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Is Miami an Attractive Coaching Destination?

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by Galant, Jan 6, 2016.

  1. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    A BleacherReport article by a writer a like - Ian Wharton - suggests Miami is an attractive destination this year (2nd only to the New York Giants).

    What do you think - are there issues here that will turn off potential candidates?

    Here's the piece:

    "Positives:

    1. Building Blocks
    A disappointing year by the Dolphins left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but Miami has arguably the strongest core of players among these six teams. Defenders Ndamukong Suh and Reshad Jones are elite players at valuable positions. Defensive end Cam Wake is hurt now but expressed his desire to return in 2016. On offense, quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been average at worst despite a horrible offensive line and coaching staff. He's joined by an elite running back in Lamar Miller and promising receivers Jarvis Landry and DeVante Parker. There's a lot of young talent on offense, especially. Wake and Miller need their contracts addressed for next year, but each can be retained if a new coach wishes. If Miller is allowed to walk in free agency, Miami has Jay Ajayi ready to go. There is a stable of talent that needs better direction and coaching than what it's received.

    2. Roster Flexibility
    The Dolphins are projected to be over the cap, but many underachieving veterans can be released. Miami can further open space by restructuring Suh's deal, although that isn't necessary. As much as $40 million could be freed up by trimming the fat on the roster. The Dolphins have a young core, so free agency shouldn't be the focus right now. Adding cheap talent at key positions is the best approach.

    3. Location
    South Beach and no state taxes are two excellent selling points to make to any coach or player. From a quality-of-life standpoint, Miami offers a unique experience many people would likely enjoy, especially this time of year. While this is more of an ancillary reason to take a job, it could be a factor for players the coach would bring in.

    4. Owner
    While Stephen Ross has really goofed up past coaching searches, he has spent money to support his team. Ross shouldn't be considered a net positive for the Dolphins, but his willingness to make big-money deals with Suh ($114 million), Tannehill ($77 million in new money), Branden Albert ($47 million) and Mike Pouncey ($44 million) shows commitment. Resources will not be not spared under Ross.

    Negatives:

    1. Power Structure
    The negative of Ross is that he has created a convoluted power structure in Miami. The franchise still has strong Bill Parcells ties, and the move to make Mike Tannenbaum the new czar may turn some candidates off. It's possible everyone will report to Tannenbaum, and then he will make the final decision. This plan may end up becoming a positive, as the structure itself has been successful elsewhere. But trusting this group of individuals right now could be difficult. High-caliber coaches may steer away from such an arrangement.

    2. Roster Depth
    The Dolphins haven't drafted well in a long time, and it showed as they fell to 6-10. They couldn't withstand injuries without imploding, and even before that, they weren't very good. Only a few young players flashed any potential in 2015. A new coach may need to cycle through a lot of talent upon arrival—like Pete Carroll did in Seattle. Miami's offense has a lot of young pieces, but the defense needs impact talent and an injection of youth. Will the new boss be afforded that opportunity?

    3. Expectations
    The Dolphins thought they'd be in the playoffs this season, and the fact they missed the mark may not have changed ownership's expectations. Head coaching candidates must find out if Ross and Tannenbaum are expecting short-term results with a roster that might be two years away from competing. While Miami was patient with Joe Philbin and gave him three-plus years, it also fired him just four games into 2015. Candidates won't want that kind of embarrassment on their record."
     
    number21, dgfred, Unlucky 13 and 2 others like this.
  2. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    You summed up a lot Galant. Good post idea too!

    It really comes down to the opposition. The AFC East all but guarantees that any new coach will have to settle for 2nd in the division all while competing against 2 other very solid teams with great defenses.

    For example, someone brought up Chip Kelly and the Eagles. I pointed out that his record was more or less the same as Philbins having gotten more wins through an easier division. Miami, with its 8-8 records would've been 1st and then 2nd in that division in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

    Keep in mind that Miami was 5-5 outside the division this year while being 1-5 inside it. The AFC East is tough! If you can't beat above average defenses you're not going anywhere.

