Ross will be in Miami monday and will meet with Sparano and Ireland.

I would keep Ireland & fire the HC, OC, QBC, & WRC
I would trade the hen, get what I could, let Ronnie go,
keep Thigpen as a back-up, move Pennington to QBC
hope Ross moves on this immediately

 

I don't really feel we need a new GM, I think Ireland has done a solid job so far.

 

Yeah, I don't know if firing Ireland would be smart. There's probably no way of getting around firing the offensive guys and Sparano.

If Nolan can't be retained in some capacity, you might be looking at a full sweep of the coaching staff (which would suck).

blah, blah, blah

yada, yada, yada

 

Don't forget, chances are, a new DC.

 

I would not be surprised if Sparano stays given the current state of the CBA. Also, the players have his back and confidence in him. Part of the condition of him staying I would imagine is for Henning's forced retirement or straight out getting fired (not sure what his contract status is. I am guessing he is also signed through 2011) and coming up with some possibilities of a QB change.

Hard to believe Sparano endorsed Henning two weeks ago in the press for coming back next year. I think he will have to throw him under the bus to save his job.

Can't trade players for draft picks until CBA is signed so trying to acquire Young or another teams backup is out of the question right now. Will probably say they are committed to drafting early a QB and bringing in a McNabb or vet who may get cut.

 

Change for the sake of change is a terrible idea. However, this team didn't even show up against the Patriots, who weren't playing everyone like Welker. It was even worse than in Miami. We may need a change with the staff after this debacle, after being 6-5 with pretty good playoff chances and blowing it against the Browns, Bills, and Lions...at HOME all three times. And this comes after last season's 3 game losing streak that knocked them out. This season was even worse though because last season at least they lost to good teams down the stretch, and had a good division record.

Just makes you wonder if they have what it takes, or if it is JUST the O-Line, Henne and Henning.

 

Why is Nolan thought to not be coming back?

 

why is it such a given that the defensive coordinator will come back if coaching changes happen? Why is it such a given that Nolan would want to work with the new coach?

Plus if you get rid of Sparano, it only makes sense to get rid of Ireland. Unless you can find a coach who does not want to have control.

 

Why is it a given that Nolan would not want to come back? He's done a damn good job with the defense. With a halfway decent offense to help him, the Dolphins would be really good. It just sounded like you had some info on Nolan looking at other teams/positions.

 

Exactly. But that's not exactly what a venting fan wants to hear, they just want everyone FIRED. Who cares who we replace them with, or how much $ they want, or what the players think, none of that matters.

 

He isnt bunched in with this regime, he is from the Ravens coaching tree and frankly better not be going anywhere but up as far as being a Miami Dolphin.

Nolan is the lone bright spot of this staff and with no links it would make no sense to let him go.

 

Bring steeler football to Miami

Bring on the chin

 

They aren't magic cards. It is not like Nolan is a forest and Sparano is a swamp.

Also, why shouldn't he be lumped in with this regime? He was hired by them. It is not like Nolan works in a bubble.

 

It is not a given, however to act like it is anything but an unknown is fooling yourself.

The only way to 100% keep Nolan, unless he gets a head coaching job himself, is for Sparano to be retained. If Sparano is fired Nolan is completely up in the air. It doesn't matter how good of a job he has done.

Most of the times when a new regime takes control there are new OC's and DC's. Especially if they have a big ego and want their stamp on the team. The last thing a new coach could want is another coach in there that has as much clout as he does.

Also who is to say Nolan would want to work with Cowher, Gruden, Harbaugh or any other coach Ross brings in.

 

This all sounds like a bunch of baseless speculation. Getting rid of Sparano wouldn't mean they would get rid of Nolan. Do you really think that if they were going with a full on line change, to use a hockey term, on the coaching staff, that they wouldn't consult with Nolan, if they intend on keeping him? If they are pleased with what he's done, and I see no reason that they wouldn't be ecstatic with him, it would make perfect sense to consult with him on what he would like to see, so that they could keep him.

 

Also, Dupree, from your last post, it would come off as if you are thinking that Nolan would ONLY want to work with Sparano. That seems silly, as he worked in the NFL before working with Sparano. He's worked other places not with Sparano. It's not like there's anything out there that indicates he is opposed to working with another coach, with the one possible exception being McDaniels.

 

I think Ireland also needs to go. After what Zach Thomas commented about him and then of course the issue with Dez Bryant and the constant FA misses, I dont think he is all that great.

He was a mixed bag as far as the draft goes so over-all I give him a C at this point. I know we can do worse but I also know we can do A LOT better than Ireland at the GM spot.

 

Was it really Ireland or was it Parcells telling Ireland what to do? I would wipe the whole damn slate clean starting with Parcells and his unrealistic demands of being an overly paid, and overly praised, absentee employee who is doing nothing. The whole arrangement with Parcells in the mix is just too damn complicated to manage. I say can these freaks and start over. Do you really think Cowher (or any high caliber coach) will come and coach here with Parcells up his $ss?? Naaa, Parcells has to go first.

