because the season then started two weeks earlier, giving us only three total games in December, as opposed to 5 in December/January this year. All in all, the league has done everything in it's power to put us in a position to succeed, and we have to take advantage of that. No more excuses.

[Finatic]

Man I love that Rob Konrad quote in your signature

[Loserbugman]

Lol! It seems to perfectly sum up the last decade or so. If you haven't seen it, you should check out the article the Sun-Sentinel did a while back, compiling the 50 greatest Dolphins quotes, it's a gold mine, with more than a few along those lines.

[Mayhem]

If this isnt our year the good news is that most of the core talent on this team is quite young.

[Finatic]

If this isnt our year the good news is that most of the core talent on this team is quite young.

This is true. And with that intact we can just keep adding or swapping out pieces until we get over the top. We will be a contender again. I can feel it. It's coming.