SWITZERLAND FORUM

[Emeritus]

Hello. Hello? Is there an echo in here?

[cklaurence]

That is so weird! I posted a long reply (aren't all my replies long?) and I guess it got lost somehow. I'm having issues with my computer. Had to wipe out everything and 'go back' to original condition. Lost everything--including an entire novel that I hadn't backed up (go ahead, tell me what an idiot I am, as I think Peter is through yelling at me about it now). Anyway, a couple of people said they used the wireless mouse, as I do/did, and had problems similar to those I encountered. I've stopped using it and am going to get a regular mouse; however, in the mean time, I'm using the pad on my lap top which I am totally inept at and continue to mess things up and lose data because I hit the wrong things. So excuse me for appearing to ignore you, when in fact, I'm answering you, just dropping my posts.

I am thrilled to have football of any kind back--and of course, with Ross as our owner, football of ANY kind is what we get here in Miami, lol. With his latest ridiculousness of taking on Hard Knocks with not only a new head coach, but a first time head coach to boot, what might have been another poor to mediocre season is looking to be most probably a poor season. There's no justification--either way. If it's as Ross says (and Philbin swears to) that it was totally Philbin's idea--then Philbin is a moron; however, I'm more apt to believe it's Ross's doing, as he's such an entertainment monger and he'd be just low enough to make Philbin take the rap for it. Whatever. I'm over it. The days of expecting anything from my team are long gone, I just want to see some football...

[Emeritus]

I suggest that you pick a second favorite team, one with good prospects. That way, even if the Dolphins lose, the weekend won't be a total loss. I did that when the Texans were just getting started and couldn't come close to having a winning season. It's not as good as your home team winning, but it's better than nothing.

[cklaurence]

Yeah. For a long time I followed Brett Favre around. Loved the way he played--he had such a spirit for the game and you could always feel his love. After he retired, though, it's been difficult for me to find a team or a player that I cared enough about to follow. I had a bad feeling about N'Orleans long before the powers that be figured out they were playing dirty football. I don't know why it took so many dirty hits for them to finally look into it, or why the referees 'missed' so many of the infractions, but they were damn clear to me and plenty of other people I knew. Anyway, that took them out of contention for a back-up team for me.
You know I've always hated Dallas. In fact, if I recall, you and I parted ways for awhile at one point because I was so nasty about my dislike for Tom Landry and Dallas--so they're out. I did enjoy the Colts with Peyton, but then Peyton left. I have a soft spot for the Colts and the Texans because of Ms Bags, Reecey and you, so whenever they're not playing the Fins I root for them. Naturally I root against everyone in my division.
I dislike all the teams in Florida, although my son Josh says I should be rooting for them and/or our division teams when the Dolphins are definitely out of it--but I simply can't.
I guess the bottom line is, I am a DolFan true and pure, win or lose. Nothing'll change that, unless that S.O.B. takes them away from us, which could kill me...

[Emeritus]

Perhaps you could root for a team from the other side of the country, like the San Francisco 49ers. They look to be poised to make a run and they are not a rival team. You have to find something positive about the season, or it will be a loss.

[cklaurence]

Watching Hard Knocks. This Philbin is one tough S
OB. If he doesn't kill the players, he'll have an efficient group. Vontae Davis, our #1 corner for the past couple of years has been dropped to #3 because he can't keep up. I have faith that he'll get himself into condition (or die trying). You ought to try and catch the show, though. Philbin has a system going that I've never seen before. Two sets going all the time. Pretty damn brutal and rather unrelenting. Of course, you can't tell anything when its the team against the team. Interestingly enough, all the assistant coaches seem to be in their 20s. I wonder how that'll work out. They appear to be really bright, but I hope they don't have a problem handling the players. Chad Johnson is now Chad Johnson again--he's apparently found that the name change did nothing for his game. Philbin seems to be handling him well and put him in line a couple of times about his mouth, but didn't have to regarding his play,as he's looking like the athlete I knew all those years ago when he was in high school with Josh. He wants to go out a winner apparently and he's moving fast and his hands are spectacular. After the first week, Garrard is first string QB, Moore second and Tannehill third. And so it goes...

[Emeritus]

Now you're sounding a little more optimistic. That's the ck that we know and love! There is a long road ahead, but that's true of every team. Anything can happen - it's one of the attractions of the game. LOL, I just realized how many contractions I've used. I like to be informal when chatting, but sometimes I overdo it. That's my motto, though: "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing."