 

With Jeff Ireland, I would ask the following questions to determine if he stays or goes...of YOUR draft choices,

1. Who did you actually sign?
2. Of those you did sign, how many are starters?
3. Of those starters, how many have had Pro Bowl performances?
4. Of those you didn't sign, how many are with other teams and ask questions 1-3 pertaining to them.

Put it on a scale and if the good out-weighs the bad, keep him. If the bad out-weighs the good, dump him and beg Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian to either become our President/GM or for his recommendation for a new GM.

 

The Nolan situation will be interesting.

He did a very good job this season, but it would still be early for him to think about Head Coaching anywhere again - BUT, if he put in another season or two as a DC and produces a product like he did this season, he could be poised to get another shot as a HC somewhere.

1. On his end, it would only make sense for him to stay in Miami, as the defense is young and should only get better going forward.

2. On the other side, although many times new regimes do bring in new coordinators, I am not sure dumping Nolan would be a gimme. He did great with this unit and he is a proven DC.

New Head Coaches and GMs don't just dump people for the sake of dumping them, they do it because they believe someone else they know can come in and do a better job. And a new HC/GM wants to succeed, obviously. So if a new regime comes in to Miami, is there really anyone out there right now that is a clear upgrade to Nolan?

I believe either getting rid of Nolan or him choosing to leave would be a regressive move, and I am not sure I see it happening. I see way more cons than pros in this situation. But if I am wrong, someone please point me out the pros for either side wanting the change.

 

I think all he is saying that its not a given he will be back, and I agree with him.

That's why I have a feeling he may become the HC so we can have some kind of stability.

 

If Ross was ever even contemplating Nolan he is a moron for not firing Sparano a couple of weeks ago an giving him a test drive with the team. I would be shocked if Nolan is named HC.

 

Nerd.

 

Nolan is under contract to be our Defensive Coordiator. I doubt he has an "out" in his contract whereby he can void the contract if Sparano is fired.

 

Sparano and Co should get 2 - 3 more years to put this thing together.

I understand everyone has their panties in a wad and it is natural to be calling for heads and wholesale changes.

The fact is making changes for the sake of making changes is never good. It takes 5 - 8 years to rebuild a team into a superbowl caliber team and most of us are only giving Sparano 3 years...........hog wash................he needs and deserves more time

Year 1 Sparano implemented his systems and coaches and went 11-5, evaluated talent and decided where he needed to make changes. Remember guys we totally changed our Defense.

Year 2 Sparano drafted, traded and again evaluated talent with a mass of injuries. We got to get the first look at Chad Henne for 6 games. A peek if you will.

Year 3 Sparano looked to have things in place for a decent run. We were aware we had the top 5 hardest schedule in the league. We got Mike Nolan, Cammerron Wake emerging as a all pro, and our prize QB getting a entire year at the helm.............everyone was excited. We were improving........we DID improve.

We have several key injuries, A QB that plays like **** all year and under enormous pressure to perform , a field goal kicker hitting 61 yard field goals then can't make a field goal to save his life, a team that literally just showed up and went through the motions in several games, not just the last one and here we are 7-9

Sparano deserves to keep his job. He needs more time. 3 years is not enough. Changing is setting us back another 3-5 years. The real question here is can Sparano get it done with another 3 years time. I think he can and will if given the chance. It may not be obvious on the surface of our improvements, fans that follow the Phins everyday know where we have improved. Those fans can see the improvement.

 

Because he is probably getting another shot as a Head Coach somewhere.

 

I think that is a given, I know it would be if I was going to come in as HC, that Parcells is completely gone. That he would have absolutely ZERO say in anything. If Parcells is gone then Ireland is on very shaky ground.

 

Yo To-nee...da, boss wants to sees ya.

 

I agree with the OC, QBC and WRC.

What would we get for Henne? Keep him in order to find out if he's worth anything under a new OC/QBC/WRC.

Trade Thiggy. Won't get much, but something is better than nothing.

I can see Ronnie not being here next season. We won't get much for him, however.

No to Penny being a QBC. He's a smart guy, but he needs to start someplace lower and move up to QBC.

 

You've got to be kidding me. 3 more years???

For what?

So they can ruin another young QB?

You say changing will set us back years, I say nonsense. John Harbaugh didn't set Baltimore back, neither did Mike tomlin, or Jon Gruden when he went to tampa.

 

I agree. If change was coming with Nolan as HC, then Sparano should have been axed after the Bills loss. That would have been a perfect time to see what he has learned from his San Fran days.

 

You can't be serious ?

This is a joke, please tell me this is a joke.

 

Better examples are Raheem Morris in Tampa, and Mike Smith in Atlanta, and Haley in KC ? They all did it in less than 3 years. Why is it so different for us.

 

You can't trade Ronnie, he is an unrestricted free agent.

 

because Sparano is not HC material.
as I have stated many times before
he is a parcelian experiment @ HC gone bad, simple as that...