Lets see if Ireland is the star that some think he is..

Indeed, let's "allow" him to continue...Bwahahaha

 

Sign me up for DeCastro. But the name of the GM game is the rounds that follow and free agency. Let's see if Ross's faith in Ireland is justified.

 

I have seen enough of Ireland to already see that he is definitely not a GM star in the NFL. In fact I would place him in the bottom tier of all the GM's in the entire league. Unfortunately what I think regarding Ireland, or what thousands of other Dolphin fans think about him is totally irrelevant. The only opinion which matters is that of Ross, since he owns the team and therefore he gets to hire and fire whomever he pleases. For some reason Ross seems to think that Ireland has done a good job as the teams GM.

My opinion of Ireland is already formed after seeing the results of the last four years. I predict that the next head coach will suffer the same fate which Sparano did, because he will be forced to work with the players provided to him by what I consider an incompetent GM. I see this revolving door at the head coaching position continuing until Ross finally sees where the real problem is with the Dolphins and he fires Ireland and brings in someone who actually knows how to build an NFL football team.

 

i think you're overly biased on this one and completely off-base. outside of teams that have continuity - Pittsburgh, NY Giants, Baltimore, Green Bay, New Orleans and a couple of other teams, if you go onto other teams message boards, I guarantee their fans are calling for their GMs' heads right now. Is Ireland a "star GM"? certainly not. but like QBs, there are only a few elite ones in the league wrt talent evaluation. I'd put Ireland's record this year in top half of the NFL GMs. Lumping every mistake this franchise has made over the last 4 years solely on Ireland is just plain stupid.

 

First test for Ireland is whether he adds weapons on offense, or he sticks with the guys he brought in, who haven't produced.

 

Reggie Bush hasn't produced?

Matt Moore isn't a star, but he produced pretty darn well for a backup QB.

Clay has shown flashes of greatness, if he can stop the dropsies

Gates hasn't panned out as a WR, but I believe it was youthat was highlighting his success as a returner

Columbo was definitely a major screwup. His willingness to go after Orton is something else I hold against him.

 

You've got no idea what is and isn't typical for talent acquisition. Go do research what the average draft haul is, or FA success rates and see if you can say that.

 

I've seen both good and bad from Ireland. He's had 4 years to address our QB position and hasn't adequately done it. There's speculation that he is a factor in at least one big name coach not coming here. He has found some good players in the draft. He's also missed on some players. He hasn't placed the appropriate value on QB and has overvalued RBs. His methods thus far, appear to be an outdated blueprint on building an NFL team IMHO. That being said, he clearly isn't going anywhere this year, so let's see what he can do. Let's see if he's ready to address the QB position and how he does it. Let's see what kind of coach he brings in.

 

Do not make the mistake of thinking a player can reproduce a career best season OF, Bush is a nice piece, don't bet the season on him dupilcating 5 ypc.

So now he is trying to replace him? What folks may not realize, if we do not appear to be prepared to go into 2012 with Moore at Qb, if we do try and trade up for a Qb in the draft, the other team has even more leverage. We can make a really good judgment on the skill level of the new HC in how they respond to questions about Matt Moore.

Harbaugh smartly publicly supported Alex Smith, that guy is smart.

Has to stay healthy as well.

2 receptions? Between Bess/Harlinte/Gates/Thomas...4 Td's.

I still believe we should sign Orton.

Orton/Hillis/Bennett is my FA class for the Dolphins.

 

The most important job of a GM is to find a top QB.

Ireland has had years to do so and has failed.

The position is no better now than when he took the job.

For that reason alone, I would get rid of him.

 

The problem is, your entire plan is to win only 9 or 10 games. And no offense, that's exactly what Wanny did...he played to win about 9-10 games every year. The Patriots plan to win every game.

 

Personally, I think he's only had one year. I don't think its fair to judge ireland when we have no idea how much of his drafts were Parcells infested. We do know for a fact that last year was all him and brought in Moore.

 

I'm not going to argue the placing appropriate value on the QB, but I definitely disagree with the overvaluing RBs. In 4 years we've spent like 2 7ths (maybe it was a 6th and a 7th I really can't recall; Parmale and Hilliard in '08), and a late 2nd rd pick on a RB (Thomas obviously), and then a developmental safety who might not have made the team (for Bush). That's hardly spending anything on HBs at all. Hell man, the Patriots spent more on RBs just in the last draft (Vereen and Ridley).

