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Yesterday really happened?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by zwave21, Dec 23, 2013.

  1. zwave21

    zwave21 New Member

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    Since yesterday at about 2:08pm until now I've just been trying to register in my right mind what in the h*** happened? I've been over so many scenarios, pointed so many fingers, and blamed just about everyone from the trainer to the Kicker to the GM. But, it is plain and simple of what is wrong with our team?<br>
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    Leadership...In the Front Office, on the Sideline, and on the field. <br>
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    We do not have a single real leader. Sorry, folks Cam Wake ain't it... Ryan Tannehill nice try...Brian Hartline oh please. <br>
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    One thing that has been apparent for years is that Jeff Ireland isn't what we call a friendly people person. If anything he seems to be the type to alienate and push away people most importantly viable free agents who may come here if it wasn't for him. <br>
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    Joe Philbin, sorry chief you are NOT the type of leader this team needs. Do I think he should be fired? Still, not sure if that is truly the answer but it wouldn't anger me if that was the choice. <br>
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    The plain and simple fact is Winning and Losing are contagious. We are on the latter of that trail. If you care to argue, please look at every single game from this year and we are a team that consistently plays to the level of competition of the team we are playing, whether it's the 0-8 Bucs, or that 10-3 Patriots. Doesn't matter we play to that level good or bad. That is a HUGE problem. <br>
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    Last week for as great as it was is just another Dolphin Mirage, a pipe dream. Have we really crossed the proverbial hump and on the way to becoming a legit year in year out contender? Well, as yesterday showed us... No we are NOT!<br>
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    Are we far off? unfortunately we are not but if changes aren't made then sadly I don't think we get there. <br>
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    The easiest man to blame is the most common Jeff Ireland. Now I am not going to go on a wild spree how terrible he is but I will point out a few major flaws over the years and on this current team that should tell you all you need to know. <br>
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    1. Overspending. This year is obvious, Wallace, Ellerbe, Wheeler Misi, etc. Now let's say this. Is Wallace worth $60million? Probably not but what he does for our offense and the game breaker he is I am sure happy we have him cause sadly the attention he attracts has helped us win a few games. Ellerbe and Wheeler on the other end are probably two of the single worst of FA this past year. I mean they are downright terrible. If someone can please show me a highlight of them making a tackle behind the line of scrimmage this year please send me the link, cause I am positive it may not have happened to this point. Now I don't blame his tactics to get younger and faster, but why in the heck would you sacrifice consistent productivity. Ellerbe has me fooled, I watched him in the playoffs last year and he played well. Maybe it was the scheme or the team he was on but he looked much better than now. Wheeler played on the Raiders, a team deprived of talent and a defense that was consistently on the field, which led to inflated stats. Misi in his 4+ years he has been here has been nothing more than average, never a game changer, never a difference maker but yet we allow Ireland to extend him prior to the season. It makes sense from his end Misi was his draft choice and rather than admit another wasted pick or a pick that never panned out "let's extend him for his mediocre work so it isn't another viewed draft bust on my end."<br>
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    2. Fixing a problem and creating another. Well, this is pretty standard. When he got here with the Trifecta it was about a power team, built of a big tough line and running game. For the first two years we had that. Spent a #1 overall on a LT, $$$ on veteran Lineman, and had a rotation of Ricky and Ronnie two above average backs. But, that left us with a QB who had little to no serious weapons at receiver, Yes a WR Core of (Ginn, Camarillo, and Bess a rookie at the time) was pathetic. So, then what does he do he spends big $$$ on Marshall with no one capable to throw to him. We get rid of veteran leaders like the Taylor', Thomas' and Long' of the world to bring in a younger team. Then you draft a Top 10 QB to start day 1 with no serious weapons save a RB who was mismanaged by an inept coaching staff. This past offseason you let your line detoriate to sign 3 WR's, 1 TE. In the process you let go of your leading rusher, franchise LT, and best blocking TE. You release two veteran LB's considered in most circles to be very quality players, to bring in two young players coming off their most productive seasons by far. Now look where we are at. We have a QB who with a solid line and run game might be on the cusp of a Pro Bowl. You have a running game that one week might have 150 yards and the next 14 yards on 12 carries. Why is that? Well, we invested in two RB's without any sort of proven track record. You let your team leader and franchise LT walk over a matter over $$$ and then you do nothing to address it in FA or the draft. <br>
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    3. Drafting. Sorry folks there is not one part of me that trusts any draft pick Ireland makes. Now I will not sit here and say that he hasn't made quality picks. I believe that RT17 will end up being a very good QB. I believe Dion Jordan in the right scheme and with right coaching could be a pro bowl type player. I think Jared Odrick despite who we passed up is on his way to being a good player. Then you have late round players like Reshad Jones and Charles Clay who have done well. But, let us not forget we have had some serious duds. For a guy who was considered to be a true eye for talent when he came over in 2008, I don't think he is 20/20 in those eyes. What kills me most is that we have drafted for need, we have drafted for Best Player Available but where is the direction. Explain to me why would you move up to draft Jordan at #3, if you don't plan to play him as a heavy rotation player or starter? Explain to me why you'd take 2 CB's in round 2&amp;3 and not have them develop and get valuable reps? And why in the hell would you draft an All-SEC Guard and play him at Tackle? Well, that leads me into the next thing...Coaching. <br>
