FINHEAVEN STAFF MAKE THEIR 2011 DOLPHINS PREDICTIONS

The Miami Dolphins last Thursday wrapped up their preseason schedule with a 17-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys and finished the preseason with a 3-1 record. A few days later the 53 man roster was set and the Dolphins record is back to 0-0 as the 2011 regular season will kick off in less than a week. Next Monday, the Dolphins will open up their new season at home against the division rival New England Patriots. 

How will the Dolphins do in the fourth year under head coach Tony Sparano and GM Jeff Ireland? Will they make the playoffs? Will this be a disappointing season that ultimately ends in a coaching staff change? We are all about to find out after months or waiting and having to suffer through the NFL lockout. Below are a few predictions from FinHeaven staff members of what fans should expect this upcoming season.

fin-atic, FinHeaven Owner/Admin:

2011 Record: 9-7
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player of the Year: Cameron Wake
Offensive Player of the Year: Reggie Bush
Rookie of the Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: I think this year Miami will see some parts start to make sense. The defense should benefit from some smart moves such as the addition of Jason Taylor and Kevin Burnett and the return of Odrick. I like the way Dabol's new offensive scheme is looking. It's faster and creates more space for the WRs. I expect Reggie Bush to have a strong year and prove that he is an every down back. The problem is that there is a new offensive system, new running backs, new offensive lineman, and it just will take time to come together. I think we will see Miami lose some games that are very close, and I am still not sold that Henne can be consistent as a starter. All of this makes me feel 9-7 down to my core. 

CedarPhin, FinHeaven Admin:

2011 Record: 10-6
Playoffs: No, but possible
Defensive Player Of The Year: Kevin Burnett
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Clyde Gates
Brief Statement: Team definitely will improve this year, especially with some new playmakers on the offensive side of the ball. I think that the Fins end up finishing second (a distant second at that) behind New England. Playoffs could go either way.

Nublar7, FinHeaven Admin:

2011 Record: 9-7
Playoffs: Yes
Defensive Player of the Year: Cameron Wake
Offensive Player of the Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie of the Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: The right side of the offensive line remains a concern and will likely hurt the offense early in the season, but overall this team on paper is the most talented team in the four years under Tony Sparano. While it was just preseason games, Chad Henne appears to be a much improved quarterback and I believe he will put together a solid season in his contract year. The defense was the 6th best in the league in 2010 and I expect they will crack the top 5 this upcoming season. With a tough schedule and being in the same division as the Patriots and Jets, it will be a tough road for the Dolphins, but with the talent they have I see a 9-7 record. 9-7 in most years would not make the playoffs, but I predict the Dolphins will finish second in the division behind the Patriots and clinch the final wildcard spot. This result will assure that Sparano and GM Jeff Ireland will return for the Dolphins in 2012. 

Wildbill3, FinHeaven Admin:

2011 Record: 11-5
Playoffs: Yes, Division Champs
Defensive Player Of The Year: Cam Wake
Offensive Player Of The Year: Chad Henne
Rookie Of The Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: The first few weeks of the season are rough, with close wins when we shouldn't and close losses when we should. However the longer the season goes the more the Oline finally gels and this team hits its stride just when it needs to to capture the division again, and back into the playoffs. 

Dolfan3773, FinHeaven SuperMod:

2011 Record: 9-7
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player Of The Year: Vontae Davis
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: This team will make some noise in the NFL and surprise a lot of people. This is make it or break it for Chad Henne. If he plays well this team will have a bright future from here on out. The new offensive scheme along with the addition of Reggie Bush will open the doors up and this offense may actually be fun to watch. 

Bumpus, FinHeaven SuperMod:

2011 Record: 8-8
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player of the Year: Karlos Dansby
Offensive Player of the Year: Reggie Bush
Rookie of the Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: Ultimately, we will go as far as Henne goes. And, after more heartbreaking late losses, another piece of Bumpus' soul will die once again. After the season, I see Tony starting up a mediocre bar on the Jersey Shore called "Fist Pumpin" after his outright release from the Dolphins & Henne being traded to the Montreal Alouettes for a warm case of Molson. Next HC finally pushes for a frigging QB in the first round. 

