Of course everyone who's emotionally invested in the team, fans and players alike, would like to believe it could've done better than it did but for X.

 

Yet the "leader" comes back...

Yay...

 

Possibly. On the other hand, the team may have performed about as expected, or even better than it should have.

 

This was an obvious sign 2 years ago when they got rid of Dansby, Bush, and Long (the players who confronted Philbin, which Philbin dont like, Philbin is the biggest egotistical monster on the team, its HIS way or the highway)

 

Evidence against this staff keeps piling up. What will it take for the Philbin defenders to finally see the light? Just like the Ireland fiasco before.

 

lack of communication between head coach and players..

super.

hottest seat in the league..better get it done..

Its all about Hickey now anyways, even if philbin doesn't get it done we will have hickeys players on our team..

go Hickster.

 

it still shocks me philbin was brought back.

 

And it's likely that every serious Dolphins fan, myself included, would like to believe that the team has a better version of itself that's just waiting to emerge, if only X could be fixed. And of course it helps if X is a relatively easy fix and is highly likely to yield significant improvement if fixed, rather than something that could take years and is relatively uncertain.

 

The more and more I think bout it, the more I think Ross is going to make Lazor HC at some point.

 

If I'm Ross after the Jets debacle and now this?? I call a private meeting with Joe, hand him a briefcase with X amount of money and "ask" him to resign. This allows Philbin to try and save face and gets us out of an obvious TERRIBLE situation in which nobody can really be excited for next season.

Something has to be done or we can go ahead and forget about contending anytime soon.

 

No explanation there for why we couldn't stop the run, by far the biggest reason for our slide.

Passing the buck. This is what losers do.

 

I don't know what to say about Philbin. The more I hear the more I dislike him and that's coming from a guy that was pretty positive about him and what he was doing midway through the season. I'm hard-pressed to believe that he's ruining the Dolphins or that he's an egomaniac, but I certainly am willing to admit that it's hard to see him as a benefit to this organization.

Philbin was hired by the organization as a Plan B type of coach. He wasn't Ross' favorite but he was available and he was coming from a great organization after which we wanted to model ourselves. It was openly stated that the hiring of Philbin was made largely out of a desire to become an "offensive team." Thus, I'm not surprised that the defense has declined under Philbin's tenure. It's a lot like hiring Rex Ryan. You know you'll have a competent defense but he's not going to do anything for your offense. As a result, the defense is more or less Coyle's baby and he's probably not the guy we need.

On the offensive side of things, we're undoubtedly improved. We've drafted and developed an inexperienced QB that has played better than expected for 3 seasons. The additions of Wallace and Landry (not to mention Clay and Sims) have taken us beyond having one of the worst WR-corps in all the league. The addition of Albert, James and Satele has helped solidify an O-line that was starved for talent. We appear to have a very solid RB in Miller as well. We're looking at one of the better OCs we've had in several years and an offense that has in its first year scored what, about 5 more points per game on average?

The hiring of Joe Philbin has undoubtedly led to improvements in the offense that I believe will continue if we again address the O-line and work on establishing a more physical identity next year. I don't think much of the noise against Philbin is coming from the offensive guys. I don't hear the the O-line saying anything bad, in fact Pouncey defended Philbin a couple weeks ago and stated bluntly that he hoped to see Philbin return. Tannehill likes Philbin. I don't think Hartline or Clay have issues with the guy.

So Mike Wallace seems to be the issue. Alright. But isn't that somewhat obvious? We never should have signed Wallace to begin with. He wouldn't fit in Chip Kelly's offense nor Mike McCarthy's. So why did we sign him? Especially for that much money? To me, it doesn't make sense on a personnel level, nor a scheme-level, nor a locker-room or team leadership level, nor a smart business level. If we could manage to bring in a couple of quality Guards that would allow us to run the ball more effectively without mandating that we do it off-tackle, I would be happy to consider Philbin's work on the offense to be more or less a success.

But again, we come back to the defense. My only feeling on that is that while my instincts are to blame Philbin for hiring Coyle and for allowing the defense to fall apart, it might be hypocritical to do that and at the same time accept a guy like Rex Ryan as a better option. Didn't Rex do that exact same thing with the Jets' offense? If we're going to be fair, what do we say about the 49ers struggles this year? Do we let Harbaugh off the hook? Kaepernick has acted immaturely and has had some horrible outings this year. Do we not hold Harbaugh accountable?

