oh god, oh no, oh god, oh no.

 

I'm sure Tony would rather go be an oline coach somewhere else, it would be a hard pill to swallow being unsuccesful as the HC and now being demoted to OLine coach or OC with the same team. Its a respect thing with the other coaches and mainly the remaining players. He'll find another job soon.

 

Any head coach would be lucky to have Tony on their staff. He is great with the players and seems like a good guy.

However, that will not be with the Miami Dolphins. You cant just 'demote' a head coach. It wouldnt be a good situation for Tony, and the new coach, whomever it may be, would want to establish that the team is his.

 

He's a great guy to keep discipline, keep morale up as an assistant coach. He'll be part of a SB winning staff in some capacity.

 

I've been wonder similar thoughts about Sparano.

We're 3-7. New England is 7-3. The Jets and the Bills are 5-5. A couple of games and...gulp...we could be out of the cellar in the AFC East...and in contention to for playoffs.

Is it possible? Sure, it's possible, although I didn't think we would win against Buffalo but...there you have it.

Then I thought...what if we win out the season, go on a 9 game winning streak, finishing the season at 9-7? Does Sparano retain his job? I mean...9 games in a row!! Start off a season 9-0 and everyone thinks you're awesome. Finish the season on a 9 game winning streak, what's the mindset then?

Seeing how we've seemed to snatch defeat from teh jaws of victory on a few games this season....and could possibly be 6-4...and with the effects of the lockout during the offseason, I'm really beginning to wonder what happens with Sparano at the end of the season...especially if we win out.

Curiouser and curiouser... :headscratch:

 

I said before the season started, if I were the owner, the only thing Tony Sparano had to do to keep his job was post a winning record. 9-7 is a winning record. It he can win out, he deserves to remain this teams head coach. The odds of that, not so good. I think if he finished 8-8 we would also have to seriously think about keeping him on.

 

Start living with it: there is no way Ross fires Sparano if we finish 9-7 or 8-8. There would be no reason to. Ross would believe that after that first win, everything Sparano and Ireland had done had finally clicked; he would believe that Sparano had put together a great system and the problem had been only execution. The players having started to execute the plays consistently and successfully would also validate Ireland's personnel decisions. The offensive point production and defense would validate Daboll and Nolan. Ross would believe he has himself a good team and a starting quarterback who is posting ratings in the 100's. There would be no reason to change what's working.

 

I don't care what we finish the season out at. An 0-7 start and nearly a year before we win a home game is unforgivable. Goner!!!!!!!

 

You may be right, but the guy who writes the checks keeps saying that he hopes Sparano succeeds.

 

I tend to agree. 9-7 or 8-8 and Sparano keeps his job. Anything short of that and he shouldn't.

 

This is what makes me wonder, when all of us were screaming for Sparano to be fired (well, except a certain group that wanted Sparano retained for their sweepstakes) and every Monday morning we kept scratching our heads, wondering what in the hell Ireland was saying to Ross...maybe he kept telling Ross, "it's going to come together Mr Ross...just gotta give him a little more time".

If the Dolphins win out, or close to it, maybe Ireland was right. Maybe the effects of the lockout, the installation of a new offense, the injuries on defense...maybe all those things were keeping the Dolphins from winning. Maybe Sparano did just need a little more time. I don't know, but the one thing I do know is that we have not only been winning, but winning decisively, not a 1 or 2 point margin of victory, but demolishing the Las Vegas spread. That in itself tells me that maybe everything indeed has started clicking.

I do have to kind of chuckle a little bit. Remember everyone saying the best thing Ross could do for the team was to keep Sparano? So we could be winless at the end of the season and win the S4L Sweepstakes??

Oops! :taunt:

:sidelol:

 

Let me ask you this...had the Dolphins started 9-0...and then went 0-7, would you be calling for Sparano to be fired?

Just trying to put some persepctive in this.

 

Winning out would mean wins over NE, NYJ, PHL, Dallas, Oakland, and sweeping the Bills. Retaining Tony would have to be strongly considered.

 

You mean like sort of a Ron Rothstein deal.

 

I just don't see him as a guy who can consistently match up and win against some of the better coaches out there - Bellicheck, the Harbaughs, Tomlin, etc.

