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My Last Cameron Gripe (and then I'll move on)

Discussion in 'Miami Dolphins Forum' started by ckparrothead, Jan 3, 2008.

  1. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I just can’t endorse this move.

    At 1-15 and with the entire roster likely to be blown up, I guess it is hardly consequential but I also believe it is impossible to know what kind of coach Cam Cameron is after just the one season.

    Once upon a time, Bill Parcells inherited a disaster and went 3-12-1 his first season with the Giants, after benching Phil Simms in favor of superstar Scott Brunner. His team compiled 113 penalties, the most he’s ever had in his long coaching career, and after the end of the season the Giants openly offered the job to University of Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger, who turned down the job.

    Cameron was brought in to do a job…to focus his energies on turning the offense around by handpicking certain kinds of players for the offense with Randy Mueller’s help.

    Randy Mueller and Dom Capers were supposed to make sure the defense stayed as dominant as they were in 2006, or maybe even get better with the addition of big money Joey Porter. Randy Mueller and Keith Armstrong were supposed to make the special teams good, especially with the aid of Ted Ginn Jr. at the #9 overall pick.

    Did the defense have to deal with injuries? Sure. But, only one was to a major player…Zach Thomas. And, the D was pretty poor before they lost Zach. They lost two starting safeties. Big deal. The guy they replaced Renaldo Hill with turned out to be flat out better. So they lose Yeremiah Bell and have to roll on with a parade of replacements. Big deal. Other teams lose a safety and roll on like it’s nothing. In 2006 the Patriots played something ridiculous like 11 different players at safety throughout the year. You didn't see them complaining as they went to the AFC Championship game and came a Deion Branch away from winning it all.

    Did the special teams have to deal with injuries? Not many and certainly no major ones, since the kickers and Ginn all stayed healthy.

    But on the offense they had to deal with the loss of the trifecta, the starting QB, the #1 receiver, and the franchise tailback. They had at least one of the three playing through seven games in 2007. In those seven games, the offense alone (not even counting the 7 points scored by Jason Taylor) scored 21.3 points per game, amassed 333.1 yards per game, and were gaining yardage at 5.5 yards per play. Do you realize what an improvement that was over the debacle of 2006? But then we lose the starting QB, Randy Mueller trades away Chris Chambers, and Ronnie Brown goes down hurt. To make matters worse, Cameron is flatly pressured straight from the owner to start a rookie quarterback, and the rash of injuries never really stopped, as Jesse Chatman gets banged up and has to be replaced with Samkon Gado and Lorenzo Booker.

    They also had to play two games on two of the muddiest, strangest fields the NFL has seen in the last decade (the London pitch and the ridiculous Pittsburgh peat bog), and the other side didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard on those fields either (total 16 points) against a pretty bad Miami defense. Miami scored 10 points in the two games, one with a rookie QB.

    So tell me, who failed to do their jobs here?

    Cameron is brought onto this team. He’s handed a defensive coordinator and coaching staff, and a special teams coach, none of which were his choosing. You see, that was part of the package. Cameron wasn't going to be hired period if he didn't say he wanted to keep those things in place. Nice of the Dolphins, by the way, to make that defensive coordinator more highly paid than Cameron himself. Nice touch. They give Randy Mueller a full GM title and tell Randy and Dom to handle the defense, Randy and Keith to handle the special teams, and Cameron to rebuild the offense using Randy as a tool to do so. Until a devastating trio of losses that would send ANY offense into the tank for the rest of the season, Cameron was doing just that. Except, they were still losing games…because none of the other three main guys were doing THEIR jobs. So what has to happen? Cameron has to take his eye off the ball, he has to stop paying so much attention to the offense and try and figure out a way to strengthen up the defense and special teams, because the other three main players in your organization refuse to do their jobs. Oh and by the way we’re also taking away your starting quarterback, #1 receiver and franchise tailback. No biggie.

    Could better coaching have gotten us a few more wins, maybe a 3-13 record? Maybe. It is speculation, because as many things as people try to ferret out to criticize about Cameron's coaching decisions, EVERY coach, Belichick on down, makes bad decisions that cost games. We have no basis or framework to evaluate whether Cameron made more than his share or not. But, even so, shouldn't we expect that a rookie head coach would make a little more than his share of rookie mistakes?

    Seriously. How can we Miami fans sit here with a straight face and defend John Beck, defend Ted Ginn Jr., say they’re rookies and of course they’ll be good pros (of course!), and that you shouldn’t expect a rookie to be, as a rookie, what he could be as a veteran…and then we turn around and brazenly say “Well obviously Cameron proved he’s not a good coach.â€

    Didn’t Bill Parcells make the “rookie†mistake of starting superstar potential hall of famer Scott Brunner for an entire season over Phil Simms? Oh wait, I think Simms turned out to be the superstar potential hall of famer. Didn’t Bill Belichick make “rookie†mistakes all over the place in Cleveland? Wasn't the conclusion of his Cleveland career heralded by the Cleveland area sports writers as the end of one of the most shameful eras in Cleveland sports history?

