Good thing about this offseason is I can only think of 2 teams that will need new GM's next year, Miami and Tampa Bay. And I'm not even 100% sure with Tampa. So we won't have to compete with 5-6 other teams for these top executives.
Why do you even care? You think everyone has just sat around and brought Ireland his coffee from the moment Parcells hired him. To you we haven't had college scouts, pro scouts, Director & Assistant Director of College Scouting, or a Director & Assistant Director of Pro Scouting since 2008. Hell, you think we paid Parcells $12 million to operate the goddam cappuccino machine while Ireland performed every f***ing executive & scouting job we have that would otherwise be occupied by nearly 20 individuals. So just stop talking.
Something close to that. As I recall it may have been more like $4 million over 3 years, which I believe was the most expensive contract ever given to a CFL player trying to come to the NFL.
Actually, IMO, LBsFinest has a good point for once. If one wants to say the talent level on the roster is not the problem, then how can they say the college scouts deserve to be replaced?
Actually I think I acknowledged the rest of the scouting department when I said they all need to be fired.
So to use your posting against you, if you thought the scouting department needed to be fired then how can you suggest with such fervor that Ireland was the one responsible for talent deficiencies?
is this a joke? Lol wth is wrong with you? He's the GM isn't he? The whole scouting department is inept, it's been inept for years and years.
So what you're saying is you're a hypocrite... b/c if you think the scouting department has been inept for years & years then how can you suggest with any degree of certainty that Ireland is admonishingly responsible for any drafting deficiencies, especially during Parcells' tenure?... or again, do you think they just fetch Ireland his coffee? You see, your prior line of reasoning in response to Fin D's post also applies to yourself.
So what you're saying is you're a hypocrite... b/c if you think the scouting department has been inept for years & years then how can you suggest with any degree of certainty that Ireland is admonishingly responsible for any drafting deficiencies, especially during Parcells' tenure?... or again, do you think they just fetch Ireland his coffee? You see, your prior use of logic in response to Fin D's post also applies to yourself.
Top GM choices So, over the last two weeks we are beginning to see thelight at the end of the tunnel. After this disaster of a season and PR ourFront Office will not survive until 2014. Well, let me re-phrase this seasonlooks much worse for Ireland than any other. Biggest issue we made was notdoing a full clean of house two season ago. We need a GM to be chosen first andforemost. That GM should have the choice to keep Philbin or bring in a newstaff. More likely than not we bring in a GM he will bring his own resources.(Note: I do NOT want our current coaching staff back). Now finding a GM isn'talways a shoe in, as Ireland was one of the highest regarded personnel peoplein the NFL before coming to us. We need a GM who not only can identify talentbut who can relate to players and coaches and have at least a likedrelationship with those individuals. So, let's start with a short list ofpotential GM candidates and why they are viable shall we? -Nick Caserio: New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel– Well, here’s something that clear that Patriots get it. Don’t be too stubbornto realize it when you have missed the Playoffs once since 2001 and even thatseason they finished with a winning record, they get the key to success isconsistency and planning. Caserio is highly regarded as they come in the NFL.My thoughts are he probably wouldn’t leave the job he has for our mess butmaybe a chance to have his own decisions and team with full control can lurehim. One thing is for sure Ross should give him full power if we get to theoffer stage. Let him pick his staff and coach. Reason being? The Patriots havequite the family tree when it comes to Coaching/Personnel people in the league. - Eric Decosta: Baltimore Ravens Asst. GM – Like Caserio he is another of thehighly regarded in NFL circles. Problem with him is he is been with the Ravenssince 1996 and he is the GM in waiting for Ozzie Newsome. One thing aboutBaltimore is their loyalty to Newsome and I get the feeling DeCosta will sit onthe coattails a few more seasons. Also he has turned down numerous interviewsstating he is content in Baltimore. Maybe 2014 brings a change for him but Idon’t see it happening. Still, this guy would be great to have. - Russ Ball: Green Bay Packers VP Football Administration – a Green Baydisciple. Just speculations but I believe if he were hired that Philbin wouldbe safe. Still, seeing Ross speak about Philbin and not