1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Purge & Build - Gase's Plan

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Galant, Oct 12, 2016.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

    19,127
    11,058
    113
    Apr 22, 2014
    In a previous thread I wrote this: "this team needs more than just release and replace. It needs Gase to build something more. I think he has a concept and identity in mind, and he needs to be given the freedom and power to build it. He needs to look at the roster and determine which players fit what he wants to build mentally, as well as talent-wise. He needs to find the players who are his type of players, who can be leaders, and become pillars in building a team with a philosophy and identity, who can buy in. Then he needs to be given the ability to build along those lines, with a mind to not just acquire talented players, but identifying players who fit their mentality, especially at the beginning."

    Following the ditching of Thomas, Turner and Pead I think we might be seeing just the beginnings of just that.

    We know Thomas wasn't good, and even Turner hadn't lived up to expectations, however, I think there's more to see here than just ditching a lack of talent.

    There have been a few times now that Gase has specifically stated that he's interested in players who play 'the right way' and has warned that players who don't bring the right attitude or approach will be canned. I think we've been seeing this, and it might well be a reason for hope. If Gase truly has a unified goal in mind and isn't just trying to cobble a bunch of talented individuals together, this could, could, bode well for the Dolphins in the long term. This is assuming a number of other things go right too, but this is, at least, one important piece of the puzzle for long term success to my mind.

    Recall the following quotes from Gase:

    “We just want guys to do it right. So whoever wants to do it right, those are the guys that we're going to put out there... Talent is irrelevant at this point.”
    “The tape don't lie. We will find out who played hard. And some of the guys that didn't will move on.”

    “I’m over discussing any of this stuff with players... We’re either going to start getting the job done, or we’re going to make changes.”

    "It’s the same stuff over and over again, so we’ve gotta get some things cleaned up and if we can’t get it cleaned up, then we need to find somebody else to put in those positions.”
    Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article104262401.html#storylink=cpy



    And the players know it too:
    Bushrod has said, “They’re going to make whatever decisions they want to make, they need to make. It doesn’t make a difference how we feel about it. We’re paid to play.”
    And Maxwell - “In the NFL, if you don’t do your job, they’re going to find a replacement. It’s a lot of guys that want to do your job and want to do the right thing.”

    And then Landry also said:

    [video=twitter;780833267591282688]https://twitter.com/tiffblackmon/status/780833267591282688[/video]

    So I think what we're seeing here is promising, and I think it's especially so when we consider how Gase has been doing it too. Recall during the offseason and up to now with the media he has been defensive of his players and he's given everyone an even chance. He's had ample opportunity to openly criticise players or sections of the team. He could have denied lower ranking players an opportunity to participate. Yet Gase seems to have had a plan and has stuck to it in the face of pressure from the media and wherever else. He has specifically given everyone a shot, and although it might at times have seemed like a waste of time I think now and onwards is where it pays dividends. No one cut can complain they weren't given a shot. No player can say he hasn't been even-handed with the team. And no standing players can feel like they automatically get a free ride. I think Gase is establishing himself in their eyes as a fair but strong coach he sets a bar and gives a fair chance to reach, and who won't settle for poor effort or execution. He's establishing a culture it seems, and I think the players, and future players, are going to want to buy into it.

    There's a lot else we can ponder about Gase, and about whether he's the man for the job. But in this respect, so far, I think we have some real value in him. Clearly he has a plan in mind and isn't afraid to let time be a part of that.

    I think it's becoming clear that what we have here - and what Gase is doing - isn't duct-taping the team to try for the playoffs or bust right now, but he's evaluating the health of this team, he knows it's sick in places, and he's planning on building a truly healthy and strong team into the future. Looks like it's surgery time right now for the Dolphins, all season long, if not longer. More ailing limbs might still be cut off. Let's hope Gase is the surgeon who can get it done, and Ross gives him the backing to do it.