    Didn’t those two use their experiences and learn from them, and get better?

    And why did we fire Cameron? One reason. He’s never coached with Parcells before. That’s it, period.

    As KB21 has pointed out, Parcells has already lied once since taking the Miami job. He said he came to this job with no preconceived notions about what he needs to do at GM and HC. He lied about that. He never once even sat down and spoke to Randy Mueller, and tried to figure out if this was a guy he could work with on personnel issues. He just fired him, of course in very cowardly fashion not even bothering to tell the guy until everyone else in the office already knew it and indeed rumors say employees had even helped remove Mueller’s belongings from his office over the weekend before the Monday on which he was fired. So, Randy shows up to work on Monday, his stuff is packed, everyone but him knows he’s fired. Nice touch, Bill.

    Who then does Bill hire? Jeff Ireland. The guy that Bill has been working with for the last four years. Oh, he went ahead and interviewed a minority candidate so that Harry Carson wouldn’t be whining at him about the “spirit†of the Rooney Rule (thanks Art She-, I mean Joey Clinkscales), but it was Ireland the whole time and everyone knew it. Yeah, I’m sure Bill had NO preconceived notions about the GM, job. Sure. And I’ve got some books to sell you on how to make tons of $$$ flipping real estate. Seriously, contact me.

    And you know what burns me? Bill isn’t going to conduct any league-wide search for the HC job. He isn’t going to hire the best man for the job. He didn’t with the GM position, so why would he do it with the HC position? Do I really like Jeff Ireland? Absolutely. Might there have been someone better for the job out there? Absolutely. I see Arthur Blank is talking to Tom Heckert, Jr about becoming Atlanta's full control GM. Who? Only the primary architect of one of the best-run front offices in the NFL over the last 7 years. Wonder if Bill ever gave him a call? Nope. I’m positive he didn’t. Why? Never worked with him.

    So who will be in line for the head coaching job? Jason Garrett’s a red hot name, long been considered head coaching material five years before he was even done playing the game. Princeton grad. He’s only guiding one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen. He had everyone in the Dolphins organization raving about his future as a head coach. He had people in the Giants and Cowboys organizations doing the same. Gonna give him a call, Bill?

    Nope.

    Why?

    Never worked with him. Instead we get Tony Sparano, who has never even held the offiical title of offensive coordinator, and is also a first time coach. Oh! Or maybe we'll get Todd Bowles! Yeah, that's a move to get behind!

    Welcome to Bill Parcells football, where instead of looking for the best person for the job period, you look for the best person for the job among the small field of people you’ve worked with before. Sorry Cameron, you may have had high recommendations from Bobby Knight, but Bobby Knight is a basketball coach, he’s no Ron Wolf, and your biggest deficiency is that you’ve never worked with Parcells before.

    So today I’m stumping for Cam Cameron, the scapegoat. Tomorrow I’ll move on.
     
    Colorado Dolfan likes this.
  2. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    *Saves this to see if there will be any complaining from you when the team finally succeeds 2-3 seasons from now under Parcells.*
     
  3. eobms

    eobms New Member

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    thank you for writting this so i didnt have too. couldnt agree more!
     
  4. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    Yup, Parcells has his prints all over the future of this franchise. Its all on his head! Personally not thrilled with what is taking place, but as a sane and rational fan I sit back watch and root for the best.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2008
  5. Swampfox

    Swampfox Season Ticket Holder

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    Well said. I agree with everything writtten here.
     
  6. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

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    Ck,

    You're right - Cam didn't deserve to be made out as a scapegoat for the worst season in Dolphins history. The football world is just like any other business however, and the most prominent and convenient guy will always take the fall for all of the problems. Firing Cameron was simply a business move at this point.

    Seeing the elimination of pretty much the entire staff looked like a foregone conclusion as well once Ireland was hired - for better or worse Parcells and Ireland have a very clear idea of what they want to be done with this team. As unfair as it is to Cameron, something had to happen in order to take care of things from a football and business perspective and the firing of everyone not a player (so far) is how they chose to do it. Now we get to wait and see if it was a smart move.
     
  7. sabanhater

    sabanhater New Member

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    nice post, CK! Very interesting point of view.
     
  8. Finfang

    Finfang New Member

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    Absolutely nailed it CK! :thumbup:
     
  9. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

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    I love logical fallacies in the morning.
     
  10. vmarcilfan75

    vmarcilfan75 blah...blah...blah... Club Member

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    good post CK and i agree!

    but whats done is done. Regardless of how we feel :confused2:
     
  11. Jsbaugh

    Jsbaugh New Member

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    Wow, good post. Hard to argue with anything you said.
     
