As the Miami Dolphins await new head coach Brian Flores, the idea of a defensive hire amid the offensive revolution deserves scrutiny. For the first time in Super Bowl history, the four highest scoring teams in the league head into the conference championship games. A place Miami has not seen since 1992, over 25 years ago.
The ancient axiom, defense wins championships, has followed the Dolphins into obscurity. Of the four remaining teams, only the Patriot defense, ranking seventh in points allowed, was better than the league average. The Saints, Chiefs, Rams and Patriots outscored their opponents by a combined 549 points, ranking first, second, third and fifth in point differential.
Here’s the saddest fact of all, the Patriots have the lowest scoring average of the four remaining teams at 27.3 points. The last time the Miami Dolphins averaged anywhere close to that was in 1984. The epic second season of a kid named Dan Marino.
The intent is not to ostracize Brian Flores for being a defensive coach, but as the Patriot’s LB coach and defensive play caller, he certainly is not an offensive guru. This hire reeks of Chris Grier bringing in a friendly face to quell his personal job insecurity. Is it understandable for a first time GM to hire a man he's well acquainted with, but is it in best interest of the Miami Dolphins?
This is consistent with the failings of Stephen Ross. His lack of football knowledge leaves him unable to determine the direction of his football team. Grier may indeed have a solid plan to re-build the Dolphin franchise, but any plan in 2019 and beyond must sway decidedly toward the offense.
There is a reason all the Dolphin coaching candidates are still available, none of them is an offensive coach. Even if Flores has an offensive coordinator up his sleeve, the longevity will be fleeting. As soon as the Miami offense achieves any level of success, the OC will become the hot coordinator of the moment and leave to try his luck as a head coach.
Flores is no Bill Belichick. Even sprouting from the Belichick tree says little about his potential. He landed the Miami job because of New England’s success, but consider the esteemed names that came before him. Bill O’Brien has had a little success at 42-38 (1-3 in playoffs), but Eric Mangini: 33-47, Romeo Crennel: 28-55, Josh McDaniels: 11-17, Matt Patricia: 6-10.
In a league that has litigated out any form of dominant defense, the highest-flying offenses are vying for the title. The Miami Dolphins last attainted any level of success when the team had the highest scoring offense in the league, that was 1984.
Hello, 34 years ago!
Yet the Dolphins hire a Linebacker coach because the rookie GM is comfortable with him?
The team has publicly stated it will draft a franchise quarterback in the next several years. There's a reason Bill Belichick wins, and Andy Reed Wins, and Bill Walsh won, and Don Shula won, it's because they can see and coach greatness at the QB position.
Stephen Ross has entrusted a rookie GM that was the head of college scouting when Miami last picked a first round QB. That was Ryan Tannehill and Chris Grier never spoke loud enough to draft another in seven years when it was apparent Tannehill was nothing special.
The irony in this decision making process is, a linebacker coach is now expected to somehow select and teach the quarterback that will define the future of the Miami Dolphins...
Ross has done it again, he's left his franchise hanging on a whim, good to be rich one guesses...
Pundits will say Bill Belichick is a defensive coach, and while it's true, Belichick evolved his offense around Tom Brady. After so long with Brady, Belichick doesn't need stability at offensive coordinator, the coaches are interchangeable. None has had great success after leaving the system, but Grier expects Flores to be different.
Every person with a modicum of NFL football knowledge knows that a great QB leads every good team in the league. Miami can talk the talk about drafting a QB in the near future. The problem is, what does the team do then, hire a whisperer? Isn't that putting the cart in front of the horse? If there is no one who understands what a great QB looks like, how can the team acquire one?
We're going to build from the inside out... Bla bla bla bla... It's like Bart Simpson. Miami made a declaration, we're drafting a franchise QB in 2020 and will concentrate on the interior line in 2019. Franchise QBs don't fall out of the sky. Tua this and some other guy that in 2020, no one knows if those guys will even be available in two years.
It's the same mistake Bill Parcels made when he thought he was the smartest football guy in the room. Let's draft Jake Long and leave Matty Ice out there because, oh we're building from the inside out. No, Chad Pennington was too frail, Chad Henne was nothing more than a backup and let's not even get into Pat White. They don't grow on trees and thinking they do will get you fired.
The point is, hiring a defensive coach 2019 is a questionable decision. Waiting for a franchise QB to fall in your lap is a questionable decision. Hiring a GM who doesn't understand these facts is a questionable decision.
But this is nothing new...
Stephen Ross may be a real estate genius, but football...
Not so much...
Meanwhile Miami fans wait for a man who can go to the Super Bowl with David Woodley and still pick Dan Marino in the following draft. A man who knows what a great QB looks like.
Stephen Ross, is not that man and it doesn't look like he hired that man either.
Showing posts with label Bill Parcells. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Parcells. Show all posts
Ignore Miami Dolphin Smokescreens – It’s Roquan Smith
G-day Shouters! Before our esteemed Kenny V delves into his Miami Dolphin centric draft analysis, I’d like to follow up on Miami’s defensive needs as I see them.
A previous article dissected how Miami’s lack of a potent weapon at TE affected the team’s ability to take advantage of opposing defenses. The same position had a disastrous effect on the Miami Dolphin defense. When thinking about the draft or free agent player acquisitions, in Miami…
It all revolves around the tight end.
Looking at some startling stats, I heard a Bill Parcells echo, “Stats are for losers!” Of course, Bill’s won a couple more Super Bowls than this average writer, so his words should not be taken for granted. Specific stats probably have little value in the big picture, but a distinct accumulation in a single area shows undeniable trends. It would be equally foolish not to heed the warning these tendencies indicate.
Adam Gase said something like, “people (PFF) do not know the defensive call or Kiko Alonso’s responsibility and should not criticize him on things they don’t know. He may be pursuing a guy he wasn’t specifically covering, but without knowing the call, they assume he missed the coverage.”
Those were not his exact words, but pretty close and for the most part, I agree. I don’t know the call, but what I do know is, TEs caught the ball, over, and over, and over again in the middle of the Miami defense.
Making such a statement tells us a couple things; no kudos were given for the defensive scheme, and the other linebackers on the team were not exonerated from responsibility.
On to the facts…
In 2017, ProFootballFocus graded Kiko Alonso as the No. 75 ranked LB in the NFL. Lawrence Timmons ranked 67th at his position and was Miami’s highest-graded LB. Miami ended the season shuffling a mixture of inexperienced players led by Chase Allen, Stephone Anthony and Mike Hull in and out of the line-up. This came after Rey Maualuga was arrested at a downtown Miami nightclub for brawling with bouncers in the wee hours before an early practice.
B-Bye Rey, hope those margaritas were de-lish!
The Dolphins allowed 94 catches by tight ends (most in the league) and 1034 receiving yards to tight ends (only Oakland – at 1038 – relinquished more). Opposing tight ends scored 10 touchdowns against the Dolphins, tied with Cleveland for second-most and behind only the Giants (13).
The six teams that allowed the most yards against tight ends (Raiders, Dolphins, Broncos, Redskins, Giants, and Texans) went a combined 31-65 and all missed the playoffs. Of the nine teams that allowed the most catches to tight ends, all but Buffalo had losing records.
For a sanity check, the three teams that gave up the fewest yards to tight ends (Saints, Panthers, and Vikings) went a combined 35-13…
We can backpedal a little and lament the injuries to Raekwon McMillian and Koa Misi, but honestly McMillian was a rookie and Misi was never very good in coverage.
McMillian will be a welcome addition when he returns, but there’s no telling the effects knee surgery will have on his career. The tendency to count on players returning to their previous form is a dangerous flirtation with the unknown. Misi’s injury appears to be career ending and Miami paid for services rendered in 2017, Misi will not return.
All of this means, Miami must make a concentrated effort to sure up the middle of the defense and find a player capable of covering tight ends. Defenses in the NFL are more diverse than ever.
Claiming to run a 3-4 or a 4-3 is simply a placeholder for player packages based on down and distance. Slot corner Bobby McCain played more snaps in 2017 (662) than every linebacker except Alonso (1008) and Timmons (792).
The relevance of the snap counts comes into play when an opposing offense presents a scheme with two wideouts, a slot receiver and a tight end.
Miami is in a mismatch...
If Miami cannot cover a TE with a LB than the safeties must become involved in the coverage. By moving the TE in motion across the formation, the coverage safety moves with him, or not, in either case the defense is exposed. Man coverage if the safety moves, and zone coverage if he does not.
Yes, that explanation was very rudimentary, but it was also very true…
The next time you yell at the TV wondering how that big ass TE got so open, remember what you just read.
This is kinda what Gase was talking about when he defended Alonso. In a zone defense, Kiko is responsible for an area of the field, not a specific player. The TE runs a shallow cross, a skinny post or uses a legal pick to create space and it looks like Alonso blew the coverage.
He didn’t blow the coverage, he’s just not good enough to play zone or man coverage against a decent TE.
Therefore, if Alonso is the defense’s best coverage LB, it’s a serious issue…
The amount of money Miami is willing to pay for defensive linemen clearly indicates where they expect the pass rush to come from. This also means with four primary DL, the five offensive linemen should be tied up, because if they don’t double team Mr. Suh, most plays are going to get wrecked.
The point is, Miami does not need bruising middle linebackers, like they would in a 3-4, who constantly take on OL. Miami needs athletic, almost hybrid type LBs, that can sneak around behind the huge line and are fleet enough to cover TEs and slippery slot receivers.
As Miami looks forward to fixing the issues detailed in the stats above, it starts at LB. Alonso is not as bad as PFF seems to think. Miami doesn’t pay PFF to use their stats as many other NFL teams do.
No one will come out and say it, so I will… PFF is a paid service and the teams that pay for the service have higher ranked players overall than teams that do not.
No other linebacker on the Miami Dolphins in 2017 should expect to be a starting player in 2018 based on their performance. Timmons and Misi will be gone. If McMillian returns to form and it’s highly likely he will, that leaves Allen, Hull and Anthony fighting for a single position and playing special teams.
Getting right down to it, the defense is really not that far away. It simply needs a true impact player at the linebacker position.
In the coming weeks, you will hear QB talk, Baker Mayfield this and Josh Rosen that… You will hear Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey debated on the offensive line. Calvin Ridley will be thrown in to replace Jarvis Landry. Tremaine Edmunds will soon be the rage. Before it’s done, Derwin Jones will be the player destined to save the Miami defense.
Fa-Get-About-It!!! It’s all a smokescreen…
Roquan Smith is the player you will not hear a peep about from Miami. I’ll leave you with one quote…
“Roquan Smith is an ascending linebacker prospect with elite athletic ability, plus intelligence and an ability to be an effective cover linebacker on passing downs.”
A previous article dissected how Miami’s lack of a potent weapon at TE affected the team’s ability to take advantage of opposing defenses. The same position had a disastrous effect on the Miami Dolphin defense. When thinking about the draft or free agent player acquisitions, in Miami…
It all revolves around the tight end.
Looking at some startling stats, I heard a Bill Parcells echo, “Stats are for losers!” Of course, Bill’s won a couple more Super Bowls than this average writer, so his words should not be taken for granted. Specific stats probably have little value in the big picture, but a distinct accumulation in a single area shows undeniable trends. It would be equally foolish not to heed the warning these tendencies indicate.
Adam Gase said something like, “people (PFF) do not know the defensive call or Kiko Alonso’s responsibility and should not criticize him on things they don’t know. He may be pursuing a guy he wasn’t specifically covering, but without knowing the call, they assume he missed the coverage.”
Those were not his exact words, but pretty close and for the most part, I agree. I don’t know the call, but what I do know is, TEs caught the ball, over, and over, and over again in the middle of the Miami defense.
Making such a statement tells us a couple things; no kudos were given for the defensive scheme, and the other linebackers on the team were not exonerated from responsibility.
On to the facts…
In 2017, ProFootballFocus graded Kiko Alonso as the No. 75 ranked LB in the NFL. Lawrence Timmons ranked 67th at his position and was Miami’s highest-graded LB. Miami ended the season shuffling a mixture of inexperienced players led by Chase Allen, Stephone Anthony and Mike Hull in and out of the line-up. This came after Rey Maualuga was arrested at a downtown Miami nightclub for brawling with bouncers in the wee hours before an early practice.
B-Bye Rey, hope those margaritas were de-lish!
The Dolphins allowed 94 catches by tight ends (most in the league) and 1034 receiving yards to tight ends (only Oakland – at 1038 – relinquished more). Opposing tight ends scored 10 touchdowns against the Dolphins, tied with Cleveland for second-most and behind only the Giants (13).
The six teams that allowed the most yards against tight ends (Raiders, Dolphins, Broncos, Redskins, Giants, and Texans) went a combined 31-65 and all missed the playoffs. Of the nine teams that allowed the most catches to tight ends, all but Buffalo had losing records.
For a sanity check, the three teams that gave up the fewest yards to tight ends (Saints, Panthers, and Vikings) went a combined 35-13…
We can backpedal a little and lament the injuries to Raekwon McMillian and Koa Misi, but honestly McMillian was a rookie and Misi was never very good in coverage.
McMillian will be a welcome addition when he returns, but there’s no telling the effects knee surgery will have on his career. The tendency to count on players returning to their previous form is a dangerous flirtation with the unknown. Misi’s injury appears to be career ending and Miami paid for services rendered in 2017, Misi will not return.
All of this means, Miami must make a concentrated effort to sure up the middle of the defense and find a player capable of covering tight ends. Defenses in the NFL are more diverse than ever.
Claiming to run a 3-4 or a 4-3 is simply a placeholder for player packages based on down and distance. Slot corner Bobby McCain played more snaps in 2017 (662) than every linebacker except Alonso (1008) and Timmons (792).
The relevance of the snap counts comes into play when an opposing offense presents a scheme with two wideouts, a slot receiver and a tight end.
Miami is in a mismatch...
