The Miami Dolphins are the most talented 0-5 team in the NFL
I wonder if Cam Cameron is having fun these days. He is certainly having to endure a baptism by fire to start his NFL head coaching experience with the Miami Dolphins.
Clearly, coming into this season, Cameron was relying on a continuing strong defense to be the mainstay of this team, while he hoped to be able to develop the offense with a steadying veteran presence at quarterback.
He expected great things from Ted Ginn Jr. on kick off and punt returns, and was unimpressed by Ronnie Brown.
How quickly all that has changed for him and the Miami Dolphins.
With the early injury to Yeremiah Bell, an already thin secondary (in terms of talent) has been rendered suspect at best.
Further injuries to Zach Thomas, Vonnie Holliday, and Travares Tillman, and lingering question marks as to Keith Traylor's health and conditioning made the Oakland Raiders back up running back look like the 2006 version of LaDainian Tomlinson .
And far from being a steadying veteran presence at quarterback, Trent Green has made some inexplicably poor decisions. In doing so he has placed a Miami Dolphins defense, weakened and already lacking in confidence, in bad situations. His injury against Houston was exactly what many Miami Dolphins fans feared might happen, and a second concussion after the last one which nearly ended his career has to cause doubts as to how much more potential battering the medical staff (or his family) will allow. The NFL debut of John Beck may be sooner than Cameron ever intended.
And Ted Ginn Jr., although he has shown flashes of his potential, has so far not lived up to his No 9 draft pick potential. The almost comical end around fumble and ensuing scamper backwards at Houston had the indirect result of causing Trent Green to attempt the fateful block on galloping defensive tackle Travis Johnson. It was a rookie mistake with potentially significant consequences.
So far, Cameron has been severely hampered by a string of injuries. On a team loaded with inexperience, such misfortune has the tendency to highlight a lack of depth on a squad, which is clearly in a rebuilding state.
The short term result is a season down the tubes with just five games played.
However, the long-term effect may, my long-suffering fellow Dol-fans, have a silver lining. Because of these injuries we are seeing the emergence of a group of young players who will form the backbone of the Miami Dolphins as they grow into a playoff contender over the next couple of years. Rodrique Wright, Matt Roth, Paul Soliai, Samson Satele, Rex Hadnot, Vernon Carey, Channing Crowder, Ted Ginn Jr., Reagan Mauia, Chase Page, and Derrick Pope are all young talented players. They are the nucleus of the future of the Miami Dolphins and all of them are getting valuable playing time. Add to them Yeremiah Bell, the hugely talented Ronnie Brown, and the QB in waiting John Beck, and you see cause for hope in a season otherwise filled with frustration.
NavyFishFan posted something Sunday that caught my eye.
"Most talented 0 and 5 team in the NFL!"
And though that's really only a competition between the Rams and the Dolphins right now, it's a fact to ponder while we lick our wounds as loyal Dol-fans.
Read more at www.miamidolphinsbahamas.com
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