    When your job is on the line and the only thing stopping you from getting canned are wins, who you face inside your division matters. The AFC South is another division wherein the standards are low. It makes more sense to try and win in Philly or Tennessee than in Miami where it's hot as hell, rains all the time, there's little fan support because of a losing culture and oh yeah, it's might be the single most top-heavy division out there. The fact certain AFC South and NFC East coaches are still employed, well, you get the point.



    I'm not saying that you can't find coaches but this idea that fans tell themselves about Miami being such an incredible opportunity ...well, they're not going to Miami for palm trees, at least not the coaches we want. Realistically winning in Miami might be harder than anywhere else. There's more working against you than in most places.

    I certainly hope though that with Tannenbaum in place it brings some legitimacy to what's going on and that the entire front office as well as the next coaching staff can find a way to stay on the same page.
     
  3. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    There is not one single thing convoluted or out of the ordinary about our power structure.

    Many teams have the exact same one.

    This is a lie from last year that has festered into what people think is reality. It is not a reality.

    Having the coach and GM both report to a single person is perfectly normal. In fact, its becoming more and more abnormal for the coach to be in charge of the GM or vice versa.
     
    Unlucky 13 likes this.
  4. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I'd agree as well that as of right now, the power structure in Miami is standard.


    Also, I don't think that "location" is really all that important for a HC who's solely concerned with where he's going to try and work for the next 10 years, 15 at the most. We're not talking about retirement and he'll make enough to travel wherever he wants on his time.


    Additionally, "roster depth" will be a problem anywhere a team is looking for a HC.


    I must say though, I think the biggest hurdle in Miami comes from how long they've been a bad team. When you've been churning amongst the dregs of the league for 15-20 years you tend to build a culture just as much as if you'd been winning for that long. At this point, it's extremely hard to get everyone moving together plus, everyone and everything is scrutinized to the Nth degree.
     
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  5. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    Everyone keeps kidding themselves that the organizational structure in Miami is normal. Yet fans and media alike really have no sound clue on who is responsible for what, who drafted what players, etc. There has never been a clean sweep of past failed regimes. There are still Parcells holdovers. Every time there is change in Miami someone has retained their job and had a negative influence on attracting qualified applicants. I guess this year is the closest Miami has ever been, but I suspect the convoluted structure in Miami with Tannenbaum calling the shots and a bumbling, absentee owner will continue to be the biggest deterrent to the best applicants.
     
    dolphin25 likes this.
  6. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Just to clarify that the content of the original post is almost entirely Ian Wharton's content. The first three lines are mine, the rest is Ian Wharton's. I've added quote marks for clarity.
     
  7. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    That is all horsecrap, but what else is new.

    The structure is standard in the NFL. The only person that we know complained about the structure was Ray Farmer who is easily the worst GM in modern times. Everything else is bull**** speculation.
     
  8. DolphinGreg

    DolphinGreg Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Owner hires VP. VP hires GM. Both will hire the HC and his staff.

    The only problem is that everyone has to work together and communicate. It's hard to say that's asking too much.
     
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  9. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    In the 'Power Structure' section Ian does state: "This plan may end up becoming a positive, as the structure itself has been successful elsewhere. But trusting this group of individuals right now could be difficult." So he seems to be indicating that it's more about the history and the individuals than the present structure in general. Additionally, if we recall, the move to get to the place where we are now, structurally, didn't happen cleanly. It wasn't too long ago that Hickey, Tannenbaum and Philbin were, supposedly, reporting back to Ross individually.
     
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  10. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Which is fine if the gripe is the people specifically. But he's doing what I loathe with modern sports writers, and that's hedging his bets. He's leaving himself an out every way he can. He says the power structure is bad, but then says its actually not, then says the people within the power structure maybe bad or maybe not.
     
  11. Unlucky 13

    Unlucky 13 Team Raheem Club Member

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    I agree. It was odd previously. Especially in 2014. But, its not now. Holding the past, and Ireland and Philbin, against the Dolphins isn't fair to the new regime.
     
