The answer will be apparent before the season is over...
The question, is the issue players or coaches?
This team has not reached it's potential for the last umpteen years as every Miami fan is well aware. The coaching train just left the station leaving players like Cameron Wake, Mike Pouncey and Ryan Tannehill, bred into Joe Philbin's system to be the leaders of this football team.
I would have to conclude they failed as much as Philbin and his staff...
Wake disappears for entire games and most notably in crunch time when one play can make the difference between winning and losing. Let's face it, Tannehill has very little "IT" factor when it comes to rising above the situation and willing his team to win. Pouncey's impact is hard to determine because of the nature of the trenches, but I don't see the line fired up to win at the line of scrimmage.
The brain-trust brought in Ndamukong Suh to be a leader who elevates his teammates on the defensive line...
Is it is automatic to think, as our friend Mater (Randy) has written many times, that Miami makes stars ordinary?
Miami makes stars ordinary...
If I'm the coach of this team, or the GM, or the owner, I want to know why Miami makes stars ordinary. Do you think SF looks a little silly now for letting Jim Harbaugh walk? Was Ray Lewis really the incinerator for the Ravens? Did Don Shula really make that much difference? It almost seems greatness comes down to one man's desire being infectious enough to carry over to the rest of the team.
Personally I think it's Tom Brady and not Belichick, though having two is a damn sin!
Is this what's missing in Miami, a dynamic personality capable of making these players rise to the occasion. It's clear you can't buy it (Suh), it's clear you can't teach it (Tannehill). So it's not money, it's not talent, it's that special will inside of some men who can lead others to rise above their own expectations.
Football, more than any other factor, is a game of emotion. Think about the last time you punched someone in the face...
Think about how much emotion was stirred within you that led you to do something so drastic as to punch another person. Now relate that to the football field. The object of the game is to punch another man in the face and you better damn well have more emotion or you are going to get your ass kicked...
That is the missing key in Miami. The city may have a seedy underside, but the team, the owner, the players all walk among the rich and famous. The stadium is a catering ground for the opulent. Raw, I-will-punch-your-face emotion, is missing and in reality, frowned upon.
Somehow, the Dolphins must rekindle the emotion that leads to violence on the football field. Dan Campbell could be a step in the right direction, but when I think about Nick Saban, my overwhelming impression was that Saban could not motivate rich pampered athletes to make the emotional investment needed to win football games.
If you were given several million dollars and told to run out and risk your life and limbs, would you do it with the same passion as it took to obtain those millions of dollars? This is the quandary of professional football... It takes a special leader to make people do these things when they get paid whether they do them or not.
For the love of the game is the only answer...
Tom Brady loves the game of football, he loves it enough to will his team to win.
Ray Lewis loved the game of football enough to will his team to win...
Where are you ghost of Shula past?
When will you roam the sidelines again in Miami?
I invoke the great Gods of football and Riverdog looking down from above...
Bring a great leader back to Miami...
Make a star extraordinary
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!!!
Another No-Show by the Miami Dolphins
The no-show Miami Dolphins went bumbling and stumbled into Wembley Stadium against the NY Jets and left with more questions than answers. Again, the offense looked lethargic. Ryan Tannehill threw wild uncatchable passes in the face of the same blitz repeated continuously the entire game. The Dolphin offensive brain-trust was incapable of altering the protection to account for the CB blitz.
On defense a vaunted Miami defense line featuring Ndamukong Suh allowed Journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick to slip away without a single sack. Journeyman running back Chris Ivory ran for more yards than any game in his career. The Dolphin defense had no answer for the running game and never found an alignment to pressure the quarterback.
The pathetic Miami Dolphin coaching staff was exposed for the fourth straight week, looking more incompetent in each game. Exasperated fans tuned out and went about enjoying their Sundays as the football game was over in the first ten minutes. Steven Ross showed no inclination to make changes after the game even though a team thought to possess many talented pieces once again did not perform for the coaching staff.
The wrath of the fans has turned from the inept coaches to the bungling ownership unfit to make decisions in the NFL. At what point, fans wonder, will the owner look at the collection of talent and understand the coaching staff has lost the team. Without making wholesale changes, Steven Ross is proving his ignorance in the game of professional football. The Miami Dolphins have become a toy he parades before his ultra-rich friends and clients while they laugh in his face.
There is no explanation of the regression at QB, other than the coaching staff is completely over its head. Ryan Tannehill went from promising franchise QB to looking worse than Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyrod Taylor, Blake Bortles and Kirk Cousins. Miami has yet to play a top tier team. A fandom hoping for a 6-0 start prior to the season is now left with the distinctly possibility of not winning another game.