If Miami cannot cover a TE with a LB than the safeties must become involved in the coverage. By moving the TE in motion across the formation, the coverage safety moves with him, or not, in either case the defense is exposed. Man coverage if the safety moves, and zone coverage if he does not.
Yes, that explanation was very rudimentary, but it was also very true…
The next time you yell at the TV wondering how that big ass TE got so open, remember what you just read.
This is kinda what Gase was talking about when he defended Alonso. In a zone defense, Kiko is responsible for an area of the field, not a specific player. The TE runs a shallow cross, a skinny post or uses a legal pick to create space and it looks like Alonso blew the coverage.
He didn’t blow the coverage, he’s just not good enough to play zone or man coverage against a decent TE.
Therefore, if Alonso is the defense’s best coverage LB, it’s a serious issue…
The amount of money Miami is willing to pay for defensive linemen clearly indicates where they expect the pass rush to come from. This also means with four primary DL, the five offensive linemen should be tied up, because if they don’t double team Mr. Suh, most plays are going to get wrecked.
The point is, Miami does not need bruising middle linebackers, like they would in a 3-4, who constantly take on OL. Miami needs athletic, almost hybrid type LBs, that can sneak around behind the huge line and are fleet enough to cover TEs and slippery slot receivers.
As Miami looks forward to fixing the issues detailed in the stats above, it starts at LB. Alonso is not as bad as PFF seems to think. Miami doesn’t pay PFF to use their stats as many other NFL teams do.
No one will come out and say it, so I will… PFF is a paid service and the teams that pay for the service have higher ranked players overall than teams that do not.
No other linebacker on the Miami Dolphins in 2017 should expect to be a starting player in 2018 based on their performance. Timmons and Misi will be gone. If McMillian returns to form and it’s highly likely he will, that leaves Allen, Hull and Anthony fighting for a single position and playing special teams.
Getting right down to it, the defense is really not that far away. It simply needs a true impact player at the linebacker position.
In the coming weeks, you will hear QB talk, Baker Mayfield this and Josh Rosen that… You will hear Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey debated on the offensive line. Calvin Ridley will be thrown in to replace Jarvis Landry. Tremaine Edmunds will soon be the rage. Before it’s done, Derwin Jones will be the player destined to save the Miami defense.
Fa-Get-About-It!!! It’s all a smokescreen…
Roquan Smith is the player you will not hear a peep about from Miami. I’ll leave you with one quote…
“Roquan Smith is an ascending linebacker prospect with elite athletic ability, plus intelligence and an ability to be an effective cover linebacker on passing downs.”
Miami Dolphins Promote From Within
On Monday after an approximate 24 hour period which included 16 elapsed hours of travel-time back to American soil from a Sunday home game loss at London's Wembley Stadium. The extremely lackadaisical 1 - 3 Miami Dolphins had decided to go out with the old and in with the new coaching staff. It all started with the firing of a (though well respected), Ho-Humm 54 year old head coach Joe Philbin while promoting an invigorated 39 year old Tight-End coach Dan Campbell.
Campbell is a mountainous 6 - 5, 265 pound NFL tight-end just 6 years removed from his playing career of ten years, and appears as though he could put a serious hurt'in on any man that feels the urge to test him. Though while being a player not too long ago he can more easily relate to a players conundrums than could a frail guy who some may have suggested couldn't fight his own way out of a paper bag.
The present (Interim) Head Coach Dan Campbell has been with Miami as a 2010 intern as well as 2011 tight end coach under the Bill Parcells regime, and remained at that position from 2012 through week four of 2015 under the most recently fired head coach. Big-Dan also played under head coach Parcell's at Dallas for three years in 2003/4/5 while listing him as his number one influence, and his personality is proof of as much as it will clearly be his way or the highway while he suggested that The Miami Dolphins will no longer be a conservative franchise from either side of the ball.
The higher-ups (in a non-conservative approach) gave Campbell immediate control of doing as he pleases with his remaining staff, and fewer than another 48 hours had passed before he had promoted most all the offensive coaches that he had been previously riding the small bus with. His tight-end coaching spot had obviously been vacated, so on Wednesday he filled that position with Miami's 3 year assistant quarterback coach Ben Johnson. A first year Dolphin coach who was an 11 year NFL starting offensive lineman and nine game playoff starter between (1998 - 2008) Mike Wahle will be his assistant.
Miami's Wide Receiver coach in his fourth year Ken O'Keefe was promoted to senior offensive assistant. An NFL coach of the last (32 consecutive NFL years) Al Saunders (right) has also been brought in from afar to aid as a second senior offensive assistant and/or consultant to the bewildered remaining offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. Saunders over his career has served at every offensive coaching position that exist including coordinator, so he can't possibly not be an asset to a (thus-far) ineffective unit. Dan Campbell say's that the passing game that Lazor has been trying to implement is truly the design of and ownership belongs to Al Saunders.
Along with the previous 72 hours that it took to fly from London, promote Dan Campbell, and for him to infiltrate his preferred personnel to the side of the ball of his expertise.
In the Co-Main event. It took one more additional 24 hour period till Thursday for Miami and Campbell to check under rocks unsuccessfully for outsider defensive coaching possibilities before dump-trucking the Dolphins much maligned Defensive Coordinator Kevin Coyle. Coyle's complex though ultra-conservative defensive strategy has accrued just one sack in four 2015 games while ranking 30th in yards allowed, and 32nd/last in rushing yards permitted with a star-studded defensive-line unit severely questioning the defensive coordinator's play from your heals approach.
An NFL 10 year starting corner back and third year Miami Dolphin defensive assistant Jeff Burris has been upgraded to corner backs coach in a defensive back assistance role to safety coach Blue Adams.
Miami's four year defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo will be filling the literal void of the previous and now fired defensive coordinator Coyle while in one of many encouraging defensive scheme/personnel thoughts Anarumo suggested that "he wants the Dolphins defensive linemen to create havoc in the backfield."
New Head Coach Dan Campbell said of Anarumo, "I know he is the right man for this job, Lou and I see eye-to-eye about what we need to do defensively moving forward. He has been a coach who has gotten the proven production out of his players and has insight into the most intricate parts of our defense, which are the blitzes, and coverage, among other things."
Understandably, with all these new personnel and approach techniques there will be times of confusion on the field which can't quite possibly be as misunderstood to what we as fans from our lazy-boy recliners have witnessed thus-far during the 2015 season from our previously three-plus year tenured team scheme/personnel motivators.
Due to a "sleep-walking" 1 - 3 start, and wholesale changes abound at the first quarter point of the season. The Miami Dolphins may not win as often as anticipated prior to the 2015 season, but there is one thing for-sure and that is that the Dolphins will "show-up" with great aggression over the season's remainder!
Thank You for an open-minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GO Dan Campbell, GO Lou Anarumo, GO Al Saunders, GO Bill Lazor, GOFINS!!!
The present (Interim) Head Coach Dan Campbell has been with Miami as a 2010 intern as well as 2011 tight end coach under the Bill Parcells regime, and remained at that position from 2012 through week four of 2015 under the most recently fired head coach. Big-Dan also played under head coach Parcell's at Dallas for three years in 2003/4/5 while listing him as his number one influence, and his personality is proof of as much as it will clearly be his way or the highway while he suggested that The Miami Dolphins will no longer be a conservative franchise from either side of the ball.
The higher-ups (in a non-conservative approach) gave Campbell immediate control of doing as he pleases with his remaining staff, and fewer than another 48 hours had passed before he had promoted most all the offensive coaches that he had been previously riding the small bus with. His tight-end coaching spot had obviously been vacated, so on Wednesday he filled that position with Miami's 3 year assistant quarterback coach Ben Johnson. A first year Dolphin coach who was an 11 year NFL starting offensive lineman and nine game playoff starter between (1998 - 2008) Mike Wahle will be his assistant.
Along with the previous 72 hours that it took to fly from London, promote Dan Campbell, and for him to infiltrate his preferred personnel to the side of the ball of his expertise.
In the Co-Main event. It took one more additional 24 hour period till Thursday for Miami and Campbell to check under rocks unsuccessfully for outsider defensive coaching possibilities before dump-trucking the Dolphins much maligned Defensive Coordinator Kevin Coyle. Coyle's complex though ultra-conservative defensive strategy has accrued just one sack in four 2015 games while ranking 30th in yards allowed, and 32nd/last in rushing yards permitted with a star-studded defensive-line unit severely questioning the defensive coordinator's play from your heals approach.
An NFL 10 year starting corner back and third year Miami Dolphin defensive assistant Jeff Burris has been upgraded to corner backs coach in a defensive back assistance role to safety coach Blue Adams.
New Head Coach Dan Campbell said of Anarumo, "I know he is the right man for this job, Lou and I see eye-to-eye about what we need to do defensively moving forward. He has been a coach who has gotten the proven production out of his players and has insight into the most intricate parts of our defense, which are the blitzes, and coverage, among other things."
Understandably, with all these new personnel and approach techniques there will be times of confusion on the field which can't quite possibly be as misunderstood to what we as fans from our lazy-boy recliners have witnessed thus-far during the 2015 season from our previously three-plus year tenured team scheme/personnel motivators.
Due to a "sleep-walking" 1 - 3 start, and wholesale changes abound at the first quarter point of the season. The Miami Dolphins may not win as often as anticipated prior to the 2015 season, but there is one thing for-sure and that is that the Dolphins will "show-up" with great aggression over the season's remainder!
Thank You for an open-minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GO Dan Campbell, GO Lou Anarumo, GO Al Saunders, GO Bill Lazor, GOFINS!!!
Miami Dolphins Hire Defensive Line Coach Terrell Williams
The Miami Dolphins defensive line coach of the last seven seasons. (Kacy Rodgers) was lured to the New York Jets last week with a promotion to defensive coordinator (via friend, ex-Dolphin/Cardinals coach, and recently hired NYJ head coach Todd Bowles). Both Bowles and Rodgers came to Miami from Dallas in 2008 in care of Bill Parcells, Jeff Ireland, and Tony Sparano.
Terrell Williams whom has held the same defensive line coach position with the Oakland Raiders from the 2012 thru 2014 seasons has been named as Rodgers' replacement for the Miami Dolphins.
Williams became one of many staff expendables with the Raiders hiring of a new head coach in the defensive minded Jack Del-Rio. Williams had actually accepted the highly touted Florida Gators Defensive Line Coach position previous to the Dolphins sudden need.
Born in 1974, Williams is just 40 years old while his only NFL job was that of the above mentioned in Oakland. He was a two year Nose Guard at East Carolina just 19 years ago from 1995 thru 1996. From 1998 to this day he has been a Defensive Line coach that has steadily rose through the ranks of collegiate as well as prestigious NFL venues with Oakland, and now Miami.
His Defensive Line Coach resume includes a 1998 stint at Fort Scott Community College which was followed by consistent steps up in class with two years at North Carolina A & T while also holding an internship with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.
Two years at Youngstown State
Two years at Akron
Four years at Purdue
Two years at Texas A & M and then
2012 thru 2014 as the Oakland Raiders Defensive Line Coach.
Kacy Rodgers as an NFL Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle coach in 2003-2004, and defensive line coach since is five years older than Terrell Williams while having the same five years of additional overall coaching experience though at lesser collegiate venues.
With a far inferior cast of 4 - 3 schemed defensive line characters in Oakland! The Raiders versus an offensively superior division in both the run and passing game were 22nd in the league versus the rush while the similar 4 - 3 Dolphins defense ranked 24th.
Is this to be looked at as a fresh start with more upside, or a step backwards?
What does it mean as far as FA DT Jared Odrick's future Dolphin status is concerned?
Do you remember the televised verbal tongue lashing that Odrick bestowed upon Joe Philbin as Kacy Rodgers stood by with arms folded?
Thanks for an open minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
Terrell Williams whom has held the same defensive line coach position with the Oakland Raiders from the 2012 thru 2014 seasons has been named as Rodgers' replacement for the Miami Dolphins.
Williams became one of many staff expendables with the Raiders hiring of a new head coach in the defensive minded Jack Del-Rio. Williams had actually accepted the highly touted Florida Gators Defensive Line Coach position previous to the Dolphins sudden need.
Born in 1974, Williams is just 40 years old while his only NFL job was that of the above mentioned in Oakland. He was a two year Nose Guard at East Carolina just 19 years ago from 1995 thru 1996. From 1998 to this day he has been a Defensive Line coach that has steadily rose through the ranks of collegiate as well as prestigious NFL venues with Oakland, and now Miami.
His Defensive Line Coach resume includes a 1998 stint at Fort Scott Community College which was followed by consistent steps up in class with two years at North Carolina A & T while also holding an internship with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999.
Two years at Youngstown State
Two years at Akron
Four years at Purdue
Two years at Texas A & M and then
2012 thru 2014 as the Oakland Raiders Defensive Line Coach.
Kacy Rodgers as an NFL Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle coach in 2003-2004, and defensive line coach since is five years older than Terrell Williams while having the same five years of additional overall coaching experience though at lesser collegiate venues.
With a far inferior cast of 4 - 3 schemed defensive line characters in Oakland! The Raiders versus an offensively superior division in both the run and passing game were 22nd in the league versus the rush while the similar 4 - 3 Dolphins defense ranked 24th.
Is this to be looked at as a fresh start with more upside, or a step backwards?
What does it mean as far as FA DT Jared Odrick's future Dolphin status is concerned?
Do you remember the televised verbal tongue lashing that Odrick bestowed upon Joe Philbin as Kacy Rodgers stood by with arms folded?
Thanks for an open minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : )) !!
GOFINS!!!
40 Points is The Miami Dolphins Key to Swag
November 27, 2003 is a date Miami fans should recognize. The Dolphins went to Dallas on Thanksgiving and beat the Cowboys 40-21, leaving coach Bill Parcells "a little embarrassed." The question is, was Parcells embarrassed because his team didn’t perform or because Miami scored 40 points. Considering the Dolphins have not achieved the 40-point barrier since, it's Miami that should be embarrassed.