This is why at the end of the day I didn't want to fire Philbin. It comes back around the notion that there are good things and there are bad things. Philbin isn't close to being the worst coach in the league. He had a tough schedule and went 8-8. That's not the crime of the century. Thus, while I have mixed emotions about him, I want to see what the off-season brings us and I want to see how good the team can be with one more year under his leadership.

I don't blame the people who are staunchly anti-Philbin for feeling the way they do. He's not the best coach and he's made mistakes. I think he's done it with personnel, with his demeanor, with his decisions and with his game-planning. That said, we're a much better and more equipped offensive unit. If we continue in the same direction I believe I'll be able to say with confidence that this is the best Dolphins offense I've gotten to watch as a fan over the last 15-20 years. That to me, is absolutely progress on one side of the ball.

Can we balance things out? The judge of justice inside of me wants to give Philbin another year to balance things out. I don't really care if the players don't love him. The game is about wins and losses. I remember hearing a lot of crap from Patriots players over the years about those guys having to deal with Belichick. At the end of the day, that stuff doesn't matter compared to wins. It's all small potatoes.

It's like the Nike adds with Tiger: winning takes care of everything.

I do see a way in which we can win next year and thus I'm willing to keep going more than some of you.

 

It shouldnt have, Ross likely knew Michigan had the inside track for Harbaugh and thats the guy he wanted at the moment. So, rather than leave it speculation, he brings back Joe for one more year and see if maybe Chip Kelly can be shaken loose from the Eagles. That would be my idea of what may happen.

 

that's why the real problem is not the coach.....but I know "that" isn't going to change either (for a while at least)

 

Exactly. But those who see the light are "bad fans", and will get told "go root for another team", while the blind homers continue to stick their heads in the sand.

 

I agree with DolphinGreg. I have a lot of concerns with coach Philbin, but overall I don't think he should be fired unless we have a superior candidate in place ready to replace him. The offense has been built from a position of weakness into at least solid respectability, with the obvious potential of taking a step up with the addition of interior OL talent and upgrades at RB.

With the defense the first 8 games showed that we have the potential to be a solid top 10 rushing and passing defense, maybe a star ILB and CB away from being a dominant defense. Even in the first 8 games therewere times when certain defensive calls had me baffled, and then in the last 4 the defense collapsed. I'm all for canning Coyle, because our callapse in the last 4 games this year and last 2 games in 2013 were keyed by defensive failures.

Basically I see that Philbin is doing enough things right that firing him and starting again will have a greater risk of finding a worse HC than finding a better one.

 

I think part of the problem could also be Ross' ego. He picked Philbin, and it would seem that once again, Ross has made a mistake. That is something he is not used to admitting.

 

He didn't bring Sparano in. Sparano was part of the Huizenga combo. Also came with 1 Parcells, 1 Ireland, and a whole lot of failure.

 

If that really happens, and thats a big if, the sin of keeping Philbin another year will be forgiven.

 

lack of communications didn't hurt us more than our inability to stop demaryius thomas, or to make a play on aaron rodgers at all, or get in the way of the stafford side-arm throw. Didn't cause clay to drop the huge would-be td against the lions, or damian williams drop against the ravens. Communication didn't give up 350+ and 3tds to geno ****ing smith.

this sort of **** only comes out after the fact because saying "the players got ****ing beat" isn't very newsworthy.

 

I find it hard to believe football players are this sensitive

 

Looking forward to next season. I've bought Superbowl tickets already. :woot:

 

Philbins work with the offense?? Did you forget he was going to be fired because he refused to get rid of Sherman.

Nope the work with the Offense is all Lazer and Marino with Tanne.

 

I think that's too simple.

Ross didn't want to fire Philbin w/one more year left on his deal. Ross didn't want to fire Hickey w/one more year left on his deal if #1 took place. Firing Hickey wasn't a necessity if Philbin left, but it would make things complicated to have a lame duck GM helping hire a new coach. We had a hard enough time hiring a GM w/a "Lame duck" coach and bizarre organizational structure. Given that Ross is footing the bill for the new stadium upgrades and won't see returns so quickly, maybe he's being a cheap too. Since the team almost beat a few good teams, Ross saw that as progress (even if it's debatable).

