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

Joe Philbin and his attention to detail

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by PhinsPhan23, Nov 1, 2012.

  1. PhinsPhan23

    PhinsPhan23 New Member

    206
    104
    0
    Nov 4, 2010
    I have no idea if other coaches sit in a meeting room a day before the game and discuss these types of things, but I found it very encouraging that OUR coaching staff does.

    Philbin in his presser yesterday talked about the staff getting together on Saturday to discuss statistics and advantages each game on deciding what to do with the coin toss. I thought this was fascinating. My impression was that coaches had a fairly set standard for how they handled the coin toss (defer or take the ball) and only on certain circumstances would they deter from their preference. Sounds like our staff takes it game by game.

    I also liked how he talks about understanding not only the tendencies of teams on ST's, but also being aware on certain portions of the field and certain times of the game (and based on the kickers leg strength) that fakes could be more prevalant and that they should be ready in those situations.

    Also, we are currently the 3rd least penalized team. All of these things are attributable to this coaching staff and how focused they are on the little things. Very encouraging.
     
  2. Larryfinfan

    Larryfinfan 17-0...Priceless Club Member

    We've seen several posts and threads talking about the playoffs and without tempering those guys feelings, I can't totally get behind the "playoffs" crowd. I mean a loss to the colts could change that opinion easily....

    That said, the positive vibes I am getting about this staff is refreshingly welcome to a long time Dolfan... Each week, we hear about something the staff did and you think..."Wow, that's pretty cool of them to think of that". This is just another example...

    Even in the 2008 season when Sparano was surprisingly coming up with pretty good game plans each week to exploit either a weakness of the other team or the talent of a particular player we had on the roster it always felt like he was band-aiding the team, not developing it and nurturing it's talent...This staff does that and more... The future, no matter how we end up this season, looks rosy for Dolfans....
     
    Drowning, jegol71 and Da 'Fins like this.
  3. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

    5,649
    1,853
    113
    Nov 23, 2007
    DC
    Every time I try to temper my respect for the current staff by remembering how impressive Sparanos attention to detail was, I still can't help but be optimistic about this staff. Sparano's answer to adversity was work harder, not smarter. This staff is as opposite as that as I've seen.
     
    Drowning likes this.
  4. shouright

    shouright Banned

    22,845
    8,861
    0
    Dec 13, 2007
    Looks like picking up that wrapper off the practice field wasn't such a bad thing after all. ;)
     
    Drowning, ToddPhin and jegol71 like this.
  5. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    111,648
    67,540
    113
    Dec 20, 2007
    My philosophy on what to do with the coin toss is simple, when your on the road, and you win it, you defer, because when on the road, you don't want your offense to go up against their defense when crowd is at an apex..

    When your home and you win, it depends on your home field advantage, if your playing in Seattle or Baltimore then you defer as well to feed your opponent to to the wolves on their first possession.
     
    shouright likes this.
  6. shouright

    shouright Banned

    22,845
    8,861
    0
    Dec 13, 2007
    Exactly. Decisions like these should be entirely situational, and I think you can break them down ever further than that.

    Really you can argue that Philbin may have won us the Rams game with his awareness of where he could gain an advantage over the opponent (i.e., the fake punt). And you can argue that the onside kick against the Jets went a long way toward winning that game by further galvanizing the "go for the kill" spirit the team appeared to have in that game, which was another advantage he'd discovered through film analysis.

    That's really the kind of stuff that makes your players buy in. When they know you're doing your homework in such a way that it puts them in position to win if they simply execute, how can they help but get on board.
     
  7. Da 'Fins

    Da 'Fins Season Ticket Holder Staff Member Club Member

    34,737
    47,799
    113
    Dec 19, 2007
    Birmingham, AL
    The wrapper thing is meaningless, imo. I know lots of people who are not detail freaks who would be bothered by that and pick it up.

    That said, I think smarts and details are huge in the NFL. In reality, the talent is not that huge of a gap (there are no Alabama's). THere certainly are teams with superior talent. But, there were teams that had superior talent to the 2001 Patriots and they won the SB.

    I think coaching can make a difference in details & preparation and having smart players who buy into it. You can be smart enough to put yourself in a position to make a big play even if you don't have as much pure strength or speed as the other player. And, when the team plays together, it makes a difference.

    But, it's not just about emphasizing details. I suspect there is not a coach in the NFL who does not think he is detail oriented. I suspect if you asked Sparano or others, "Do you focus on minute details? Are they important?" they would all emphatically say, "Yes!"

    But, what it is about is having a mind that picks up on details. A coach has to be smart enough to see them and differentiate and emphasize which ones matter in certain situations - then put players in the best possible place to make plays. So far, Philbin has done a decent job with that, esp. with a rookie QB.

    I'm pretty optimistic about this guy if we continue to get good talent to surround him with and if RT pans out.
     
  8. shouright

    shouright Banned

    22,845
    8,861
    0
    Dec 13, 2007
    Precisely. It's called "efficiency." Give me an hour of Joe Philbin watching tape and an hour of Tony Sparano doing so and I'll take Philbin's hour anyday.

    And what makes one coach efficient and another not so efficient is intelligence, since their level of experience is probably non-significantly different.
     
  9. jegol71

    jegol71 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

    1,102
    200
    63
    Dec 7, 2007
    I'm personally very happy that we no longer have to hear about abstruse statistical comparisons when Sparano would justify his gameplan to the media after a loss. Saying essentially "We saw a nail, so we used the hammer. Again and again." Brains, not unlike for zombies, are what's attractive about this staff.
     
    Killer Bees and Fin D like this.
  10. the 23rd

    the 23rd a.k.a. Rio

    9,173
    2,398
    113
    Apr 20, 2009
    Tampa Area
    nice to see recognition & appreciation for the things you've got from the fan-base
     

Share This Page