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The 2004 season is less than four months away, but if you want to get a jump on the Super Bowl favorite, look no further than these eight teams: Tennessee, Indianapolis, Miami, New England, Baltimore, Oakland, Denver and Pittsburgh.
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• Dolphins -- Forget a quarterback controversy; Jay Fiedler is the best man for the job, but A.J. Feeley is a nice insurance policy for when Fiedler goes down. And he will go down. Fiedler has missed 13 games the past two seasons.
Dolphins QBs
Career Statistics
Player G Comp. Att. Yards TD Int. Rating
Feeley 7 96 168 1,154 8 6 79.3
Fiedler 66 899 1,514 10,551 61 58 78.1
Fiedler and Feeley's career numbers are comparable, both throwing a TD about every 22 attempts and a pick once every 27 attempts, and their passer ratings are similar. Familiarity with the Dolphins' system -- even under first-year offensive coordinator Chris Foerster -- should give Fiedler the edge coming out of training camp. After that, it's up to him to a) make the offense click and b) stay healthy.
"Chris is going to do a great job for the Dolphins," Peyton Manning said. "When he was here in Indianapolis, I appreciated his input in our offense, and I know our tight ends, Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark, did as well. He brings knowledge and passion to the game and will be a true asset in Miami."
Miami's offense is in good shape (the cross-your-fingers O-line overhaul not withstanding), especially if David Boston escapes the funk he's been in the past two seasons. If the line holds up, Ricky Williams can be counted on for 1,800 yards -- or more. But the breakout performer may be tight end Randy McMichael, who doesn't get the hype of Jeremy Shockey, but is equally as talented.
Defensively, time is growing short for linebackers Junior Seau and Zach Thomas, but ends Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye are the best bookends on one team in the game. The departure of Brock Marion will shake up the defensive backfield, but the foursome of Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Arturo Freeman and Sammy Knight remains solid (and don't be surprised if rookie CB Will Poole doesn't make his presence felt early in the season).
The Dolphins have 50 wins since 1999, third most in the AFC, but Miami is only 10-12 in the month of December. By comparison, the Patriots are 13-7 (8-0 in their Super Bowl-winning seasons), so winning down the stretch is something Dave Wannstedt must improve.
Miami plays five games against 2003 playoff teams, but the schedule makers cut the Dolphins a two-fold break by having the team go to New England in October (Week 5), which is early enough in the season that weather shouldn't be a factor, but far enough into the year that the offense and newcomers should have a feel for the game plan.
The toughest stretch of the season will be Weeks 11-17. After a bye in Week 10, Miami makes back-to-back trips to the left coast to play the Seahawks and Niners before playing host to the Bills, traveling to Denver, then hosting the Pats and Browns before wrapping up the regular season at Baltimore.
If the Dolphins survive that stretch at no worse than 5-2, they should be in position to make the short run up I-95 to Jacksonville's ALLTEL Stadium, site of Super Bowl XXXIX -- and win the AFC's second consecutive title to keep the two-out-of-three streak alive.
...
• Dolphins -- Forget a quarterback controversy; Jay Fiedler is the best man for the job, but A.J. Feeley is a nice insurance policy for when Fiedler goes down. And he will go down. Fiedler has missed 13 games the past two seasons.
Dolphins QBs
Career Statistics
Player G Comp. Att. Yards TD Int. Rating
Feeley 7 96 168 1,154 8 6 79.3
Fiedler 66 899 1,514 10,551 61 58 78.1
Fiedler and Feeley's career numbers are comparable, both throwing a TD about every 22 attempts and a pick once every 27 attempts, and their passer ratings are similar. Familiarity with the Dolphins' system -- even under first-year offensive coordinator Chris Foerster -- should give Fiedler the edge coming out of training camp. After that, it's up to him to a) make the offense click and b) stay healthy.
"Chris is going to do a great job for the Dolphins," Peyton Manning said. "When he was here in Indianapolis, I appreciated his input in our offense, and I know our tight ends, Marcus Pollard and Dallas Clark, did as well. He brings knowledge and passion to the game and will be a true asset in Miami."
Miami's offense is in good shape (the cross-your-fingers O-line overhaul not withstanding), especially if David Boston escapes the funk he's been in the past two seasons. If the line holds up, Ricky Williams can be counted on for 1,800 yards -- or more. But the breakout performer may be tight end Randy McMichael, who doesn't get the hype of Jeremy Shockey, but is equally as talented.
Defensively, time is growing short for linebackers Junior Seau and Zach Thomas, but ends Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye are the best bookends on one team in the game. The departure of Brock Marion will shake up the defensive backfield, but the foursome of Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain, Arturo Freeman and Sammy Knight remains solid (and don't be surprised if rookie CB Will Poole doesn't make his presence felt early in the season).
The Dolphins have 50 wins since 1999, third most in the AFC, but Miami is only 10-12 in the month of December. By comparison, the Patriots are 13-7 (8-0 in their Super Bowl-winning seasons), so winning down the stretch is something Dave Wannstedt must improve.
Miami plays five games against 2003 playoff teams, but the schedule makers cut the Dolphins a two-fold break by having the team go to New England in October (Week 5), which is early enough in the season that weather shouldn't be a factor, but far enough into the year that the offense and newcomers should have a feel for the game plan.
The toughest stretch of the season will be Weeks 11-17. After a bye in Week 10, Miami makes back-to-back trips to the left coast to play the Seahawks and Niners before playing host to the Bills, traveling to Denver, then hosting the Pats and Browns before wrapping up the regular season at Baltimore.
If the Dolphins survive that stretch at no worse than 5-2, they should be in position to make the short run up I-95 to Jacksonville's ALLTEL Stadium, site of Super Bowl XXXIX -- and win the AFC's second consecutive title to keep the two-out-of-three streak alive.
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