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    I loved it when we hired Philbin. I can flat out say it. I was thinking oh thank you lord finally after all these defensive and conservative coaches we get a guy from Green Bay two years removed from a Super Bowl in which he was the OC for. Oh, wait he doesn't call his own plays? Oh, wait he has never been a head coach at any level? Oh....well I didn't know that but how tough can it be. Well, here we sit through 31 games and well those are two pretty valuable things. <br>
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    What bothers me about Philbin and there is a lot but I will stick to a few points. <br>
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    1. His demeanor. Maybe it's because I am a passionate person but I can tell you one thing I would HATE HATE HATE to play for a coach like him. What did me in was the awkwardness of his coach and player meetings from hard knocks. Granted it was his first HC gig and he has HBO cameras filming him 24/7, and reports have said he has loosened up but god damn can you act like you know how to lead men. Now I truly believe that players take on the personalities of their coaches. Well, ours certainly does in the fact we are an even keeled team, that lacks a nastiness or plays with a swagger. Now not saying there aren't moments where we look like we have an edge but pretty consistently we play flat. There has been too many times this year that we come off of a big win or a crushing loss and we play the next week like we don't have a care in the world. Two case in points and they happen to be two losses to the same team this season. The Buffalo Bills, who have a pretty good defense I can't deny that but sorry folks we lost to a 3rd string QB twice, who the second game was playing with a JV squad of receivers who may have gotten confused they weren't track stars. So, let's discuss the first loss. Here we are after a 3-0 start, losers of the next two games one which was a close one and the other a blowout that most teams fall for in NO. We have a bye week to right the course and an opponent who is considered by most to finish last in our division with a rookie QB at the helm. Oh, wait the QB is hurt and they are going to play a 3rd stringer named Thad. And we lose 23-21 off a field goal to our former kicker. How in the hell do you come off a bye and lose, but not just lose but in the manner we did. We looked like we missed our alarm clocks, our first pass was a pick 6 and with the lead and a vulnerable line we call pass plays all 4th quarter. Now weeks later coming off the biggest regular season victory in years against the NE Patriots we have a shot at redemption. Not to mention we control our own destiny and all we have to do is beat two division opponents with losing records that have been playing some bad football. Oh, and the kicker is we get to face the 3rd stringer again. And what do we do, we not only lose but we don't score a single point. PATHETIC.<br>
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    2. His refusal to adapt or make changes. Whether is the OC or the DC or just about any part of the game as the HC you have final say. Let's take in part yesterday you are facing a leading pass rushing team with the elague's worst O-Line. You lost the first game cause of a costly sack and fumble in the 4th quarter. So, coming off a couple of weeks where you have run the ball well in a game where the weather is less than favorable. So, what do we do...we run stretch plays (something that has NOT worked all year). You run a back who has been questionable all week, who we all know is not what we call a violent runner. Your QB is getting pummeled off of a variation of blitzes as well as the a blitz they might have used 5+ times that was so telegraphed it should have had a warning label. So, rather than make a change or adapt and shift blocking to the blitz side you stay the course. We don't run any designated zone-reads where Tannehill keeps it to keep the DE honest. We run zero and I mean zero RB screen plays against a heavy blitz. We do ZERO roll out plays. We can't identify a nickel blitz off the tackle numerous times that result in sacks. Yes, some of that is on Tannehill but sorry coaches need to pick that up. <br>
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    3. His coaching staff. I was not aware that nearly a quarter of our staff has 0 NFL coaching experience. Not only is that bad but these coaches with 0 experience are at pretty valuable positions. Oh, let's try QB coach...Zac Taylor. Mr Jim Turner come on down...thanks for you service for our country but we need a coach who knows how to coach. Not too mention a OC who hasn't called his own plays in a decade and a DC who has never been a coordinator. Oh, and the funniest thing of all when you think of it we have a coach who has surrounded himself with these people when he himself has ZERO HEAD COACHIGN EXPERIENCE.<br>
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    So, the blame you ask is in my eyes to Mr. Stephen Ross. Why you ask? Well, this is his team. For being such a successful business man you would think he'd understand the importance of putting in place decision makers with proven experience and success. But, "Wait why don't we publicly court HC candidates while we still have HC, then we can re-sign our current HC when everyone passes on us." Still, "Next we can fire that HC after another poor year, but let's keep our GM who asked a player is his mother was a "Whore" and pursue other big name HC's who would never work with the guy." Finally, "We can settle on a 3rd option HC with zero HC experience and give him free reign over a staff that has little to none proven experience"......NOW THAT SOUNDS LIKE A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS.<br>
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    Maybe I am overreacting a bit, maybe not enough but I can tell you one thing. Whatever happens next week whether is 9-7 in the playoffs, 9-7 missing the playoffs, or a 8-8 season this staff and team are not built for continued success. The saddest part is whether we make it or not I don't feel like Ross will make the necessary changes, nor Philbin on his staff. And that my friends is why we will never be the franchise like the Patriots or even half that. <br type="_moz">
     
  2. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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  3. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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  4. finwin

    finwin Active Member

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    Welcome I've been chiming about Zack Taylor, Turner and Sherman for months. I'm with you. Unfortunately, Philbin did himself a disservice and he's loyal to a fault to his staff and that is to the detriment of the team. I constantly hear him defending his coaches even when his players contradict him.
     