  12. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    I don't read it that way. I think he's bringing up the a real Dolphins issue as it relates to possible cons against a coach coming here. How long has Ross done thing with the leadership that is just weird? How recently have there been issues and a lack of clarity. Even though we now have an apparent structure whereby Tannenbaum is 'the' guy in the organisation, even his installation into the scheme was done messily. Maybe Wharton could have produced a better structured mini-paragraph but I think what he's saying is clear and could be a real consideration for potential coaches. There hasn't really been a clean sweep in Miami, a true house cleaning. One thing has dripped into the next.

    I think that's fair, I don't see him hedging his bets. He's differentiating between the specific realities in Miami versus the general structure.
     
  13. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    The power structure has only been in question because our local media is comprised of idiots.

    There are 3 basic power structures in the NFL:

    1. The GM is in charge of the HC and he reports to an owner/head of football operations
    2. The HC is in charge of the GM and he reports to an owner/head of football operations
    3. The HC & GM report to an owner/head of football operations

    That's it and we've been either 1 or 3 since Ross has been here.

    When we wanted to hire a coach after Sparano, we were told by our local sports media that it will be hard to find a HC willing to come in and not have control.
    When we wanted to hire a GM after Ireland, these same local sports media that it will be hard to find a GM willing to come in and not have control over the coach.

    These are, of course, contradictory, but 99% of the fanbase doesn't care they just regurgitate what the local guys say.
     
  14. muskrat21

    muskrat21 Well-Known Member

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    no it's not attractive. you have a moron owner, tannenbaum, and a QB you have to use, a terrible defense, and no money in salary cap.
     
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  15. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Except when we we've gone from:

    Ross
    Ireland Philbin (3)

    to

    Ross (3)
    Hickey Philbin

    to
    Ross (Not quite 1)
    Tannenbaum Philbin
    Hickey
    to
    Ross (No idea what this is) -
    Hickey Tannenbaum Philbin (post Rooney rule criticism)

    to

    Ross As above
    Hickey Tannenbaum Campbell

    to

    Ross (1)
    Tannenbaum
    Grier New HC?


    More than just the structure itself, it's how things got there.

    Look, this feels like labouring one single point. Wharton simply asserted that a HC might have an issue with how the Dolphins have structured their leadership, either in terms of history and personnel, or even specifically, having to be under Mr. Christmas Tree.

    I think it's a fair point.

    Apparently you think it isn't and that it's not an issue.

    We'll have to agree to disagree. I hardly think it's fair to call the whole thing crap reporting though. I think there are a good number of people who might look at the Ross' history and the current situation and have questions. So I think it's fair to bring it up. I suspect we also disagree on that point too, though.
     
    Finster likes this.
  16. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    WADR, that's not an accurate depiction.

    We've more or less been a place where the HC and GM are on equal footing and they both answer to one guy. This is standard in the NFL and of those teams that follow that structure, there are some with the person being the owner directly above the HC & GM and some with a Football Operations guy in between. This is not crazy or new.

    I did this research already when we hired Hickey, but why don't you or someone else go ahead and research the other teams to see what structure they have. Unless you know what others are how can you say what is and isn't standard?
     
  17. dolphin25

    dolphin25 Well-Known Member

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    That does not sound very appealing.
     
  18. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    How is that not accurate? At what point is it wrong? Please be specific.
     
  19. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    I was specific. Did you not read what I wrote past the first sentence?

    These are all examples of #3

    Ross Owner
    Ireland GM & Philbin HC

    Ross Owner
    Hickey GM & Philbin HC


    Ross Owner
    Tannenbaum Head of Football Operations
    Hickey GM & Philbin HC

    Ross Owner
    Tannenbaum Head of Football Operations
    Grier GM & New HC

    The structure is not changing. The HC and GM are on equal footing the whole time and they both answer to the same person.
     
  20. Rock Sexton

    Rock Sexton Anti-Homer

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    Obvious answer is no. The Dolphins are not an attractive destination. You'd think that would be clear by now.
     