    Some articles referenced for quotes:
    Adam Beasley - Gase's Warning
    Dan Wilkins - Shape Up
    Chris Perkins - Gase's Backs Up Warning
     
  2. brandon27

    brandon27 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    45,652
    19,304
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Windsor, ON. CANADA
    Yup. He's keeping good on his word about everyone got a clean slate to start, a chance to learn, a chance to perform in this new system. Then they all got a warning that it wasn't good enough, and changes will come. Those changes are starting. He's keeping true to his word and his plan that he had when he got here. Can't complain about that.
     
  3. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

    3,893
    3,087
    113
    Mar 6, 2010
    This is a message that needed to be said for a long time. Too many fat cats not doing their jobs.

    Even though this doesn't necessarily fix anything, I feel strangely better. It's kind of like we just ended a bad relationship that we should of ended years ago.
     
    dolfan7171, smahtaz and Pandarilla like this.
  4. Young Z

    Young Z Banned

    20
    14
    3
    May 26, 2016
    Honestly all this means nothing without a new GM. The entire offensive line needs to be revamped, we need help at QB, in the backfield, TE, and every level of the defense needs multiple upgrades, this team has so many needs its ridiculous. I have zero faith in Tannenbaum fixing all this or even getting us half of what we need, we're partly in this mess because of him, the Maxwell trade was nothing short of stupid, moving out of the top 10 without aquiring any picks is something I don't even think Jeff Ireland would've done, Mike T didn't make a single worthwhile signing to the OL in free agency, my god imagine how bleak the line would look right now if that video of Tunsil smoking doesn't leak literally minutes before the draft began, we got flat out lucky.

    Unfortunately even if we go the route of replacing Tannenbaum the truth of the matter is this job isn't all that appealing to executives around the league...maybe that changes if we get the #1 pick.
     
    pumpdogs and MikeHoncho like this.
  5. thisperishedmin

    thisperishedmin Well-Known Member

    2,404
    509
    113
    Aug 17, 2011
    I'm inclined to agree - I've seen enough Tannenbaum to know I've seen enough "Tannebaum in Miami" to last me a life time.

    No read on Grier yet...I think getting some of this VP etc. **** out of the way and just letting the coach and GM do their respective jobs wouldnt hurt, however. As long as we have multiple people above coach and GM sticking their hands into things, I have low faith in an actual turn around.

    Time will tell I guess...
     
  6. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    It's just what we've known all along, this team is mostly made up of soft players mentally. It's the way Joe Philbin wanted it. Remember the 1st thing that Campbell did last year in practice was have these guys doing Oklahoma drills and such. He knew it too and tried to fix it. Gase is seeing it now and he's just getting an axe out and cutting off the dead wood altogether. The unfortunate part is there is so much dead wood to cut that there isn't a way to fix this mess in one off season. There are simply too many holes to fill. I am not concerned about Gase at this moment, yes he has made some mistakes but he is still learning and smart enough to not keep repeating them. Tannenbaum running the show on the other hand scares the crap out of me. Can he and the personnel department actually identify and target the right type of guys that will work for Gase AND his system? Looking at the draft last year we saw them grab ALPHA type players so it seems they listened to at least part of what Gase wants. It all remains to be seen.
     
    mlb1399 likes this.
  7. mlb1399

    mlb1399 Well-Known Member

    3,893
    3,087
    113
    Mar 6, 2010
    Tin Indian,

    I couldnt agree more. I've felt like we are 2-3 years away for most of the offseason. Outside of 4-5 guys, I'm not sure who I would even want on this roster in 3-5 years.
     
    gunn34, DolphinGreg and Tin Indian like this.
  8. Tin Indian

    Tin Indian Rockin' The Bottom End Club Member

    7,929
    4,404
    113
    Feb 10, 2010
    Palm Bay Florida
    I've been thinking there must closer to about 15, but I may be far too generous.
     
  9. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    For this Gase experiment to really work (or at least be given a serious shot at working), he needs to become the defacto GM. Tannenbaum isn't inclined to choose that "hard working" type over raw physical talent. Got to be on the same page here.
     
