The Dolphins’ 3-5 record isn’t exactly indicative of their play.  Most teams in the NFL have the gripe that a few plays one way or another and their season would be completely different.  This statement couldn’t be more true for this Miami team.

Lets not forget two things: 1) A few plays the other way and the Dolphins would have had at least three more losses last year and missed the playoffs  2) The Pittsburgh Steelers of last year faced the hardest schedule in the league and…low and behold…a Super Bowl trophy went parading through town.  It’s safe to say that Miami isn’t Super Bowl caliber at this point.

There are bright spots to the first half of the season.  A 3-1 record against the AFC East.  An offensive line that leads a much improved rushing attack.  The wildcat has become a staple and even when rendered ineffective takes time and energy for defensive game planning.  Two rookie corners that are playing average football.  Rookie corners and quarterbacks are supposed to struggle mightily in the NFL.  To say that Sean Smith and Vontae Davis aren’t getting absolutely destroyed by players like Jericho Cotchery and Randy Moss is a compliment.  They have given up some big plays, which is totally expected.  Chad Henne looks poised and though he isn’t making plays to win games (4 touchdown passes), he is hardly making plays to lose games (3 interceptions).  Sparano and Parcells haven’t deviated from their physical, dominate time of possession, we-can-plug-in-any-player-and-have-them-succeed mentality.

It just so happens that there are some dark shadows encroaching on those bright spots.  Ted Ginn followed his stellar game (returning kicks) against the Jets with a critical dropped 4th down pass to end the game against the Patriots.  Yeremiah Bell

(safety) is the leading tackler, while veterans like Porter and Taylor have struggled maintaining a consistent pass rush.  It is clear that Bess, Camarillo, and Hartline are legit NFL wideouts, but all share the same qualities; they are possession receivers with decent hands, limited speed, and most importantly they don’t scare defenses.  The offensive line has been helped by the wildcat, wide receiver screens, and other plays that relieve the pass rush, but still look porous in obvious passing situations.  The most glaring fact is not a statistic at all, but the fact that the Dolphins can’t close games.  They led the Colts, Saints, and Patriots late in the 3rd quarter of all three games and lost.  They were also shredded in the second half of both Jets games and were lucky to come out with a win in both situations.

The moral to the story is that the Dolphins are struggling with a difficult schedule and are no longer surprising teams like last year.  Every player on this squad is adequate, but you can barely argue pro bowl status for one.  Playing well as a team can only get this Miami squad full of average talent so far.  Even if they beat the beatable teams in the second half of their schedule and sneak into the playoffs, I doubt they can win a playoff game on the road.  Miami needs an explosive wide receiver, a dominate pass rusher (or two), and a healthy veteran to lead a young secondary.  At some point the “working man” routine with extraordinary coaching can only get a team so far.  I will eat my words if the Dolphins can win all the games they should be favored in from here on out (Bucs, Panthers, Bills, Jags, Titans) and win at least one of three games against playoff caliber teams (Patriots, Texans, Steelers).   My odds are on a 7-9 finish and established building blocks for a run in 2010-11.