Sparano after Week 2

Two games and two games back of everyone in the division, including the Bills, that’s right the Dolphins are behind the lowly, undefeated, Buffalo Bills.  After the first two games the Dolphins have proved that they are not prepared to take the next step to be a playoff team and actually seem to be moving backward.  Granted there have been to very legitimate opponents in the Patriots and Texans, but the performance of the team has not been acceptable and the schedule doesn’t get any easier.  Perhaps the most telling sign was when Coach Sparano said “It’s baffling to me, it really is.  I don’t have any answers for it.  We’ve got to do a better job.”  A coach that was nearly fired in the offseason admitting that he doesn’t know what to do is very troublesome.  He couldn’t pick out points to improve on next week during this interview, but just wants “to do a better job”.  This should be a signal for the ownership that they need to reevaluate the coach that they just gave a contract extension after their attempt to fire him backfired.  At this point it appears there is simply nothing left that Sparano can do and he appears to have thrown in the towel with his statement.  If Sparano can’t get things together in the next couple of weeks, especially if they can’t beat the Browns next week a coaching change could be coming very rapidly (perhaps in the middle of the season).  

Chad Henne: Ready to mature?

The Miami Dolphins season lies completely in the hands of one man, Chad Henne.  If he plays the way he has the rest of the career, the best they can hope for is another 7-9 season and that is being generous.  They have lost a couple of key players in Reggie Bush and Ricky Williams who combined for over 1700 rushing yards for Reggie Bush who rushed for only 565 yards last year and rookie Daniel Thomas.  With this likely decrease in a rushing attack an effective passing game will be essential.  Henne has been given much more freedom in offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s offense, which he has used to effectively audible plays.  If Chad can figure out how to combine his raw football skills to evolve and him to prove he has matured as a quarterback it may be time for him to break out.  With the skill the Dolphins have on the defensive end they have the potential to be a Top-5 defense in the NFL.  If the defense can finally get the help it deserves there may be playoff football returning to Miami, but if Henne and the offense struggle it will be another long and tough season.