Many have voiced their displeasure with Ireland's moves or lack of moves this off season. This thread is to question how much credit of blame should be placed on him vs the coaching staff, and is for this year only. In other words, how much did Irish do on his own? How much was on Sparano, Nolan, and Dabol? And how much was a combo effort? I have to think the draft was mostly Ireland and the scouts, with Sparano and Daboll having a good degree of input, and Nolan being sent on vacation. In FA, I believe Bush was Daboll's choice. I think Burnett was Nolan's choice, and that Columbo was Sparano's choice. Orton may have been a combo, with Ireland leading the way, and making a VG pass. JT was likely Sparano. McD on Nolan. Offering Ronnie a contract on Sparano and Daboll, with some Ireland. Not paying for a Bradshaw, likely on Ireland. Not paying for a high price OL, likely a Sparano/Ireland combo. On the cuts, keeping Sapp over Will Allen is Nolan, as is cutting Edds, with a little input from Sparano. Adding Rasario at TE, likely Daboll. Adding, cutting, and adding LJ again is anyone's guess. Thoughts?
Eh, not seeing that one, the Rb argument may have some merit vis a vis Bradshaw v Thomas, but Rb's are like disposible razors in most of the NFL's approaches, so 18 millie v 4 millie. Each unit had players added, must be assumed that was a collective decision by each unit coach. Colombo/Bush/ Rosario/Mitchell/Trusnik/Burnett/Soliai was paid 12 millie.
Yeah, I didn't really see or hear or read anything that indicated "this guy wanted this, that guy wanted that, etc". These guys, like it or not, are joined at the hip so as the season goes, so goes their future chances to stick here...
My question is who was responsible for all the off season moves or the lack of them? Many put it all on Irish, and I disagree.
I don't see any basis to disagree. Not only is Jeff Ireland the General Manager, which makes him responsible for all personell moves by default - there's also nothing whatsoever (short of a pure conjecture) that would indicate he wasn't responsible for them.
every player signed, Irish did extensive film work on and approved the Acquisition, it is his job..To approve acquisitions.
Ireland probably has final say, but in these decisions there's almost always one guy who is pulling for it harder than the others. If you have any kind of a relationship with your co-workers, you will sometimes "give them one" even if you don't agree yourself. You sometimes have to just trust their judgement even if you know the blame will ultimately fall on you if it fails.
I don't care if it is Ireland or Sparano making the decisions. The fact is that both of them should be held accountable after being on the job for three years. If the Dolphins don't make the playoffs this season and instead remain the same mediocre team they have been the last two years. Both Ireland and and Sparano need to be sent packing. I am sure Daboll and Nolan give their opinions on players to be drafted and signed in free agency. Yet when all is said and done, the responsibility for drafting and signing free agents falls squarely on the shoulders of Ireland, since he is the GM of the organization.
I don't agree with that, if the team goes 9 and 7 and misses the playoffs I think we assess their progression as a team, how their built, take into account their youth, the weaknesses, and go from there.
I see your point of view, but I think a lot would depend on how this 9-7 season was achieved. If the Dolphins start out 1-4 or possibly 0-5, as I believe is very likely and turn the season around and finish 9-7, I would agree with you. If on the other hand, the Dolphins play well early in the season but collapse late in the season and finish 9-7. I would expect Ross to fire Ireland and Sparano.
That's a fair point. On the draft, I'm sure you are right. In FA, I believe Nolan made the Burnett for Crowder choice, Daboll the Bush choice, and Sparano the Columbo choice. Granted that Irish had to sign off on them. On the final cuts. i have to say that Nolan made the final choices on W Allen and Edds. His D had a VG year, and he should have been the one making those choices. I think the same can be said of Daboll, bringing in a new O, he should be allowed to decide who fits or does not more so that Ireland. Call it conjecture or just my opinion. I'm here in South Beach, and many are putting everything on Irish. I believe that the credit/blame should be spread around the coaches as well. JMHO
It's a bit like how you assess week #1 DJ. Henne and the receivers were VG. The D SUCKED. Is Henne now great, ant the D horrible? Over the next 15 games, we will assess the team, and how they played as much as the record. IF we play well, with a 9-7 or 8-8 record, making a change will not be an easy choice, although MANY will call for it. Then, it's back to another 3 years of rebuilding. My patience has grown thin. I would prefer some stability in my team in place of the constant changes.
one game and you're already off the Nolan bandwagon. I seriously hope you're wrong like I think you are.
If you, (anyone) give credit to Ireland for the good personnel moves then he has to also take the blame for any bad moves. Sure any of the coaches or Sparano could have input on decisions but Ireland had the final say. Ireland is supposed to be a smart, good personnel man so he should have done research on the decisions he made irregardless to what anyone else wanted. If he found any concerns or negative points he should have dissuaded that coach or just said no. Its also his job that is on the line for bad decisions that effect the Dolphins. He has made some good, positive decisions for the Dolphins, but he has also made some bad ones. The real question is has he made more good decisions or bad decisions, and how will those affect the Dolphins this year. I like Ireland and I had high hopes he would be the Dolphins version of Scott Piolli, but the verdict is still to be decided and the jury is still out but thats JMO.