 

Well, I guess overall maybe not. I'm talking last year. We had a need at QB. We may never get to find out what kind of QB Ryan Mallet is, and his value is debatable. But at the spot we traded up to and the need we had at QB, it's my humble opinion Mallet should have been the pick. To trade away draft picks for a RB shows a lack of knowledge of the value of the position. Thomas was not considered an elite talent heading into the draft, and his play in 2011 did not demonstrate anything to lead me to believe we should have spent picks to trade up and get him. That one incident is what causes me to believe Ireland overvalues the RB position especially with respect to the QB position. He took a (IMO) mediocre RB over who was considered by many to be a talented QB prospect. I know the argument there is if he was considered to be so talented why did he last so long. To that I say why did Belichick draft him with Tom Brady on the roster? Don't want this to become a Mallet debate. I just think if Ireland valued the QB position, Mallet should have been the pick.

 

Exactly, they have devalued the running back position in terms of resources used, to heavily imo.

A good back can carry an offense.

 

Really? How did AP do carrying the Vikings this year? Or Chris Johnson with the Titans? And don't even bring up Arian Foster. Houston sputtered when Schaub went down.

 

Holding Orton against him is funny. Denver was asking for way too much. He played it right and Denver ended up cutting Orton.

I agree

Two years ago everyone said we needed to address the Offense. Everyone wanted a speedy receiver, veteran QB and younger RB's, and a new TE. He brought in a speed receiver, replaced our two old running backs with a young bruiser and a flashy space eater. Tried to fortify the OL. Remember Sparano was supposed to be the guru when it came to the OL. I'm sure he would defer any OL choice to him. We needed a back-up QB with experience and he brought in Moore. The TE's we drafted were for Sparano's running game (blocking ones).

 

IIRC, he was still willing to pay quite a bit to Denver to get Orton, he just wasn't willing to pay Orton's contract demands. So, if that's correct, then I can hold it against him that he (and Padre) was willing to overpay for an extremely mediocre QB that right now couldn't start for this team.

 

somewhat valid point on Bush. but only somewhat. everything depends on who our offensive coordinator is and whether Ireland brings in an upgrade at OG.
if whoever our coordinator is utilizes Bush in the same manner, there is ZERO reason to believe he can't get 5 YPC.
and of course I wouldn't bet the season on him. Ireland needs to go out and sign another good running back. We have MUCH more to worry about D Thomas not panning out than we do R Bush not reproducing.

and you criticize Bush's ability to reproduce, but one of your top FA's is P Hillis? The man with one great year who then proceeded to stink up the joint last season?
how is there any difference there? is this predicated on Hillis reuniting with Daboll?

and no matter how many times you promote the Orton bandwagon, he still sucks. how many teams has he played for? how many times does he have to prove to the world how extremely mediocre he is? he has NEVER ONCE shown the ability to take his team to the next level? If we're going to go after a starting QB, then go after a starting QB. Moore's upside is much better than Orton's for a backup QB.

 

Somehow you failed to consider Gore and Rice. Both of whom are still in the tournament.

 

I see that as exactly what he did in his first off-season without Parcells, so if that's your criteria, then he passed. Bush, Clay and Gates are clearly attempts to add weapons to the offense and Moore was arguably the best of the available vet QBs. My problem with Ireland is that he seems to have too much of that Parcellian "treat people like crap" gene, but in general his talent evaluations seem more accurate than most GMs. We don't know what decisions were his during the previous years, but reports at the time were that he favored Ryan over Long and that he's the one who brought in Wake and Bess. There were also reports that Sparano was the one who wanted Columbo and that Sparano got to make the call b/c of the whole "increased power" thing after the Harbaugh overtures. I get the sense that Ireland understands the importance of the QB position. I would love to know if he was behind trading down in the first two years ago and if he shares Parcells views on not taking a developmental TE (Parcells reportedly really liked Graham, but said you can't take him in the 2nd b/c you don't get credit even if they're successful?). I haven't agreed with all of his decisions even in the one season where most of the calls (other than maybe Columbo) were his, but they were at least reasonable and seemed part of a cogent plan.

 

Do you think Rice and (especially) Gore are carrying their teams? Or does it have more to do with defense?

 

His point is that there are two successful philosophies: defense and pound and ground as well as elite QB-high powered offense. While everyone has been on the latter's bandwagon with all the record breaking. This playoffs clearly shows that both paths are viable. IMO, when you are shooting for the defense + pound-and-ground, you need a better head coach to reach the next level. It's why the Harbaugh bros have made it work

 

I think you can make a strong argument that defense and ground and pound work to a certain extent. But we've seen since 2005 defense and ground and pound haven't won a superbowl.

