It's simply outrageous. Last offseason, we had more money and draft picks than ever. We walk away with Wallace, Ellerbe, Wheeler, Keller (who gets injured), Gibson (who gets injured), Lance Louis (who gets injured), and, despite five picks in the first three rounds, our only starter from the draft is Caleb Sturgis (who is now injured). I can not even imagine a more wasteful use of those immense resources.
Here's what I don't get though. We all knew the guy was...questionable. Even the better part of the people that argued in his favor on this board made "maybe-not-so-negative" arguments, rather than an actual positive arguments...with the exception of a few. The thing that became a popular notion is actually GIVING him all those resources in order to see what he does, and THEN you judge him. This made no sense to me. This is like acknowledging that your brother-in-law is an addict, that he's showing signs of using again but you can't quite prove it, so let's give him the family savings to invest at his complete discretion and THEN we'll see what happens. Surprise! He threw an all you can smoke crack party!
I'm not quite sure what you mean here. Are you saying the Dolphins shouldn't have had all of the draft picks and money in cap space because we had Ireland? Also, why are we judging last years draft already? Hell, I think we're still a little premature in judging last years FA crop. I think Mike Wallace will go down as a bad signing regardless because of his contract but Ellerbe and Wheeler can still turn it around to make it a nice haul.
It's funny how Ireland still haunts the team. Oddly, I thought his FA signings were pretty solid. Not that the staffs necessarily did good by them, but I thought the thought process of some of them were what the team needed at the time. Maybe last year was a bit unfortunate, but I do remember a good bit clamoring over the LB signings. Not all, but a good bit....
Exactly, I never wanted to give him the chance to waste a truly unique set of circumstances, an opportunity for a quick rebuild/turnaround...I knew he'd blow it, hello, the guy was inept. The real question is had we fired him would we have had our pick of the litter with the top GM candidates...? Or would a GM's dream of resources to rebuild a team still not be enough to sway these guys to work for Stephen Ross?
No I'm saying they should have moved on and gotten a new General Manager specifically because they had all those resources at their disposal. It was the perfect opportunity to hire a guy and give him the resources to construct his vision of what the roster should be. There were a bunch of expiring contracts and there was a bunch of cap space and draft picks. That would have been the perfect ammunition to get a new regime started up with the team being molded into their vision what a team should be.
Really deep at Wr, and Landry supposedly ran a slow 40, out on the field his speed is fine. I cannot be to hard on Thomas, McCoy is a pro bowler for a reason.
Ellerbe had just killed it for the ravens. There are still ravens fans upset that he left. I have no doubt when we cut him that he goes right back to Baltimore. And wheeler had a pretty good season for the raiders that year too. Ill admit their failure shocked me.
I semi-wonder if Ellerbe merely chased a payday before actually having good knowledge of what he was getting into? He just doesn't seem "into it" as he maybe felt when he was a Raven. I dunno, maybe his skills aren't used properly?
I think people gave him the benefit of the doubt because we rationalized that Ireland had that money and those picks because of his previous managing of free agency and draft movement. He earned them, basically. Another GM would have made made different decisions over the years that didn't beget those resources. (Or was that Dawn Aponte?) Obviously, we would be in a better situation if he hadn't hung himself with his own rope, but I can understand the valor. Heck at this point I'd guess even if we had Hickey last year making those decisions, we'd be a playoff team.
This may be a can of worms not worth opening, but I also think Ireland got a (career long) mulligan because he really did handle the QB situation almost perfectly for us. Now, I don't know if you can fault him for Parcells not drafting Ryan or Flacco in 2008, but interestingly Henne is the only other QB from that draft who is still a starter. I don't think you can fault him for not trading the farm away for #1 Stafford/Bradford/Newton either. Aside from Kaepernick (who may or may not be better than Tannehill) we actually dodged bullets by not drafting a QB in 2009-2011 (ie: Sanchez, freeman, tebow, clausen, locker, ponder, mallett, etc.). Maybe he should've drafted Wilson, but Tannehill could be one of the top five QBs drafted since Ireland arrived in Miami, and the best that he was in position to draft w/o a trade. Further, looking at the free agent options during that time, (ie: Cassel, Campbell, bulger, t Jackson, t smith, Anderson, etc.), Chad Pennington and Matt Moore were the two best FA options available in their respective offseasons. For all his faults, Ireland did do the best he possibly could've with the available options at the most important position in football, and I think that's why he lasted longer than he should've.
