Miami Dolphins Offseason Moves
Miami Dolphins fans, take this as an official warning – get your Dolphins tickets now! If you don’t have yours for the upcoming 2010 NFL season, you may want to act sooner than later. Why the rush? A quick glance around the NFL’s biggest offseason moves shows what many Miami fans already know – the Fins went into the free agency period with some holes to fill, and in doing so, they found themselves near or at the very top of many experts’ offseason leader boards.
However, as any avid sports fan will tell you, “winning” in the offseason doesn’t necessarily equate to winning on the field in the fall. But Bill Parcells and Head Coach Tony Sparano have certainly put themselves in a better position to do so, considering the splashes they made in the market this spring. In other words, not only did they fill some of their most pressing needs the last few months, they also set themselves up for success (and high expectations) in 2010 with big acquisitions on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
The biggest offseason splash for the Dolphins (no pun intended) was by far the acquisition of WR Brandon Marshall. Marshall has been an absolute stud the last three years for the Denver Broncos, logging over 1,000 yards each season (in comparison, his 1,120-yard tally last season was actually his LOWEST of all three) along with 100+ receptions in each of those years, putting him in elite company based on sheer numbers alone. The Dolphins have needed a go-to wide receiver in their offensive scheme, and with Marshall, they more than got what they needed. Need more proof? The Fins’ leading receiver in 2009, Davone Bess, caught 76 passes for 758 yards, while their No. 2 guy Brian Hartline hauled in a less-than-impressive 31 receptions. That, my friends, is what I call an upgrade.
On the defensive side, linebacker Karlos Dansby has made his way over from the Arizona Cardinals with much fanfare as well. Dansby, who is coming off his second consecutive 100+ tackle seasons and was considered one of the biggest prizes in the free agent market, has filled a gaping hole in the Fins’ defense at the inside linebacker position, where he is expected to big a big playmaker and make up for the ground lost with the release of Akin Ayodele.
It’s one thing to nab the best receiver in the market. It’s another to lock down an anchor on the defensive side of the ball. But what do you say to the fans of the team that went out and did both this year? Once again, fans, get those Miami Dolphins ticket and tailgate packages while they’re as hot as the South Florida summer heat!