  10. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

    3,087
    2,038
    113
    Jul 27, 2013
    I think he has enough on his plate already, but perhaps they could let Gase choose the GM, I'm sure he's more qualified to do that than Ross anyway.
     
    smahtaz likes this.
  11. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    Yeah.. the million dollar question of course is where the threshold is for Ross to realize Tannenbaum is part of the problem. Ross deliberately gives people lots of time to prove themselves and Tannenbaum hasn't been here a long time.

    I guess we'll find out if we end up with a really bad record (brace yourself!!).
     
  12. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

    3,087
    2,038
    113
    Jul 27, 2013
    You touched it with a needle, as the saying goes, where IS Ross' head on this right now?

    There is a big difference this time though, that just might work in our favor, it's... silver lining time! we are struggling mightily, in the past we were spinning our wheels, now it seems, the wheels have come off, "panic hits you in the face like a bucket of cold water", nothing induces change as much as panic, lol, so, perhaps our woes will yield an earlier positive result than in the past.
     
    mlb1399 likes this.
  13. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    How did this not happen in the offseason? Did he really want the guys on the roster a chance to learn the system?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  14. dirtylandry

    dirtylandry Well-Known Member

    4,214
    1,750
    113
    Aug 2, 2015
    I admire Gase for accepting this challenge.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    cuchulainn likes this.
  15. Young Z

    Young Z Banned

    20
    14
    3
    May 26, 2016
    I would have serious concerns about making Gase the defacto GM, I know the smartest QB to ever play called him the smartest man he knows but I'm not ready to push all my chips in on Gase having final say on who to draft, sign and trade. This infatuation with Gase is starting to remind me of the love affair everyone had early on with Lazor where we were all ready to promote him and sacrifice everyone else.

    The way things are going we could see another repeat of the Philbin/Ireland power struggle that led to Hickey, with Ross siding with the coach, GM is forced out and we end up having to settle on some second rate GM because we don't offer the best executives the power they expect to get with the job.

    The #1 priority this offseason should be hiring the best manager out there to fix this mess, Tannenbaum would obviously be the one being replaced in that scenario and Aponte is already gone, Grier might end up seeing the writing on the wall and leaving ala Brian Gaine so we shouldn't be forcing ANY executives on any candidate who's being seriously considered, which has crippled us in the past, give the new GM the authority to fire Gase if he sees fit after 2017, you do all that and even a complete tool like Stephen Ross can land a stud talent evaluator.
     
  16. smahtaz

    smahtaz Pimpin Ain't Easy

    I like this idea.

    Enough of this fire a HC, hire a HC, fire a GM, hire a GM, fire a HC, hire a HC... Rinse, repeat. Let the coach select the GM so they are tied together. No grey area. The post the other day speculates that Gase was not Tannenbaum's choice. Why not get everyone on the same page?

    I just can't figure out how on earth someone that is so successful in business could create such a terrible business model?

     
    Finster likes this.
  17. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

    23,698
    39,847
    113
    Sep 7, 2012
    Hattiesburg, MS
    Joe Philbin selected Dennis Hickey...


    *crickets*
     
  18. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

    23,698
    39,847
    113
    Sep 7, 2012
    Hattiesburg, MS

    AKA "Seppuku"

    Gase and Joseph both have to be asking themselves wtf they've done.
     
  19. smahtaz

    smahtaz Pimpin Ain't Easy

    That's not entirely true. This organization has been in full disarray since Parcels quit.


    http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/dolphins-hire-hickey-as-new-gm/
     
    gunn34 likes this.
  20. cuchulainn

    cuchulainn Táin Bó Cúailnge Club Member

    23,698
    39,847
    113
    Sep 7, 2012
    Hattiesburg, MS
    Disarray, yes, but Hickey was a friend of Philbin's and a recommendation from Philbin to Ross to interview him, when Hickey wasn't even on the radar and reportedly was going to be dismissed from Tampa.

    That's why so many eyebrows were raised when it was announced that we were going to interview Hickey. Everyone else of note had turned it down at that point. Too much BS had went down under Philbin's watch. Philbin was all about nepotism. Most of his staff were buddies of his or people he had prior relationships with. The NFL is very incestuous...
     