[cklaurence]

Thanks, Em. After last night's game (did you get to see it out there?), I'm a bit despondent, but there is a lot of talent to be harassed on the team. My concern is whether Philbin can figure out how to do it...
On "Hard Knocks" I was concerned about his method of practice. There's a fine line between readying the team to be the fittest to play in the insidious, brutal heat here and killing them while doing it. I can't help but feel that he's working them too hard in the heat--to the point that they will not have the strength come game days. I know that sounds like I'm a wimp, but I assure you I'm not. I just know Miami heat (no pun intended ) and Philbin hasn't a clue. He's got to find the right method and find it fast.
As for the players? There's a lot of talent there, but coach has to find a way to harness it. Garrard is already out. I've heard that he's having arthroscopic surgery and will be out for at least a month and I've heard he'll be back next week. I don't yet know which is the truth. Either way, both Moore and Tannehill looked good. I've been a fan of Moore's since last year and felt he got really short shrift from Ross (DUH), as if Ross has any clue at all for anything football. At any rate, I felt sadness for Garrard because after seeing how hard he's worked in "Hard Knocks" to get back into the game, I couldn't help but hope he'd at least stay well to get his chance, but well, I guess he's at that age and whatever will be, will be. Tannehill looks to be way ahead of the curve--let's see where it goes.
It was a pretty disappointing night all in all. The Fins were handled on offense and defense (easily) and I can only hope it was just a wobbly start. It's been a long, long time since Dolphin fans have had something to cheer about...

[Emeritus]

We had our first game last night, against the Panthers. Our offense looked rusty. In spite of all of the losses to free agency in the off season, Wade Phillips had the defense going. In the second half of the game Carolina was held to 13 yards and no first downs. The Texans had eight sacks. Two years ago this was the worst defense in the NFL. It's hard to believe how much difference a defensive coordinator can make!

[cklaurence]

It's good that you've got your defense in tact this early in the preseason. I hate this five game preseason and don't know how the players could have agreed to such a horrible addition to their year. I could see adding an extra game to the regular season, but giving in to an extra game where they're exposed to injury that means nothing? Insanity (IMHO)!
Dolphins aren't in a good way (already). One QB down. Chad Johnson got arrested last night for beating up his girlfriend, after getting shot down by Philbin for his potty mouth with the press and missing the only ball thrown to him in the game the other night. He was on borrowed time prior to the arrest and the other receivers were playing hungry and with lots of heart. It will be interesting to see what happens there. Meanwhile, the team's a mess, and while your defense is looking good, our defense is looking south of awful. It looked like they were there sightseeing the other night, rather than trying to stop Tampa Bay from scoring, lol. Philbin certainly has his work cut out. Again, it's going to be a long year...

[Emeritus]

Hmm. We have a four-game preseason, same as always. The Dolphins first regular season game will be in Houston.

[cklaurence]

I know. Please don't beat up on our boys too badly, Em.

I'm really pissed about the letting go of Chad Johnson last night. Last I heard, someone is innocent until proven guilty. Everyone who knows Chad (whether or not he admits he knows them or not) says Chad's a clown and a cut-up, but never violent, ill-tempered or nasty--especially to women. To cut him like they did (when we don't know what we have or don't have in wide-outs at this point, regardless of how things looked in ONE game) further confirms my doubts about this Philbin. You can tell me all you want about not wanting to have a "circus" atmosphere in Miami, but who the hell are you kidding? It wasn't Chad that brought the movie stars to Miami. It wasn't Chad that brought the orange carpet to Miami. It wasn't Chad that brought "Hard Knocks" to Miami. And who brought CHAD to Miami????? Did they think he was going to arrive and be someone different than he's been for the past 11 seasons?

[cklaurence]

HELLLOOOOOOOOO.....

[Emeritus]

I didn't mean to disappear. I went to Austin for the funeral of an old friend and others there invited me to visit them. A lot of them are about to retire, since they didn't take early retirement as I did. ck, the season hasn't started yet, so there is no need to get anxious yet. I'm eager to see the game tomorrow between the Texans and the 49ers, since the latter are favored by many to win the Super Bowl this season. Both teams have good defenses, so I don't expect a high-scoring game.

[cklaurence]

Wow, I didn't realize the 49ers were already expected to win the SB! All it takes is a couple of years of an awesome coach I guess. If our owner hadn't been such a dickhead, we might have had a chance at Harbaugh. Probably not, but what good does second-guessing and whining over losses do now?
I'm further convinced after watching this week's Hard Knocks that this Philbin is another loser. I was tremendously disappointed at his decision to cut Chad Johnson as you know, but doing it on Hard Knocks was a low blow. It made me think that maybe he was partly responsible for the decision to bring the show to the season, in which case it would confirm even further that he's as big a moron as Ross. My frustration about the season is already over the top and the season hasn't begun, yet I see no reason to believe things will go anywhere but down. He cuts the best wide-out we have because he's too much of a clown. Really? What did he expect when he hired the biggest clown in the NFL? He was doing his job and from what I could see at practices, he was doing it well, and our resources aren't so good that he can afford to be so cavalier as to dump Chad this early on. I don't like the way he's working the guys out either. When the veterans are complaining, you need to listen, and he's not paying attention. Well here I go again...