The Miami Dolphins are 17 and 19 since Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill began this epoch in team history. It’s been two seasons and four games of mediocre results featuring astonishing moments of brilliance followed by head-scratching moments of incompetence leaving experts and fans to wonder if expecting more is an exercise in futility.
Analyzing the X’s and O’s, this many passes and that many rushes, offensive play calling and defensive alignments doesn't seem to matter. Perhaps the missing link in Miami has nothing to do with X’s and O’s or on-field assignments but is more about the psychology of winning a football game.
The Dolphins come to play when the stakes are high. In 2013 Miami beat some hefty challengers - the Colts, Falcons, Bengals, Chargers, Steelers, and Patriots. That’s a six-pack of some very good football teams with great QBs. If six of the eight 2013 wins came against playoff teams, that means the losses came against lesser competition.
Miami lost to the Ravens by 3 points, the bills by 2, the Bucs by 3 and the Panthers by 4. After going to New York and blowing out the Jets 23-3, they lost 20-7 at home. The only other team Miami beat by more than 10 points was the Browns and every other victory was in the 4-point range or less. The narrow margin in victory or defeat is enough to make a fan go stark raving mad!
The last time the Miami Dolphins scored 40 points was against our old buddy Bill Parcells 11 years ago. Against the Raiders, Miami led 38-7 in the 3rd quarter and cruised to a 38-14 victory.
Could that one easy victory actually highlight the psychological issues in Miami?
The Dolphins don’t expect to dominate football games…
Oh my, we’re kicking the snot out of the Raiders, how did that happen? The Patriots and the Broncos scored more than 40 points last week. The Giants, the Colts and even the damn Vikings did it the week before. Over here in Miami, it’s been over 11 YEARS since 40 points have blinked on the scoreboard… 11 YEARS!
Good teams do not take their foot off the peddle, they score and score and score, why?
Because they want to kick your ass!!!
They want you to remember the ass kicking when you play them again. They want you to see them on your schedule and mark it off as a loss, a humiliating ass kicking loss! They already have you beat before the game is even played.
Now, sit back and think about our two heroes, Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill… Are you scared, are you thinking, these guys are going to kick our ass!
No, there is no fear, it's wonderment which team and QB will show up!
Miami kicked the Jets ass in New York last year and then showed zero swagger by allowing the same Jet slobs to come into the Dolphins' own house and humiliate them...
What is that??? No Swag... No Swag...
There are no easy wins, there are no inferior opponents in the NFL. There are no easy series of downs, there is no safe lead in the 3rd quarter, this is a gladiator sport and the object is to destroy your opponent so they are scared to play you ever again. Any team deciding not to show up will look, like the Dolphins when they play teams they think they should beat.
Why do the Dolphins have trouble with Buffalo?
Because they kicked Miami's ass and the Fins are scared. SWAG... Buffalo got Swag!
Swag must be in the face of every opponent, on every down. How many great first halves have preceded collapses in the second half? Okay boys, we got this… We’re going to run the ball and eat the clock. Bend but don’t break, let them have some yards and use the clock and we’ll get out of here with a win.
No, you won’t... You lost your SWAG!
If a team was capable of building a huge advantage in the first half, what’s to stop the other team from doing the same in the second? Kick their ass on every play, on every individual performance for the entire game and suddenly 40 points or more appear on the scoreboard. Whoa, it’s magic, it's SWAG!
Hoping Ryan Tannehill is accurate this week is not going to cut it if the present Miami team has any true thoughts of being dominate in the NFL. Domination is not just about winning, it’s about Philbin and Tannehill wanting to kick the other team’s ass, and not stop kicking their ass until the game is over. It's about swag.
The Dolphins need to make teams afraid to play Miami. They need to start this week against a very good Packer team. When Ryan Tannehill shows up with something to prove, he plays like it. When Tannehill shows up with a weak game plan designed to control the clock and keep him on his feet, he plays like a loser. He misses easy throws, makes poor decisions and accepts defeat because he doesn’t play with swag… He plays not to lose.
Tannehill needs to get hit, he needs to play with abandon. Russell Wilson is hit less because he uses his legs instead of sitting in the pocket and playing some game from Dan Marino’s era. The moment Atlanta reigned in Michael Vick, his swag went to the dogs and he has never been the same.
Philbin and Lazor must see the tape and know, when Tannehill moves in the pocket and takes hits running the football on zone reads, he is much more effective. The hits wake him up. The objective is to place talent in a position to kick the opponent’s ass, not play within some system. Play with confidence to the strengths that created a first round draft pick. (confidence is the real word for swag BTW).
If Joe Philbin wants to be a success in the NFL, he will accept nothing less than his players kicking their opponent’s ass on every single play.
When 40 points is expected, the Miami Dolphins will find their SWAG...
The Miami Dolphins are 17 and 19 since Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill began this epoch in team history. It’s been two seasons and four games of mediocre results featuring astonishing moments of brilliance followed by head-scratching moments of incompetence leaving experts and fans to wonder if expecting more is an exercise in futility.
Analyzing the X’s and O’s, this many passes and that many rushes, offensive play calling and defensive alignments doesn't seem to matter. Perhaps the missing link in Miami has nothing to do with X’s and O’s or on-field assignments but is more about the psychology of winning a football game.
The Dolphins come to play when the stakes are high. In 2013 Miami beat some hefty challengers - the Colts, Falcons, Bengals, Chargers, Steelers, and Patriots. That’s a six-pack of some very good football teams with great QBs. If six of the eight 2013 wins came against playoff teams, that means the losses came against lesser competition.
Miami lost to the Ravens by 3 points, the bills by 2, the Bucs by 3 and the Panthers by 4. After going to New York and blowing out the Jets 23-3, they lost 20-7 at home. The only other team Miami beat by more than 10 points was the Browns and every other victory was in the 4-point range or less. The narrow margin in victory or defeat is enough to make a fan go stark raving mad!
The last time the Miami Dolphins scored 40 points was against our old buddy Bill Parcells 11 years ago. Against the Raiders, Miami led 38-7 in the 3rd quarter and cruised to a 38-14 victory.
Could that one easy victory actually highlight the psychological issues in Miami?
The Dolphins don’t expect to dominate football games…
Oh my, we’re kicking the snot out of the Raiders, how did that happen? The Patriots and the Broncos scored more than 40 points last week. The Giants, the Colts and even the damn Vikings did it the week before. Over here in Miami, it’s been over 11 YEARS since 40 points have blinked on the scoreboard… 11 YEARS!
Good teams do not take their foot off the peddle, they score and score and score, why?
Because they want to kick your ass!!!
They want you to remember the ass kicking when you play them again. They want you to see them on your schedule and mark it off as a loss, a humiliating ass kicking loss! They already have you beat before the game is even played.
Now, sit back and think about our two heroes, Joe Philbin and Ryan Tannehill… Are you scared, are you thinking, these guys are going to kick our ass!
No, there is no fear, it's wonderment which team and QB will show up!
Miami kicked the Jets ass in New York last year and then showed zero swagger by allowing the same Jet slobs to come into the Dolphins' own house and humiliate them...
What is that??? No Swag... No Swag...
There are no easy wins, there are no inferior opponents in the NFL. There are no easy series of downs, there is no safe lead in the 3rd quarter, this is a gladiator sport and the object is to destroy your opponent so they are scared to play you ever again. Any team deciding not to show up will look, like the Dolphins when they play teams they think they should beat.
Why do the Dolphins have trouble with Buffalo?
Because they kicked Miami's ass and the Fins are scared. SWAG... Buffalo got Swag!
Swag must be in the face of every opponent, on every down. How many great first halves have preceded collapses in the second half? Okay boys, we got this… We’re going to run the ball and eat the clock. Bend but don’t break, let them have some yards and use the clock and we’ll get out of here with a win.
No, you won’t... You lost your SWAG!
If a team was capable of building a huge advantage in the first half, what’s to stop the other team from doing the same in the second? Kick their ass on every play, on every individual performance for the entire game and suddenly 40 points or more appear on the scoreboard. Whoa, it’s magic, it's SWAG!
Hoping Ryan Tannehill is accurate this week is not going to cut it if the present Miami team has any true thoughts of being dominate in the NFL. Domination is not just about winning, it’s about Philbin and Tannehill wanting to kick the other team’s ass, and not stop kicking their ass until the game is over. It's about swag.
The Dolphins need to make teams afraid to play Miami. They need to start this week against a very good Packer team. When Ryan Tannehill shows up with something to prove, he plays like it. When Tannehill shows up with a weak game plan designed to control the clock and keep him on his feet, he plays like a loser. He misses easy throws, makes poor decisions and accepts defeat because he doesn’t play with swag… He plays not to lose.
Tannehill needs to get hit, he needs to play with abandon. Russell Wilson is hit less because he uses his legs instead of sitting in the pocket and playing some game from Dan Marino’s era. The moment Atlanta reigned in Michael Vick, his swag went to the dogs and he has never been the same.
Philbin and Lazor must see the tape and know, when Tannehill moves in the pocket and takes hits running the football on zone reads, he is much more effective. The hits wake him up. The objective is to place talent in a position to kick the opponent’s ass, not play within some system. Play with confidence to the strengths that created a first round draft pick. (confidence is the real word for swag BTW).
If Joe Philbin wants to be a success in the NFL, he will accept nothing less than his players kicking their opponent’s ass on every single play.
When 40 points is expected, the Miami Dolphins will find their SWAG...
Miami Dolphin GM is the Key to Resurgence
The waning interest of Miami Dolphin fans is understandable when dissecting the performance of recent GMs. It would be foolish to place the entire burden on a single individual, so Jeff Ireland is merely a guinea pig for the ineptitude of the past as the Dolphins fell from grace. It started way before Jeff, but he's the most recent donkey for this example. (Donkey is kinder than ass, right?)
It’s okay to say it now... A whole draft has come and gone without Jeff Ireland and the difference is obvious. The guy could not even draft a kicker! A freaking kicker? Giving up a 2nd round pick to obtain the 3rd overall pick is okay if the player sniffs the field in two years, but alas, Dion Jordan has not.
Okay excusers explain how other players were selected early and have their own issues. I don’t care. I don’t find comfort in the misery of others. I suppose, for some fans, another player with issues makes Miami's mistakes acceptable. Sorry, I’m playing the BS card, it’s not acceptable…
Drafting three injured players in the first three rounds might be genius in a couple years if they became stars, but it ain’t gonna happen. I still have hope for Jamar Taylor, but Dallas Thomas, ummm, he’ll be lucky to make the roster this year. I know players drafted in later rounds sometimes become great but it's not how to build a great team in the NFL, or piss me off so much.
Great players in later rounds are bonuses and come along rarely. Team-sustaining players need to be picked in the first three rounds or a team will eventually fade into mediocrity or worse.
Let’s review the first 3 rounds for the five years prior to 2014…
2013 – Dion Jordan, Jamar Taylor, Dallas Thomas
2012 – Ryan Tannehill, Jonathan Martin, Olivier Vernon, Michael Egnew
2011 – Mike Pouncey, Daniel Thomas, Edmond Gates
2010 – Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, John Jerry
2009 – Vontae Davis, Pat White, Sean Smith, Patrick Turner
Seventeen players drafted and one Pro Bowl appearance between all of them. Of the seventeen, seven are gone, some completely out of the league. Another three will have trouble getting out of training camp this year. Ten players in the first three rounds over the last five years, gone… Only five players in five years are starters!
Look at the potential trouble spots on the Dolphins this year and start with the offensive line. Four players selected and one starter in the bunch. When they finally give up on Dallas Thomas, three of those players are completely gone. Miami has an issue at linebacker… Anyone see a LB up there, one, poor lonely Koa Misi and he’s good, but Pro Bowl?
The jury is out on Ryan Tannehill, he might be good eventually… Pouncey seems bent on enough stupidity to run himself out of Miami. The only real player in the bunch is Olivier Vernon but I’m left to wonder what happens to him when the third pick in the 2013 draft comes off suspension?
I know the excusers will load up and tell me all the reasons I should polish a turd, but my eyes are not blinded by fandom. I’m not a sheep following a fool into the same burnt pasture. The Dolphins lost their luster because they hired terrible personnel directors while searching for some retread-coaching star.
Poor Jeffery, we’re just using you as our example of the worst GM in Miami history, no offense though, swear…
Jordan was injured and was picked at a stacked position, why trade? I don’t get it? Some chart from one of those coaching-retreads said it was a great value… The bottom line excusers is, none of the top players in that draft were much better and the trade lost a 2nd round pick while gaining nothing.
Tannehill… Well I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. Something tells me, draft a player when they should be selected and take the bonus points if they turn out to be great. Drafting properly works this way, it makes more sense than reaching for a player who was uncertain then, and is uncertain now.
It means another GM whisperer took advantage of our boy Jeffrey and we Dolphin fans get to argue about Tannehill’s potential. WooHoo, I love potential… I wonder how potential beer tastes, must be like O’Douls, a freaking tease!
Pouncey, no reach - PRO BOWL…
Odrick, injured, he’s been okay if you accept a lost year from your first round pick.
Davis, well I don’t need to explain why this pick was never going to pan out…
I think I made my point, argue if you wish, but it fails to sway eyes not easily mislead by blind faith. So without further ado, let’s look at what’s different about the 2014 draft.
First, no reaching…
Ja’Wuan James is a right tackle, Miami desperately needed a starting right tackle. I realize most fans have never taken a three-point stance and tried to make a first step. Here’s the deal, left tackles need to be comfortable planting their right foot. In other words, most of the good ones are left handed. They don’t make good right tackles because those guys are right handed and plant with their left foot.
