http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/ Have to agree with Armando on this one, his one decent insight of the year, Sparano changed elements on all three units: -Pennington for Henne, now Thigpen -Al Harris for Jason Allen -Allen's loss means Specials opportunities for new guys Sparano is not changing things for the sake of change, Armando is correct, Sparano is trying to make a average team better by shaking things up. Even if we win this Thursday expect more shakeups during the 10 days before we fly out to Oakland.
Well, I can think of a number of reasons, such as firing him now would merely mean DLee runs Henning's offense, so there would be no real changes, and "we" have no idea if Henne turned the corner in the Titans game and was willing to risk down the field throws, and we also have to see what Thigpen can do in this offense.
I agree to an extent... I do think he needs to make a change, or its on him, but it's also on him for us being 4-4 (5-4 now obviously). The buck stops with him be it personnel issues, or whatever. Bottom line is up until the Titans game, we did not have a plethora of injuries, and really were all in all in pretty good shape in regards to that. If he's got to "shake it up" during the middle of the season, then that means he didn't plan the season out well enough (be it by his fault, or just personnel). I'm not saying he does a bad job, but it's his job to field the best team possible at the start of the season, and thinking in regards to the overall future of the franchise. I applaud him for making the changes he's made, but I also think it doesn't give him a free pass for letting the ship get caught in shallow water.
That is fair, and it is yr #3, this is his team with his guys on it so they reflect the cumulation of his decisions up until this point. If he believes he can plug and play guys then he should do so, fwiw I think he can do so if he allows these guys to play.
I disagree with the notion that replacing Henning stunts the gross of the offense or that David Lee couldn't have an impact. The plays, as they are drawn up, aren't really the issue in my eyes, but selecting when to use them and how. Running a slow developing play action pass on 3rd and long, when defenses know you have to throw, and thus, can pin their ears back and send an extra person or two...it is a bad playcall. Now run that same play on 2nd and 5 after a 5 yard gain running, and you may have yourself a different result. Henning's playcalling is what has come under fire, not the play design. Although, I do question why they changed the Wildcat formation where Jake Long is in his traditional role as opposed to stacking the right side like in 2008. But besides that, Henning could absolutely be replaced and have it be a positive. But I liken this team to a classic car. It made need a few tweaks here and there to run perfectly, but tinkering too much leads to other parts breaking down due to too much stress and pressure. It is very much a science of blending effective stability vs. necessarry change.
I know, I was just being a bit of an ***. It would be a big shock if Henning were to be replaced mid-season however i wouldn't be against it.
The thing is... I see some logic in what he's doing... although not 100%... The 3rd and long play action is a set up for the 3rd and long run. The problem is our offense isn't running effectively for that to work. Look at Chris Johnson. He was picking up massive chunks of yardage in situations where they would have likely passed. Our run offense SHOULD be able to do that. Whether thats the line blocking, or the blocking scheme I'm not wise enough to say. But I get what Henning is trying to do... Set up the defense to think they're going play action and step back, and give RB or RW room to make a play, and vice-versa. If you always do what you "should" do, the defense is always going to do what it "should" do. It's just an issue when your team isn't executing that these set ups don't work. I'm not saying Henning is a genius, I'm just saying that he is putting more of the weight of this offense into his schemes and plans, than he is the talent of the offense. It's pretty evident he thinks he has a better chance fooling the other team, than expecting our players to exert their will on the defense.
Because the offense scored when Sparano took the reigns off. I'm not much of a Henning fan, but Sparano's comments about putting the foot down on the pedal more this game just confirms the staff was running a conservative game plan prior to the Titans. The play calling was much more aggressive and we took more shots downfield in the Titans game then we did in several games combined.
Henning is the classic counter intuitive playcaller. It helped us when we were devoid of talent in 08' but now it seems unnecessary at times. He's steadily gotten better at times but I still shudder at moments.
Anyone that has been watching the Dolphins all year should not need someone else to tell them that the Dolphins are nothing but a mediocre team right now. The defense is adequte but still lacks impact players. They play well against other mediocre teams but fail against the quality teams in the league. The offense in many ways is not even mediocre. The interior of the offense line can not open any holes. The running backs are getting old and they have no explosion in their runs. There are still questions at the QB position. Whether Henne is hurt or not. Lack of overall team speed is a major problem for the Dolphins. Last but certainly not least. Aside from the punter and kicker. The Dolphins have the worst special team players in the entire league. So when you look at all the elements of the team. Sparano has actually done an excellent job when you consider the players he has been forced to play. The problems on this team are because of the draft and free agency selections of Parcells and Ireland. They are the individuals to blame for the mediocre team the Dolphins still have after three years of their regime. Sparano will take the fall if the team does not improve. All I hope is that if he is fired. Ireland will follow him out the door. Parcells left without a word because he knew that he had been a failure with the Dolphins organizations. He left with all his money and will quitely sit on the sideline while Ireland and Sparano take all the heat.
had more to do with more man coverage and a poorer secondary. anytime we face man we will be more aggressive
I'd rather he instill a go for the throat mentality. From some of the games I've watched in his tenure I get the feeling that a just take the points approach is the expectation.
I've been reading "more shots down the field" all week. The play calls were not different. The coverage was different. Here are the facts gentlemen. We have seen more 2 safety coverage than we have seen since Jay Fiedler was playing QB. The running game IS the dissapointment of the year. You want to know why the ball was throw deep Sunday? It was ALL due to a single safety. The play calls did not change. The coverage changed.
i really wouldnt call the team mediocre. the team is going to be as good or bad as its QB play. with henne up and down you get 4-4. the defense has played well enough to win every game with the exception of a couple of drives by NE which happens to every defense and some glaring problems against the ravens. but that game could have been a lot worse i see a good team held back by the QB position. if you want to say, well...you are only as good as your QB and if your QB is mediocre, your team is mediocre, ok. but i think there are plenty of players on this team.
We are playing a cover 2 team Thursday. The underneath throws are coming back. I will be watching 3 things about Thigpen. All of which Henne proved that he will not do UNTIL the game is in doubt. 1 Throw interceptions 2 Lead the receiver underneath to achieve YAC 3 Take a shot down the field to a receiver covered at 10 but running 20+ pattern If you watch those three things, you will know if Henne is coming back ASAP.
I would, no unit stands out, not Offense, Defense or Specials, we are winning so far because the kicker is as valuable as the Qb.
There was some revisionist history going on earlier in this thread. At no point during this year has this team been healthy. Will Allen Phillip Merling Channing Crowder They were 3 starters out for the better portion of the 4-4 record. That list does not even include John Jerry's hiccup during the same stretch.
Yeah sadly even if we fired Henning now it wouldn't change the offense significantly. We need to bring a new OC in the offseason so they can architect a completely new offense, same as Nolan did last offseason.
