I get it. It was probably time. So many of the current players lobbied for him. If things started to go south, how many of those players would be clearly upset with the decision to not hire him?
I'll be honest in that I never saw the HC potential. When you honestly look at his unit rankings it makes you wonder if our perceived "success" in that area is just fond memories of some big returns by talented players rather than coaching. As an assistant HC I also believe that unless Gase disregarded him entirely, he shares blame for the negatives we saw on the field. To what degree I don't pretend to know.
Well if he had to go glad it’s not to a division rival or AFC opponent. He wasn’t the best but he was an area of strength on this team that I hope we can replace.
Wasn't it a case that he didn't want to return after being passed over for the HC position, not that the Fins didn't want to keep him?
Besides a few Jakeem Grant returns I don't think Miami's special teams has been anything special the last decade.
Think again. We downgraded at special teams with dorrel. Rizzi is a ver good coach. Don't blame him for leaving he was never given an honest chance at the HC job despite all the players endorsing him. Flores was chosen by Grier before any of the interviews. He was the prechosen candidate based on their friendship. Don’t underestimate the Rizzi loss. According to the Dolphins’ website, “since Rizzi was promoted to special teams coordinator in 2011, the Dolphins lead the NFL in punt blocks with 11 and are second with 22 overall blocks,” behind only Oakland’s 23. And under Rizzi, the Dolphins were one of only two NFL teams in 2018 with both a punt return and a kickoff return for touchdowns. The Dolphins had four successful onside kicks in 2017, believed to be the most in NFL history. Also, the Dolphins finished in the top half of Rick Gosselin’s annual Dallas Morning News special teams rankings in each of Rizzi’s first seven seasons running Miami’s special teams. The Dolphins largely have deferred to Rizzi on draft decisions involving punters and kickers, and Rizzi made a smart choice by recommending Jason Sanders instead of other more highly touted kickers in last April’s draft. Sanders finished his rookie season 18 of 20 on field goals and 35 of 36 on extra points. Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised Rizzi’s work with the Dolphins special team units. “They’re good at everything,” Belichick said of the Dolphins’ special teams before their December game. “Obviously, they lost [Jakeem] Grant but they’ve got [Kenyan] Drake on kickoffs and they’ve used [Kenny] Stills back there. Obviously, he’s an explosive player on punts. They have a good rush scheme — punts and field goals. Even a lot of forces on their punt returns are tough with [Senorise] Perry, [Brandon] Bolden. They do a good job of covering. They play good situational football. Pretty much every week they do a good job. https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article225176990.html
For my part I wish him well. For all the horror stories we endured with the coaching staff Rizzi was one firm rock. Coaches leave, such is life in the NFL. We shouldn't worry about it. Whether our special teams are better or worse, it will be the other coaching changes that will dictate our future.