  21. smahtaz

    smahtaz Pimpin Ain't Easy

    Hickey's boss/successor was hired 9 months before Philbin was fired and now we find out Tannebaum may have been opposed to Gase. And what the heck does Grier do. Ross is starting to remind me of Al Czervik in the pro shop at Bushwood. No offense.
     
  22. Brasfin

    Brasfin Well-Known Member

    2,435
    1,672
    113
    Apr 27, 2013
    Brazil
    IMO, the culture encompassing this organization is what makes these players feel like they don't need to push themselves. For whatever reason (maybe the weather and south florida culture has something to do with this) guys go to Miami and feel like they are on vacation.

    One thing I agreed with Dan Campbell was that he said you need the right combination of lunch pail guys and blue chip talent guys. Honestly, I think we're low on both right now. Seems to me a lot of our players also either aren't too bright or just put in very little effort to learn schemes and whatnot.

    Number one priority for Gase/FO is to create a different culture, and it starts with bringing in guys who are
    1) Hard workers
    2) Smart
    3) Tough

    Forget athletic abilities and potential for now.

    AFTER they have enough guys with these traits and have established a different culture they can focus on bringing in guys with sheer talent. It'll take about 2 years to establish the culture, IMO, then at least one more year to stock up on talent/high ceiling guys.

    If we're lucky we'll be ready to compete for the playoffs in 3 years.
     
    djphinfan and mlb1399 like this.
  23. cbrad

    cbrad .

    10,659
    12,657
    113
    Dec 21, 2014
    Shula ran a tight ship, so S. Florida isn't the barrier.

    Anyway, a good coach should be able to turn this franchise around with essentially the same players. Best example is Parcells. Year 2 in 1984 and the Giants were a playoff team. Same with Patriots.. year 2 in 1994 playoff team. Jets 1st year in 1997 he got them a winning record, 2nd year playoffs. Cowboys 1st year 2003 playoffs.

    Gase isn't Parcells, but if he's really good he should be able to turn it around even with mostly the same players. Of course it helps to have better players but our real problem since Wannstedt has been coaching.
     
    gunn34 likes this.
  24. Brasfin

    Brasfin Well-Known Member

    2,435
    1,672
    113
    Apr 27, 2013
    Brazil
    Maybe it's not the barrier, but something is amiss with the culture of the Miami Dolphins organization.

    You need to change the culture. How you do it doesn't matter, but it needs to be done. The easiest way, IMO, is what I said above, bring in guys who are naturally hard workers and who fit the descriptions and the culture will slowly change. We don't have enough of these types of guys on the team.

    I agree that it starts with the head coach, but if he's the only one with this type of mentality it's hard for the players to buy in. It can be done, ala Shula, but it's not easy, which is why I suggested we start by bringing in players who have a natural tendency to work hard and push themselves... that type of attitude is contagious and once it's established, it snowballs.
     
    Tin Indian and gunn34 like this.
  25. gunn34

    gunn34 I miss Don & Dan

    21,755
    3,475
    113
    Jan 5, 2008
    Oviedo FL
    I think this type of drafting is exactly what Ireland did. He drafted guys with high floors because it was easy and provided at least playoff hope. His biggest problem was never later drafting guys with high ceilings. I don't think he knew how to identify these type of players or maybe he was too safe and selected a guy with a high floor over him.
     
    Pandarilla likes this.
  26. Brasfin

    Brasfin Well-Known Member

    2,435
    1,672
    113
    Apr 27, 2013
    Brazil
    High celing vs high floor is not really what I'm talking about. You can have a high floor and not be smart, tough and have a strong work ethic... likewise you can have a low floor and high ceiling and have all these qualities. All I'm saying is to prioritize certain characteristics which I deem important in order to shift the culture of the team.

    If you only bring players who have potential but who cannot motivate themselves it is going to be hard for the coaches to change the culture all on their own.
     
  27. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

    6,338
    2,400
    113
    Nov 22, 2014
    The Dolphins of the 70's were known for hard working SMART players.
     