  12. RonnieBrown23

    RonnieBrown23 New Member

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    i mean the guy almost made us go 0-16. one shanked field goal and away from 0-16. no thanks.
     
  13. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    "Deserve" has got nothin to do with it.

    This is about whether Cam Cameron is a good head coach or not, and whether we could possibly know that after the 2007 season. This is also about Bill's practice of NOT looking for the best man for the job, but rather focusing his searches STRICTLY on people that he's worked with before.

    If tomorrow we traded some package deal away for Derek Anderson, that would be a business decision. But, you'd have a fanbase up in arms at giving up on John Beck so soon. I see nothing but clapping hands at removing Cam Cameron.
     
  14. ncfinfan69

    ncfinfan69 New Member

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    I don't disagree that Cam/randy should have gotten another year but Huizinga turned the keys to the franchise over to Parcells and he has the right to bring in his own people.That's fairly common practice in the NFL.
     
  15. Sam

    Sam Member

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    What the heck will that have to do with the last administration getting booted out for their lack of prior association with Parcells?
     
  16. lbmclean_sj

    lbmclean_sj New Member

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    Cam did a great job

    this is a HUGE loss
     
  17. sabanhater

    sabanhater New Member

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    After an 0-10 start Cam was a goner.
     
  18. dolpns13

    dolpns13 Chest Rockwell is my hero

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    Good call on the Ireland hire by the way.

    :up:
     
  19. sabanhater

    sabanhater New Member

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    Cam did a great job at keeping the locker room in tack for as long as he did.
    Some of his play calling and clock management flat out sucked.

    Spike the ball on 1st down, with 1:10 left on their 10 yard line??????
     
  20. vmarcilfan75

    vmarcilfan75 blah...blah...blah... Club Member

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    injuries and a sucky D almost got us to 0-16. Its Not all Cam.
    how many games did we lose by 3??? 5?6?
     
  21. Dmarino110

    Dmarino110 New Member

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    im agreeing, the tuna is doing with the front office, what cam did with ginn. Hes hiring friends.

    Lets face it, This team sucks, and it wasnt going to get better with a HC that didnt understand the basics of being a HC. It wasnt going to get better when a GM says okay, lets get rid of 2 receivers and pick up a kick returner over a real need. It wasnt going to get better when the players didnt respect the coach. Cam never looked like he got better at his job, he never looked like he grew or learned anything. You cant keep a man that doesnt learn or grow.
     
  22. ncfinfan69

    ncfinfan69 New Member

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    "Instead we get Tony Sparano, who has never even held the offiical title of offensive coordinator, and is also a first time coach." This could also be said of Mike Singletary and Jim Caldwell both of whom are held in high esteem by the teams that are searching for a head coach.
     
  23. Nublar7

    Nublar7 Senior Member

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    I am really going to miss Cameron's one win a year.
     
  24. Dorfdad

    Dorfdad Well-Known Member

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    Great post CK, BUT your looking at this to logically and not in the real world terms.

    Im not a wordsmith but I would like to tell you that yes everyone was supposed to do these things, but who was watching the chickens while the foxes were supposed to be off in the fields frolicing?

    Everyone was reporting to Wayne who has proven he is NOT a football guy. Everyone now will fall under the eye of a football GURU.

    We also need to remmember that this team regarldess of the effort out forth did not respect or want to play for this coach, he spent his days surfing websites, and had more than his share of BAD coaching moves in each and every game..

    Do you think Free-Agents are seeking to play for Cameron in Miami? Not hardley they know what the current players are saying and they would stay clear even for top dollar. Now we have a shot at some of them.

    Blame Cameron? No I don't he was brought into a situation where the Defensive coach, GM and staff was pretty much picked for him prior to coming in. Cam will get a shot again, but not here and Im fine with that. As a coordinator he was fine in San Diego but he had alot of pieces in place and had 1 job. Maybe the head coach cap is a bit much for the man...

    Bill is not tying his sucess to anyone that was here before him. This is BILLS team now, wayne does nothing but pay the checks now, so Bill will be crafting an organization that has synergy from top to bottom. Everyone will be on the same page and no ill feelings will be left to linger..
     
  25. BigDogsHunt

    BigDogsHunt Enough talk...prove it!

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    FACT: IRELAND stated in the Press Conf that he and Parcells didnt know Cameron that well and therefore didnt want to waste time getting to know him, and rather feel more comfortable hiring a HC that shares their mindset ("philosophical opinions").

    When asked what they were, he says he cant list them, rather you will see them, simply stated these (a culture):
    1) Strong Character
    2) Passionate Players
    3) Prototypical Players

    www.miamidolphins.com
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2008
  26. SuperMarksBros.