  21. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Here's a list of current NFL front office/league staff structures:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_National_Football_League_staffs

    Ours isn't anything out of the ordinary. Of course that doesn't tell you how much "power" each individual has which you need to know to talk about power structures.

    Still, while I could see a potential GM hire being worried about the influence Tannenbaum had on Hickey, I see no such issues with a potential HC hire.
     
  22. hazed819

    hazed819 Well-Known Member

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    We wont land a high profile candidate.... Couglin, Payton, Shanahan. All those guys arent going to put their trust in the hands of a green GM and Tannenbaum to go get them talent. They prefer someone they trust, I cant say for sure but I bet Jeff Fisher said I want a new GM if i go there, Ross said no end of interview hell for all we know Harbaugh might of been the same situation. I dont know in my opinion you dont hire the guy in charge of obtaining players that will fit the coaches' scheme without hiring the coach first.
     
  23. Galant

    Galant Love - Unity - Sacrifice - Eternity

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    Except you're leaving out the fact that Tannenbaum was brought it initially and no-one was officially answering to him. IIRC he was mentioned as a VP then they recanted due to the Rooney rule, and have slowly moved him to that spot. Only now is he truly the VP over all areas.

    Some might call that incidental. Others might rightly call it messy and ugly.
     
  24. hazed819

    hazed819 Well-Known Member

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    Good find check out this too many chiefs not enough indians scenario we got going on compared to the goddam Patriots.
    Front Office




    [TABLE="class: toccolours"]
    [TR]
    [TD]Front office
    [/TD]
    [/TR]
    [/TABLE]



    I feel like we got an assistant for the assistant scenario going on lol..... and what the HELL is Aponte STILL doing here really. When you read that list you cant tell me you dont see disfunction. Read the Patriots list and you see exactly what each person of that OF is there for. Sigh
     
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  25. PSG

    PSG Clear Eyes. Full Hearts.

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    I think FinD is right. The structure is normal. The problem is with the people, imo.
     
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  26. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    And as i said earlier, if a person has a problem with the people then fine, i just want everyone to understand theres no problem with the structure.
     
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  27. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    the structure didn't change. thats the part you're not understanding. no matter what the press was told, the structure has been the same.
     
  28. jw3102

    jw3102 season ticket holder

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    Personally my problem isn't with the structure. I believe you should have a football czar and that person should be the person responsible for hiring the GM and the head coach. I think you need a czar because most owners don't have the knowledge to run the football side of the organization.

    My issue with the present power structure with the Dolphins is I just don't have any confidence Tannebaum is the right person to be running this organization. I also have an issue with promoting someone to GM who has been a part of a failed personnel department for the last seven seasons, in which the talent level on the roster has been mediocre at best.

    I was hoping for a complete overhaul of the front office and the coaching staff. Unfortunately the only change going into next year will be the coaching staff and whatever new players they add to the roster. Hopefully that will be enough to at least get back to 8-8, but only time will tell.
     
  29. MonstBlitz

    MonstBlitz Nobody's Fart Catcher

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    Agree with your post, but fixed the Patriots org chart for you.
     
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  30. cbrad

    cbrad .

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    Shouldn't "Director of Cheating" go to Bill Belichick?
     
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  31. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Actually that would be Pharaoh of Underhandedness, because when it comes to cheating, he's not a mere director, he's a god-king.
     
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  32. hazed819

    hazed819 Well-Known Member

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    LOL I know right!
     
  33. Finster

    Finster Finsterious Finologist

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    So what is the difference between Garfinkel's job and Tannebaum?

    Does Tannebaum report to Garfinkel, or do they both report to Ross? Who reports to Aponte? Ross?

    I remember when they made a chart so everyone could see how simple the FO is... LMAO.

    Hopefully most of this crap has changed.
     
  34. Fin D

    Fin D Sigh

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    Garfinkle has nothing to do with Football Operations, he's basically Business Operations. They really have nothing to do with each other.
     
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