What needs to go right for the Dolphins to earn a playoff berth in 2010?

1. Randy Starks, who excelled in his first season as a starting defensive end, needs to emerge as an effective nose tackle for at least the first eight games, which is the duration of Jason Ferguson’s suspension. If he fails the Dolphins might need to abandon the 3-4 scheme this regime prefers.

2. Henne, who is entering his second season as a starter for the Dolphins, must take the next step. Henne needs to improve his fourth-quarter play, cut down his turnovers, and establish himself as an unwavering team leader to prove he’s the quarterback of the future for the Dolphins.

3. Both Brown and Williams need to stay healthy for an entire season because the Dolphins lean heavily on the running game, and their style of offense doesn’t work well without both Pro Bowl backs.

So, what in your opinion needs to go right for this team to return to the playoffs?

Forget Starks being effective as a NT...it should say Miami's defense needs to be effective. Will this new scheme be aggressive enough? Will they get beat to frequently? There are so many questions on the defensive side of the ball, it goes beyond what Starks can do.

Offensively, Miami can go without Williams/Brown being healthy. We saw it last year without Brown and Cobbs....Brandon Marshall needs to stay healthy will be huge....
With him, this offense is best in the league (yes, I said it), without him they are just above average.

Forget Starks being effective as a NT...it should say Miami's defense needs to be effective. Will this new scheme be aggressive enough? Will they get beat to frequently? There are so many questions on the defensive side of the ball, it goes beyond what Starks can do.

Offensively, Miami can go without Williams/Brown being healthy. We saw it last year without Brown and Cobbs....Brandon Marshall needs to stay healthy will be huge....
With him, this offense is best in the league (yes, I said it), without him they are just above average.

What we saw without Brown was a dramatic drop in points per game.

Not only were they facing tougher defenses, but they didn't have Brandon Marshall.

Brandon Marshall has nothing to do with last year. I am making the point that we need Brown healthy. No matter what you say about the Defenses we faced. Look at the point average after Brown went down.

It speaks loudly enough.

and last when we have the lead on real good teams (i.e) Saints & Colts we keep the lead.....those two losses still hurt

aka: Consistent defense. Giving up bundles of points in the 1st quarter or 4th quarter were suicidal.