The Sparano news was definitely saddening. I was fine when Miami moved on from his as the team's HC, but he always seemed like a straightforward, grounded, and likeable dude. That '09 season was a ton of fun, and he deserves a immense credit for that. All his teams played hard for him, which is typically one of the signs of a "good guy". The response to his passing certainly looked to confirm that. Gone way, way too early, unfortunately. RIP, Coach!
In regards to training camp, I'm excited about this team. (Yes, I'm a 1/2-glass-full type, but I've also been beaten down by years of mediocrity and ineptitude. I only have one aqua-colored lens in my summer shades, and the lens is broken.)
The positives:
- Health. Really, that's #1. So far, so good. No major injuries to report.
- Of course, Tannehill's health is a priority, but he's also reportedly moving well, looking good, and in full command of the offense. This is, without a doubt, the decisive year for Tanny.
- I love, love the potential of this year's secondary. After recent seasons with "stop-gaps" and backups such as Baccari Rambo, Alterraun Verner, Byron Maxwell (the '17 version), Nate Allen, and Michael Thomas, I'm ridiculously excited about the potential depth/talent of this year's secondary, especially considering that Reshad Jones was needed on the field for over 97% of defensive snaps in '17.
At corner, there's Howard/Tankersley/McTyer/McCain/Lippett/Armstrong/Davis, and at safety, there's Jones/McDonald/Minkah/Maurice/Aikens. This staff is going to have some difficult decisions to make.
- The defensive line looks deep; the rotation could be a force for opposing offenses.
- I already have an Amendola man-crush the size of Florida. The dude just gets it; and, unsurprisingly, Tannehill's been peppering him for completions from the jump. If he can stay on the field ...
- Remember the 1:1 nightmare Julius Thomas was supposed to be fore opposing defenses? Remember the dropped passes? Mike Gesicki might be the solution, in the RZ at the very least.
My concerns:
- The LB group. I'll be looking at these guys all preseason long. Will they be good enough, especially on passing downs?
- DeVante Parker. We're at the portion of the season where writers churn out positive, fluff pieces like they're breathing air, and yet, reports on Parker are "eh". Stills/Wilson/Amendola/Grant/Ford. Could Parker be a trade chip?
- I like Frank Gore, but if Drake gets injured at all this year, the offense's ceiling will be lowered quite a bit. It'll be interesting to see how Ballage looks in PS games.
My proclamation:
Assuming Tannehill stays healthy, if #17 does not take the clear
next step that I'm expecting from him this season, I will never talk about this guy being a really good, potential Top 10 QB in the league. For me, if it doesn't happen this year, it's just not happening.
My prediction:
A 9-7 season, with a decent chance at 10-6. Yes, I'm bullish on this year's team.
Disclaimer: I reserve the right to amend this prediction following any catastrophic injuries occurring during preseason.