Both the Saints and Packers were 2 of the worst rushing teams in the league the years they won the superbowl.

If we end up with a Ravens / 49ers superbowl, your argument is stronger. Giants / Patriots - not so much.

And you have to keep in mind passing = money in the eyes of the NFL. They will continue to enforce and create rules that make passing the ball easier. Nobody wants a defensive trading field goals superbowl. (I wouldn't mind it).

 

The Miami Dolphins QB when Ireland took over had a passer rating of 62

The Miami Dolphins QB this last season had a passer rating of 87

By what measure is the position no better than it was when he took over? Further, which QBs could have been acquired in the last 4 years that have had a higher rating than 87?

The fact is that finding a great QB is hard and very rare. To expect a GM to do so within a 4 year window isn't necessarily fair. The Ravens have been looking for a QB for how long now?

 

I don't know that I am being being overly biased. I am merely looking at the record of the Dolphins since Ireland was hired as the GM of the Dolphins four years ago. He did well the first year, when the Dolphins were able to go 11-5 in the regular season and won the AFC East title. Of course they were totally outclassed by the Ravens once they entered the playoffs that season.

Over the next three seasons, the Dolphins have a combined record of 20-28. Instead of their record improving each of the last three years, the record of the team declined to 6-10 this past season after back to back 7-9 seasons. What made this past season so hard to accept is the fact that the Dolphins played a very easy schedule. They played only three teams on their schedule this season who ended the season with a winning record.

Many on here blame Sparano and the coaching staff for the poor record of the Dolphins over the last three seasons. While I was no fan of Sparano, I place the majority of the blame for the backslide this team has taken over the last three years directly on the severe lack of overall talent on the team. Ireland, in his job as the teams GM has done a poor job of providing the players through the draft and in free agency needed to upgrade the overall talent level on the teams roster.

Parcells, Ireland, and Sparano were hired four years ago to rebuild this team for the future. Parcells left during the middle of the 2010 season when he obviously saw where this rebuilding effort was headed. Sparano was fired during the 2011 season because of the poor record of the Dolphins this season, as well as their record over the last two seasons.

The Dolphins had their worst record this season since they went 1-15 in 2007, yet somehow Ross thinks Ireland is doing a great job as the GM. I just don't get it and if my recognition that the team has not improved at all under the direction of Ireland is seen by you as being biased, so be it.

 

yes so be it, because you are biased. I'm not acknowledging that he's a great GM, but to simply ignore the bad choices Parcells made when he was the BOSS is silly.

simple question: in the four years Ireland was here, which of those four would you consider to be our best wrt talent accumulation? I think it's fairly simple: this season. the season where Ireland had full control. If it's true that Sparano pulled his weight to get COlumbo here, then it makes Ireland's season even more reasonable.

this franchise is shipwrecked from a team effort. I see it as 50-30-10-10 percentages: Parcells-SParano-Ireland-Ross.

 

Again with the bias statement. Yes, I am bias, I don't think that Ireland has done an effective job as the GM of this team and I want him fired immediately. That is about as bias as you can get.

To your point that Ireland did the best job of talent accumulation this past year. The record of the Dolphins this past season clearly does not back up your statement. This past season was the teams worst season in the last four years. This record was also posted against one of the easiest schedules in the NFL.

So you are obviously biased toward Ireland for other reasons then his ability as a GM in the NFL. Because based on his record, he certainly hasn't done anything to justify the faith Ross has shown in him.

You like Ireland as the teams GM, I don't. I notice you don't live in Florida so I have no idea how many Dolphin games you get to attend in Miami. I on the other hand was a season ticket holder for forty years. During that time I purchased 4 season tickets a year, which meant that I was supporting the team with thousands of dollars of my hard earned money. I did not renew my season tickets for the 2011 season because I was upset Ross did not get rid of Sparano and Ireland after the 2010 season.

I will not purchase season tickets next year because Ireland was retained as the teams GM. I have many friends who have given up their season tickets over the last two years because of their disgust with the organization and how it has been run since Ross became the teams owner. If you watch the games on TV, you will see that there are thousands of empty seats at every Dolphin home game. I had at least 10 calls from the Dolphin organization and three letters after I failed to renew my season tickets last year, wanting to know what they could do to convince me to remain a season tickets holder.

I told them that as soon as Sparano and Ireland were no longer with the organization, I would be very happy to purchase season tickets again. Sparano is gone and Ireland remains, so I will save my money and spent it on something other than Dolphin tickets this year. I also anticipate that the retaining of Ireland as the teams GM is going to lead to an even larger number of fans deciding not to renew their season tickets next year. So expect to see even more empty seats at Dolphin home games next season.