I think he is most ideally suited in an assistant or coordinator type role where he can work with players more directly and is less responsible for gameplanning and game management.

I think he is a good guy, but I will be very dissapointed to see him on the sidelines next year.

 

When have you worked with him to know these things?

 

The problem is that there aren't many coaches in this world that can match up against the great coaches. Not being as good as Belichick or Jim Harbaugh is not a fireable offense.

 

I also think Sparano is probably a good guy and the team does continue to play hard for him. Unfortunately I just don't see him as the type of head coach who can get the team to the level needed to be a consistent playoff contender. As far as Sparano sticking around once he is terminated from the head coaching position. I see no way of this happening. He has two years left on his contract as the head coach. So he will be getting paid for those two years, no matter what he does for the next two years. I don't see him wanting to take another position with the Dolphin organization, even if he was offered one.

I suspect Sparano might take a year off from coaching and he will come back as the offensive line coach of another NFL team in 2013.

 

The sole fact he swallowed his pride and let Daboll come in and change how he does things on the offense made me like the guy more than I already did. Look, he made a ton of changes and realized what he was doing wasnt working. Maybe we were really disadvantaged during the lockout? We need a RT. We need a FS. and we need a franchise QB. I don't think it's entirely impossible for Tony to be a consistent wining head coach for the Dolphins with a few more pieces.

 

The bottom line is it's way to early to be having this discussion. If the Dolphins played like they have played the last 3 weeks and blew out every opponent they faced it would be really hard to say he shouldn't be retained. The odds of that happening - slim to none.

As fans we tend to view teams and players strictly off their most recent performance. But things in the NFL change drastically. Not just from season to season, but within season. Look at the bills in week 4 and look at them now. And we are the exact opposite.

The question was asked by me and others what should be done with Sparano after an 0-4 start. Several people said we should give him to the end of the season no matter what, and I think that was and is the best decision. Who knows what Tony will do with this team with 6 more weeks left. He's got a chance to save his job. Not a good one, but a chance nonetheless. But anything short of 8-8, and I think we have to cut ties.

 

Yes I still would. We have to play a full season not jsut half a season just like we have to play all four quarters on gameday. If we don't it shows a lack of discipline and focus and that falls squarely on the coach and staff.

 

Naw, I don't think so. I think after a 9-0 start...after losing 2, then maybe three you'd be screaming at certain players to be cut, labeling them as garbage, not the coach.

I can remember a few seasons in which the Dolphins were 6-0...7-0 and finish the season 9-7 and no one called for Shula's head.

But then again...I can see this is a whole new different breed of fans nowadays.

 

Because we happened to win 3 in a row? Where was all this motivation the other 7 games? just asking.

 

Tony Sparano is by all accounts a great guy, but he's just not a good enough head coach. Whatever staff gets him after us will be glad to have him around.

 

De, you know I've been one of the ones calling for Sparano's head, but after this 3 game winning streak, it's caused me to take a step back and look at a few things.

1. The Lockout: Some teams it effected, other teams it didn't. I think it effected us more because...
2. New OC: Most of us were doing our impression of the mob with torches and pitchforks for Dan Henning last year and we got our wish. Out with the old, in with the new...but with the new, you gotta have face time with the coaches and the lockout prevented that, plus...
3. We know Henne got most if not all the first squad reps in what little practices there were and having to digest a new offense in such little time showed that we were going to struggle until everything started to click which...
4. Was delayed when Henne goes down with a season ending injury and in comes Matt Moore with obviously little practice time, having to learn a new offense with less practice time as he was the back-up...delay in getting up to speed, not to mention...
5. The injuries on defense that kept some of our better players sidelined.

But to be fair (as I do try to be), you lose 7 games in a row...you win 3 in a row. Still kind of hard to change a viewpoint, but when I look at these last 3 wins...how they were not just wins, but virtually blow-outs, does kind of make me sit back, rub my chin and wonder...did we really just need time for all of this new to come together and have to deal witht he stumbling blocks along the way?

