So http://www.miamidolphinsteamonline.com/raekwon-mcmillan-jersey , here we are. It’s the midpoint of the 2018 NFL season and the of us didn’t expect a record a whole lot better than this after eight games, but the manner in which the Dolphins arrived at this mark has to be at least a little disturbing for even the most ardent of the team’s followers. Miami ranks near the bottom of the league both offensively and defensively, and doesn’t appear to have many game changing players on either side of the ball. In short, the Dolphins aren’t much better today than they were seven years ago, before Tony Sparano was fired, Joe Philbin took over the team and Ryan Tannehill was drafted.Which brings us to my next point: during the seven year period that began in 2011 and ended after the 2017 season, the Dolphins averaged 7.29 wins and 8.71 losses per year. In other words, a shade under .500 for most of the past decade. And therein lies the problem; unlike many other teams, the Dolphins have never really enjoyed any ‘glory’ type years but also haven’t endured any truly abysmal stretches, such as the Browns, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans and other frequent ‘doormat’ type teams in the league. I don’t want to get into the whole ‘franchise quarterback’ debate, because at any given time, only about a quarter of the teams in the National Football League have what could be considered a franchise QB. Unfortunately, those guys are hanging around longer and longer these days. Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Ben Roethlisberger can’t play forever; it just seems like it right now. Lest we forget, teams have won championships without having a future Hall of Famer lining up under center. The Eagles did it just last year, although their backup QB, Nick Foles played out of his mind in the postseason for Philadelphia. Peyton Manning was a shell of his former self when the Broncos won it all on the strength of their defense a few years ago. What does matter, as far as Dolphin fans are concerned, is that without any top 5-8 draft picks on the roster, other than Tannehill, it figures to be a long slog for the Dolphins to get back to any kind of relevancy in the AFC.One of the best things that ever happened to the ‘exceptionist’ type folks here on this site was when the Dolphins traded up to select defensive end Dion Jordan in 2013. This gave at least a grain of truth to their argument that even a top five draft pick doesn’t guarantee a team will land a future star. Perhaps http://www.thedolphinsfootballauthentic.com/t.j.-mcdonald-jersey-authentic , but top five picks are what helped get the Jacksonville Jaguars into the AFC Championship game a year ago, and what figure to make the Cleveland Browns an annual contender in another year or two. Top five picks are what brought quarterbacks Jared Goff to the Rams, Carson Wentz to the Eagles and Marcus Mariota to the Titans. Of course, the 2013 draft has been called the worst draft of the past twenty years by NFL.com, but don’t tell the exceptionists that; they’re the same ones who will line up to buy lottery tickets, because, you know, somebody always wins. Just because Jordan washed out in Miami doesn’t mean we shouldn’t hope for another high pick next Spring. Is it possible that the Dolphins could assemble a championship quality team without the benefit of any high draft picks? Sure it is, but like winning the lottery, we shouldn’t bank on it. In fact, if we look at Miami’s won-lost record over the past three years, we can see that their two best draft classes in recent memory, 2018 and 2016, came after ten loss seasons the previous year. The worst Dolphins draft class, 2017, came after Miami eked out ten wins and a sixth playoff seed in 2016, resulting in two probable busts in the first and second rounds in ‘17, Charles Harris and Raekwon McMillan. In sum, a successful season fits into one of two categories: ten wins results in an almost certain playoff berth while losing ten or more games, although humiliating, at least carries a silver lining in the form of a high draft pick the following year. To me, that’s been the problem for the Dolphins; they don’t win enough games to be able to play any games at home in the postseason, yet never consistently lose enough games to land a future star in the draft. The worst possible record a team can finish with in the regular season is 8-8, because as we all know, or should know Youth Ryan Tannehill Jersey , 8-8 is ain’t and ain’t -- not good enough to qualify for the postseason and not bad enough to earn themselves a high draft pick. Think a team’s record is overrated in regards to draft position? Until Matt Moore led the Dolphins to an improbable overtime victory at Buffalo in December 2016, Miami hadn’t won at Ralph Wilson Stadium since 2011, when running back Reggie Bush ran for 203 yards. That victory would prove exceedingly costly, however; the Bills snapped up stud offensive lineman Cordy Glenn in the second round the following Spring, one pick ahead of the Dolphins, who settled for Jonathan Martin. Martin would end up inflicting unspeakable damage on this franchise that’s still being felt today, and the Dolphins are 1-5 at Buffalo since then. In 2013, the Dolphins and the Cowboys finished with identical 8-8 records. However, the Dolphins had to play the New England Patriots twice, as they do every season, which resulted in their having a greater strength of schedule that year. This allowed Dallas to select four time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Zach