I remember 2 major issues being rehashed in the offseason:
1) Stopping the run!
2) Scoring TDs in the REDZONE!

Are the off-season problems that were our focus fair game considering the very quick coaching change?

Not at all saying the coaching change was uncalled for. The players seemed as if they were not going to play for Philbin.

Again though, are any coaches willing to come here? Something is preventing them. It's close to a conspiracy situation.

KNick637

Yeah there is definetely a conspiracy on this here board.

This entire franchise has an air of train-wreck about it. I don't foresee any reputable coach wanting to come here. Is it Ross? Seems like he attempts to do patchwork when there's failure...he'll fire a GM but not the coach, and vice versa. And that's after refusing to do nothing at all until the stadium is empty.

I don't think EITHER of these issues is a talent problem. We have Suh in the middle..no excuse, talent wise, for not stopping the run! We also have some real talent on offense.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT COACHING!!! What's preventing other coaches from coming? Obviously the owner.

It's both...we have a secondary that's too small across the board, a LB'er group that isn't physical or instinctive enough, and an OL that's a mess. We have or have had, coaches that have or are, failing to inspire, teach, instill discipline, and put players into positions to win one on one match ups.

We just don't stack up to the better, faster, more physical teams for a full 60 minutes.

We have a group of players for the most part, that were assembled to play with speed and finesse and they are now being asked to punch people in the mouth...a strategy that hasn’t worked for the past two weeks. That said, we do have some players that can do that but not enough to overpower other teams.

In fact, the only times where our team has worked well this season, were the two games where our players were able to get into open spaces to show off that speed and finesse.

Yeah, accepting the premise that our biggest offseason needs were run defense and red zone scoring, we did sign the best DT and best TE available in free agency. We also our 1st and 2nd round picks on a big physical WR and a huge DT.

Just like we've spent a million picks on the interior OL and the secondary, and both are still problem areas.

Just about the only problem area that the front office hasn't ever focused on improving is our LBs.

Either our scouts suck resulting in our GM making bad picks, our GMs keep ignoring our scouts and making bad picks on their own, or our coaching staff is somehow unable to turn reasonably talented players into starters.

I have no answers other to say that other teams (and I've used the Pats and their OL as an example before) don't have to repeatedly make the sorts of investments we make in our OL or elsewhere and are far more successful.

It sucks. It sucks ass that the answer to the question invariably becomes spend a first round pick on whatever position group is the current problem because that's the only hope we might have of getting it fixed. And that sucks so much because that's how we end up with taking James in the first round. A decent, but unspectacular RT but at least that takes the emphasis away from needing a RT.

Samsam, what are you saying?

KNick637

Damn-U-Kong-93 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Samsam, what are you saying?


Scarecrow.

And the conspiracy is me...a scarecrow. Is there a computer between us? Y'all must be happy about that, and if you're not, you should be.

'Course I'm up for getting a beer....anywhere.....I'm guessing one of you is the lion, & the other the tin man. Which makes chances of getting a beer as good as finding some courage, and some heart. Instead of bashing on anyone working to put a team out there, & anyone brave enough to stand behind the center knowing each week an entire city may armchair QB your skill as the worst in the world.

They aren't hiding behind pc's & fake names. They have real names, & they put their decisions and choices and words to the test every Sunday.

Come pull some straw!!

KNick637

Fake names?

808phan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This entire franchise has an air of train-wreck
> about it. I don't foresee any reputable coach
> wanting to come here. Is it Ross? Seems like he
> attempts to do patchwork when there's
> failure...he'll fire a GM but not the coach, and
> vice versa. And that's after refusing to do
> nothing at all until the stadium is empty.

*****************************************************

NONE of us on this board knows why Miami has a problem hiring "good" coaches.

I highly doubt it is only Ross, if it is him at all. We can all only see the results of what happens when "name" coaches go in for interviews. We don't know what is said in those meetings.

Does Ross turn off potential coaches? Do those coaches want more power than Miami is willing to give them? Do the coaches not like the FO setup?

Head coaching the Miami Dolphins is a job that most any coach would want. Miami has enough talent to attract a potential HC.

Miami just has to be diligent in who they select.

Ken Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's both...we have a secondary that's too small
> across the board, a LB'er group that isn't
> physical or instinctive enough, and an OL that's a
> mess. We have or have had, coaches that have or
> are, failing to inspire, teach, instill
> discipline, and put players into positions to win
> one on one match ups.
>
> We just don't stack up to the better, faster, more
> physical teams for a full 60 minutes.
>
> We have a group of players for the most part, that
> were assembled to play with speed and finesse and
> they are now being asked to punch people in the
> mouth...a strategy that hasn’t worked for the
> past two weeks. That said, we do have some players
> that can do that but not enough to overpower other
> teams.
>
> In fact, the only times where our team has worked
> well this season, were the two games where our
> players were able to get into open spaces to show
> off that speed and finesse.

******************************************************

We have also had two HC's that were specialists in the OL. Neither were able to get a solid OL in place.

