Big Shot Bob on Coach Philbin and offseason plan

I agree with this 100 percent.

I believe it was after the Buffalo game, and again when we competed well with Denver. For probably the first time this year I caught vision of positive opportunity this team could have the rest of the way out if they get their OL together. I'd already had running complaints of course. I was pretty vocal when Mike Pouncey came back that I thought it a borderline terrible decision to throw him at RG. I understood the dilemma of Samson Satele actually playing decent football but there was so many reasons NOT to go that route. And of course I've wanted Dallas Thomas cut since preseason. He shouldn't be on the roster let alone on the field during games. But around that Buffalo game I started to really catch a glimpse of the opportunity we could have if we get this OL issue straightened up.

My proposal was EITHER you get Billy Turner on the field (I do not, DO NOT trust them to have made an accurate decision that he's not good enough to play), or you sign Bryant McKinnie back up and keep JaWuan James at right tackle. Or both. You get Dallas Thomas off the field. You get Mike Pouncey back in at Center. You probably play Shelley Smith full time at LG because even though he sucks at times in pass pro I think the huge boost you get out of him in run blocking is more important to the overall success of the offense (because Tannehill and the offense thrive best IMO when the ground game is going strong AND we lean on it).

I just thought...really revamp this sucker now and then the changes could take in time to make a hard run at the end of the year.

 

Whether Turner is ready or not is a relative question. Bottom line is whether he's developed or not, he probably belongs on the field as one of the best five. Dallas Thomas most certainly does not and I don't have a whole lot of faith in Jason Fox at right tackle either. In a perfect world you definitely give North Dakota State the redshirt treatment. But that perfect world stuff all went out the window when they started having to throw Dallas Thomas in the starting lineup.

I did not like Dallas Thomas coming out either. It was always apparent that JaWuan James was the most talented OL on that Tennessee unit even while most people kept talking about Antonio Richardson and Dallas Thomas, in that order.

 

I don't think Philbin plays rookies unless he absolutely has to. He did the same thing last season.

 

I remember that, saved by the bell the new class, time flys

 

Which one of our DE's doesn't really go 100% in practice so he makes himself look worse than he actually is, and makes the tackle look better than they actually are?

 

That's Wake. I think Wake had to agree this year to go harder in practice to give JaWuan James some quality reps, so he amped it up for him. He probably turns it back down when he sees someone like Dallas Thomas.

 

Welp, Philbin's been asked why he keeps starting Thomas, and he still started him after. Chalk it up to a clueless/hardheaded/stubborn coach.

 

Betting his career on Dallas Thomas is not a smart thing to do.

 

I've resigned myself to that honestly. BUT, Gus Malzahn isn't leaving Auburn this off-season. Hiring Will Muschamp was, IMO, a signal to potential suitors that he's going all in to win. I think when Philbin flames out next season, Malzahn will know he's done with the NCAA.

 

I think that is a bit unfair and that Philbin et al deserve some credit for at least not screwing it up. I doubt Tannehill would be where he is today had he been developed under the Sparano regime.

 

My first choice is Harbaugh but if we can't get him, Bowles is clearly the second best option.

Unfortunately with all the possible head coaching jobs opening up in a few weeks, I think Bowles will have several teams wanting to interview him. I also think that Bowles left Miami with a baste taste in his mouth after the 2011 season. I think he felt he was the best choice to become the head coach of the Dolphins and that Ross never gave him serious consideration for the job.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I just don't think Bowles would want to come back to Miami and work for Ross, after the way he was passed over for the job when Ross selected Philbin over him in 2012.

 

Malzahn's offense paired with Muschamp's defense will be an impressive combo, so I agree that he'll see what he can accomplish there before making the jump to the NFL. Maybe he'll win a few championships, then get a statue built for him. He sure will be an exciting hire when and if he does go to the NFL, since he's been successful everywhere so far.

 

Great post. Years of Ireland drafts have really killed this team. Hickey really has his work cut out for him.

 

I think people are forgetting that Philbin, as part of the restructuring when Ireland was offered more money and less power, was given final control over the roster. To some degree you hamstrung your GM because if Hickey even offered McKinne as an option and Philbin said no, signing him would have made no sense.

 

Hickey has final say, even Stephen Ross wasn't stupid enough to give that power to Joe Philbin.

 

http://cover32.com/dolphins/2014/01/26/report-joe-philbin-will-have-final-say-on-2014-roster/

Not fully corroborated but they were given the impression that Philbin had at least some say in the roster. Some said all some said some.

 

So who has final say?

 

I also liked James a lot going into the draft. I was also about as high on Joel Bitonio and considered him similar quality as Zack Martin.

 

Hughes will be a UFA. He was in the 2010 draft and was taken 3 picks after Odrick.

 

What a team

 

Nope. He's due for an extension or becoming a UFA. Let's hope Buffalo remembers it's Buffalo. It would be a coup to snag Dareus if they let him walk for Hughes.

 

He was traded, but as for a new deal, I do not know. Either he is still going to be under contract, or he will be a UFA. He has enough years in the league to not be a RFA.