Jarvis Landry was selected at a position the “experts” are calling the deepest on the team… It’s another case of the “experts” trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Both Gibson and Hartline are coming off injury and Wallace, well let’s just say, he’s got a little Teddy Ginn in him. (Good thing Jeffery didn’t pick Ginn, I could have a field day!)
The running back debate… Hi Dolphin fans, I’ve got a golden chariot and it’s being pulled by the most magnificent donkey you have ever seen! Backs are a dime dozen on any team capable of drafting offensive linemen. GM ineptitude is what this is all about, can anyone say, “cart before the donkey!”
Billy Turner, I don’t know, but the signs are good…
Maybe Miami is on the right track with Dennis Hickey. The Dolphins could sure use a break.
So I guess the whole point is, even Tony Sparano may have been a decent coach, we’ll never know. The problem in Miami has been in the personnel department and unfortunately, it’s been overlooked for the glitz of coaching-retreads.
Jimmy Johnson, Nick Saban, Bill Parcells, riding that golden chariot, whipping the poor hapless donkey.
All along, the horses picked by other teams are winning the race.
The retreads, they sold the gold chariot and retired to retread land where they could fool other fools into following…
Miami fans…
Well I guess they're waiting to see if Dennis Hickey knows the difference between a horse and an ass...
It’s okay to say it now... A whole draft has come and gone without Jeff Ireland and the difference is obvious. The guy could not even draft a kicker! A freaking kicker? Giving up a 2nd round pick to obtain the 3rd overall pick is okay if the player sniffs the field in two years, but alas, Dion Jordan has not.
Okay excusers explain how other players were selected early and have their own issues. I don’t care. I don’t find comfort in the misery of others. I suppose, for some fans, another player with issues makes Miami's mistakes acceptable. Sorry, I’m playing the BS card, it’s not acceptable…
Drafting three injured players in the first three rounds might be genius in a couple years if they became stars, but it ain’t gonna happen. I still have hope for Jamar Taylor, but Dallas Thomas, ummm, he’ll be lucky to make the roster this year. I know players drafted in later rounds sometimes become great but it's not how to build a great team in the NFL, or piss me off so much.
Great players in later rounds are bonuses and come along rarely. Team-sustaining players need to be picked in the first three rounds or a team will eventually fade into mediocrity or worse.
Let’s review the first 3 rounds for the five years prior to 2014…
2013 – Dion Jordan, Jamar Taylor, Dallas Thomas
2012 – Ryan Tannehill, Jonathan Martin, Olivier Vernon, Michael Egnew
2011 – Mike Pouncey, Daniel Thomas, Edmond Gates
2010 – Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, John Jerry
2009 – Vontae Davis, Pat White, Sean Smith, Patrick Turner
Seventeen players drafted and one Pro Bowl appearance between all of them. Of the seventeen, seven are gone, some completely out of the league. Another three will have trouble getting out of training camp this year. Ten players in the first three rounds over the last five years, gone… Only five players in five years are starters!
Look at the potential trouble spots on the Dolphins this year and start with the offensive line. Four players selected and one starter in the bunch. When they finally give up on Dallas Thomas, three of those players are completely gone. Miami has an issue at linebacker… Anyone see a LB up there, one, poor lonely Koa Misi and he’s good, but Pro Bowl?
The jury is out on Ryan Tannehill, he might be good eventually… Pouncey seems bent on enough stupidity to run himself out of Miami. The only real player in the bunch is Olivier Vernon but I’m left to wonder what happens to him when the third pick in the 2013 draft comes off suspension?
I know the excusers will load up and tell me all the reasons I should polish a turd, but my eyes are not blinded by fandom. I’m not a sheep following a fool into the same burnt pasture. The Dolphins lost their luster because they hired terrible personnel directors while searching for some retread-coaching star.
Poor Jeffery, we’re just using you as our example of the worst GM in Miami history, no offense though, swear…
Jordan was injured and was picked at a stacked position, why trade? I don’t get it? Some chart from one of those coaching-retreads said it was a great value… The bottom line excusers is, none of the top players in that draft were much better and the trade lost a 2nd round pick while gaining nothing.
Tannehill… Well I didn’t know then and I don’t know now. Something tells me, draft a player when they should be selected and take the bonus points if they turn out to be great. Drafting properly works this way, it makes more sense than reaching for a player who was uncertain then, and is uncertain now.
It means another GM whisperer took advantage of our boy Jeffrey and we Dolphin fans get to argue about Tannehill’s potential. WooHoo, I love potential… I wonder how potential beer tastes, must be like O’Douls, a freaking tease!
Pouncey, no reach - PRO BOWL…
Odrick, injured, he’s been okay if you accept a lost year from your first round pick.
Davis, well I don’t need to explain why this pick was never going to pan out…
I think I made my point, argue if you wish, but it fails to sway eyes not easily mislead by blind faith. So without further ado, let’s look at what’s different about the 2014 draft.
First, no reaching…
Ja’Wuan James is a right tackle, Miami desperately needed a starting right tackle. I realize most fans have never taken a three-point stance and tried to make a first step. Here’s the deal, left tackles need to be comfortable planting their right foot. In other words, most of the good ones are left handed. They don’t make good right tackles because those guys are right handed and plant with their left foot.
Jarvis Landry was selected at a position the “experts” are calling the deepest on the team… It’s another case of the “experts” trying to pull the wool over my eyes. Both Gibson and Hartline are coming off injury and Wallace, well let’s just say, he’s got a little Teddy Ginn in him. (Good thing Jeffery didn’t pick Ginn, I could have a field day!)
The running back debate… Hi Dolphin fans, I’ve got a golden chariot and it’s being pulled by the most magnificent donkey you have ever seen! Backs are a dime dozen on any team capable of drafting offensive linemen. GM ineptitude is what this is all about, can anyone say, “cart before the donkey!”
Billy Turner, I don’t know, but the signs are good…
Maybe Miami is on the right track with Dennis Hickey. The Dolphins could sure use a break.
So I guess the whole point is, even Tony Sparano may have been a decent coach, we’ll never know. The problem in Miami has been in the personnel department and unfortunately, it’s been overlooked for the glitz of coaching-retreads.
Jimmy Johnson, Nick Saban, Bill Parcells, riding that golden chariot, whipping the poor hapless donkey.
All along, the horses picked by other teams are winning the race.
The retreads, they sold the gold chariot and retired to retread land where they could fool other fools into following…
Miami fans…
Well I guess they're waiting to see if Dennis Hickey knows the difference between a horse and an ass...
The Changing Miami Dolphins Looking Forward
While the Miami Dolphin fan base struggles to believe in a general manager and owner after four consecutive losing seasons, the team has quietly put together the blueprint for a future of rising stars. Predicting the outcome of the 2013 season seems daunting in light of past failures, but there are many reasons for optimism. The distinct difference between Parcells/Sparano and Joe Philbin is apparent when following the progression of player transactions on offense. On defense, Jeff Ireland’s eye for defensive line talent provides a clue to the emergence of quality players across the unit, even with the change of schemes.
The indelible mark Parcells left on the offense was felt from the start of his failed regime. While Matt Ryan directed the Atlanta Falcons into the playoffs, an injury riddled Jake Long limped off to greener pastures in Saint Louis. The Parcells offensive philosophy was built off the ancient premise that in order to be successful in the passing game, a team must first establish the run. Establishing the run begins in the trenches and is the reason Jake Long was selected before Matt Ryan. Parcells believed in the antiquated notion that Quarterbacks were game managers and a steady but unspectacular Chad Henne could guide a power running offense to success in the NFL.
When defenses mercilessly stacked the box it became desperately apparent, a one dimensional running attack was no longer feasible. The Wildcat gimmick helped stave off the inevitable, but with the clear need of a passing game, Ireland traded away two future second round picks for Brandon Marshall. Ireland’s misguided offensive player selections are a direct result of Parcells’ first mistake, taking Long over Ryan. A modern offense cannot be built off a tackle. Bill Parcells’ inability to recognize the changing landscape of the NFL, setup Tony Sparano and the Miami Dolphins for failure.
For the next two seasons, the Dolphin offense floundered without direction. Sparano mistook the Wildcat as a viable base formation and Brandon Marshall demanded diva attention Chad Henne and the offense were incapable of providing. Jeff Ireland took the brunt of the criticism for the revolving door of failed players, but the lack of a consistent strategy is the true culprit. After four seasons, the offensive plan was still a mystery, should the offensive line play a road grader running style with players to fit the mold? Or should they be able to pass block and pull in a zone scheme more fit for a passing attack?
Enter Joe Philbin and the draft strategy took an immediate three-hundred-and-sixty degree turn. By selecting a quarterback with the eighth pick in the draft instead of a tackle, the new direction was confirmed. A clearly defined philosophy built around a QB was established. The zone blocking scheme was the stated goal from the get-go giving the offensive line much needed direction. One dimensional wide receivers where replaced by players capable of manning multiple positions along a varied front with the priority of speed. Fullbacks were discarded and replaced by tight ends capable of running routes as well as blocking. Finally, the Miami Dolphins and Jeff Ireland had a stable offensive blueprint to build from.
On defense, Parcells believed in building from the inside out, fortunately this strategy has remained constant through the ages. The difference between Parcells and Philbin is the use of a three-man line versus a four-man line. The depth of this unit was already firmly in place and ripe for the switch to Philbin’s four-man line concept. The switch also changed the style of play at the linebacker position, where smaller faster players replace bigger slower bodies. Smaller faster LBs are much easier to find than larger players with enough speed to cover tight ends in the NFL. The team to beat in the AFC East is the New England Patriots, and the 4-3 defense is the proper alignment to do it.
The Patriot offense was developed from years of working against the division’s prominent 3-4 alignment which left larger linebackers on the field to cover multiple TE and WR formations. The Patriots may have finally outsmarted themselves as the new Miami defense goes against the tendencies New England was built to manipulate. Three interchangeable defensive tackles manning two inside positions cause constant disruption from the middle of the line. The quarterback can no longer step up in the pocket, but at the same time, speed demons collapse the line from the outside, leaving the QB with little room to maneuver. Defensive backs formally required to cover for well over three seconds can now look to capitalize on harassed QBs more prone to making errant throws.
The Dolphins may not win the division or make the playoffs, but the change of the guard has come full circle. No longer does the rest of the NFL have the luxury of playing a rudderless team without a clear formula for success. While some of the players needed may still be a work in progress, the direction of these Miami Dolphins is absolutely clear. The person benefiting the most from this systematic approach is Jeff Ireland. Ireland’s tenure with the Dolphins has been plagued by uncertainty on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The basic ingredient for success in the NFL is the quarterback and Bill Parcells treated them with disregard.
On the field, Ryan Tannehill continues the slow progression of learning under fire. As he grows, the obvious mistakes come less often and positive plays result. Speedy interchangeable wide receivers allow for variable formations within the same player group. This same interchangeability at the TE and RB positions opens up an unpredictable offense with the flexibility to run or pass. All of the pieces are not yet in place, but most importantly, the blueprint is. There is no indecision on the type of players needed both physically and mentally and this provides the personnel department with clear direction.
Mike Wallace is already a star, as the offense takes off perhaps the next in line is Lamar Miller or Dion Simms. Every player on a winning team is noticed regardless of whether the talent is truly greater. Without Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace could have labored in obscurity with Chad Henne as his QB. The point is more systematic, a winning quarterback and a stable system provide the atmosphere for success. The defense was fortunate to have a solid line already in place allowing for a smoother transition.
Mr. Ross knows all of this, he knows how to run a successful business, but he was hamstrung by the huge shadow of Bill Parcells. As a new comer to the NFL, Ross was not foolish enough to dismiss a hall-of-fame icon even if he knew the direction was wrong. The moment Parcells stepped down Ross was on a plane to California in pursuit of Jim Harbaugh. Ireland takes the blame for chasing Harbaugh but it was Ross who was chomping at the bit to see the end of Parcells and Sparano in Miami. Sparano was a puppet and Ross knew it from the start. The first true decision he made as the owner of the Miami Dolphins was to replace Tony Sparano, only his method was questionable.
Have the Dolphins made it back? Not yet, but they are in hot pursuit and making the right systematic decisions to lead them into a brighter future. Luck only has value when a team or a person is properly positioned to take advantage of it. A lucky touchdown at the end of a game while losing by nine points will never be as lucky as one scored while losing by six. Tom Brady falling into Tony Sparano’s lap would never have resulted in the same luck as falling into the Bill Belichick’s. With the system in place, watch as the Miami Dolphins grow into a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.
Perhaps the lucky break in Miami is named Ryan Tannehill.
The indelible mark Parcells left on the offense was felt from the start of his failed regime. While Matt Ryan directed the Atlanta Falcons into the playoffs, an injury riddled Jake Long limped off to greener pastures in Saint Louis. The Parcells offensive philosophy was built off the ancient premise that in order to be successful in the passing game, a team must first establish the run. Establishing the run begins in the trenches and is the reason Jake Long was selected before Matt Ryan. Parcells believed in the antiquated notion that Quarterbacks were game managers and a steady but unspectacular Chad Henne could guide a power running offense to success in the NFL.
When defenses mercilessly stacked the box it became desperately apparent, a one dimensional running attack was no longer feasible. The Wildcat gimmick helped stave off the inevitable, but with the clear need of a passing game, Ireland traded away two future second round picks for Brandon Marshall. Ireland’s misguided offensive player selections are a direct result of Parcells’ first mistake, taking Long over Ryan. A modern offense cannot be built off a tackle. Bill Parcells’ inability to recognize the changing landscape of the NFL, setup Tony Sparano and the Miami Dolphins for failure.
For the next two seasons, the Dolphin offense floundered without direction. Sparano mistook the Wildcat as a viable base formation and Brandon Marshall demanded diva attention Chad Henne and the offense were incapable of providing. Jeff Ireland took the brunt of the criticism for the revolving door of failed players, but the lack of a consistent strategy is the true culprit. After four seasons, the offensive plan was still a mystery, should the offensive line play a road grader running style with players to fit the mold? Or should they be able to pass block and pull in a zone scheme more fit for a passing attack?