Ireland was an idiot. He destroyed the team instead of improving it and was always two steps back for one step forward. He should've been fired after 2009/10 season with Pasqualoni. All his decisions were bizarre. I think this new guy is better, but he is not where he needs to be. in other words, he is marginally better. Philbin is a keeper, and Ross is right about him, for the simple fact of west coast passing game which is the system we have seen in Miami in a long time long time. even if they don't make the playoffs and have a loosing season, I would keep him, because I enjoy the offense he brings, and it's a joy to watch football on Sundays finally.
I'm with you here.... aaaannd this is where your post went south. nothing enjoyable about a bottom 5 scoring offense. another losing season and Philbin is toast, or at least he should be, you never know with our clown *** owner.
I disagree with you. The most important thing is not to change Philbin, cause with Philbin goes away the passing offense, which is the awesome, unique, a reason to watch and enjoy the game.
As a Dolphin fan I've always disagreed with this notion. While Earl Thomas is good, Reshad Jones outplayed him two years ago, and I take Jones/Odrick/Misi over Thomas and the other scrubs they drafted.
Why would we have to draft the others guys they did? That makes no sense. Also there is no world where I take Jones over Thomas. Having one equivalent season doesn't change that.
Philbin doesn't have that much to do with it. It was Mike Sherman's offense before, it's Bill Lazor's now.
if you think, the choice not to trade for albert and - viceversa - to trade up for jordan was what really killed him: if our OL hadn't been THAT bad or if we have added just 2 average players (not superstar or anything, just depth guys that could play on sunday) we could have been a playoff team (we almost were without any help from the draft, with a pathetic oline and adding a major public scandal) and if we made the play off I don't think he would have been fired anyway, good riddance, honestly. about the game and the season, I am hopeful, but I am a little scared about the running game: let's hope sooner or later Miller breaks one long, at least to create a threat or something a personal disappointment until now is Egnew: I really hoped this could be the year he gets it (the way he improved his weakness as a blocker gave me hope) but it still seems he is invisible in the passing game and it's a big loss, considering how useful could be a freaking huge TE in the middle. For the future, I am curious about what kind of WR rotation they'll adopt, because there is so much depth as usual sorry for my English
well, clay was out and the first TE to catch a pass with the starters was egnew, i have a feeling they still believe in him
You are wrong about that, Philbin has everything to do with it. He is untouchable imo regardless of results.
Thank God you don't own the team, your faith in the coach is similar to the owner's faith in our last GM...you'd probably follow Ross's blueprint and hand Philbin an extension even with a 3rd straight non-winning season.
That's right. The system is good, Philbin is the pillar of it, and we need to install it from now and groom the culture of stability on it. The rest is up to OC, DC, GM, players, position coaches, scouts, etc. I feel we are stable for the first time in decades, and I am very happy about that and the offense, which is all care about in its essence.
I do to...barring a collapse or implosion I feel like we will be improved enough to continue building along this foundation.
Ya I think some are encouraged by the subtle changes in Philbin's coaching/philosophies. I know I am, and I'm VERY encouraged by Lazor and the revamp. I think we have a very strong nucleus to build upon, with RT, the young receivers, the young up-and-comers on the defense, and the rookies on the O line. A few good, depth building drafts/FA periods and we should be a very stout team again...been many years.
And even if Lazor does not work out, Philbin will bring in another guy who will keep the general idea of the passing game to improve it. And same goes for receivers and QBs. I am completely against cutting that pillar of stability and offense, even if we go 0-16. That's how much I am down with his general concept and do not want any other HC here, the Harbaughs of the worls, the Pettines, Loves etc. To me, Philbin has delivered what he promised as far as general concepts, and those sooth my sports soul, I am good.