Martin with the sixteenth pick of the 2014 draft, leaving Miami to settle for Ju ‘Wuan James at number nineteen.The point of all this is that we shouldn’t necessarily be upset that the wheels have come off the Dolphins’ season. To the contrary, we should hope Miami loses a couple of extra games the rest of the way. Cutting DT Jordan Phillips when there was virtually no one behind him was a stupid move, in my opinion, but I’m not really that angry about it, because it might result in another loss or two this year, which would help the longer term prospects for the Dolphins. Using all that draft capital in 2014-16 on wideouts to try and get Tannehill over the top, which is more picks than any other NFL team has ever spent on receivers in a three year period, was also ill-advised. Just imagine where this team might be today if they had taken the first, second, three thirds and a fourth rounder they spent on Parker, Landry, Stills and Carroo and simply selected the best defensive player or offensive lineman available. However, if not having enough guys who can hold the point at the line of scrimmage contributes to yet another losing season for the Dolphins, maybe it will have been worth it. Sometimes you have to get worse before you can get better.Dolphins at Panthers final score and immediate reactions The Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers have completed their Preseason Week 2 contest Womens Daniel Kilgore Jersey , with the Dolphins falling to the Panthers, 27 - 20. 1st HalfSurprisngly, Adam Gase left the starting offense in well into the 2nd quarter. And as I sat and ate some Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, I couldn’t help but get ticked off at the Panthers announce for mispronouncing Tannehill.Speaking of Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins starting quarterback looked sharp throwing the quick short to intermediate throws. It just appeared like Gase was trying to protect his quarterback.No one on the starting offense really stood out besides a long Kenyan Drake run.The starting defense was meh as Robert Quinn recorded two sacks, Xavien Howard had an interception, and the defensive line created pressure on Cam Newton. On the first Panthers drive, Christian McCaffrey took a nice 71 yard run to the houseAgain, penalties killed the starting defense and offense.With 2:07 left in the second Brock Osweiler stepped in at quarterback. He proceeded to not really do anything. Both the offense and defense was really vanilla.Jason Sanders and Greg Joseph were both given chances as neither one missed a field goal with Sanders kicking 2 while Joseph kicked 1.We will hopefully get a better grasp of this team next week, since it will be the game where the starters play for mostly the first half and perhaps into the third quarter.2nd HalfCarolina gets the ball to start the half and the defense ends up stopping them around midfield. Jerome Baker was flying around the field, along with Charles Harris.The first drive for the offense, led by Oswiler, goes three and out. The o-line couldn’t run or pass block and forced the Dolphins to punt. Thankfully the defense forces a three and out on the proceeding Panthers drive.Osweiler still in with 7 minutes left in the 3rd. He gets hammered on his first throw, but completes it to Thomas Duarte. Senorise Perry with a HUGE run is negated by an Issac Asiata hold. Asiata is trying to make the team but not helping his cause there. After that penalty, no surprise, the Dolphins can’t convert and have to punt, but it’s a great one by Matt Haack pining the Panthers inside the 10 yard line.Safety Maurice Smith quickly ends that drive with a interception. David Fales is now in at quarterback for the Dolphins and cannot do anything on his first drive except run pass the line of scrimmage and throw an illegal forward pass. Sanders proceeds to make his third field goal of the night.With the Panthers driving, we reach the end of the 3rd quarter with the Panthers leading 13 -12.Cordrea Tankersley appears to be struggling as he allowed two long completions. The Dolphins were hoping he could compete for the position opposite Howard, but that doesn’t appear to be the case right now. The Panthers proceed to score on a short touchdown run with Cameron Artis-Payne. Panthers up 20 - 12.Buddy Howell takes a run for 31 yards with Fales still in at quarterback. Fales then throws an interception on the next play. UGH.Tankersly gets beat again and is not helping his cause as he never turned around to look for the ball. The Panthers drive downfield but have to settle for a field goal, but Graham Gano misses it.Fales and the Dolphins offense cannot do anything on the next drive after failing to convert on 4th down past midfield. Kenjon Barner manhandling the Dolphins defense as he breaks off two big runs. TWO MINUTE WARNING....FINALLY! Panthers score on the next play after break thanks to a run by Elijah Hood. 27 - 12 Panthers.Bryce Petty now in at quarterback and completes his first pass for a first down. Petty is firing on all cylinders and leading the Dolphins offense down the field. Petty decides to run with it and scores on a 15 yards touchdown run followed by a Jeremy Langford two point conversion run up the middle. 27 - 20 now.Petty has looked good in both games so far and has looked better than Osweiler and Fales. Maybe it’s time to see what he has with the second stringers.The Dolphins decide not to go for the onside kick and this game is over after the Panthers kneel to end the game.Final score: 27 -20, Panthers.