    SuperMarksBros. Active Member

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    lol.

    Parcells wants to bring his guys to the organization with him. This is no different than Cameron bringing in Trent Green to be his starting qb. At least Parcells didnt leave Cameron hanging like Cameron did with Culpepper.
     
  27. His'nBeatYour'n

    His'nBeatYour'n Glass Ceiling Repairman

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    CK, I couldn't more strongly disagree with a lot of the points you made. But you articulated them all so well, I have to take my hat off too you.
    Great article.
    :thumbup:
     
  28. marco_r31

    marco_r31 New Member

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    YOU made some nice points im not going to judge the move rigth now im going to judge it in september.
     
  29. Ralphthedog

    Ralphthedog New Member

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    But with Parcells mentoring Sparano, he will have a better chance of succeeding that Cam did.

    I see Parcells being the guy who mentors Ireland and Sparano into being similar to him. They are hard working and dedicated people, It will be interesting to see how well the parcells era works out.

    RTD:trytofly:
     
  30. lbmclean_sj

    lbmclean_sj New Member

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    yes we have all the time in the world to get to know Cam

    lets put off the HC search to March, while we have tea and play golf with Cam
     
  31. sabanhater

    sabanhater New Member

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    It'll be hard...... but we all just have to try. :sad:
     
  32. emocomputerjock

    emocomputerjock Senior Member

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    Those clapping hands are part of the reason why Cameron is gone and why Parcells and Ireland can make the huge, blow up the organization changes that they have this quickly. Cam is going to be the figurehead for everything that has gone wrong with the organization over the past 10 years when in all honesty he should have gotten one more year. That Cam was already identified as the problem made Parcell's agenda that much easier to execute. Whether or not Cam is a good coach is something that we can't make a decision on based upon his past year, and something that we certainly won't be able to know as an organization for next year. Cam deserved a bit of patience, and he didn't get it.
     
  33. NJL52

    NJL52 New Member

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    Ughh....I say the same things a few months ago and get flamed to shreds. A guy with a name (CK) says it and people say "thank you." Bleh...
     
  34. dolpns13

    dolpns13 Chest Rockwell is my hero

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    me too, it felt like a superbowl win
     
  35. psingh01

    psingh01 New Member

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    We brought in Cam because he was everything Saban wasn't. Apparently that is not what the fans wanted....
     
  36. Dtronic

    Dtronic Season Tickets Sec. 150

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    So you wanted to keep Cam??
    Is that what you're saying???
     
  37. ncfinfan69

    ncfinfan69 New Member

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    True. But I wasn't dissing Sparano only making the point that the original poster of this thread was making a criticism of Sparano that wasn't really fair even if the rest of his post made some legitimate points.
     
  38. nosoapradio

    nosoapradio Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    CK,
    I typically agree with the majority of your posts, but I can't get behind you on this one.

    I just don't think Cam did a good job this year.

    You cite injuries, well Buffalo had more injuries than we did and Jauron managed to win 7 games with mediocre QB's and a rookie RB.

    I didn't like what I saw in the first game against the Skins. We heard throughout training camp about Cam's handling of the veterans. I think I remember reading how he didn't work them hard because he wanted to limit injuries during the regular season. Well, I remember in the first 5 games seeing our team sucking wind with their hands on their hips in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Who's to say that the lack of being in "game shape" didn't contribute to some of our woes and injuries (I know, speculation).

    As for Bill hiring staff he worked with...I don't have a problem with this. It happens in every industry in every field. I trust in his football knowledge and would prefer him choosing a staff that he has seen first hand who can get the job done, rather than someone who gives good interviews.

    Yes the handling of Mueller's firing was not too professional (I actually liked him), but I like what I see in Ireland and believe in his ability to spot talent. As for the Tom Heckert, Jr comment, Huizinga chose Parcells to right this ship. Parcells has never left a team in worse shape than when he got there, in fact he's actually put the pieces in place for future success.

    Yes, giving Cam just one year might not have been fair, but it's also not fair for my team to go 1-15 (a poor play call and missed FG away from 0-16). In my whole life I have never seen it so bad. It's time to tear it down and rebuild it.

    As long as it's not Tice, I will be happy with Bill's choice at HC. This is his swan song, and one would hope he makes damn sure that he does a good job.

    -NSR
     
  39. wpgfishfan

    wpgfishfan Member

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    Cam was the HEAD coach and did a poor job. As an Offensive Co-ordinator he did OK

    Head coaching is a leadership postion that he did not seem to do well at

    I am happy he is gone but I will miss his play-calling. He was innovative and will be missed on this end and whoever picks him up as an OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR will get one of the best in the league
     
  40. sabanhater

    sabanhater New Member

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    too bad you can't demote the head coach. I would have kept him as OC. He probably wouldn't want to stay, but that's a different story.
     

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