It seems like ages ago when our Dolphins, had a positive record after the first 4 games of the season. In fact it seems like we have lost the first three games of the season for what seems like an eternity now. I think the key to our Season, is showing up big in those first 4 games. It includes our division and Minnesota. If we start slow as in seasons past and lose 3 or 4 straight as we have done the past 5 years or so, It puts our Phins behind the 8ball. We need to be better prepared and set the tone early, then we have the bye in week 5 to regroup. We need to put major emphasis on early success this year, IMO it appears Mission critical! We need to be leading the AFC east going into the bye!

Buffalo needs to be a layup win

Minny without Farve and hopefully the 2 Williams DT's could be a sneaky road win early

Jets and Pats at home we gotta SPLIT

exactly right. Hope that's the focus on why sparano is so into the conditioning this year.

Early wins would do many good things for the fins, but won't be aeasy.

1. Confidence
2. 3 div foes in 4 games
3. Toughest part of the schedule

As noted, It has been a long time since this team was "ready" early on.

Only reason to feel different is that the team for the 1st time in years has a lot of youth and returning guys that now know the system.

This translates to some consisitency, and the only place we don't have consistency is where we NEED change - defence.

I'm cautiously optimistic, but would see early season wins as a HUGE plus for making this a really successful season.

our first 8 games (minus buf) are all tough competition

There are many reasons why the early part of the season won't be representative of the true nature of this team:

1. No Furguson
2. New defensive schemes won't be learned yet
3. Rookie contributors (like Misi and Jones) will be learning the ropes.
4. Henne and Marshall will have to devlop timing
5. Ronnie Brown will still be recovering.

This team will be much, much better in the second half of the season. If we win at least one of the first four games against the division, we should be in good shape. If we win 2 of those first four against the Division, we will be in great shape to take the division in the second half.

ghotirule Wrote:
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> There are many reasons why the early part of the
> season won't be representative of the true nature
> of this team:
>
> 1. No Furguson
> 2. New defensive schemes won't be learned yet
> 3. Rookie contributors (like Misi and Jones) will
> be learning the ropes.
> 4. Henne and Marshall will have to devlop timing
> 5. Ronnie Brown will still be recovering.
>
> This team will be much, much better in the second
> half of the season. If we win at least one of the
> first four games against the division, we should
> be in good shape. If we win 2 of those first four
> against the Division, we will be in great shape to
> take the division in the second half.


Mike Nolan who took over a defense worse then ours last year with his brand new defense in Denver and a brand new head coach a brand new QB with no Brandon Marshall timing at all, with a bunch of our cast aways went 6-0 to open the season. SO I dont understand your point at all?