On defense, Parcells believed in building from the inside out, fortunately this strategy has remained constant through the ages. The difference between Parcells and Philbin is the use of a three-man line versus a four-man line. The depth of this unit was already firmly in place and ripe for the switch to Philbin’s four-man line concept. The switch also changed the style of play at the linebacker position, where smaller faster players replace bigger slower bodies. Smaller faster LBs are much easier to find than larger players with enough speed to cover tight ends in the NFL. The team to beat in the AFC East is the New England Patriots, and the 4-3 defense is the proper alignment to do it.
The Patriot offense was developed from years of working against the division’s prominent 3-4 alignment which left larger linebackers on the field to cover multiple TE and WR formations. The Patriots may have finally outsmarted themselves as the new Miami defense goes against the tendencies New England was built to manipulate. Three interchangeable defensive tackles manning two inside positions cause constant disruption from the middle of the line. The quarterback can no longer step up in the pocket, but at the same time, speed demons collapse the line from the outside, leaving the QB with little room to maneuver. Defensive backs formally required to cover for well over three seconds can now look to capitalize on harassed QBs more prone to making errant throws.
The Dolphins may not win the division or make the playoffs, but the change of the guard has come full circle. No longer does the rest of the NFL have the luxury of playing a rudderless team without a clear formula for success. While some of the players needed may still be a work in progress, the direction of these Miami Dolphins is absolutely clear. The person benefiting the most from this systematic approach is Jeff Ireland. Ireland’s tenure with the Dolphins has been plagued by uncertainty on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. The basic ingredient for success in the NFL is the quarterback and Bill Parcells treated them with disregard.
On the field, Ryan Tannehill continues the slow progression of learning under fire. As he grows, the obvious mistakes come less often and positive plays result. Speedy interchangeable wide receivers allow for variable formations within the same player group. This same interchangeability at the TE and RB positions opens up an unpredictable offense with the flexibility to run or pass. All of the pieces are not yet in place, but most importantly, the blueprint is. There is no indecision on the type of players needed both physically and mentally and this provides the personnel department with clear direction.
Mike Wallace is already a star, as the offense takes off perhaps the next in line is Lamar Miller or Dion Simms. Every player on a winning team is noticed regardless of whether the talent is truly greater. Without Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace could have labored in obscurity with Chad Henne as his QB. The point is more systematic, a winning quarterback and a stable system provide the atmosphere for success. The defense was fortunate to have a solid line already in place allowing for a smoother transition.
Mr. Ross knows all of this, he knows how to run a successful business, but he was hamstrung by the huge shadow of Bill Parcells. As a new comer to the NFL, Ross was not foolish enough to dismiss a hall-of-fame icon even if he knew the direction was wrong. The moment Parcells stepped down Ross was on a plane to California in pursuit of Jim Harbaugh. Ireland takes the blame for chasing Harbaugh but it was Ross who was chomping at the bit to see the end of Parcells and Sparano in Miami. Sparano was a puppet and Ross knew it from the start. The first true decision he made as the owner of the Miami Dolphins was to replace Tony Sparano, only his method was questionable.
Have the Dolphins made it back? Not yet, but they are in hot pursuit and making the right systematic decisions to lead them into a brighter future. Luck only has value when a team or a person is properly positioned to take advantage of it. A lucky touchdown at the end of a game while losing by nine points will never be as lucky as one scored while losing by six. Tom Brady falling into Tony Sparano’s lap would never have resulted in the same luck as falling into the Bill Belichick’s. With the system in place, watch as the Miami Dolphins grow into a force to be reckoned with in the NFL.
Perhaps the lucky break in Miami is named Ryan Tannehill.
Comparing the Drafts of Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland
Hello Dolphin Shout and all Miami Dolphin Fans.
The 2012 NFL season is coming to an end, and the off-season will almost immediately include a plethora of maneuvering toward the following year, so we might as well get an early start from the top.
The tyrant Bill Parcells once said "they want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." So, why not analyze the groceries he brought in?
On December 19th, 2007, it was first reported that Parcells had come to terms with the Dolphins, who then hired his pupil Jeff Ireland as general manager. The new front office under Parcells then signed over 20 little-known players in the free-agent market. However, they also released fan favorite Zach Thomas and refused to give the time of day to star defensive end Jason Taylor.
Here is a look at the drafts that Bill Parcells, as executive vice president of football operations, admitted to having the final word and ultimate say to.
Bill Parcells 2008 draft
1. Jake Long OT, Starter
2. Phillip Merling DE
2. Chad Henne QB
3. Kendall Langford DT
4. Shawn Murphy OG
6. Jalen Parmele RB
6. Donald Thomas OG
6. Lex Hilliard FB
7. Lionel Dotson DT
They also signed undrafted free agents in kicker Dan Carpenter and slot receiver Davone Bess, both starters.
Parcells 2009 draft
1. Vontae Davis CB
2. Pat White QB
2. Sean Smith CB, Starter
3. Patrick Turner WR
4. Brian Hartline WR, Starter
5. John Nalbone TE
5. Chris Clemons S, Starter
6. Andrew Gardner OT
7. J.D. Folsom OLB
The "chef's pantry", for starters, has four main courses (starters) out of 18 selections in Sean Smith, Brian Hartline, Chris Clemons, and all-pro, yet injury-prone left tackle Jake Long (rather than Quarterback Matt Ryan).
Logic would suggest that as of the start of the 2010 off-season, Jeff Ireland took over the prospect evaluation previously held by Bill Parcells. He was also, most likely, behind the trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall just prior to the 2010 Draft. This was the type of move that Parcells would never subscribe to, and from that point on he gradually backed away from his organizational duties over the following months.
On October 19th 2010 it was reported that
Without Parcells, the day-to-day responsibilities fell upon general manager Jeff Ireland, and here are his drafts.
Jeff Ireland 2010 Draft
1. Jared Odrick DT, Starter
2. Koa Misi OLB, Starter
3. John Jerry OG, Starter
4. A.J. Edds OLB
5. Nolan Carroll CB, Starter
5. Reshad Jones S, Starter
7. Chris McCoy OLB
7. Austin Spitler OLB, Contributor
Ireland 2011 Draft
1. Mike Pouncey C Starter
2. Daniel Thomas RB Contributor with upside
4. Edmond Gates WR
6. Charles Clay FB Contributor with huge upside
7. Frank Kearse DT
7. Jimmy Wilson DB Contributor and sometimes starter
The specials for the day, on behalf of Jeff Ireland, include six current starters in Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, John Jerry, Nolan Carroll, Reshad Jones, and Mike Pouncey with four complimentary dishes in Austin Spitler, Daniel Thomas, Charles Clay, and Jimmy Wilson, which equates to 10 of 14 selections in two years on the current roster.
We will also compare the promising 2012 selections, which were selected to accommodate an entirely different head coach, scheme, and skill-set than the one that Jeff Ireland has been accustomed to during his entire career.
Plus, he landed a pro-style passer and athlete all in one!
Ireland 2012 Draft
Ryan Tannehill QB, Starter
Jonathan Martin OT, Starter
Olivier Vernon DE, strong contributor and eventual starter
Michael Egnew TE, on the roster
Lamar Miller RB, likely eventual starter
Josh Kaddu OLB, on the roster
B.J. Cunningham WR, on the practice squad
Kheeston Randall DT, contributor and possibly eventual starter
Rishard Matthews WR, contributor with upside
Jeff Ireland has accumulated eight starters and eight current contributors in his three official years of Dolphin drafts, while three other highly touted prospects also remain a part of the team. That equates to 19 of 23 overall Ireland selections that remain an intricate part of the Miami Dolphins.
To anyone who, under no circumstances, can take another day of Jeff Ireland I beg you. PLEASE be patient, as I am working on an alternative plan to follow shortly behind this pro-Ireland filled suggestion!
So for now, PLEASE ALLOW me to ask: how horrible has Jeff Ireland officially been?
THANK-YOU for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : ) !!
GOFINS!!
The 2012 NFL season is coming to an end, and the off-season will almost immediately include a plethora of maneuvering toward the following year, so we might as well get an early start from the top.
The tyrant Bill Parcells once said "they want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." So, why not analyze the groceries he brought in?
On December 19th, 2007, it was first reported that Parcells had come to terms with the Dolphins, who then hired his pupil Jeff Ireland as general manager. The new front office under Parcells then signed over 20 little-known players in the free-agent market. However, they also released fan favorite Zach Thomas and refused to give the time of day to star defensive end Jason Taylor.
Here is a look at the drafts that Bill Parcells, as executive vice president of football operations, admitted to having the final word and ultimate say to.
Bill Parcells 2008 draft
1. Jake Long OT, Starter
2. Phillip Merling DE
2. Chad Henne QB
3. Kendall Langford DT
4. Shawn Murphy OG
6. Jalen Parmele RB
6. Donald Thomas OG
6. Lex Hilliard FB
7. Lionel Dotson DT
They also signed undrafted free agents in kicker Dan Carpenter and slot receiver Davone Bess, both starters.
Parcells 2009 draft
1. Vontae Davis CB
2. Pat White QB
2. Sean Smith CB, Starter
3. Patrick Turner WR
4. Brian Hartline WR, Starter
5. John Nalbone TE
5. Chris Clemons S, Starter
6. Andrew Gardner OT
7. J.D. Folsom OLB
The "chef's pantry", for starters, has four main courses (starters) out of 18 selections in Sean Smith, Brian Hartline, Chris Clemons, and all-pro, yet injury-prone left tackle Jake Long (rather than Quarterback Matt Ryan).
"Former Dolphins boss Bill Parcells took full blame for the 2009 second-round selection of West Virginia quarterback Pat White and admitted that Michigan tackle Jake Long was selected over Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan because he believed the lineman to be a safer pick in an edition of Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback)."Above per the Sun Sentinel
Parcells: “We violated our principles,” in reference to picking White. “He just wasn’t a prototypical quarterback pick. He was a great college player, and we let that color our judgment.” Parcells thought that White had the potential to be a game-changing player in the wildcat offense, but looking back on it, he thinks the Dolphins should have been looking for a pro-style passer, not an all-purpose athlete. When asked if the Dolphins should have picked QB Matt Ryan instead of offensive tackle Jake Long in 2008, Parcells said, “maybe, we should have.”Above per Pro Football Talk
Logic would suggest that as of the start of the 2010 off-season, Jeff Ireland took over the prospect evaluation previously held by Bill Parcells. He was also, most likely, behind the trading for wide receiver Brandon Marshall just prior to the 2010 Draft. This was the type of move that Parcells would never subscribe to, and from that point on he gradually backed away from his organizational duties over the following months.
On October 19th 2010 it was reported that
"Parcells has packed his bags and moved out of the Dolphins' offices. Miami knew this move was coming, but didn't realize his departure would happen so soon. Many around the league expected him to finish the season and then move on from the organization. Parcells worked a full schedule in his (December 2007 - December 2009) first two years with the team. He arrived early each day, watched practices from a golf cart, poured over film and offered players frequent feedback. That routine drastically diminished upon the early months of 2010 and ended entirely at the conclusion of the 2010 mini-camp, but he continued to attend some practices until September."Above per ESPN
Without Parcells, the day-to-day responsibilities fell upon general manager Jeff Ireland, and here are his drafts.
Jeff Ireland 2010 Draft
1. Jared Odrick DT, Starter
2. Koa Misi OLB, Starter
3. John Jerry OG, Starter
4. A.J. Edds OLB
5. Nolan Carroll CB, Starter
5. Reshad Jones S, Starter
7. Chris McCoy OLB
7. Austin Spitler OLB, Contributor
Ireland 2011 Draft
1. Mike Pouncey C Starter
2. Daniel Thomas RB Contributor with upside
4. Edmond Gates WR
6. Charles Clay FB Contributor with huge upside
7. Frank Kearse DT
7. Jimmy Wilson DB Contributor and sometimes starter
The specials for the day, on behalf of Jeff Ireland, include six current starters in Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, John Jerry, Nolan Carroll, Reshad Jones, and Mike Pouncey with four complimentary dishes in Austin Spitler, Daniel Thomas, Charles Clay, and Jimmy Wilson, which equates to 10 of 14 selections in two years on the current roster.
We will also compare the promising 2012 selections, which were selected to accommodate an entirely different head coach, scheme, and skill-set than the one that Jeff Ireland has been accustomed to during his entire career.
Plus, he landed a pro-style passer and athlete all in one!
Ireland 2012 Draft
Ryan Tannehill QB, Starter
Jonathan Martin OT, Starter
Olivier Vernon DE, strong contributor and eventual starter
Michael Egnew TE, on the roster
Lamar Miller RB, likely eventual starter
Josh Kaddu OLB, on the roster
B.J. Cunningham WR, on the practice squad
Kheeston Randall DT, contributor and possibly eventual starter
Rishard Matthews WR, contributor with upside
Jeff Ireland has accumulated eight starters and eight current contributors in his three official years of Dolphin drafts, while three other highly touted prospects also remain a part of the team. That equates to 19 of 23 overall Ireland selections that remain an intricate part of the Miami Dolphins.
To anyone who, under no circumstances, can take another day of Jeff Ireland I beg you. PLEASE be patient, as I am working on an alternative plan to follow shortly behind this pro-Ireland filled suggestion!
So for now, PLEASE ALLOW me to ask: how horrible has Jeff Ireland officially been?
THANK-YOU for an Open-Minded read, and we look forward to your angle of view : ) !!
GOFINS!!