1. Media was calling Miami close to being elite after the Denver game. Lossed a few tough games to playoff contenders. He was encouraged. Offensive output was strong. Which is what he hired Philbin for (supposedly, he's no offensive guru...). He got what he wanted, even if we're 8-8. Again.

2. Ross saves money by not having to pay Philbin, his staff, and/or Hickey because he fired them, in addition to paying the new staff.

3. Organizational structure is uncommon and turned off highly qualified GM candidates. He had to settle for Hickey as GM. Who did a decent job as it turned out. None the less. We settled for the one guy who would have us. If Philbin and co. fail, he can wipe everything clean w/o firing anyone and (attempt...) to do it right this time.

4). Outside of Harbaugh and Ryan, the coaching pool didn't look incredibly strong. And I think he wanted Harbaugh in Michigan. Would of loved to have Rex Ryan w/offensive staff retained, but owell...

 

after the raven game I wrote that I was ready to move in another direction, you wrote whats above in that thread, along with the take that your mind was made up before then and if mine wasn't made up to keep him before the raven game and after the raven game then I was to put it mildly..off.

 

the good news, all we need is three players on offense to be at full strength for the qb...Then defense.

 

Is that before or after they do what it looks like they're going to do, and let Clay walk and cut Mike Wallace?

 

Which three in your opinion?

Theoretically, we need only one. Guard. This assumes Billy Turner steps up next season. Albert, Pouncey, Turner, and James are a solid foursome on paper. Our offense was good enough to make the playoffs. With Philbin's job on the line, we're not getting rid of Mike Wallace, IMO. Hartline is a goner and so is Gibson. Niether fit the offense of Bill Lazor and that saves 10 million dollars. Wallace, Landry, and Matthews could be the starting 3. So maybe, WR. Then what? If Knowshon Moreno is resigned (and I suspect he will be), then Miller and Moreno are a decent tandem. Like you said, it's the defense that needs the most help. Maybe 2 DT's (depending on Odrick), 1 starting MLB, 2 CB (one starter), and 1 starting S.


You know what kind of scares me? Philbin and Hickey are fighting for their careers. There is no tomorrow for them without the playoffs. I shouldn't say that, who the **** knows what Ross will do. But it should be do or die. Since these guys may not have a future, I'm kind of worried we'll see another Jeff Ireland like hail mary. Signing a **** ton of back loaded contracts at the likes of Suh, Murray, AP, Revis, Dez, Deymarius, etc... and ****ing us up ala Carolina. The only one who could stop that is Dawn... And I don't know where she ranks in the power structure. Obviously higher than some GM's thought she should during the interview process... I was thinking of making a thread about it.

 

Clay will be re-signed. And Wallace is only going to be cut if Miami can replace him with someone of talent. Dez, Thomas, Maclin, Cobb, etc... Joe Philbin and Dennis Hickey are on one year deals. Their jobs are on the line. The bigger fear is they're going on an Ireland-esque spending spree w/back loaded contracts, mortgaging our future for their future job security.

 

I like the on paper comment, with this team you never know. this OL looked solid on paper too.

 

I don't know man,
I don't really like Philbin either (based on what we have done since his arrival). The button down white collar approach hasn't been working with these players. With that said though, you have to give it time with any staff. Starting over with a new coaching staff can be just as frustrating as starting over at quarterback year in and year out (The Browns). At this point we have no choice but to ride with Cautious Queasy Joe for one more year, but hey....At least the plays called during the game will all arrive safely.

It is a make or break season for him in 2015, and there is no doubt about that. This team really needs to make a statement next year if this is going to work. We need to win 12 games and make a run in the playoffs. Just making the playoffs and getting manhandled the way the Bengals do every year will be just as crappy as going 8-8 in my opinion. This isn't something that needs to be dragged out any further than it has been so far.

It has been downright miserable being a fan of this team since Marino retired; which sounds a bit exaggerated, but it is how I feel. We are on the cusp of finally becoming a dominant offense if the pieces can fall in place, and we can yet again solidify the offensive line a little bit further.

 

if they do either were fooked