[Emeritus]

It's very early, of course, but the 49ers are fourth in the the preseason power rankings (the Texans are sixth), I think on the strength of their playoff win over the Saints last year. Personally, I think that if the game had been in New Orleans the Saints would have won. I don't know if I remember a team that was so much stronger at home than on the road. The Giants are a great example of road warriors, who are great at disappointing the home fans wherever they play.

[cklaurence]

I'd be mighty grateful just to see my team win anywhere, Em...

[Emeritus]

Well, the Texans held the 49ers without a touchdown and won 20-9. I'm convinced that Wade Phillips was the best free agent pickup of 2011. Next we have to play New Orleans in the dome, where they are much tougher. Of course, none of it counts yet, but I'm encouraged by the Texans pass rush. It is just relentless!

[cklaurence]

No doubt your guys looked pdg against the 49ers. I was quite impressed. I get to watch all the teams improve but mine. Year after year I get to see it happen for teams all over the League while my team stays stagnant. I suppose I'll have to resign myself to dying with a bad football team. My kid'll be saying, "Wow! Mom would've loved to have seen this!!!" Isn't that just the way it always is? Oh well...

[Emeritus]

In three weeks the Dolphins will come to Houston to open the regular season. Then we will get a chance to see how they do when playing for real. Don't forget, this is still just the preseason. I'm sure that the new coach is using it to see exactly what he has to work with, not to win meaningless games.

[cklaurence]

Your Texans don't have anything to worry about, kind sir. Philbin walks around with his head in a daze, probably trying to figger out what he was thinking when he took this job, as it's way too far out of his league. The team looked even worse this week than it did last week. At least last week it had some glimmers of hope, The QBs seemed to shine and the wide receivers looked like they wanted to start. This past weekend not so much.

[cklaurence]

So totally typical of BB. He held out Brady and Welker last night. Had to protect Welker when he was afraid the team couldn't. No thought of the fans who pay full price for their tickets--preseason or regular. I despise that man.

[Emeritus]

ck, Bill's responsibility is to the team, not the fans. That's an ownership issue. This week is the one that teams treat as a dress rehearsal, so it will be interesting to see how they all come out. Have you figured who will win all of the divisions yet?

[cklaurence]

Sadly, the easiest to guess is my own, and that would be the damned Patriots, followed by the Bills. Unless something changes drastically, the Jets and Fins will be fighting each other for the most inept. It would appear that so long as Tebow plays a part in the Jet offense, they will be number one in comedy performances.

In your division, it will be between the Colts and the Texans. Luck seems to be the real deal, so we'll see how quickly he catches on to the pro system...


As for the other divisions, it will take me a while to form opinions, but I'll get there. What about you?

[Emeritus]

At this stage, I can only make wild guesses, but what the hell:
AFC East: Patriots; AFC North: a tossup between the Steelers and the Ravens; AFC South: I'll go with the home boys; AFC West: I can't bet against Peyton Manning, so I'll go with the Broncos. NFC East: Giants; NFC North: Packers; NFC South: Nobody, with the Saints crippled; NFC West: another tossup between the 49ers and the Seahawks.

[cklaurence]

Looks pretty good to me, Em. I'm going to love watching the Jets this year. Every time Tebow is on the field, I'll be laughing because he's not a Dolphin! I was so afraid the Fins were going to be saddled with him, Not all our problems are solved because the Jets took him, but at least that's one less we have one less to deal with for the time being...

[Emeritus]

Tebow is a good athlete. Perhaps they can find another position that he can play, like tight end or fullback or something. The Jets have two quarterbacks, but neither one of them can throw the ball. I notice that Ryan isn't making a lot of predictions this year.

[cklaurence]

I've been saying that all along, Em. I hope Ryan doesn't figure out how to use Tebow, lol. Use him as a TE or almost any other position he'd be a real asset--just so long as he doesn't have to think. His brain is about the size of your average pea. I'm really happy with the confusion as it is--it gives the Fins some hope of not being dead last in the Division.
We're in such a bad way. Watching that Philbin bumble around on Hard Knocks is just pathetic. Ireland is a really creep. We just keep moving further and further away from any hope at all of getting better and moving forward. Very, very disheartening.
On the other hand, your guys are looking damn good and it looks like you've got another stellar season ahead...

[Emeritus]

I lost a post, somehow. It was about the Texans having too many injuries in preseason. None have been season-ending, tut the some of them is a concern.

[cklaurence]

I'll never understand why they don't just make it a two-game preseason, Em. The players don't want to play and take chances of getting hurt; the coaches don't want to take a chance on playing their top players and chancing losing their first stringers; the fans hate paying top dollar for games they know they're not going to get their money's worth for (and they worry throughout the games that something's going to happen to the top players)--and so it goes...