The New "Holy Trinity" in Miami
RiverdoG just posted that he felt the Dolphins
would hold on to Jake Long based on the opinion of a players poll. Please take
a moment to read DoG’s post otherwise he might come after me with a hatchet! While,
I agree Jake is a great player, I have my own theory Dolphinshout readers may
enjoy that says Jake could be on another team next year. Please forgive my
inability to write short blogs…
Taking time to analyze the difference in
philosophy between Joe Philbin and Tony Sparano will give Dolphin fans an idea on
the shape of the roster in the future. Several names may surprisingly end up
signing elsewhere and others could demand higher value in Philbin’s system.
The Parcells / Sparano offensive system was
schematically ancient and the ideology that made it work was the reason for
their downfall. Great news for Jet fans! Parcells had a term called, “The Holy
Trinity,” it was the three players most needed to build an NFL franchise,
Quarterback, Left Tackle and Left Cornerback. We can make the example of how
the game has changed, by analyzing these three key positions and how they
relate to the Dolphins during the Parcells / Sparano era.
They thought the QB was the essential piece of
the trinity, but they did not give it the proper attention from their very
first draft. By passing on Matt Ryan, they missed the vertex of the triangle
and tried to work backward from the base. Because Jake Long is one of those
base ingredients, that first draft was not a failure in their minds. Indeed,
they had selected perhaps the best player in the draft at a position in the
holy trinity, but it was the principles of the trinity that fooled them into
believing it was the right choice.
Their scheme breaks down because they believed
in an antiquated attack featuring the left tackle as the fulcrum of a power
offense. The top four scoring teams in the NFL last season, the Packers, the
Saints, the Patriots and the Lions, featured only one former first-round pick
at left tackle, Jeff Backus of the Lions. It gets worse, only once in the past
11 seasons has the starting left tackle for the Super Bowl champion been a
first-round pick. Finally, of the 11 offensive tackles taken with top-10 draft
picks from 2004 to 2011, none has won a Super Bowl.
The Dolphins drafted Jake Long and passed on
Matt Ryan, but compounded the problem by not recognizing the importance of the
QB in the modern offense. Chad Henne, never considered a great collegiate
passer, was better known as a field general in a power offense, perfect for the
Parcells/Sparano scheme, but an NFL relic. When Chad Pennington fell in the
Dolphin’s lap, the oft-injured signal caller allowed them to think they could
groom an NFL QB from an average college passer.
Drafting Pat White showed the depth of their
illusion. Enthralled with visions of Wildcat grandeur, they realized Henne was
not the right leader for an offense featuring the formation. The weakness they
surmised was that Ronnie Brown was not capable of throwing accurately enough to
be a passing threat and Henne would never be the runner Brown was. Pat White
showed incredible promise at both. Consider these numbers and how they relate
to the Wildcat; White finished his
career with 6,051 yards and 56 touchdowns passing and 4,480 yards and 47
touchdowns rushing - a total of 10,531 yards and 103 touchdowns over his college
career. White, finished his NCAA career sixth in victories and is the only
college QB in history to win 4 consecutive bowl games.
The
diminutive White did not pass the eye test, he did not meet all the criteria of
a Parcells QB, but he was a winner and he could run as well as pass. White
looked like the perfect addition as the triggerman for the Wildcat. There is no
need to delve into the reasons for the failure of the Wildcat, suffice to say,
NFL defenses caught up to it and White proved ineffective in a pro offense.
Not
many folks outside NFL film rooms and scouting circles had ever heard of the
term, “quick release” prior to the emergence of Dan Marino in Miami. The West
Coast type offense was maturing at the same time and together they represent
the turning point in the evolution of the NFL. Unfortunately, this turning
point was missed by Parcells and mitigated the importance on the Holy Trinity.
When the onus switched from giving the QB time to find a receiver to getting
rid of the ball as quickly as possible, it changed the way teams rushed the
passer.
The
switch, evident in teams like the Giants and the Patriots, no longer put a
premium on outside LBs or even DEs taking a circuitous speed rush around offensive
tackles. Releasing the ball in less than three seconds negates the outside speed
rush. This means the power rush, taking the most direct route to the QB is much
more effective against the quick release offense. These factors diminish the
importance of the offensive tackle position and mean the center and the guards
are the primary QB protectors in the west coast offense.
Quick!
Name any of the players in the Giants defensive backfield? Quick! Name any of
the players on the Giants defensive line? A couple DBs come to mind, but most
fans can easily name at least three of the Giants DL and none of them are
outside speed rushers. Is it any wonder the Giants have beaten the Patriots
both times they met in the Super Bowl? The Giants run a 4-3 defense, they use
athletic power rushers taking the most direct route to Tom Brady. Once Brady’s
timing is thrown off, his game suffers.
This
means that Jake Long does not command the salary he is likely to ask in the new
Dolphin offense and is probably the reason the Dolphins have not yet re-signed
him. Martin was not drafted to take over the right tackle position, he was
drafted to replace Jake Long with a player more suited to his salary slot among
the Dolphin personnel. Unless Long reduces his salary demands, he will likely
be a free agent next year.
In
the second Parcells / Sparano draft, the Dolphins used two of the top three
picks on cornerbacks. In light of the holy trinity, those picks make a lot more
sense. In 4-3 defense using direct route pass rushing, the DBs, while always
important, do not demand the value of an athletic power rusher. The Dolphins
again fell victim to thinking in the past and placed more importance on the CB
position instead of the power rusher. Sean Smith is in a contract year and
there has been little talk of re-signing him. If Smith reaches his potential,
he may not sign with the Dolphins because the LCB no longer holds the value it
demanded in the holy trinity.
The Miami
defensive linemen coming up for free agency include Randy Starks, Tony
McDaniel, Ryan Baker and Isaako Aaitui, of these names only Starks has a
chance of being re-signed. These players do not fit the profile of an athletic power
rusher; they are mainly run stuffers and will not fit in a 4-3 defense. Paul
Soliai is a mountain of a man and can wreak havoc in the middle of a defense,
that is why he was signed.
The question for Dolphinshout readers is, what constitutes
the “Holy Trinity” for the new Dolphin regime? Which positions in the new
scheme have more value than in the Parcells’ regime? Obviously, I have given
this some thought and have some of my own ideas, there are a lot of hints in
this article, but we at Dolphinshout would like your opinion. In following RiverdoG's post, will Jake Long be a Dolphin after this season?
Jeff Ireland is a Survivor
Contempt for Jeff Ireland has been a resounding theme coming from the Miami Dolphin fan base. The reality is far less demonstrative with emotion removed from the equation.
One glance at the perennial playoff teams would be like listing a who’s who of the league’s best QBs. Had one of those names landed in Miami, there would be a love affair between the fan base and Jeff Ireland. Every Ireland free agent bust or draft day miss, forgotten with the right decision at the most critical position on the football field, QB.
Discounting the early influence of Bill Parcells when considering what could have been in Miami is a mistake. In Ireland’s first year on the job, Miami had the first pick in the draft and chose left tackle Jake Long. Matt Ryan, chosen by the Atlanta Falcons is in his fourth year and continues rising up in the QB ranks each season. Most folks don’t remember, Phillip Merling was Miami’s second pick at number 32, and Chad Henne’s selection didn’t come until the 57th pick in the draft. If analysts and scouts across the NFL had any inkling Chad Henne had franchise potential, he would have never made it to 57.
The strategy of building from the interior out, clearly demonstrated Miami’s intention with first two draft picks. The decision to move up in the late 2nd round and draft Chad Henne for his potential was not a reach or a mistake.
Chad Pennington falling in Miami’s lap and the advent of the Wildcat fooled Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano into believing they had a long-term strategy for success. Jeff Ireland tried to bring in the players to fit a failed system. Ireland’s job was to supply his coach with the players needed to make the system work, but the system was flawed.
Many pundits point to Pat White as an example of Jeff Ireland’s inability to judge talent, but this is wrong. The Miami Dolphin coaching staff was selected to coach the senior bowl that featured Pat White, coaching in that game was another unfortunate coincidence that led to Tony Sparano’s demise. Pat White went on to win the game and the MVP. Parcells and Sparano became enamored with White and it is certain they swayed Ireland into drafting him in the 2nd round.
The coaching staff fell in love with Pat White, not Jeff Ireland and yet Ireland took the fall in the fan’s eyes. In hindsight, it is easy to see that game clouded Parcells’ and Sparano’s vision and they went away from their own criterion for selecting draft picks.
Many folks look at the failed FA offensive linemen as a stain on Ireland’s resume. Tony Sparano was supposed to be the offensive line guru; it was Sparano’s evaluation that led to the release of Samson Satele and the subsequent 3-year search for his replacement.
Sparano worked out Jake Grove and Justin Smiley, not Ireland. Ireland signed those players because they were Sparano’s choice. Sparano recommended Mark Columbo because he had worked with him in Dallas. Ireland depended on Sparano’s expertise on the offensive line to sign those players, perhaps Sparano should be the one in the crosshairs.
Stephen Ross, called everything from an idiot (me), to a buffoon, even the Muppets’ Beeker, may be funny looking, but he’s a little smarter than Miami fans think. A GM makes decisions based on the input he gets from football people and brings in players based on a strategy. When the input is poor and the strategy is flawed, the GM is blamed, but the quality of the output is only as good as the quality of the data. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano are as much at fault for Jeff Ireland’s misses as he is.
Players signed in free agency are largely a product of coaches watching film and making recommendations, the draft is where the GM and his staff make the calls. Miami fans generally believe Jeff Ireland has done well in the draft and missed on free agency. His worst misses in the draft, Pat White and Phillip Merling correlate directly to input from the coaching staff and Bill Parcells.
What little the Dolphins have won came in spite of a flawed system and poor personnel judgment by the coaching staff and Bill Parcells. It is due to the one man who made the proper decisions, Jeff Ireland.
Tony Sparano is a likable man and loyal to a fault, Bill Parcells is an NFL icon; it is easy to see why the media and fans would turn on the remaining member of the tirade as the scapegoat in Miami. Jeff Ireland has survived while the others are gone, because he is not a “weasel” as a headline here labeled him. He has survived because he overcame poor coaching; a flawed strategy and an overrated Czar, to put enough good players on the field to suggest he may have what it takes to lead this franchise.
Okay Jeff, no more criticism here, Miami has seen what all powerful coaches and Czars can do, not much. The ball is your court…
One glance at the perennial playoff teams would be like listing a who’s who of the league’s best QBs. Had one of those names landed in Miami, there would be a love affair between the fan base and Jeff Ireland. Every Ireland free agent bust or draft day miss, forgotten with the right decision at the most critical position on the football field, QB.
Discounting the early influence of Bill Parcells when considering what could have been in Miami is a mistake. In Ireland’s first year on the job, Miami had the first pick in the draft and chose left tackle Jake Long. Matt Ryan, chosen by the Atlanta Falcons is in his fourth year and continues rising up in the QB ranks each season. Most folks don’t remember, Phillip Merling was Miami’s second pick at number 32, and Chad Henne’s selection didn’t come until the 57th pick in the draft. If analysts and scouts across the NFL had any inkling Chad Henne had franchise potential, he would have never made it to 57.
The strategy of building from the interior out, clearly demonstrated Miami’s intention with first two draft picks. The decision to move up in the late 2nd round and draft Chad Henne for his potential was not a reach or a mistake.
Chad Pennington falling in Miami’s lap and the advent of the Wildcat fooled Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano into believing they had a long-term strategy for success. Jeff Ireland tried to bring in the players to fit a failed system. Ireland’s job was to supply his coach with the players needed to make the system work, but the system was flawed.
Many pundits point to Pat White as an example of Jeff Ireland’s inability to judge talent, but this is wrong. The Miami Dolphin coaching staff was selected to coach the senior bowl that featured Pat White, coaching in that game was another unfortunate coincidence that led to Tony Sparano’s demise. Pat White went on to win the game and the MVP. Parcells and Sparano became enamored with White and it is certain they swayed Ireland into drafting him in the 2nd round.
The coaching staff fell in love with Pat White, not Jeff Ireland and yet Ireland took the fall in the fan’s eyes. In hindsight, it is easy to see that game clouded Parcells’ and Sparano’s vision and they went away from their own criterion for selecting draft picks.
Many folks look at the failed FA offensive linemen as a stain on Ireland’s resume. Tony Sparano was supposed to be the offensive line guru; it was Sparano’s evaluation that led to the release of Samson Satele and the subsequent 3-year search for his replacement.
Sparano worked out Jake Grove and Justin Smiley, not Ireland. Ireland signed those players because they were Sparano’s choice. Sparano recommended Mark Columbo because he had worked with him in Dallas. Ireland depended on Sparano’s expertise on the offensive line to sign those players, perhaps Sparano should be the one in the crosshairs.
Stephen Ross, called everything from an idiot (me), to a buffoon, even the Muppets’ Beeker, may be funny looking, but he’s a little smarter than Miami fans think. A GM makes decisions based on the input he gets from football people and brings in players based on a strategy. When the input is poor and the strategy is flawed, the GM is blamed, but the quality of the output is only as good as the quality of the data. Bill Parcells and Tony Sparano are as much at fault for Jeff Ireland’s misses as he is.
Players signed in free agency are largely a product of coaches watching film and making recommendations, the draft is where the GM and his staff make the calls. Miami fans generally believe Jeff Ireland has done well in the draft and missed on free agency. His worst misses in the draft, Pat White and Phillip Merling correlate directly to input from the coaching staff and Bill Parcells.
What little the Dolphins have won came in spite of a flawed system and poor personnel judgment by the coaching staff and Bill Parcells. It is due to the one man who made the proper decisions, Jeff Ireland.
Tony Sparano is a likable man and loyal to a fault, Bill Parcells is an NFL icon; it is easy to see why the media and fans would turn on the remaining member of the tirade as the scapegoat in Miami. Jeff Ireland has survived while the others are gone, because he is not a “weasel” as a headline here labeled him. He has survived because he overcame poor coaching; a flawed strategy and an overrated Czar, to put enough good players on the field to suggest he may have what it takes to lead this franchise.