Ireland on Monday getsme thinking Philbin has the better chance to survive. Not something I want butat an end all be all bring in a GM with whom Philbin has familiarity andcomfort with may help speed up the transition. Ball coming from the GB systemis belief in the draft and developing players. Something that has been sorelymissing for years. I am more than sick of us improperly utilizing a player orletting them go on to success on another team. But, end of the day the GM picksthe groceries the coaches have to cook with them. So, Ball can bring in all thetalent he can but if he doesn’t have a coahc who can cultivate we are doomed. Will Lewis: Seattle Seahawks VP Football Operations – Sorry, but whateverSeattle is doing is working. Plain and simple look at how young and talentedthat team got in the course of 4 years. I remember laughing when they broughtCarroll in, and watching them limp into the playoffs 7-9 with CharlieWhitehurst. They have a secondary like I’ve never seen, as they are allarguably the best at each of their positions and aren’t all 1[SUP]st[/SUP]round picks. Actually, only Earl Thomas is. They got Russell Wilson in round 3.Bobby Wagner in rd 2. The list goes on and on. Lewis is a big part of it.Having experience playing the NFL is also a benefit as he can related toplayers and coaches alike having been with the day to day of that lifestyle.Believe that Lewis has been seasoned from John Schneider and is ready to makehis next step. Brian Gutekunst: Green Bay Packers Director of College Scouting – Guy has benewith the Packers since 1998. He has seen a lot of success and a lot of draftpicks. Spending the majority of his time in the South with SEC teams the guyknows talent. Can anyone remember a Green Bay draft where you’re like “What arethey thinking?” Cause I sure can’t. These guys always have a plan and that isto draft Best Player Available. Yes, do they go off need, but they don’t reach.Having been with GB he will surely have familiartiy with Philbin. Again, not myideal for Philbin to be here but the GM needs to come first. The whole Scoutthing scares me but with GB’s sense of family I feel Gutekunst will at least beable to treat people well unlike Emperor Jeff. Tom Gamble: Philadelphia Eagles VP of Player Personnel – He did just make amove to Philly this past offseason. But, not to be a GM to be a VP which isgreat and he is close with Roseman. He might be a stretch to make a move thevery next year but this guy knows talent. Coming from San Fran for the past5+years he has drafted some real studs. Patrick Willis, Mike Iupati, AldonSmith, Navarro Bowman, etc. Just like in Seattle this is a guy who was part of anoverhaul in roster within a few short seasons. Now, I don’t believe we are nearas dire in talent as San Fran was during the Nolan/Singletary days. But,brining Gamble on and seeing his evaluation of our roster would speakdividends. Believe he really could be a guy who knows talent and comes from agreat working environment. Marc Ross: New York Giants VP of Player Evaluation – Man the Giants have hadsome good drafts and some not so good ones. But when they hit its not like theyfind a solid starter they find difference makers. He is another scout who hasworked his way up the ranks. He has had his hat in the mix for the Jets andPanthers for GM but withdrew his name. It shows he is loyal to the Giants butis also selective in his choice. My guess is he wouldn’t mix well with Rex Ryanand wouldn’t have full control. So, my selling point would be for him to havefull control and pick and choose his own team. Those are just some of the guys I want. Below here I rank them with a potentialcoaching pairing based off familiarity, history, or feel. 1. Nick Caserio – Bill O’Brien – both come from NE. Sorry, but I believe theway O’Brien has handled the Penn St. situation may be some of the best coachingand disaster recovery I have seen. Being an NFL guy something tells me O’Brienwill coach in the league someday. 2. Eric DeCosta – David Shaw/Greg Roman – both have tiesto the Ravens from their past experience. Both as position coaches, so this ispure speculation but I feel they might be familiar with DeCosta. Whetehr hewould consider them is up in the air. But both being offensive coaches I feelit could be a good pairing. Shaw scares me as do all college coaches and Romanhas never been a head coach. Probably gowith Shaw on this one. 3. Will Lewis - ? – Really not sure with whom Lewis hasties but that’s the least of my worries. This is a guy that knows talent andhas played in the NFL. Something we have been sorely missing with Ireland.Really, think focusing on teams with successful upper management and quality onthe field is the key to get us better.
GMs in waiting sometimes get tired of waiting so anything is possible if the right deal is offered.IMO any of the prospects mentioned would be better than what we have.