Damn-U-Kong-93 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And the conspiracy is me...a scarecrow. Is there
> a computer between us? Y'all must be happy about
> that, and if you're not, you should be.
>
> 'Course I'm up for getting a
> beer....anywhere.....I'm guessing one of you is
> the lion, & the other the tin man. Which makes
> chances of getting a beer as good as finding some
> courage, and some heart. Instead of bashing on
> anyone working to put a team out there, & anyone
> brave enough to stand behind the center knowing
> each week an entire city may armchair QB your
> skill as the worst in the world.
>
> They aren't hiding behind pc's & fake names. They
> have real names, & they put their decisions and
> choices and words to the test every Sunday.
>
> Come pull some straw!!


ChrenB i told you. LOL.

captkoi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 808phan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This entire franchise has an air of train-wreck
> > about it. I don't foresee any reputable coach
> > wanting to come here. Is it Ross? Seems like he
> > attempts to do patchwork when there's
> > failure...he'll fire a GM but not the coach,
> and
> > vice versa. And that's after refusing to do
> > nothing at all until the stadium is empty.
>
> **************************************************
> ***
>
> NONE of us on this board knows why Miami has a
> problem hiring "good" coaches.
>
> I highly doubt it is only Ross, if it is him at
> all. We can all only see the results of what
> happens when "name" coaches go in for interviews.
> We don't know what is said in those meetings.
>
> Does Ross turn off potential coaches? Do those
> coaches want more power than Miami is willing to
> give them? Do the coaches not like the FO setup?
>
> Head coaching the Miami Dolphins is a job that
> most any coach would want. Miami has enough talent
> to attract a potential HC.
>
> Miami just has to be diligent in who they select.

"Good coaches" is subjective but the reason we have not been able to lure a "big name" coach is because of the timing of Ross' decisions.

First no coach wanted to come work for Ireland and then once he was gone no GM wanted to be saddled with Philbin and this poor excuse for a staff.

He should have cleaned house long ago and started from scratch with a GM who would bring in that big name coach...or hire the coach that could actually be the GM. Easier said than done but...

You can't ask for much more from an owner from a coaches POV. His signs a blank check and does not interfere much and pays for his own stadium.

montequi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I don't think EITHER of these issues is a talent
> problem. We have Suh in the middle..no excuse,
> talent wise, for not stopping the run! We also
> have some real talent on offense.
>
> THIS IS ALL ABOUT COACHING!!! What's preventing
> other coaches from coming? Obviously the owner.

Except Suh is one of the very few on the front 7 that is performing. He can't do it alone. I don't buy it being all about coaching (even though Philbin needed to go!). It's also the swings and misses by the FO.

Earl Mitchell is TERRIBLE! He cannot win individual match-ups and that's what the entire scheme is based on since they signed Suh.

Shelby is a stud vs the run and getting better. We need another DT who can get off blocks or command double teams. Vernon FINALLY showed up yesterday.

We have a terrible MLB who takes too many false steps, bites on play action and is always out of position. Jenkins has not progressed. Until we get a good DT to play next to Suh and a true MLB who isn't a liability in coverage, the D will continue to be inconsistent AND get killed by TE's. We could also use a better OLB.

I like what I am seeing from the young CB's. It's great that they are getting a look at them so we know what we have going into the off season. Brice is not good but Bobby seems to be and Lippett may turn out to be a real stud. Taylor had a good game but he is and may always be inconsistent and injury prone. Our FS is bla as well.

On offense, Bill Lazor is a terrible play caller and is too quick to abandon the run. A few no gains and he is done with the run game. They are also not utilizing Jordan Cameron correctly. The 3rd down calls I see are horrendous. 3rd and 5 he runs all deep routes?

Hey Damn-U-Kong-93:


How is your Uncle Duncan is doing?

Quote: Is there a computer between us?


If there wasn't, i'd have you singing showtunes and wearing a clown suit by now.

But i do have to give you props for sounding like Urkel from family matters.

samsam3738 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Quote: Is there a computer between us?
>
>
> If there wasn't, i'd have you singing showtunes
> and wearing a clown suit by now.


As I write, I'm wearing a clown suit & lightly humming show tunes.(show tunes; 2 words!) My Uncle is behind me messaging some kinks out of my shoulders.
You seem to be preoccupied with me?!?!?! And besides all the personal comments, I thought this site was about football, specifically the Miami Dolphins.

Rest assured Sammy, battle of words, battle of titans; choose something else, because you'll never win either against me. You think I haven't dealt with sexually insecure idiots in the past.

I suggest you invest in a shovel & practice your mandarin. And leave me alone, just stop, bother someone else, you're scaring me and I don't like it! I'm about 5 seconds away from calling my mom and asking her why HC's have passed on Miami the last decade??

I agree the talent is here. Thing is, when we sign these off season high dollar players that have excelled where ever they were, it's because they fit well into that system!!!!!

How many elite players in the NFL? Or I should say there are not that many elite players in the NFL. You can't just sign Ndamukong Suh and expect him to dominate like he did in Detroit, unless you have a system that is very similar. The competition is too close. There is no superman. We are all limited to a certain extent. It takes an entire team to be on board with the philosophy set forth.

I would say the jury is still out on Dan Campbell. Is he all about getting the players hitting hard, or does he have a winning system that all will buy into?? Say he does! Then we are 4 games behind the rest of the league at hitting our possible gel?

So in theory, there is a possibility(however slim it may be), that this team starts playing it's best football on Sunday, Dec. 27th.

KNick637