Fire Philbin! Get a coach with fire in their belly!
These were loud shouts from angry fans which followed the stunning initial silence left after the loss against the Buffalo Bills in their home opener.
The realization their team was 1-2 after the Miami Dolphins' dismal start to what was supposed to be a breakout season was too much by the confused fan, after all, this was the team that had just signed the highest paid defensive lineman ever, signed another, and used their second round draft pick to add still another defensive tackle to the roster. No team was supposed to run for more than 50 yards against this formidable front 4, and yet they have. Offensively, a combination of draft picks, trades and free agent signings was also supposed to light up the sky under Miami's famous moon, and yet it hasn't. Following their initial disappointment, the average fan, index finger outstretched at the end of an outstretched arm, which moved erratically, looking for a target to aim at, finally found it.
It was Joe Philbin, the mild-mannered coach of the Dolphins.
“He doesn't have emotions,” they said, but the vociferous loud one, in his impulsive quest for a convict, fails to realize that angry intensity is not an a synonym of coaching proficiency, because if it were, mild manner coaches like the great and now departed Bill Walsh, would not have been a multiple Super Bowl winner.
Based on the possible telltale signs of some of these offseason free agent signings, it would appear that Joe Philbin was not very involved in the Ndamukong Suh acquisition for example, since the coach sat as part of the audience and did not occupy a chair at the table during the player introduction presser. Philbin is not the defensive coordinator either, the source of the shocking unexpected, which has stunned fans and sports media analysts alike. The coach has, however, been the culprit of some less than smart calls which has cost the Dolphins some wins. Philbin has failed to fire coaches and coordinators for game inefficiency and continues to support his defensive coordinator, who, at best, has been no more than an architect of excuses. Fans have enough ammunition to want to see Joe Philbin fired however, but expecting a marked improvement based on the removal of the coach is wishful thinking at best. There are many problems plaguing Miami, and the biggest may be at the top of the organization.
Miami Dolphins' owner Stephen Ross is a likable and seemingly well-intended guy, but Ross' vision may have been amateurish when it comes to the game of football. The Dolphin franchise majority owner's read of the football savvy Miami fan may have been highly erred, as Ross' desire for association with celebrity minority team owners, and fully equipped disco club at the stadium, almost seems to suggest he planned to sell tickets and fill the stadium with fans seeking a piece of the limelight and hoping to rub elbows with celebrities. Nothing could have been more misguided if this had indeed been the plan, because Miamians separate their partying from their football, and loud vociferous minority aside, Miamians know their football, as made evident by the consistently high national ranking of the area's high school teams. The problem now is that having seemingly abandoned the alleged quest for the limelight seeker, the Dolphins continue to make moves to impress, targeting the big name free agent of the day. Mike Wallace, and now Ndamukong Suh are examples of the Dolphins allowing headline grabbing to dictate football operations. Who can't forget Stephen Ross and then general manager Jeff Ireland jetting over to Stanford in an ill-fated attempt to hire Jim Harbaugh? This big news-splash mentality may be Miami's biggest problem. It is hard not to love Stephen Ross, his commitment to the city, to the team, his willingness to pay for things out of his own money, and a football fan, in spite of the frustration and anger felt, cannot take that away from him. Now the Dolphins will sit in salary cap trouble for football eternity, because of a deal for one player, which favors the player, and one which the team cannot get away from. Someone with the necessary internal fortitude needs to sit down for a day or two with Stephen Ross and explain how football really works.
Team Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannebaum's impact on the team has been felt with earthquake-like negative effect. Using his contacts and the same rather unorthodox methods which got him fired from the New York Jets, he has been unproductive for this team. Tannebaum allegely targeted and drafted defensive tackle Jordan Phillips in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft, instead of filling a position of need like offensive guard. Phillips is now inactive, which is inexcusable for a second round draft selection. This, if the off season allegations are true, is enough of an indictment to end the relationship between the checkered-past Tannebaum and the team. The Dolphins so far have looked incompetent at running the ball, in part because of the inability of young offensive guard Dallas Thomas to run block. Based on this analysis it would appear clear that Mike Tannebaum is not good for the Miami Dolphins.
The 2014 draft effort by Denis Hickey made more sense than the one this year and as perhaps a direct result, the Dolphins had a better record going into the fourth game of the season. The indictment of Hickey as a general manager may however come because of his questionable choices in the latter rounds, drafting unknown players from small schools who have not been tested at a competitive higher level, which, combined with a trend of signing injury prone players, have failed to produce a consistent roster for a team thirsting to gel at all levels. Hickey's position would be salvageable albeit doubtful, if he were to stay away from this practice, but because old habits are hard to break, breaking ties with the two-year GM would make sense.
Not much is known about what offensive coordinator Bill Lazor's impact would be if he was not coaching under a head coach who himself was a former offensive coordinator. The former Eagle QB coach does not have a track record as an OC and has not been able to show much except a marked improvement over the former incompetent OC Mike Sherman, but that in and of itself is not saying much, therefore an argument on behalf of Lazor's firing would be inconclusive. The same cannot be said for his defensive counterpart Kevin Coyle, who in spite of the Dolphins tireless efforts in providing him with players who can fit his “scheme," has failed to do what he was hired for. Coyle has and continues to fail at his job as made evident by the caliber of players he has and has had , while still putting an incompetent team on the field. There should be little question regarding this coach's future with the Miami Dolphins. Kevin Coyle should resign or else.
Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin's firing alone might slightly impact the offense in a positive way. Quaterback Ryan Tannehill needs to be able to call his own plays and this has not been the case under Philbin. Additionally, the support of Philbin for his former offensive coordinator Mike Sherman and incredibly, his present support of DC Kevin Coyle is unacceptable.
Firing Philbin alone, however, will not improve the team by more than maybe an additional win. The present structure of the team will not allow this team to put quality football on the field as long as the aforementioned members of the front office and the current defensive coordinator remain in place.