Here is a good article for you to read, and this article details what the Dolphins need to be looking for in a new GM: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9531195/bill-barnwell-phil-emery-general-manager-philosophy Whatever background the new GM comes from, this new GM needs to have an open mind and mix in old school/traditional scouting philosophies along with new school advanced analytics and outside the box thinking. The one question I want Stephen Ross, or whoever he puts in charge of this eventual search, to ask is whether the candidate is willing to embrace new technologies and ways of doing things and establish an analytics department within the organization. If the candidate is rooted in the traditional mindset the the only way of looking at things is with your eyes, then I don't want him as a part of this organization. It's time to move into the 21st century when it comes to scouting. I'm not advocating less film study, but in truth, there is a certain point you get to when watching a player on film that you know everything you need to know about the player, and anything over that is likely going to just make you second guess yourself as you convince yourself that you are seeing something when it really isn't there. That is the bias your eyes give you when you rely solely on film study or the gut feeling that some like to talk about. The other points to hit from this article: 1. A transparent media policy. In this day and age of social media and fan interaction with the team, it's high time to stop treating the fans like a bunch of dummies that do not know anything about football. Give us an explanation on why you made a decision. Tell us that the reason Daniel Thomas gets playing time is that because he tends to gain more yards after contact than our other backs. Don't give us the generic statement that "we see things in practice that we like with him". That answer just basically tells me to shut up about it and that I don't know anything about football if I question why they do something. 2. Focusing on the process of team building. I think we have been very weak with this. Jeff Ireland loves to talk about the process and talks about building through the draft, but then he goes out and spends $140 million in guaranteed money on free agents in an attempt to win now. Folks, that is not following the process and believing in the process. That's making moves hoping for a quick fix to save your job. If you convince the fans that the building of the team is going to be a process, then the fans will understand it better and understand that you are in it for the long haul and not the quick fix. Therefore, the pressure on you will not be as much as it would be if you spend $140 million in free agency and get the expectation of success that comes with that. In fact, a team rooted in analyzing things and looking at value wouldn't be spending that much in free agency to begin with. Free agency is fools gold. Which potential GMs would fall into this category? Honestly, I don't know. Nobody does, and we (the fans) won't know until he is hired or until someone does an article on them stating that they look at these numbers to help them make decisions. We can make suppositions on who among the candidates is likely to be more transparent with the media and who will embrace advanced analytics, but we don't know even if they come from an organization that embraces it like the San Francisco 49ers (hired Paraag Marathe in 2001 to head up their analtyics/research department) or the Baltimore Ravens. So, this idea that we have to hire an Eric DeCosta or a Nick Caserio because "they will make great GMs" is nothing more than an opinion, as there could be some no name guy that doesn't get mentioned in the media that works for the Jacksonville Jaguars who has great ideas on what needs to be done to maximize your chance at winning games. Someone like Phil Emery.
I think I'd prefer Seattle's Scot McCloughan. IMO he matches our defense well and could help take it over the top. I like his emphasis on physicality. He was a big part of Seattle's 2004 SB trip, then helped construct San Fran's ominous 3-4 D [with the additions of Willis, Justin Smith, Tarrell Brown, Ahmad Brooks, Dashon Goldson, Ray McDonald, Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, Manny Lawson, Takeo Spikes, and Nate Clements whom all contributed to the #4 scoring D in 2009] and key offensive contributors [Vernon Davis, Gore, Crabtree, Staley, Delanie Walker]. That's a pretty strong foundation for last year's SB team. He brought the same type of tough physical fingerprint with him to Seattle in 2010 where he was essentially the team's top scout and continued his philosophy of building through the draft, re-signing his own players, and not putting too much emphasis on FA. He helped quickly transform Seattle's weak 25th ranked scoring defense to 4th in 2011 and 1st in 2012. They switched from their previous 4-3 to the current bigger & more physical hybrid. During his Seattle tenure, on defense they drafted or signed Chris Clemons, Earl Thomas, Chancellor, Sherman, Browner, Wagner, Irvin, KJ Wright..... and offensively they drafted or signed Lynch, Wilson, Okung, and Tate. That's just flat out impressive. The Niners & Seahawks have become contenders much in part b/c of their defenses, and we've seen the Chiefs' recent turnaround on the back of a great defense. The same can be done in Miami, as many of the pieces are in place to do so in the mold of Seattle & San Fran/KC, and we can easily transition into either defensive scheme he desires- Seattle's hybrid or San Fran/KC's 3-4. I'd hire Seattle's Director of College Scouting, Scott Fitterer, along with him and let them get to work creating the AFC's version of the Seahawks. IMO that's our best template to go by until our QB play is at an elite level capable of carrying a team.
Here is a link to a Seattle Sehawks blog and a detail of some of the things I want to see in Miami: http://www.fieldgulls.com/2013/7/2/4486760/jaguars-seahawks-advanced-statistical-analysis-nfl
Thanks Ro. It just seems to make too much sense. Why try to become something we're not [a top passing team] when we can bring in a guy like McCloughan who can take our current strength [defense] over the top? At the moment we don't have an Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady so I wouldn't want a GM coming in from those systems or comparable trying to build a team in that mold you know. Give me a GM who knows how to build an elite defense and construct an appropriate offense to compliment it. IMO part of Ireland's shortcoming is trying to do it the Green Bay way but without Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre when he had a great opportunity to make the defense elite while complimenting it with a strong ground game until Tannehill develops into an upper level QB. Sammy looks great. Nice to see Boyd coming around now that he's had a chance to develop some chemistry with all his young receivers. Martavis Bryant is finally emerging. Kid's got beast potential.