  5. finwin

    finwin Active Member

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    You're right about that too. I believe if Ross told Philbin to lose Sherman, he'd bail. Coyle may be servicable fielding the 13th ranked D, but up from 21st last year rightfully so with the drafts consistantly leaning to Defense every year.
     
  6. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    One of the best post's I have ever read on this board

    Dead on the money about the coaching and the front office

    Fix it. Fix this team.

     
  7. dWreck

    dWreck formerly dcaf

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    hahahahaha
     
  8. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    standing ovation.
     
  9. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    You know what I think happened..

    When the dolphins took the field for offense, the whole team knew the line was overmatched..
     
    Larryfinfan likes this.
  10. I think they were cold and did not feel like playing in the rain.
     
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  11. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    Most of the posters on this board claim or think they are "football guys".

    One of the most honest and better posts to be posted by the OP and this thread is essentially dead.

    Why?

    Is it the lack of willingness to believe we are still ****ed?

    Is it because this is a negative look at what is supposed to be a happy time of year?

    What's up guys?

    Or does it not blame Ireland enough for you guys?

    It does beg a lot of discussion.
     
  12. Finrunner

    Finrunner Season Ticket Holder

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    Or, it may be, because the post is long, written mainly in block-style, is hard to read, and tough to digest.

    However, just to take one little block and comment:

    What does this even mean? If he's not the type of leader this team needs, then almost inherently from this statement, he should be fired. Yet, the very next two sentences pose doubt to the original assertion. And we're talking about a first time coach that took over a failing franchise, started last year with a rookie QB and finished with a respectable 7-9 record given the offense he inherited, and this year has the team at 8-7 with a final game at home, and a very realistic shot at the playoffs. He's got an owner, a QB, and assistant coaches that go out of the way to commend him on how he's handled the team. Do I think he has a lot of flaws? Yes. But to come out and declare he's not the kind of coach we need... that he can't lead and that our team has no leaders... it's all a little tough to digest from the beginning, and the writing style, at least for me, doesn't help. Which is why I think the discussion is slow to pick up.

    Just my opinion, though.
     
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  13. djphinfan

    djphinfan Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    thats poor leadership then and mindset, especially when controlling your destiny is on the line, win against the jets and not make the playoffs they will feel the consequences of what a weak mentality is..
     
  14. NyPhinfan

    NyPhinfan Season Ticket Holder

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    I am not trying to be funny but the players looked and acted really FRIGID out there. How quickly they ran to get the coats on and how slow they seemed to be playing. Much more than any game so far this year...even the Steeler game
     
  15. 2socks

    2socks Rebuilding Since 1973

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    I understand your point. I think it is purposefully written that way to illicit a response. specifically commenting on the phrase you singled out: The OP says he does not believe that Philbin is the type of Leader this team needs. He is not sure if firing Philbin is the answer and would be mad if he were fired. He is not saying he needs to be fired, he recognizes this team lacks leadership and someone needs to step up to the plate. It has been my sentiment since Philbin was hired.

    I would be mad to and I also am not sure if that is what needs to happen. Simply too much speculation and not enough info to make that distinct call right now. What I am sure of is this team lacks leadership across the board, even from Ireland. Just not sure how much Ireland's hands are tied is my thought. It is hard to believe the guy would draft Tannehill then surround him with a bunch of coaches that have zero experience. Not when his whole career may very well depend on it. Then there is the flip to that coin. Sadly it may involve Carl Peterson and Stephen Ross picking the next coach of the Dolphins for Ireland and telling Ireland he has to work with him. Don't know, wasn't in the room. What I do know for sure is things don't add up. As much as a deuch Ireland may be to deal with when negotiating, he has done a decent job keeping us under the cap. It is also hard to figure this bunch out. Talented or not? Hard to say. Sometimes we look great, sometimes we look like high-schoolers. Giving the players the tools to play with is the responsibility of the coaches and that just didn't happen last Sunday. The bad part for Philbin was is it was very very obvious. Blame is across the board from the players to the coaches, GM and owner. Everyone is responsible for the state of this team and it would not surprise me if we find out Philbin was Ross' doing. It by no means gives Ireland a pass, but it does explain a few things. Hard to do your best when your handicapped from the start.

    We really are plateaued right now. Our numbers are almost exactly the same from last year, across the board. What is obvious is player turn over. Despite it, We have done a decent job with it. I say that because even with the offensive line falling apart we have managed to tow the line with the obvious exception of the Buffalo game where leadership was needed and it was abundantly obvious it doesn't exist; at least not on that cold Sunday in Orchard Park, New York. We still have a chance to make the playoffs. Had the line not fallen apart we would most likely have measurable progress. That is a plus.
     

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