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First True Rebuild Of Dolphins Team Since 1983

How many years before Coach Flores gets Miami to the post-season?

  • 2019

    Votes: 1 1.5%
  • 2 years

    Votes: 25 36.8%
  • 3 years

    Votes: 32 47.1%
  • 4 Years

    Votes: 6 8.8%
  • 5 years

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • He won't

    Votes: 4 5.9%

  • Total voters
    68
I don't by the whole pats assistants history mattering all that much. History does matter I agree, but those were different guys in different situations so it has minimal bearing on Flores coming into Miami with a front office intent on a full rebuild.

Patricia for instance walked into a similar situation with the Lions that we were in during Tannehill years - "almost there - let's try a new head coach". Plus Patricia just seems to have a very different mindset to Flores. Just one example of course but illustrates my point.

Edit: 2 years seems doable but I won't be up in arms if it takes 4 - I just want to see signs of the solid foundation we are supposed to be building.
 
Year 1 of the Flores era we make the playoffs. Much to build on next year.
 
Nice write up, t brought memories of when was growing up cheering for my beloved Phins. One thing though, Dwight Stevenson was drafted on the 2nd round out of Alabama in 1980. He was a teamate of Bob Baumhower (who we drafted 3 years before him). And yes he did play in the superbowl in 1982.
 
You are absolutely correct. The last time the phins were rebuilding were when we were a new franchise team. Trying to put some sort of logic on a complete rebuild as some sort of success formula is ludercris. Hopefully this gamble that going all in to loose this year will be followed up with a perinal playoff caliber team will work out but it can just as likely backfire and be a disaster.
I agree. Getting rid of the death weight was the easy part. Many people on this board could have gotten rid of the same players. Now it's time to build by adding the right players. We'll see if they can do it.
 
I have sat back and said very little regarding the Dolphins' moves at the end of the 2018 season. While I will readily admit that Adam Gase's departure was expected, I did not prepare myself for an ACTUAL rebuild of this team from the ground up.

In 1983, when I was a shade under 10 years old, the Miami Dolphins selected Dan Marino from Pittsburgh. When you're a kid, and you've just watched the Redskins beat Miami in the Super Bowl, you only worry about facing your classmates that you bragged of a Miami victory on the Friday before. Then this new quarterback is drafted, and you wonder if he will be as good as WoodStrock. You wonder if he will be just another name in the paper throwing 1 TD and 4 INTs every other week.

As a kid, though, you don't really think about offensive lines, coaching chemistry, and front office competence, let alone an owner's influence on the on-the-field product for the fans. You just want to be able to go to school on Monday (or Tuesday), and brag about how your team kicked *** and that shiny Starter jacket your wearing makes you a winner because your team won that week.

In 1983, a rebuild started with Marino. Then, shortly to follow, Richmond Webb, Keith Simms, Dwight Stephenson, Mark Duper, Mark Clayton, and a few others, became the future of winning in Miami. Even after the loss to SF in 1984's Super Bowl, every FinFan KNEW that we would be in multiple Super Bowl games to follow, without hesitation of the thought. How football has its way with fans, whew.

As that team matured, and as the expected positional door opened and closed on several players throughout the years of Marino, there was always a sense that the team was only a free-agent signing away from getting over that AFC Championship game issue vs Buffalo. Again and again, year after year, the final score sent the Bills, Pats, Steelers, Broncos, Raiders, and others to the Super Bowl, and the Phins were left, once again, to figure out what went wrong. Even with arguably the best pure passer to ever play the game, Shula, Johnson, Wannstadt, and a host of others, could never find the right formula to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to South Beach.

So fast forward to the Tannehill era. Same results every year. Same revolving door of coaches. Same lack of development of players. It always appeared that no matter what, the new constant of Miami's team on the field was that going 8-8 was a milestone. Making the playoffs was the threshold. I know many of you don't remember what it was like to see Marino and the Dolphins destroy a 3-win team in Week 13 to CLINCH the AFC East. Now we find ourselves losing to a 3-win team to clinch elimination in week 16 or 17, or never showing up prepared to play a win-and-in game. The Wild Card game in Pittsburgh 2 years ago spoke volumes to this teams disarray. How could a team with so much momentum get absolutely crushed by a Steelers team that was not firing on all cylinders for weeks? How could you have Suh, Wake, Jones, Alonso, and get zero pressure on a very pocket-only QB? How could your backup in Matt Moore have so much success against tougher defenses for 8 weeks, only to self-destruct against a idle-of-the-pack defense?

