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The publicized over-emphasis on a commitment by new Miami head coach Nick Saban to establish a winning attitude will probably attract way too much money onto Miami?s side of the scale. It?s not like the Dolphins have a losing legacy. Last season?s uncharacteristic 4-12 record was but a blip on the radar screen for a solid franchise that always had a strong nucleus of veterans. Prior to 2004, in rare instances when Miami didn?t make the post-season, the team was always in the hunt until the very end. Since taking over, Saban has implemented changes in both the offensive and defensive schemes, involving 43 new players. The new-face majority and 30-plus holdovers have been dealing with a new coaching staff. We?re not saying that Miami has no shot here. But you pit a team in the Dolphins? particular situation ? away from home, where the need to impress onlookers is not as urgent, vs. an opponent in the second season of a new regime -- and the Year Two side will be our advice nearly every time. Saban will be giving his flock of rookie LSU draftees every opportunity to play their way on or off the team in this one, against an opponent that in 2004 built NFL depth in coach Lovie Smith?s first season as Big Bear, by playing back-ups at all positions during half the schedule after the injury tide leveled the roster. Chicago?s defense allowed an NFL-fewest 30.1% third-down conversions last season and is probably the most underrated in the NFL. You can always laugh at the Bears? QB mess, yet Miami?s Feeley and Frerotte are probably the bigger joke. Chicago signed rookie QB Kyle Orton just prior to the opening of camp, and he may already be a better player than either of those Miami vets ever was or will be.
The publicized over-emphasis on a commitment by new Miami head coach Nick Saban to establish a winning attitude will probably attract way too much money onto Miami?s side of the scale. It?s not like the Dolphins have a losing legacy. Last season?s uncharacteristic 4-12 record was but a blip on the radar screen for a solid franchise that always had a strong nucleus of veterans. Prior to 2004, in rare instances when Miami didn?t make the post-season, the team was always in the hunt until the very end. Since taking over, Saban has implemented changes in both the offensive and defensive schemes, involving 43 new players. The new-face majority and 30-plus holdovers have been dealing with a new coaching staff. We?re not saying that Miami has no shot here. But you pit a team in the Dolphins? particular situation ? away from home, where the need to impress onlookers is not as urgent, vs. an opponent in the second season of a new regime -- and the Year Two side will be our advice nearly every time. Saban will be giving his flock of rookie LSU draftees every opportunity to play their way on or off the team in this one, against an opponent that in 2004 built NFL depth in coach Lovie Smith?s first season as Big Bear, by playing back-ups at all positions during half the schedule after the injury tide leveled the roster. Chicago?s defense allowed an NFL-fewest 30.1% third-down conversions last season and is probably the most underrated in the NFL. You can always laugh at the Bears? QB mess, yet Miami?s Feeley and Frerotte are probably the bigger joke. Chicago signed rookie QB Kyle Orton just prior to the opening of camp, and he may already be a better player than either of those Miami vets ever was or will be.
Nick Saban will don an NFL head coach's headset for the first time on Monday night, as the first-year Miami Dolphins' chief makes his preseason debut against the Chicago Bears in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game from Canton, OH. Saban spent 11 seasons as one of the college game's most respected head coaches, including the last five at the helm of the LSU Tigers. Saban's new challenge will be to resurrect the fortunes of a Dolphins team that struggled through a miserable 4-12 campaign in 2004, one that included the eve-of-training camp retirement of Pro Bowl running back Ricky Williams and the mid-season resignation of head coach Dave Wannstedt.
Of particular interest to Miami fans on Monday night will be the play of the quarterbacks, as incumbent signal-caller A.J. Feeley is attempting to hold off newcomer Gus Frerotte in the battle to be the club's 2005 starter. Feeley started eight games as the Fins' quarterback last season but Frerotte, who was with the Vikings in '04, has more hands-on familiarity with new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's system. At running back, where the un-retired Williams is not yet in playing shape and No. 2 draft pick Ronnie Brown remains a contract holdout, projected backups Lamar Gordon and Sammy Morris are expected to receive most of the carries on Monday. Defensively, the team will unveil its new-look 4-3/3-4 scheme, in which traditional defensive ends like Jason Taylor and David Bowens could serve for the first time as outside linebackers.
Miami's opponent in Canton will be a Chicago Bears club that is also looking to rebound from a dismal 2004 season. The Bears were 5-11 in their first season under head coach Lovie Smith, and featured the worst offense in the NFL. Back to take the quarterback reigns is Rex Grossman, who missed the final 13 games of 2004 with a knee injury. Grossman figures to eventually be handing off to first-round draft pick Cedric Benson, but Benson's contract holdout means he is unlikely to be in uniform on Monday night. Incumbent running backs Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson should receive most of the backfield time. Monday will also mark the Bears debut of All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who parlayed a huge 2004 with the Carolina Panthers into a lucrative free agent deal with Chicago. On the defensive side of the ball, end Adewale Ogunleye will play for the first time against the team for which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003. Ogunleye was traded to the Bears prior to the 2004 season in exchange for receiver Marty Booker.
The Bears lead the all-time preseason series with Miami, 7-4-1, but were 24-22 road losers in the last such head-to-head matchup, prior to the 2002 campaign. The Dolphins hold a 6-3 advantage in the regular season series, scoring a 27-9 home victory when the teams last met during the 2002 season.
Of particular interest to Miami fans on Monday night will be the play of the quarterbacks, as incumbent signal-caller A.J. Feeley is attempting to hold off newcomer Gus Frerotte in the battle to be the club's 2005 starter. Feeley started eight games as the Fins' quarterback last season but Frerotte, who was with the Vikings in '04, has more hands-on familiarity with new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan's system. At running back, where the un-retired Williams is not yet in playing shape and No. 2 draft pick Ronnie Brown remains a contract holdout, projected backups Lamar Gordon and Sammy Morris are expected to receive most of the carries on Monday. Defensively, the team will unveil its new-look 4-3/3-4 scheme, in which traditional defensive ends like Jason Taylor and David Bowens could serve for the first time as outside linebackers.
Miami's opponent in Canton will be a Chicago Bears club that is also looking to rebound from a dismal 2004 season. The Bears were 5-11 in their first season under head coach Lovie Smith, and featured the worst offense in the NFL. Back to take the quarterback reigns is Rex Grossman, who missed the final 13 games of 2004 with a knee injury. Grossman figures to eventually be handing off to first-round draft pick Cedric Benson, but Benson's contract holdout means he is unlikely to be in uniform on Monday night. Incumbent running backs Thomas Jones and Adrian Peterson should receive most of the backfield time. Monday will also mark the Bears debut of All-Pro receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who parlayed a huge 2004 with the Carolina Panthers into a lucrative free agent deal with Chicago. On the defensive side of the ball, end Adewale Ogunleye will play for the first time against the team for which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003. Ogunleye was traded to the Bears prior to the 2004 season in exchange for receiver Marty Booker.
The Bears lead the all-time preseason series with Miami, 7-4-1, but were 24-22 road losers in the last such head-to-head matchup, prior to the 2002 campaign. The Dolphins hold a 6-3 advantage in the regular season series, scoring a 27-9 home victory when the teams last met during the 2002 season.