Okay Jeff, no more criticism here, Miami has seen what all powerful coaches and Czars can do, not much. The ball is your court…
Jeff Ireland is a Weasel
There is a lot of speculation about why Jeff Ireland is getting preferential treatment for a Dolphin team he is as much responsible for as Tony Sparano. The answer is more about timing than Ireland’s relationship with Stephen Ross. As Bill Parcells once said, “the NFL is a talent acquisition business.” While the football team is playing this year, the player personnel people are planning for next year. Firing Ireland now could have a dire effect on the preparation for the draft in April.
Many of the same reporters doing the speculating have also pointed out the disconnect between the front office and football operations. The owner, the president and the rest of the folks who run the business side of the Dolphins have their offices at Joe Robbie Stadium in North Miami, while the football people reside at the train facility in Davie. Bill Parcells may have orchestrated the separation to keep his kingdom free from the prying eyes of management, it has worked.
Obviously, Stephen Ross knows little about the inter-workings of the personnel side of the game and Ireland should be happy about it. Ross’ relationship with former Chiefs personnel man Carl Peterson is well documented and while it may be true Ross has no intention of hiring Peterson, he is listening. All the film work that goes into creating a draft board is happening right now and Peterson has probably told Ross, firing Ireland at this point would be a mistake because of it.
From his perch above JRS Ross can see the result of Sparano’s work each Sunday just as we all can, but the personnel work is all done in the dim light of film rooms and remote scouting locations. It’s the shadowy world at the heart of every NFL team and the backbone of the franchise. Todd Bowles may make a few mistakes, but with his DC and OC still in place, removing Sparano will have minimal affect on a 4-9 football team. Shaking up the personnel department now could be detrimental to the future of the franchise and no doubt, Peterson has warned Ross of this consequence.
A high profile coach may indeed want to bring in his own personnel people, but that won’t happen until after the 2012 draft. Ireland proved his loyalty when he jumped on the plane with Ross and that loyalty is to himself. This means, Ireland is a calculating man. When Ross wanted to fire Sparano during the atrocious start of the season, Ireland knew, the longer Tony remained, the better his chances of sticking. Ireland was the one who recommended Sparano continue, as long as he did not lose the locker room.
The timeline of events stack up a little too cleanly in favor of Ireland for one not to wonder whether the puppet master was pulling the strings. The business of the NFL is a high stakes cutthroat game played where it is routine to talk in millions and billions of dollars. The hard work pays in dividends most folks only dream of and when a personnel person aligns himself too closely with a coach who does not perform, he has to believe, his ability will be cast in the same light.
Once Parcells walked away, the guardian angel for both Sparano and Ireland walked out the door with him. They were left to fend for themselves and Ireland knew Parcells would never have walked away if he felt his legacy and reputation would grow from what was happening in Miami. Parcells walked away because he knew he had failed. He had failed in his selection of a coach and he has failed in his selection of a personnel man. Ireland saw this immediately and knew, if he didn’t distance himself from Tony Sparano, he would be identified with him and the under-performing Dolphins.
This is not new or isolated, this happens in big business everywhere, everyday. Once tasted, success and power are a wicked elixir and the hearts of many a man changes by the sweetness of the potion. The NFL has changed because of its own success. The coach has to motivate players who have tasted the sweet nectar and the only way to do this is to show he is not overcome by the spell. The GM and the coach must be perfectly aligned or they will both be looking for other employment.
Ireland split with Sparano when Parcells left and he knew Ross would build the team without the influence of an all-powerful Czar, and a coach he did not choose. It could be said, Ireland is a company man and Ross is his boss, therefore his loyalty should not be questioned. From the top to the bottom, football is about sacrifice and loyalty, loyalty to the player next to you, loyalty to the coach and loyalty to the management. When the chain is broken it is only a matter of time before the organization breaks down and the components fracture.
Sparano made the mistake of remaining loyal to the people who gave him this opportunity, even after Parcells left him high and dry. Ireland cut the ties and bowed to a new master. Time will tell whether Jeff Ireland played the right hand in this million-dollar game of truth or dare. One thing is certain, his chance to survive was greatly enhanced, the longer Sparano held on. Success is the only thing billionaires are loyal to and like Parcells and Sparano, Ireland is as much apart of the failure in Miami.
Perhaps the timing has tied Ross’ hand when it comes to Ireland, but the ropes are frayed and Jeff is on tenuous ground because the rest of the NFL is watching. In a game based on men willing to sacrifice their body and soul in pursuit of greatness, a weasel won’t last long.
Many of the same reporters doing the speculating have also pointed out the disconnect between the front office and football operations. The owner, the president and the rest of the folks who run the business side of the Dolphins have their offices at Joe Robbie Stadium in North Miami, while the football people reside at the train facility in Davie. Bill Parcells may have orchestrated the separation to keep his kingdom free from the prying eyes of management, it has worked.
Obviously, Stephen Ross knows little about the inter-workings of the personnel side of the game and Ireland should be happy about it. Ross’ relationship with former Chiefs personnel man Carl Peterson is well documented and while it may be true Ross has no intention of hiring Peterson, he is listening. All the film work that goes into creating a draft board is happening right now and Peterson has probably told Ross, firing Ireland at this point would be a mistake because of it.
From his perch above JRS Ross can see the result of Sparano’s work each Sunday just as we all can, but the personnel work is all done in the dim light of film rooms and remote scouting locations. It’s the shadowy world at the heart of every NFL team and the backbone of the franchise. Todd Bowles may make a few mistakes, but with his DC and OC still in place, removing Sparano will have minimal affect on a 4-9 football team. Shaking up the personnel department now could be detrimental to the future of the franchise and no doubt, Peterson has warned Ross of this consequence.
A high profile coach may indeed want to bring in his own personnel people, but that won’t happen until after the 2012 draft. Ireland proved his loyalty when he jumped on the plane with Ross and that loyalty is to himself. This means, Ireland is a calculating man. When Ross wanted to fire Sparano during the atrocious start of the season, Ireland knew, the longer Tony remained, the better his chances of sticking. Ireland was the one who recommended Sparano continue, as long as he did not lose the locker room.
The timeline of events stack up a little too cleanly in favor of Ireland for one not to wonder whether the puppet master was pulling the strings. The business of the NFL is a high stakes cutthroat game played where it is routine to talk in millions and billions of dollars. The hard work pays in dividends most folks only dream of and when a personnel person aligns himself too closely with a coach who does not perform, he has to believe, his ability will be cast in the same light.
Once Parcells walked away, the guardian angel for both Sparano and Ireland walked out the door with him. They were left to fend for themselves and Ireland knew Parcells would never have walked away if he felt his legacy and reputation would grow from what was happening in Miami. Parcells walked away because he knew he had failed. He had failed in his selection of a coach and he has failed in his selection of a personnel man. Ireland saw this immediately and knew, if he didn’t distance himself from Tony Sparano, he would be identified with him and the under-performing Dolphins.
This is not new or isolated, this happens in big business everywhere, everyday. Once tasted, success and power are a wicked elixir and the hearts of many a man changes by the sweetness of the potion. The NFL has changed because of its own success. The coach has to motivate players who have tasted the sweet nectar and the only way to do this is to show he is not overcome by the spell. The GM and the coach must be perfectly aligned or they will both be looking for other employment.
Ireland split with Sparano when Parcells left and he knew Ross would build the team without the influence of an all-powerful Czar, and a coach he did not choose. It could be said, Ireland is a company man and Ross is his boss, therefore his loyalty should not be questioned. From the top to the bottom, football is about sacrifice and loyalty, loyalty to the player next to you, loyalty to the coach and loyalty to the management. When the chain is broken it is only a matter of time before the organization breaks down and the components fracture.
Sparano made the mistake of remaining loyal to the people who gave him this opportunity, even after Parcells left him high and dry. Ireland cut the ties and bowed to a new master. Time will tell whether Jeff Ireland played the right hand in this million-dollar game of truth or dare. One thing is certain, his chance to survive was greatly enhanced, the longer Sparano held on. Success is the only thing billionaires are loyal to and like Parcells and Sparano, Ireland is as much apart of the failure in Miami.
Perhaps the timing has tied Ross’ hand when it comes to Ireland, but the ropes are frayed and Jeff is on tenuous ground because the rest of the NFL is watching. In a game based on men willing to sacrifice their body and soul in pursuit of greatness, a weasel won’t last long.
Was Bill Parcells Naive
A look back at the Dolphins decision-making process can give us some insight into what led the team to the abysmal start in 2011. The stop signs should have gone up right away when the Dolphin staff actually thought they could build a team off a gadget play like the wildcat.
The decision showed a certain naiveté about the NFL and the ability of opponents to figure out how to stop a one trick pony. The word naiveté would not commonly be associated with Bill Parcells and it leads one to wonder whether he knew he made a mistake. Perhaps he baled when he realized the wildcat was foolish and jeopardized his perception as a man with great football acumen.
Parcells was responsible for drafting Pat White with the intention of using him as a key operative in the wildcat. He believed a gadget play could somehow change the face of the NFL. He brokered the deal to bring in a troubled WR who, he thought, could take short passes out of the formation and turn them into big plays.
Fool me once, your fault; fool me twice, my fault… Ireland’s penchant for oft-injured free agents like Chad Pennington, Justin Smiley, Jake Grove and Reggie Bush begs to question whether why he has a tendency to overlook health issues when making critical personnel decisions. This is amateur stuff and keeps bringing back the word naiveté.
Naiveté: Showing a lack of sophistication and subtlety in critical judgment and analysis.
Bill Parcells built a reputation from a great run with Giants and the ability to get the most out of his players. His coaching stops afterward never reached that level. Perhaps he was a great cook who was not very good at doing his own shopping.
His moonlighting as a czar has proved one thing; Bill Parcells was a good coach and nothing else. We can’t fault Steven Ross for this; in fact, we should praise Ross for seeing through the façade. If I’m the owner taking over a Dolphin team whose brain trust thinks the wildcat is the wave of the future, the first word that comes to mind is… Naiveté.
In the proper perspective, does the coast-to-coast run for Jim Harbaugh sound so outlandish? No, this fiasco was dropped in Ross’ lap by Wayne Huizenga who proved to be totally naive when it came to understanding the NFL. Every name Huizenga pulled from of the hat came from advice he got from other “football people.”
Since when does a billionaire decide he is not capable of choosing the talent to run his business? It happens when a billionaire is in the wrong business. Ross was correct in going after Harbaugh for the simple reason that he was willing to go for someone fresh of his own choosing. Dolphin fans can only hope Ross is not so naïve to believe others are better suited to run his business than he is.
Ross may have jumped the gun but he gave Dolphin fans reason to hope he will not show the lack of sophistication and subtlety in critical judgment that has plagued the Dolphins since Joe Robbie sold the team.
Dolphins fans have seen had enough naiveté Mr. Ross, what we need is a leader.
A Very Interesting Revisit Of Bill Parcells And The Miami Dolphins
For today's post on the oh so wonderful Miami Dolphins, I will be using something Gary sent to me that I think you guys will really like, so I encourage you guys to read it.
I will comment my reaction below, so you can look down there for that. Here is what he sent me:
Thank you everyone for reading, and be sure to check out the comments below.
I will comment my reaction below, so you can look down there for that. Here is what he sent me:
"Not much going on this time of year, so I figured I would revisit an old subject and take a look back on the impact of Bill Parcells with the Miami Dolphins.
When Bill first arrived I thought he was exactly what this team needed. We were such a mess before that time. No free agents wanted to come here, and some of the players had given up on winning and only playing for themselves and their numbers. I can remember Parcells in the sky box watching his new team in the last game of the 07 season along with Ron Wolff. I thought, "Oh boy, most of these guys on the field are going to playing elsewhere next year."
Bill really did come in and clean house so to speak, didn't he? He brought in a football mentality that the Dolphins had been missing for a long time. What I mean by a football mentality is a no nonsense logical thought process, or so I thought.
Things went along pretty well for a while, everything they were doing made sense. They drafted the best player in the draft in Long. Nothing wrong with that! They retooled a broken offensive line, when they saw they needed a QB and Pennington became available they jumped on him. In that first year he turned this franchise into a place where FAs could see that things had changed down in Miami. I thought that is exactly what this team needed, but there were things none of us knew about.
We didn't know he selected Tony Sparano as his figure head and installed his guys (Parcells' not Sparano's) as his assistants. It appeared to us that these were Tony's selections, but they were not. Didn't we all think that Ireland and Sparano were being groomed by Parcells? The truth is, Parcells was doing everything, and a few of those things were huge mistakes.
He surrounded himself with familiar faces in place of the best people. He choose Sparano over Rex Ryan because he knew Tony would take a back seat and allow Bill to coach silently. The same was true with Ireland. He left a broken in house scouting team intact, except for 2 out of the 8 scouts. Every point I have made have came back to bite this team. Parcells put people in charge and then handcuffed them from making any decisions.
You can't do that in the business world, and you can't do that in the football world, it doesn't work. We saw a total breakdown of that philosophy last year. When the dust cleared we found that, once again, the Dolphins made a mistake at the top of their ladder. Bill Parcells should have been brought in here as the head coach and GM. I'm sure he would have succeeded in that role. Now, after of all the good things that had began here it went back to this. "No free agents want to come here, and some of the players had given up on winning." In all honesty I can't say that no free agents want to come here, it's just a feeling that I have. But there was no doubt this team had fallen apart at the end of the year."
Thank you everyone for reading, and be sure to check out the comments below.
Bill Parcells Has Finally Left The Building
News has come out that Bill Parcells really is gone from the Miami Dolphins and that he will be taping a draft special for ESPN.
This is not one of my conspiracy posts. I believe that he really is gone and that Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano really are in charge now, and I think they will be able to do well. Before, they weren't able to make their own decisions for an entire year. Now, they can start at the draft and build the team the way they want to build it.