This is the only recourse season ticket holders have to show their dissatisfaction with decisions made by the ownership of an NFL franchise. Hopefully Ross will eventually get the economic message he is being send by former season ticket holders and he will decide to get rid of Ireland and finally hire a player personnel director who actually knows how to build a winning football team.

I appreciate the fact you seem to like the job Ireland has done but I also know many of my Jet friends who are extremely happy that Ross kept Ireland as the teams GM. When the fans of the opposition are happy to see your team keep your GM, that says a lot about how bad a GM they feel he truly is.

 

Is passing rating your criteria for a QB?
Marino had a career passing rating of 86 in the regular season.
So Matt Moore is better than Marino because he had 87 last year?

Every QB drafted since 2008 was potentially available to a GM that was willing to make a deal to get them.
Instead we are trying to set an NFL record in #1 draft picks on the O line.

 

LULZ @ 90% of this thread. Get over it, Ireland is keeping his job and rightfully deserves to.


qq more

 

I look at it this way. Ireland was hired and paid as the GM four years ago. He wasn't promoted to this position just because Parcells left during the middle of the 2010 season. Therefore I hold Ireland accountable for the entire four year period he has been with the team, and just not during the period after Parcells left the organization.

If he was the GM and he was getting paid the salary of a GM, why should he be given a pass because Parcells was with the team? As for those who only want to hold him accountable for this past year, since according to them he was finally out from under the control of Parcells. The record is clear in regards to this past season. It was the worst team of the last four years, with a 6-10 record against a very soft schedule.

As the team continues to decline, the two variables which remains constant in this organization are Ross and Ireland. Obviously there is not much that can be done about Ross because unfortunately he owns the organization. I see Ireland as a very large negative for this organization going forward and I would love to see him released. Ross has instead decided to retain the services of Ireland and as the owner of the team, that is certainly his right.

As a fan and a long time season ticket holder, I disagree with Ross on his retaining Ireland and therefore the only way I have of expressing my dissatisfaction with Ross's decision is on forums such as this, and by refusing to purchase tickets to Dolphin games as long as Ireland remains in charge of player personnel decisions.

I have stated numerous times that I have no problem if Ross wants to keep Ireland as a member of the Dolphin organization. He can always put him in charge of the ball boys. I just want Ireland as far away as possible from having anything to do with selecting players for the football team.

 

That's nuts. So, let's see, the team starts off 0-7, then proceeds to do 180 degree turn and starts playing up to our expectations.

Who is the most reasonable person to blame? I only see two possibilities: terrible coaching and replacement of Henne with Moore. That basically says this season can mostly be blamed on our coaching staff, and the turnaround on the QB that Jeff Ireland brought in as the backup. The defensive turnaround also takes a buttload of credit for the blame and turnaround. So, who's to blame there? Same friggin talent, so, the answer is once again coaching. iMO, Bowles deserves some credit

I feel for you, spending all that money on season tickets for the last 10 years of crap we have all endured.
And if there's a really good GM out there that we can replace Ireland with, I'm all for it, but blaming the last four years on Ireland alone is dumb. There was a power structure in place when BP came on board. Ignoring that fact just because you're jaded is, again, dumb

 

Nope, it does mean that there is reason to think Matt Moore is one solution to the black hole we've had at Qb for a decade.

 

-Skipped over Thomas being poor this yr
-Skipped over Gates having 2 receptions all yr

And as per usual, poor lil Ireland, only the good is credited to him, when a player sucks, that was someone else, the same thought process that kept Chad Henne threads going for 2 yrs, he is the GM, he is accountable for the moves this team makes, if a move was made he did not like, he could resign his position.

As for Jimmy Graham, keep in mind this is the same staff that coached him at the Senior Bowl, and Coached John Jerry, they went with John Jerry.

Let me guess, that one is Deguglfiremyassnowlamo?

 

Disagree that we saw a 180 degree turn and the team playing up to expectations.

Fins beat:
KC (7-9)
Was (5-11)
Buf twice(6-10)
Oak (8-8)
NYJ (8-8)

We never beat a good team all year.

We played some of the better teams early including Houston, NYG, Denver and San Diego.

The biggest improvement was that early in the season we lost to Cleveland, by the end of the year we wouldn't have lost to them.

But we still weren't beating good teams.

 

If you're satisfied with a 4 year effort producing Matt Moore at QB then I'm happy for you.