I'd have to do a lot of research on his apparent "issues" when he was with the 49ers. After going through what we are going through this year and all the issues this team has had under Ireland's stead, we need to make sure we aren't going to bring in someone that is going to embarrass the organization at some point.
I’m probably going to get torched for this and this guy wouldn’t be my first choice but if we want to bring in somebody with experience why not Scott Pioli. One of the main reasons the Chiefs are having the success they are having now, Reid is the main reason, is because of all the talent that Pioli brought to that team. 8 picks after the Dolphins drafted Daniel Thomas Pioli drafted Justin Houston. In 2012 Pioli drafted a guy that looks he can potentially be the best nose tackle in football in Dontari Poe. Pioli only had 4 drafts as a Chief however you can make a case that all 4 of those drafts are better than any of drafts we know that Jeff Ireland had full control over 2011-2013 at this point in time.
The bulk of their talent was actually drafted by Carl Peterson (Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson, Branden Albert, Brandon Flowers...etc). A big no to Pioli. After our issues with transparency with the media under Jeff Ireland, I don't want a GM that bugged the phones of the coaches on the team to see if they were talking bad about him behind his back.
Todd, http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/03/20/mccloughans-fall-from-grace-his-own-doing The skeletons in his closet may suggest that the Dolphins need to avoid him as they are trying to clean up their image and regain credibility.
IMO his issue in San Fran was not having Harbaugh. Plus I'm guessing he's learned something by being apart of Seattle's great organization. I would however like to know if his work for the 2010 draft had anything to do with the guys San Fran selected even though he split from the team a month prior. Regardless, he helped build two strong foundations for winning organizations, and his blueprint/template seems to be successful.
I wouldn't flat out dismiss that, Keith... but it's also possible he's learned from those mistakes, no? McCloughan's right hand man in San Fran, Baalke, has done a great job, and I'd have to think McCloughan had some influence on him considering he rose in San Fran's ranks under McCloughan and that much of San Fran's philosophy has remained the same upon McCloughan leaving IIRC. Plus I haven't heard of any red flags in Seattle. Now, if he has an inherent difficulty with identifying a satisfactory coaching staff then that would be the red flag I'm looking for considering things were a little messy with turnover in San Fran.
No you're not. I love your contributions to the "Pictures/Videos That Make You Laugh or say Damn" thread.
The other thing is you have to decide if he even wants to be a GM again. In this article: http://www.fieldgulls.com/2012/1/5/2682285/the-seahawks-silent-partner-scot-mccloughan ....Scot hints that the job of being GM "consumed" him. As a result, he works from his home in Northern California instead of with the rest of Seattle's front office. Aside from that, his background is excellent. He comes from the Ron Wolf tree of executives.
Do you think it'd be too ballsy to go after Scott Fitterer who's been Seattle's Director of College Scouting since 2010 when they started going apesh-t in the draft? Seems like he can draft the hell out of a team and could bring the right template & mentality, but he'd have to hire the appropriate coach to bring it all together. Are there any obvious head coaches out there who could work in unison with Fitterer to bring that type of Seattle-inspired vision to fruition? I think he and Cowher would make a nice pair but who knows if Cowher is gonna make a return. IMO hiring Fitterer for the job could be similar to San Fran promoting young Trent Baalke to GM in 2010 who previously held the title of VP of Player Personnel for 1 year after serving 2 years as Director of Player Personnel. Before that he was a regional scout [2007]. I'm sure Fitterer knows Seattle's template, philosophy, and way of doing things backward and forward by now.
I don't know enough about him, honestly. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/07/sports/la-sp-nfl-game-plan-20121107 I do wish we had hired Pete Carroll back in 2007 though. That's the kind of coach that I think will have major success going forward in the NFL.
Oh, now this is just going to piss you off, Todd. http://www.mercurynews.com/49ersheadlines/ci_7777175 Ron Wolf recommended Scot McCloughan to Bill Parcells when he took the Dolphins job in 1997. Bill hired Jeff Ireland instead.
I thought Huizenga tried didn't he? Even flew to Costa Rica to try to talk him into it. Carroll flat turned him down. Same as back in the 90s, after the Jets fired him, Shula tried to hire him as DC, and he turned Don down too.
