EDIT: Update: From Miami Herald/Armando: (Bold for TLDR version) "The Miami Dolphins continue to make changes to the their coaching staff, particularly on offense, as running back coach Danny Barrett has been fired, a league source told The Miami Herald Thursday night. In a move that is quite likely related, the team expects to soon interview former Denver Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville, The Herald has confirmed. The Sporting News first reported Miami’s interest in Studesville. Studesville’s availability is what moved Dolphins coach Adam Gase to consider releasing Barrett because he wants a coach that could upgrade the staff. The Dolphins finished 28th in points per game in 2016. Gase tried to hire Studesville when he was forming his first staff in 2016 but was blocked from doing so by the Broncos. In that regard, Studesville was Gase’s first choice to be his running backs coach. Studesville, however, became available last week when was fired in Denver by head coach Vance Joseph. Studesville has already interviewed with the New York Giants this week for their head coaching job so it’s not certain the Dolphins will get him. But if the Giants don’t hire Studesville, who is admittedly a longshot candidate, the progression of this suggests Studesville lands with the Dolphins. The Dolphins have been successful this offseason in swaying coaches who had options of going elsewhere to come to Miami. Offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn and and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains had other offers but instead opted to join Gase. If Studesville also joins Gase it will be a reunion. The two started working together in Denver years ago under then head coach Josh McDaniels. Indeed, Studesville was the Broncos’ interim head coach when McDaniels was fired. Studesville, 50, has worked in the NFL since 1997. He worked for the Chicago Bears, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos. He has been a running backs coach throughout his NFL tenure and also served as Denver’s run-game coordinator. Barrett learned of his fate last week. He oversaw a running back corps the past two years that sent Jay Ajayi to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and raised the play of Kenyan Drake from backup to viable playmaker when Ajayi was traded in 2017. Obviously, however, his two years NFL experience pales compared to Studesville’s 20 years."
Another coaching change/move made. Apparently another highly respected pick up. This move, along with Jeremiah Washburn, have me feeling quite hopeful/quietly optimistic. I'm a strong believer in the importance of the coaches in all areas, and long term success is built upon a stable and effective coaching/leadership team. Here's hoping these are some of the moves to head in the direction for the Miami Dolphins!
Barrett learned of his fate last week. He oversaw a running back corps the past two years that sent Jay Ajayi to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and raised the play of Kenyan Drake from backup to viable playmaker when Ajayi was traded in 2017. Why would you get rid of this guy? Makes little sense to me. We even got production out of Williams.
Because Ajaiyi was freelancing and his position coach, i.e. the guy with direct respinsibility for him, couldn’t get him to stop. Also Ajaiyi and Drake were highly regarded prospects coming out, so he wasn’t making chicken soup out of chicken feathers.Ajaiyi went in the 5th round because of concerns about how long his knee would hold up, so without those concerns he’s easily a second rounder/borderline first rounder
I think it's a simple matter of an upgrade. By all accounts Studesville is a highly respected veteran RB coach.
neither could the head coach. The guy coming in is also going to be making chicken soup out of chicken feathers, so what is the point of bringing him in?
First, it's worth pointing out that it hasn't been confirmed for what position the Dolphins interviewed him. So it could be something other than RB coach; although that would still leave a hole at that position. Second, the question of 'what more' is difficult to answer, because we don't know what the Dolphins were trying to get out of their backs this season, maybe they achieved it, maybe not. Then we also don't know how much of what we saw was Barrett's input. Whatever the case, it's possible to have a better run game than we had, so why not aim for more?
That's why we are gonna play 16 next year, to find out. Keep in mind as well, that a guy like this impacts more than just his specific position. His experience can help the rest of the staff, provide stability, a respected voice for all players to listen to, etc.
One thing to remember is that coaches are not as segmented as you think. Getting a better coach as RB coach increases the staff overall.
Via Rotoworld: NY Post is reporting Studesville is out of the running the for NYG HC job... "The New York Post's Paul Schwartz reports Panthers DC Steve Wilks, Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo, and ex-Broncos RBs coach Eric Studesville are out of the running for the Giants' head-coaching job." http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/372662/Wilks,-Spags,-Studesville-out-of-NYG-running?
No further word on Studesville but some are suggesting it hinges on the NYG HC job. If he doesn't get it then opinion is he'll be coming to the Dolphins. Today, the news on the NYG job is that they are likely to take Vikings OC Shurmur. Have to say I've been pondering this a bit. They cut Barrett and interviewed Studesville, but it seems they didn't have him locked down 100%. If everything else we've heard is true, then what was/is plan B, if Studesville did/does get the NYG job?
Interesting move, might be now that Studes in the fold that CJ Anderson becomes another point of interest.... " Running back C.J. Anderson is yet another name that has surfaced in debates of who stays and who goes. Anderson signed a four-year, $18 million contract in 2016 but has no guaranteed money in the final two years, which means the Broncos could release him without taking any cap charge. Last year, Anderson was one of only nine backs in the league to rush for at least 1,000 yards." (Denver Newspaper)
If one believes in a head coach, then IMO we kind of have to defer to his judgement and wishes when it comes to assembling his staff, along with hirings and firings from the staff, year in and year out. When it comes right down to it, such as this instance of replacing Barrett with Studesville, if Gase thinks it is a plus move, none of us are really privy to the info necessary to 2nd guess it. We can see things like tweets from media types who say Studesville is highly regarded around the league. Danny Barrett's first NFL job was the past two years as our RB coach, after years of coaching in the CFL and college.
bingo, thats why I don't get excited either way, I pin all this stuff on Gase whether it works out or not, he's responsible, its his judgement..so I say get who you want and who you think can help you win, because youR booty is gonna be the one under the radar.