If we go back into a nose dive and lose out, or lose 4-5 of the remaining 6, then yea, Sparano's gotta go. No if's, and's or but's about it. But if we win out...or win say 5 of our remaining 6...and do so in the dominate fashion that we've won these last three? It would be awfully difficult for an objective person to say Sparano's gotta go, seeing all of the obstacles the Dolphins have faced at the beginning of this season...and to finally have it all come together the second half.

I am of this opinion though. Should Moore continue playing as he has been, I think Chad Henne has donned the Miami Dolphin uniform for the last time. Moore's been playing QB at the level we've not seen in quite some time.

 

What are the alternatives though?

Rob Ryan? barf.
Fischer's track record isn't anything to be excited over.....

-IF- the Dolphins keep winning games... I don't see why Sparano shouldn't be considered to stay and keep his job.

 

I agree that Tony stays if we finish 9-7 or 8-8. We've all hated on Sparano at one point in his tenure. The biggest question is whether he can learn from his mistakes and adjust in the NFL. Even Billecheat sucked ballz with the Browns but he learned from his failures.

If we finish 8-8 or better than the picture is much clearer for the Fins. Retain the staff and draft a franchise qb in the 1st round. Yes, Ireland that means trading up and getting one!!!! Oh and get a frickin RT and FS!

 

i will reserve my opinion till the last game of the season and i would have to see a wish list of available coaches before making a decision. all i can say right now is that i love this 3 game win streak we're on and i was one of the silent few that threw in the towel and wanted to suck for luck. winning changes everything! its so much nicer to win regardless of what draft pick we get.

 

Exactly.. if Tony learned from his mistakes, might as well keep him and get him a legit QB.

 

The same guy who went looking for another coach last year without even firing Tony Sparano? That's lip service at best at this time.

Why not take a look at a young, hungry, coach looking for an opportunity? A guy like Chuck Pagano, or my darkhorse favorite, Winston Moss, in my opinion, would be a nice change of pace from Sparano. You know, someone who works smarter as opposed to just grinding away without changing things, as Sparano did the first seven weeks of this season.

 

The problem is that the lip service is painting him into a corner. If Ross is saying that he wants Sparano to win, then Sparano starts winning, the owner would have to go against what he said publicly if he wants to fire Sparano.

Thats certainly an option. But would you rather have Jim Zorn or Cam Cameron instead of Tony Sparano? I sure would not.

The biggest issue isn't deciding how good Sparano is. I think he's an average coach. The success of the team most likely will hinge on how good of a QB you give him. Would I take him over Jim Harbaugh? No. Would I take him over Norv Turner? Yes.

It all comes down to how good of a replacement will you have for Tony Sparano. Someone like Winston Moss could become a great HC. He could also become an awful HC.

 

Look at SF! A suck *** team recently and enter a good coach....................................................... 9-1.

 

And he could also be a mediocre coach. There, it's all covered now !!! :tongue2: :lol: :knucks:

 

These are valid points. I'm not sure Sparano is a big x&o's guy. He may not be the greatest tactician but we have decent offense and defensive coordinators. It seems Sparano's greatest asset is motivating the players. Sparano reminds me of a doughnut. There's not much in the middle but if you surround him with the right staff he'll be ok.

 

Unless you know him personally, that opinion has no credibility.

A LOT of players complain about his micro-management...

Yep, run the ball in a pass-first league...

Yea, he practically soils himself when we get a field goal yet is almost lifleless when we score a TD. Anyone else noticed that???

Poor decision-maker, plays it too safe, and doesn't know how to manage the clock. Not to mention his "forte" is the O-line...

 

WTF? This is what I do not understand. Where was all this motivation during the 1st 7 games? Anybody can be a "doughnut".

 

No way Sparano stays on staff if he's relieved of his HC duties (i.e, fired). He won't want to stay, and he won't be asked to stay. If we win out, and what are the chances that happens? Seriously, I have no idea. Any odds makers in the house? All I know is that is a looonnnnngggg shot. Anyway, if we win out, then yeah...I think Ross has to think long and hard before letting Sparano go. BUT...what if there have already been talks with other coaching candidates? Of course, we'd have no way of knowing. But, if Ross already has a tentative deal in place with another HC, then nothing short of Sparano winning a SB would likely save him.