I have the answer. Foundation. This team, for going on two decades, has been chasing its tail to replace Dan Marino, believing that the success of the team is dictated by the QB position alone. Ironically, Marino's success was entirely supported by the fact that he HAD to throw the ball. Name a running back in Miami besides Tony Nathan (Keith Byars was a fullback, people) that Marino had for a sliver of time that produced a multi-dimensional threat on offense. The comparison is that for years, John Elway had the same syndrome that Marino had. Throw Throw Throw. No running backs to support the passing game. Then, enter Terrell Davis. Elway wins two Super Bowls.

If this team is to get back to glory, the foundation of the team must be built first. Would you build a house by starting with the roof? As Dolphins fans, we have endured 20+ years of roof before foundation. I believe that to build a champion, it starts with coaching. Period. A well-coached team doesn't have to sign billion-dollar free agents to win. A well-coached team signs the best-fit players that have a billion-dollar attitude for half the price. As much as it pains me to say this, as I despise the Patriots wholeheartedly, Bill Belichik is the greatest coach in the modern era of the NFL. He has done more with less since taking over New England, and it isn't a coincidence that EVERY team is trying to emulate his methods for success.

In closing, I believe that Brian Flores is a good fit for a total rebuild. In most examples of success in business, when the company is built from the ground up, its founders play a role in the company's continued success (Jobs, Gates, Musk, Bezos). Shula was that for Miami for years, then he left. If Flores is given the time that has been promised, then it is possible that success can be rekindled in Miami. The Draft will tell us a lot about how serious this new coach and GM are about "doing it right".

A rebuild is only as successful as the strength of its tools. You could have the smartest people on the planet, but if your tools break down often, you'll just have the smartest people on the planet without tools.

Sorry for the long post, but it has been brewing, and it was time to serve it with tequila and pickle juice.

See you all on here on draft night.

Not sure how you equate drafting one quarterback in the last 20 years mounts to the team placing too high a priority on the quarterback.

The fact is This team has mostly avoided drafting future hall of fame QB’s to build the foundation...In the 19 drafts of the 2000’s this team has used its top pick on offensive lineman 7 times...defensive lineman 3 times...secondary 4 times...2 receivers 1 running back, 1 linebacker and...1 quarterback.

I would argue that is not a history prioritizing the quarterback!

And that is in my opinion the number one problem of the post Marino Dolphins... passing on hall of fame QB’s to draft running backs and busts at other positions.

Shula’s inability to put a complete team around Marino and win more Superbowls was NOT due to prioritizing QB position.... it was poor drafting.
 
Not sure how you equate drafting one quarterback in the last 20 years mounts to the team placing too high a priority on the quarterback.

The fact is This team has mostly avoided drafting future hall of fame QB’s to build the foundation...In the 19 drafts of the 2000’s this team has used its top pick on offensive lineman 7 times...defensive lineman 3 times...secondary 4 times...2 receivers 1 running back, 1 linebacker and...1 quarterback.

I would argue that is not a history prioritizing the quarterback!

And that is in my opinion the number one problem of the post Marino Dolphins... passing on hall of fame QB’s to draft running backs and busts at other positions.

Shula’s inability to put a complete team around Marino and win more Superbowls was NOT due to prioritizing QB position.... it was poor drafting.

Sure in Shulas years we could have drafted better. I would argue that we went to the playoffs because of having a great coach first and a great QB second. Our last Superbowl appearance Dan's M sophomore year the phins had caught the NFL by surprise with Dan's quick release and fast Smurf receivers with the Marks brothers. Frisco blew us out in that game exposing the flaws of a Dan Marino team. That's a one dominisial team with no running game and a tired and worn out defense by seasons end.

Gases team philosophy was the same when he arrived at the phins which made me skeptical and unsurprised when our defense ranked poorly offense stuggled scoring in the end zone with medocre QB play.

Sure Dan was a great QB, Shula was a greater coach and Gase was a very good offensive minded coordinator. The point is though it starts with a great GM and coach then a very good QB can be added later. A well rounded team will win those playoff games everyone desires not just a magical QB like Dan.

Suddenly it appears since we have been churning coaches like hot butter for years since Shula was run out of town everyone and the kitchen sink is buying into accepting loosing is the first great step into success because it will allow us grab a possible great QB. In the meanwhile as you pointed out the issue is the front office.

