DOLPHINS: Hope

[Rick]

Thanks... you know the sad part for me was that as I wrote that last night I 
was thinking about "Rick AOD" and was wishing he was around to see this 
years version of the Fins. I never meet the man but we are like an extended 
family here....

Rick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Fischer" <thebigfish at smunet.net>
To: "Miami Dolphins Discussion" <dolphins-disc at phins.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 15, 2009 6:33 AM
Subject: Re: DOLPHINS: Hope


> Well said, Rick.
>
> As a old timer that was there for the glory years, I was influenced by 
> both the Dolphins and what my father taught me. Since he was a lineman  in 
> college, line play has always been the thing I've paid attention to  when 
> it came to judging
> our chances at being a super bowl contender. He played in the day of  the 
> single wing.
>
> I knew this year would be a stretch to equal last year's success, but  I 
> was and am looking at one thing: Are we making progress? The record  was 
> less important to me. I also knew the chances of Chad Pennington  playing 
> two
> full seasons back to back wasn't going to be real high. Chad's not  been 
> blessed throughout his career that way. So, if we didn't make the 
> playoffs this year, I didn't and don't care - what I cared about was 
> progress.
>
> In other words, the injury to Chad Pennington was a blessing in  disguise. 
> This way, Chad Henne gets the season to learn. Considering  everything, a 
> 8-8 or 9-7 season for me is a big success. We may not  make the playoffs,
> but if Henne gets 12 games under his belt, and is successful, then we  go 
> into next year with the QB position in very good shape, one more  draft, 
> and a record that won't dictate we play all of the division  champs like 
> we are this
> year. Next year we make the run.
>
> I loved the pundits saying that teams won't spend time with the  WildCat. 
> IF you're a defensive coordinator, you're going to practice  against it 
> how? The 'Cat isn't a fad, but another option that the  Dolphins have 
> taken to the next
> level.
>
> Probably the most fun with the Dolphins of the early 70's wasn't the  17-0 
> run, it was watching them get to the point where they could do  it. That 
> is exactly where we're at right now.
>
> One last thing, my son has Madden on his laptop.  We play it together. 
> He's 14. One of his classmates has challenged him on Madden, but wants  to 
> be able to use Ricky on his team. My son agreed - as long as he  could use 
> Csonka on his team.
>
> My Dad would laugh. As good as Ricky is, my son wants to ground pound  the 
> other kid... Could you imagine Ronnie and Larry in the same  backfield?
>
> Michael
>
>
> On Oct 15, 2009, at 12:48 AM, Rick wrote:
>
>> I have been a Dolphins fan as long as I have known what football is. 
>> There have been times during all these years that I have felt good  about 
>> the direction of our team. It seems recently that that feeling  has been 
>> too far and between.
>>
>> I viewed last season as the start of a turn around but was not sure  what 
>> to really think of Parcells, Ireland and Sparano. Going into  this season 
>> I figured the team was going to be similar to last years  team because I 
>> didn't think they did enough to upgrade the teams  weaknesses and a much 
>> tougher schedule.
>>
>> I still think we are a year or so away from being true super bowl 
>> contenders BUT for the first time in about 15 years I feel this team  is 
>> headed in the right direction.
>>
>> We have a great OL (something I have always harped about) with some  good 
>> (I think) talent waiting in the wings. Ronnie Brown is young  enough that 
>> we don't need to worry about the RB position for a few  years.
>>
>> On defense we have a very good and very young DL with the likes of 
>> Merling, Langford, Starks and Soliai. In the defensive backfield we  have 
>> Davis and Smith who I believe are the future at CB. And a  bright future 
>> at that.
>>
>> With all that being said the one thing that really put it all  together 
>> for me this week was the play of Chad Henne. I for the  first time since 
>> Marino retired finally feel like we have some hope  at the QB position. I 
>> know it has only been a couple of games but he  just shows the poise <sp> 
>> we have been lacking at that position for  so very long and the physical 
>> skills to play the position.
>>
>> I see the front office addressing our short comings this off season.  And 
>> as the younger player mature and we add those missing players I  see the 
>> Dolphins becoming true super bowl contenders for the first  time in way 
>> too long.
>>
>> Rick
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