I expect that Parcells still talks to Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, but I don't think he has any more influence on the decisions that the team makes. I could be wrong, but I just get the feeling that we are finally free of him.
Now we are going to see what Ireland and Sparano can do. Those two have been operating under Parcells' shadow, and now it is time for them to show what they are capable of. Hopefully they are capable of something better than what we have seen these past two seasons.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think with a comment.
I want to apologize again for the short posts, but I am on vacation and don't have time for anything too long.
This is not one of my conspiracy posts. I believe that he really is gone and that Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano really are in charge now, and I think they will be able to do well. Before, they weren't able to make their own decisions for an entire year. Now, they can start at the draft and build the team the way they want to build it.
I expect that Parcells still talks to Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, but I don't think he has any more influence on the decisions that the team makes. I could be wrong, but I just get the feeling that we are finally free of him.
Now we are going to see what Ireland and Sparano can do. Those two have been operating under Parcells' shadow, and now it is time for them to show what they are capable of. Hopefully they are capable of something better than what we have seen these past two seasons.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think with a comment.
I want to apologize again for the short posts, but I am on vacation and don't have time for anything too long.
Report: Colin Kaepernick Scheduled For Workout With The Miami Dolphins
I am glad to hear that the Dolphins are working Kaepernick out, because I believe they should get another quarterback to compete with Henne for the starting job. I would rather that quarterback be Ryan Mallett, but this could end up working better for Miami because they could trade down for more picks and still get Kaepernick.
Kaepernick, who stands almost as tall as Mallett at 6-6, is a very fast quarterback to go along with his passing skills. He ran for 59 touchdowns and threw for 82 in four years as a starter for Nevada. During his senior year he ran for 20 touchdowns while throwing for 21, which puts him with Tim Tebow and Cam Newton as quarterbacks that have thrown for 20 touchdowns and run for 20 in the same year.
Kaepernick could end up being really good for the Miami Dolphins, and I can see them going after him. He threw the fastest ball at the NFL Combine this year at 59 mph(one faster than Mallett's 58), but I expect Jeff Ireland to be very partial towards Kaepernick more because of his foot speed than his passing speed. Ireland wants speed, so give the man what he wants.
Another reason I think Miami will like Kaepernick a lot is the fact that he started for four years in college. Bill Parcells always wanted the quarterbacks he drafted to be experienced seniors, and Kaepernick more than fits that requirement because of how much he has played.
I know that Parcells isn't supposed to be working for the Dolphins anymore, but I can guarantee you guys that he is still helping a good bit in the draft. I wrote posts on his involvement before, and Stephen Ross is too dependent on him to not take his advice on QBs.
That is all I have for today. Let me know what you think about Kaepernick, Mallet, Parcells, or whoever else. Thanks for reading.
Will You Buy Miami Dolphins Tickets Next Season?
The Miami Dolphins were an obvious disappointment last season, and Stephen Ross didn't help the team much when the season ended by going out and looking for a new coach while he was still paying his old one.
So, I would like to know: Will you buy tickets to see the Miami Dolphins play next season?
Fan support is pretty low right now, but there are also a lot of you out there who are still optimistic about next year. I can see valid points for both sides of the ticket argument.
For instance, last year's defense was really good only a season after they were really bad. If it only took one year for Miami to turn around such a bad defense, why wouldn't they be able to turn around a bad offense in a year?
On the flip side, the Dolphins don't know who their quarterback is after last year's "quarterback of the future" failed. In the 11 years since Dan Marino retired, Miami hasn't been able to find a QB good enough to replace him. They have tried and failed many times, so why would we actually expect them to succeed this time?
If you want to look on the positive side again, Head Coach Tony Sparano and General Manager Jeff Ireland's jobs are on the line. If they don't turn in a successful season, then they will have to be looking for new jobs next offseason. The pressure to succeed could be enough to get them to put together a good team. They are also bound to take more risks with their jobs at risk, which could make for an exciting team to watch if nothing else.
But, a bad thing about Sparano and Ireland is that they, along with CEO Mike Dee, lied to us fans about Bill Parcells' involvement. In all reality, their lie wasn't too severe, but it did reveal that the three of them are willing to work together in order to lie to us fans. Doing so creates trust issues between the team and its fans, and could very well affect ticket sales.
So, let me know whether you will buy tickets this year. Also, if you could, please include how many tickets you would normally buy, whether they are individual tickets or season tickets, so we can know if you will buy more or less than usual.
I am not sure what kind of answers I am going to get, so I am excited to see what you guys will say.
I look forward to reading your responses. Thanks for reading!
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So, I would like to know: Will you buy tickets to see the Miami Dolphins play next season?
Fan support is pretty low right now, but there are also a lot of you out there who are still optimistic about next year. I can see valid points for both sides of the ticket argument.
For instance, last year's defense was really good only a season after they were really bad. If it only took one year for Miami to turn around such a bad defense, why wouldn't they be able to turn around a bad offense in a year?
On the flip side, the Dolphins don't know who their quarterback is after last year's "quarterback of the future" failed. In the 11 years since Dan Marino retired, Miami hasn't been able to find a QB good enough to replace him. They have tried and failed many times, so why would we actually expect them to succeed this time?
If you want to look on the positive side again, Head Coach Tony Sparano and General Manager Jeff Ireland's jobs are on the line. If they don't turn in a successful season, then they will have to be looking for new jobs next offseason. The pressure to succeed could be enough to get them to put together a good team. They are also bound to take more risks with their jobs at risk, which could make for an exciting team to watch if nothing else.
But, a bad thing about Sparano and Ireland is that they, along with CEO Mike Dee, lied to us fans about Bill Parcells' involvement. In all reality, their lie wasn't too severe, but it did reveal that the three of them are willing to work together in order to lie to us fans. Doing so creates trust issues between the team and its fans, and could very well affect ticket sales.
So, let me know whether you will buy tickets this year. Also, if you could, please include how many tickets you would normally buy, whether they are individual tickets or season tickets, so we can know if you will buy more or less than usual.
I am not sure what kind of answers I am going to get, so I am excited to see what you guys will say.
I look forward to reading your responses. Thanks for reading!
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Is Bill Parcells Still With The Miami Dolphins? Yet Another Scandal Unfolds
Apparently, yes, Bill Parcells still is with the Miami Dolphins.
This could only mean one of two things, either Stephen Ross is asking Bill Parcells to help out with the draft process without GM Jeff Ireland, HC Tony Sparano, or CEO Mike Dee's knowledge (highly unlikely and proven to be false later in this article), or the last three men I mentioned are lying to us (much more likely and proven true later in the article).
First, proof of what they said: Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post noted in his Friday Notebook that Ireland, Sparano, and Dee all clearly said last month that Parcells is no longer with the Dolphins in any way, shape, or form.
Normally, I would believe the three of them over one man's word, but when that man likely has no idea (or concern) about what is happening in Miami other than their interest in his son, something is wrong.
Let me explain:
The man who caught the Dolphins in a flat-out lie probably had no idea he was doing so. That man is Greg Dalton, father of NFL QB prospect Andy Dalton.
Andy Dalton was participating in the Senior Bowl, and part of the Senior Bowl is interviewing sessions with individual teams. From what I can tell, Greg Dalton was not present during the interviews, but Andy obviously talked to him about the interviews afterwards. When Greg was asked by The Katy Times about the team interviews, here is what he said with the parts important to us underlined:
A closer look at the dates ends up further incriminating the Miami Dolphins organization.
Ben Volin's Friday Notebook was posted Friday, February 11th. He says that the three men denied Parcells involvement last month. I am not sure of the exact date they made their denial, but all we need to know is that they did so in January.
Next, we look at the date The Katy Times posted their article with the father's quote. It was posted on January 30th, which is a day after the Senior Bowl game on the 29th. The interviews occured during the previous week, so the earliest he would have been interviewed is the 23rd.
This just reinforces that Jeff Ireland, Tony Sparano, and Mike Dee all lied to us. Either they claimed "zero involvement" before the Senior Bowl and then brought Parcells along for the interviews, or they did the interviews with Parcells there, and then lied afterwards about him helping the team.
They denied that he was no longer helping "in any way," but all it took was an unknowing father to accidentally shoot a hole right through their claims.
I am surprised at how foolish the three were. How did they think they could lie to the passionate fans of the Miami Dolphins without anyone finding out? What makes things even worse is that they relied so heavily on his criteria for picking a quarterback. Somebody like Greg Dalton was bound to mention one of Parcells criteria that the prospect didn't meet, and then the news would get out that Parcells actually was involved.
I don't understand why they couldn't have just told us that Parcells was helping them out with the draft. Telling us fans the truth is a lot better than lying to us because lying removes trust. Some fans may have been mad if they found out that Parcells was still consulting with the team, but that would have been a lot more manageable problem than lying to the fans and them still finding out.
So, what does this mean to us? In a nutshell, our coaches lied to us and Parcells is still a part of the team. My guess is that he is just a draft consultant now, but I would like it if the team came out and told us his exact involvement. There's no use lying anymore.
This also means that every time we hear something from Jeff Ireland, Tony Sparano, or Mike Dee, we have to take a second and question whether they are telling the truth.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think. I am interested to hear your reactions to the tuna being back and the team lying to us.
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This could only mean one of two things, either Stephen Ross is asking Bill Parcells to help out with the draft process without GM Jeff Ireland, HC Tony Sparano, or CEO Mike Dee's knowledge (highly unlikely and proven to be false later in this article), or the last three men I mentioned are lying to us (much more likely and proven true later in the article).
First, proof of what they said: Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post noted in his Friday Notebook that Ireland, Sparano, and Dee all clearly said last month that Parcells is no longer with the Dolphins in any way, shape, or form.
Normally, I would believe the three of them over one man's word, but when that man likely has no idea (or concern) about what is happening in Miami other than their interest in his son, something is wrong.
Let me explain:
The man who caught the Dolphins in a flat-out lie probably had no idea he was doing so. That man is Greg Dalton, father of NFL QB prospect Andy Dalton.
Andy Dalton was participating in the Senior Bowl, and part of the Senior Bowl is interviewing sessions with individual teams. From what I can tell, Greg Dalton was not present during the interviews, but Andy obviously talked to him about the interviews afterwards. When Greg was asked by The Katy Times about the team interviews, here is what he said with the parts important to us underlined:
"Really, this week is the first chance that NFL teams have to talk to you as a player. He met with the Miami Dolphins coach and general manager and Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll and the Seattle staff, and Jason Garrett of the Cowboys. Parcells has developed a criteria for drafting quarterbacks. The height was fine, and he has to put on a few pounds."What is so incriminating about this quote isn't necessarily the first time he mentions Parcells name. He could have just wrongly assumed that Parcells was with the team because he heard that they had hired him a couple of years ago. The real incrimination was what he said about Parcells' criteria for a quarterback. That part of the quote makes it obvious that Parcells was present in the interview, and that he told Andy what he would need to do if he wanted to be with the Dolphins.
A closer look at the dates ends up further incriminating the Miami Dolphins organization.
Ben Volin's Friday Notebook was posted Friday, February 11th. He says that the three men denied Parcells involvement last month. I am not sure of the exact date they made their denial, but all we need to know is that they did so in January.
Next, we look at the date The Katy Times posted their article with the father's quote. It was posted on January 30th, which is a day after the Senior Bowl game on the 29th. The interviews occured during the previous week, so the earliest he would have been interviewed is the 23rd.
This just reinforces that Jeff Ireland, Tony Sparano, and Mike Dee all lied to us. Either they claimed "zero involvement" before the Senior Bowl and then brought Parcells along for the interviews, or they did the interviews with Parcells there, and then lied afterwards about him helping the team.
They denied that he was no longer helping "in any way," but all it took was an unknowing father to accidentally shoot a hole right through their claims.
I am surprised at how foolish the three were. How did they think they could lie to the passionate fans of the Miami Dolphins without anyone finding out? What makes things even worse is that they relied so heavily on his criteria for picking a quarterback. Somebody like Greg Dalton was bound to mention one of Parcells criteria that the prospect didn't meet, and then the news would get out that Parcells actually was involved.
I don't understand why they couldn't have just told us that Parcells was helping them out with the draft. Telling us fans the truth is a lot better than lying to us because lying removes trust. Some fans may have been mad if they found out that Parcells was still consulting with the team, but that would have been a lot more manageable problem than lying to the fans and them still finding out.
So, what does this mean to us? In a nutshell, our coaches lied to us and Parcells is still a part of the team. My guess is that he is just a draft consultant now, but I would like it if the team came out and told us his exact involvement. There's no use lying anymore.
This also means that every time we hear something from Jeff Ireland, Tony Sparano, or Mike Dee, we have to take a second and question whether they are telling the truth.
Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think. I am interested to hear your reactions to the tuna being back and the team lying to us.
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Why Do Some Miami Dolphins Fans Still Cling To Chad Henne?
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The thing is, there are a small percentage of Dolphins fans that still cling to Chad Henne and still believe he should be starting. I am not sure why, honestly, but they act surprised when people say that Henne should be benched or cut.
Well, my question is: Why shouldn't he be cut? Why would the Dolphins still start him? He has not improved one bit in the two years Miami has had him as their starter. If anything, you could make a case for his regression from the first season to the second. He may have thrown for three more touchdowns in his second season than he did his first, but he also threw five more interceptions.
In the last two seasons, Henne has thrown more picks than TDs. Why would anyone still believe in that?
Brandon Marshall, who has been around good quarterbacks before, started complaining late in the season about Henne, and I don't blame him. Too many times, Henne would be afraid to let the ball fly or he would audible what was originally a passing play into a running one. Good quarterbacks want the ball in their hands. They don't audible into a run so they don't have to throw it.
This article is a combination of me saying my point, and then you guys countering with yours (whether you agree with me or not). So please, leave a comment with your own point and we can begin a discussion.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks for reading.
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