Sure I want us to be right. My concern with Grier and Florres is did we let Rizzi walk or did we do everything we could to keep him. Rizzi was a guy like Shula who could take castoffs and make them pretty good players. Can't have enough of those guys.
 
Sure in Shulas years we could have drafted better. I would argue that we went to the playoffs because of having a great coach first and a great QB second. Our last Superbowl appearance Dan's M sophomore year the phins had caught the NFL by surprise with Dan's quick release and fast Smurf receivers with the Marks brothers. Frisco blew us out in that game exposing the flaws of a Dan Marino team. That's a one dominisial team with no running game and a tired and worn out defense by seasons end.

Gases team philosophy was the same when he arrived at the phins which made me skeptical and unsurprised when our defense ranked poorly offense stuggled scoring in the end zone with medocre QB play.

Sure Dan was a great QB, Shula was a greater coach and Gase was a very good offensive minded coordinator. The point is though it starts with a great GM and coach then a very good QB can be added later. A well rounded team will win those playoff games everyone desires not just a magical QB like Dan.

Suddenly it appears since we have been churning coaches like hot butter for years since Shula was run out of town everyone and the kitchen sink is buying into accepting loosing is the first great step into success because it will allow us grab a possible great QB. In the meanwhile as you pointed out the issue is the front office.

Sure I want us to be right. My concern with Grier and Florres is did we let Rizzi walk or did we do everything we could to keep him. Rizzi was a guy like Shula who could take castoffs and make them pretty good players. Can't have enough of those guys.

That Frisco team was one of the best teams of all-time with a great quarterback.... they only lost one game all year and ranked number 1 on both sides of the ball....Miami’s defense was ranked 19th out of 28 teams.....no shocker that we were outmatched in that one.

Yes...Shula and Marino kept this team as a winning team... better drafting was needed to go further.

No one is suggesting we don’t need to draft lineman on both sides of the ball... but the number one priority always should be finding an elite winning quarterback when you don’t have one. And build around him.
 
Nice post! However, Jimmy rebuilt the team in 1996, and Parcells in 2008. These were both true rebuilds as there was high player turnover and scheme changes on both sides of the ball. Jimmy nearly succeeded but both regimes ultimately failed because they did not find a qb. The current rebuild is a bit different as we seem to be taking the long view. 2019 will likely be the worst team we have ever had. But if we can get the qb right in 2020 it will be worth it. We then will have a short window where our qb will be on a rookie deal and we will have a ton of cap space to build around him. If it doesn’t work out then expect Grier and Flores to be gone following the 2021 season and we can do it all over again.
 
1983 was NOT a rebuild. Why would you rebuild a super bowl team the following year? We drafted Marino and Clayton that year but Duper came the year before and Stephenson played in the super bowl in 82. The same defense we had in 82 we had in 83. The O-line was the same. Both RB's were the same. The only thing that changed was our QB and one WR.

As far as when we'll make the playoffs? 2020 at the earliest if we have a good draft this year plus a great draft in 2020 plus add some very good free agents.

I said since 1983. Have you ever rebuilt an engine? Plus, wires, coils cap. You don't take apart an entire engine to rebuild. That's a tear down. I guess I could've said transition. All in perspective
 
Not sure how you equate drafting one quarterback in the last 20 years mounts to the team placing too high a priority on the quarterback.

The fact is This team has mostly avoided drafting future hall of fame QB’s to build the foundation...In the 19 drafts of the 2000’s this team has used its top pick on offensive lineman 7 times...defensive lineman 3 times...secondary 4 times...2 receivers 1 running back, 1 linebacker and...1 quarterback.

I would argue that is not a history prioritizing the quarterback!

And that is in my opinion the number one problem of the post Marino Dolphins... passing on hall of fame QB’s to draft running backs and busts at other positions.

Shula’s inability to put a complete team around Marino and win more Superbowls was NOT due to prioritizing QB position.... it was poor drafting.

Because they did nothing to give Marino a running game.
 
I said since 1983. Have you ever rebuilt an engine? Plus, wires, coils cap. You don't take apart an entire engine to rebuild. That's a tear down. I guess I could've said transition. All in perspective
Transition would have been a better word, yes. They used to be mostly a running game and with Marino they became a passing offense.
 
Needs to be no more than 3 years or he will be out of here. Just how the NFL works.
 
How many years before Coach Flores gets Miami to the post-season?
I voted 2 years. We'll be in the playoffs sooner rather than later. Flores will be, unlike most coaches other than Shula/Johnson, a steller HC for us.

Book it!
 
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