Miami ran off six straight wins to end their 9-7 season last year. Momentum? Apparently not — the Dolphins have turned over approximately one-third of their roster in an attempt to mix things up and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
The Miami Dolphins enter training camp on July 28th with new potential — potential for greatness or disaster. The Dolphins arguably made more dramatic offseason moves than any other NFL team.
Not settling for mediocrity, head coach Nick Saban showed his willingness to take some risks by making big changes in the pursuit of improving Miami's chances of getting to the Super Bowl. The jury is out on how those moves will work out for them. At the top of the list of those roster moves is the quarterback position.
So often in the NFL, as the quarterback goes, so goes the team. Poor play at the quarterback position is a recipe for mediocrity.
The acquisition of Daunte Culpepper from Minnesota was a bold move indeed. Costing Miami a paltry second-round draft choice, fans expectations are high for the standout quarterback. However, the harsh reality is that Culpepper is rehabilitating from a major injury of three torn knee ligaments sustained October 30th of last year against Carolina.
Recovery for this injury typically takes at least 12 months, but Culpepper seems bent on beating that timetable. All reports thus far have been positive. A workmanlike approach to his rehab have many speculating that Culpepper will be ready for the season opener against Pittsburgh September 7th. His progress in mini-camp was evidenced by several impromptu scrambles that showed the extra dimension that Culpepper's game brings to the team.
Miami released last year's starter, Gus Frerotte, and in addition to Culpepper, they acquired Joey Harrington. Harrington has never proven himself in Detroit, but he does have NFL starting experience. The combination of the recovering Culpepper and the unproven Harrington provides one of the most interesting quarterback storylines in the NFL.
Even if Culpepper fully recovers from his serious injury, greatness is not assured. Prior to the injury in 2005, Culpepper's stats were unimpressive. He posted 6 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in Minnesota's two wins and five losses. The departure of Randy Moss to Oakland may have revealed Culpepper's reliance on Moss to elevate his game. Chris Chambers has potential to provide a big-play threat for Culpepper, but that chemistry may take time to develop.
And if Culpepper is unable to start the season, what are the Vegas odds on Harrington leading the team to a great start? Slim to none. Harrington showed flashes of brilliance while with the Detroit Lions, but his erratic play resulted in being benched for four games in 2005. His career touchdown to interception ratio of 60:62 is not the stuff legends are made of.
A chance at a fresh start has Harrington motivated to prove that he was worthy of the third overall pick in the 2002 draft. If needed to start the season, he does bring NFL starting quarterback experience to the table. A more run-oriented offense featuring Ronnie Brown could give Harrington a chance to keep things afloat while Culpepper completes his rehab.
Training camp will shed more light on whether Miami's gamble will result in postseason glory or another frustrating season for the Dolphins. Many will be rooting for the successful comebacks of two quarterbacks attempting to overcome the odds against them.
Todd Beckstead is founder of MonsterDraft.com, a fantasy football draft resource.
July 24, 2006
Steve:
This artical is a joke. I mean it has some valid points about questions surrounding the quaterbacks but even if Culpepper and Harrington fails they were still the right moves. Why? Because Saban is not intrested in just making the playoffs, he wants the Superbowl! He knows he was not going to get that with Gus Ferrot or Sage Rosenfels, or A.J. Feely. Saban went out and found the best players availible that would give him the best chance of doing that. Trust me as long Saban is coach its not a matter of if but when Miami wins the Superbowl. He wants nothing less. As for Culpepper and Harrington, they better play to expectations or Saban will find someone better. This is no longer Wannsted bal.l
July 25, 2006
Ryan:
Who’s the bigger joke: the writer, or the guy who can’t spell “article”.
July 25, 2006
TDolphin:
Absolutely, the Fins can make a splash for a better team this year, and in my mind will have a good chance to go the Super Bowl this year in Miami. They have a new Pro Bowl QB in Culpepper, a faster secondary, and other changes that look to improve the team. Plus they are in there 2nd year of the same offense and defense which should also make them potentially better at execution. Also they won their last 6 games at the end of the season, and usually the Fins played worse in the last weeks of the season in years past. This to me shows Saban has that unique ability to get his teams motivated.
July 25, 2006
Sterling:
Ok, Ryan you need to accept the fact that the education system sucks any more. I’ve seen college graduates that spell just as pointlessly as our elementary kids. And yes, typos happen. Self-righteous twit. this is about sports, we’re not attending a spelling/grammar class!
What team in the league doesn’t really want to win a superbowl? always the comment for this team or that team, but it’s the goal of “32” teams, not just a select few.
Now on to my thoughts….
I agree that we’ve made some very intriguing changes/moves in the offseason. And as much as that is, I know there’s something I’m not seeing, but I thought our choice in the first round wasn’t as great as it’s being made out to be. But, I digress… Our team sure does look like a team that would be exceptional this coming season, what great strides they made at the end of last season and very true that Saban is a motivator. EXCELLENT!! Just what we’ve need!! But, it looks good on paper, they have to be cohesive as a TEAM first, or it doesn’t matter….. I’m a die-hard Dolphins fan and always will be, but I’m realistic and hope the changes gell quickly and continues where they left off at the end of the season. I’m excited and ready to go.
August 1, 2006
Grid Rat:
Sterling,
I do NOT have to accept the fact that the education system sucks. And if no one accepted it, it would improve much faster. The fact that some college graduates have the same problem is an even stronger indictment.
If the person writing the comments is uneducated in spelling and grammar, then there is a greater likelihood that they are uneducated in their opinions about sports.
The Dolphins will be mediocre again this year. (My uninformed opinion. It’s as good as yours because none of us know what’s really going to happen)