The ownership and coaching staff has again left a once proud franchise to wallow with the dregs of the league waiting for the first pick in the draft. It is completely shameful Miami's 2015 season is over in four weeks. It is inexcusable that nothing has been done to rectify the mistakes continuously compounding as the early season flounders on to the torture of the loyal fans.
Kevin Coyle has taken the 5th ranked defense in the NFL on a progressive decline to bottom of the league. Bill Lazor has been unable to make in-game adjustments to stop a blitz package that was run over and over again to the point of ridiculousness. Joe Philbin is completely over-matched and clueless at how to get his team prepared and emotionally ready for a football game.
Ryan Tannehill looks worse than his rookie season, never seeing the same blitz over and over. Never adjusting protections or identifying the CBs creeping into the box. With each horrendous overthrow the emboldened defense moves closer and closer to the line of scrimmage. Tannehill never gives his receivers a chance to catch a long pass as the onslaught continues. Tannehill was given a contract extension prior to the season leaving Miami fans to wonder at the wisdom of this decision.
It seems the ownership in Miami is completely clueless. Unable to select a coaching staff, unable to select a personnel department, willing to pay huge contracts to unproven players, spending absurd money on free agents, supporting a management and coaching staff unable to build a team through the draft.
Miami fans can no longer be expected to support this team. Though the true and loyal fans will face the disappointment with gritted teeth and shattered expectations, they will tune out.
The fans have had enough...
Banners will begin to fly, but there is no Ireland or Sporano to place in the cross hairs. The wrath belongs completely on the shoulders of the owner. The staff, from the coaches on down were the owner's choice. He can no longer blame Bill Parcells for his ineptitude. Steven Ross, this is an indictment against you. These are your people and they have failed and consequently Mr. Ross, so have you.
Enjoy your billion dollar toy.
We the fans are checking out...
On defense a vaunted Miami defense line featuring Ndamukong Suh allowed Journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick to slip away without a single sack. Journeyman running back Chris Ivory ran for more yards than any game in his career. The Dolphin defense had no answer for the running game and never found an alignment to pressure the quarterback.
The pathetic Miami Dolphin coaching staff was exposed for the fourth straight week, looking more incompetent in each game. Exasperated fans tuned out and went about enjoying their Sundays as the football game was over in the first ten minutes. Steven Ross showed no inclination to make changes after the game even though a team thought to possess many talented pieces once again did not perform for the coaching staff.
The wrath of the fans has turned from the inept coaches to the bungling ownership unfit to make decisions in the NFL. At what point, fans wonder, will the owner look at the collection of talent and understand the coaching staff has lost the team. Without making wholesale changes, Steven Ross is proving his ignorance in the game of professional football. The Miami Dolphins have become a toy he parades before his ultra-rich friends and clients while they laugh in his face.
There is no explanation of the regression at QB, other than the coaching staff is completely over its head. Ryan Tannehill went from promising franchise QB to looking worse than Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyrod Taylor, Blake Bortles and Kirk Cousins. Miami has yet to play a top tier team. A fandom hoping for a 6-0 start prior to the season is now left with the distinctly possibility of not winning another game.
The ownership and coaching staff has again left a once proud franchise to wallow with the dregs of the league waiting for the first pick in the draft. It is completely shameful Miami's 2015 season is over in four weeks. It is inexcusable that nothing has been done to rectify the mistakes continuously compounding as the early season flounders on to the torture of the loyal fans.
Kevin Coyle has taken the 5th ranked defense in the NFL on a progressive decline to bottom of the league. Bill Lazor has been unable to make in-game adjustments to stop a blitz package that was run over and over again to the point of ridiculousness. Joe Philbin is completely over-matched and clueless at how to get his team prepared and emotionally ready for a football game.
Ryan Tannehill looks worse than his rookie season, never seeing the same blitz over and over. Never adjusting protections or identifying the CBs creeping into the box. With each horrendous overthrow the emboldened defense moves closer and closer to the line of scrimmage. Tannehill never gives his receivers a chance to catch a long pass as the onslaught continues. Tannehill was given a contract extension prior to the season leaving Miami fans to wonder at the wisdom of this decision.
It seems the ownership in Miami is completely clueless. Unable to select a coaching staff, unable to select a personnel department, willing to pay huge contracts to unproven players, spending absurd money on free agents, supporting a management and coaching staff unable to build a team through the draft.
Miami fans can no longer be expected to support this team. Though the true and loyal fans will face the disappointment with gritted teeth and shattered expectations, they will tune out.
The fans have had enough...
Banners will begin to fly, but there is no Ireland or Sporano to place in the cross hairs. The wrath belongs completely on the shoulders of the owner. The staff, from the coaches on down were the owner's choice. He can no longer blame Bill Parcells for his ineptitude. Steven Ross, this is an indictment against you. These are your people and they have failed and consequently Mr. Ross, so have you.
Enjoy your billion dollar toy.
We the fans are checking out...
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