  28. Pandarilla

    Pandarilla Purist Emeritus

    14,282
    5,005
    113
    Sep 10, 2009
    Boone, NC
    I actually like our last three drafts. Think we're doing well in that department. I think it's awfully tough to distinguish which would be better for your team. Do you take supremely talented players like Tunsil or rock solid players like Ryan Kelly. Coaches nearly always weigh natural ability against their own ability to coach them up.
     
  29. Nappy Roots

    Nappy Roots Well-Known Member

    10,191
    4,187
    113
    Dec 3, 2007
    Bradenton,FL

    This may be the best post I've ever read on this board. Can't believe it took me so long to read.

    Great job!!!


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  30. Pauly

    Pauly Season Ticket Holder

    3,696
    3,743
    113
    Nov 29, 2007
    There is no perfect city for NFL. Each location has its own drawbacks. Too hot, too cold, too big, too small, too many distractions, not enough places to enjoy life, not enough football culture, too much pressure about football. As Cbrad says Miami had a very long run of success that precludes the environment as being a causative factor. Maybe the party atmosphere might cause a bad football culture to deteriorate more quickly, but it doesn't prevent a good football culture from being established.

    The root problem has been the coaching. Ever since the Wannstadt years players have known that their on field performance has not determined their playing status. Wannstadt, Saban and Sparano all favored low risk veterans over more volatile playmakers. Saban and Philbin demanded yes men and got rid of players who didn't know-tow before them.
    Philbin took this to a whole new level. Guys like Ellerbe, Wheeler, both D Thomas's were given repeated starts over multiple seasons when it was plain they weren't performing. Guys like Rishad Mathews, Jelani Jenkins and Lamar Miller only saw extended playing time after the starters ahead of them, who they had outperformed as backups, were injured.seriously if you're a team mate and you see Dallas Thomas start over and over again and you see Rishad Mathews on the pine despite producing whenever he was on the field would you genuinely believe that your on field performance mattered in Miami?

    Now that big name acquisitions are getting benched and poor performers are getting axed mid season the players are starting to realize that real change is happening. Dan Campbell tried to make change basically by using emotions, which can give you some short term boosts but isn't going to be self sustaining. The challenge for Gase is to get players to be self accountable for their own conduct. He is at least trying, such as when he called out Devante Parker for not taking care of his body.

    I suspect one of 2 things happened with the Turner/Thomas/Douglas purge. (1) He was persuaded against his better judgement by Tannebaum/FO to keep them on the roster (2) Tunsil's injury was the result of a rookie hazing prank gone wrong. In either case Gase pulling the trigger is showing the team he is serious about discipline/personal accountability. Hopefully last weeks performance is showing that the players are starting to buy into Gase's methods.
     
    MikeHoncho and dolphin25 like this.
  31. Redwine4all

    Redwine4all Well-Known Member

    1,216
    686
    113
    Feb 4, 2016
    If we could find a couple of guys on defense with Jarvis Landry's attitude. Play hard, be intense, make plays when given the chance....thats the kind of players that make those around them better.
     
    dolphin25 and Brasfin like this.
  32. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,648
    67,540
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    ive said this quote a dozen times on this site over the years.." it's gonna take special kind of players to win in this town and in that stadium"...the stadium is better now but the town ain't fixed..

    So I agree with you, must aquire certain personalities that play just for the love of the game and have a singular mindset...too much distraction for the weak, my solution is for the GM to prioritize character a bit more.
     
    Brasfin likes this.
  33. Canad-phin

    Canad-phin Active Member

    466
    89
    28
    Oct 17, 2012
    We need our Bruschi, McGinest, Wilfork, Faulk, Troy Brown type guys. Pillar type guys who have talent but also smart with drive. That is what will change this team. We have a few, Landry, Wake, Suh. No get more of the guys who love football.
     
    djphinfan likes this.
  34. MikeHoncho

    MikeHoncho -=| Censored |=-

    52,652
    25,565
    113
    Nov 13, 2009
    Couldn't have said it better myself.
    This FO has its head up its *** if they went against doing their job of improving the team by subverting the coach's assessments in the offseason.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page