Gonzo, FinHeaven SuperMod:

2011 Record: 8-8
Playoffs: Not unless we move to the NFC West (we'd have a better record too)
Defensive Player Of The Year: Cam Wake
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Clyde Gates
Brief Statement: Although there were many changes in the offseason, too many can be classified as unknowns or simply "can't be worse than we had before" (Daboll). With an offensive line that still appears to be in disarray and a starting rookie running back behind it, supplemented with a speedy, but injury prone vet in Bush, the offense will need to rely on Henne and the passing game. While Henne has looked promising in the preseason, he will need to show consistency and the ability to finish a game when it counts. The D will get us 7 wins, at least.

tylerdolphin, FinHeaven SuperMod: 

2011 Record: 8-8
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player Of The Year: Cameron Wake
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Mike Pouncey
Brief Statement: I think we will see a slight improvement this year over last, but not quite enough. We still have too many holes on the OL to really take that next step there. Our D will finish top 5, but our offense, specifically the running game, will fail us. I think Henne will look a little better and Marshall will be a beast. Ultimately though, it wont save Henne his job as he still proves to be prone to mistakes at the worst possible time and we will make a move on an elite QB prospect in the 12 draft with our new HC.

JCane, FinHeaven SuperMod: 

2011 Record: 5-11
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player Of The Year: Vontae Davis
Offensive Player Of The Year: Reggie Bush
Rookie Of The Year: Daniel Thomas
Brief Statement: Quite possibly the most deceiving preseason the NFL as a whole has seen in many, many years. The preseason was essentially an extended version of OTA's due to the lengthy lockout and after watching each preseason game twice, it's still very difficult to really predict how well our preseason translates to the regular season.

The defense should be a very bright spot for this team and they'll keep us in almost every single game, but at the end of the day, the NFL is all about the offense and I'm just not ready to purchase several shares of the Chad Henne stock. Chad showed serious promise in the preseason but he now has to be the one thing he's never been in his entire career: consistent. The schedule is very tough and I think many of us are looking past much improved teams (ie: Cleveland).

Phinatic8u, FinHeaven Mod:

2011 Record: 9-7
Playoffs: No, but possible
Defensive Player Of The Year: Karlos Dansby
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Clyde Gates
Brief Statement: Henne will improve enough to keep Sparano around, and even get this team into the playoffs, but the o-line will severly hold this team back as it stands at the moment. Defense will also improve enough to beat any offense in the league. 

NY8123, FinHeaven Mod:

2011 Record: 10 -6
Playoff: Yes, Wildcard
Defensive Player Of The Year: Paul Soliai
Offensive Player Of The Year: Chad Henne
Rookie Of The Year: Jimmy Wilson
Brief Statement: After a good start out of the gates the Dolphins lose a few close games midway and end up finishing the season on a high and earn a wild card berth but end up showing they are not quite ready for the big show. Henne improves enough to be considered as Miami's offensive performer of the year but this is due mainly to a better suited offense with a focus on Marshal who also returns to the pro-bowl. Big Paul plays lights out for a second stellar year and earns his first trip to the pro-bowl ancoring the defense and clearing the way for Dansby to earn his first birth as well. Jimmy Wilson works his way from the special teams player of the year to Miami rookie of the year earning more game time as the weeks play on and proves to be a gem in the rough.

PhinsPhan11, FinHeaven Mod:

2011 Record: 10-6
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player Of The Year: Cameron Wake
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie Of The Year: Clyde Gates
Brief Statement: The Phins should improve from last year with a new offense and the same defense that will continue to improve. Henne looks like he will improve in another year of starting. While a 10-6 record is an improvement from the past couple years, I don't think it will get them into the playoffs. It is possible to get in with a 10-6 record, there are too many teams in the AFC that will have just as good if not better records. This will be a fun team to watch this season, but in the end we might be on the outside looking in again.

BobDole, FinHeaven Mod

2011 record: 8-8
Playoffs: No
Defensive Player Of The Year: Cameron Wake
Offensive Player Of The Year: Brandon Marshall
Rookie of the Year: Jimmy Wilson
Brief Statement: The Miami Dolphins went as far as the defense could take them this year. While Henne showed glimpses during the preseason of the QB Miami had waited for since Marino retired, he continued to make the same mistakes that has plagued his short career up to this point. Henne somehow managed to throw 13 interceptions through the first 8 games, leading to his eventual benching and replacement by Matt Moore, who didn't fare much better. The defense, however, was stellar. Finishing 3rd overall across the board in basically every statistical category, opposing offenses could only muster 10.8 points a game on this up and coming dynamo of a unit. The 2011 Miami Dolphin season would have gone much different if they had a serviceable QB at the helm.  

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