Barry Jackson Article: Great Notes and Insight...Discuss Away

[DKphin]

I can not believe the attention this incident with Martin is getting. This is a grown man not some kid in junior high. Football is a burtal sport and if he can not take ribbing by his teammates maybe he needs to consider another career path.

Incognito said earlier this season that "Mike Pouncey and I took as a project to toughen him up. He's not as soft as he once was."

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy

 

[spiketex]

It seems difficult for some to understand, but Joe Philbin is firmly of the old Green Bay plan that prefers to make the rookies wait before giving them their opportunity. That does not make the 2013 draft class full of busts, it just means that our Head Coach is working off a different timeline to most of the other NFL coaches. I think that the act of waiting and observing before being thrown in the fray is grossly underestimated. The obvious exceptions to the "let 'em watch and wait" strategy are Tannehill and Martin, from last year and Sturgis from this year.
Tannehill was a bit of a known commodity because of his unique situation of understanding Sherman's system before he walked in the joint, while Martin has struggled.
As a Dolphin fan, I'm like everyone else. I want to see what we have in the rookies. But it is interesting to note that seeming likely bust from last year, Michael Egnew, is now getting some playing time and his improvement in blocking is duly noted. I'm looking forward to seeing him catch a lot more too. Lamar Miller didn't see much playing time last year but now he is a key part of the Offense.
In regards to Will Davis, I have no doubt that he is a very interesting prospect. He consistently made interceptions in training camp and preseason games. That is what he delights in doing. However, he is still very thin and his body is probably not yet physically strong enough. He was exposed in one of the preseason games and so I'm totally comfortable in taking this season to learn from the vets, build his strength and hunger. Jamar Taylor is a good prospect who most expected would have got a lot more playing time.
Dallas Thomas sounds like he could be in danger of being a bit of a bust, but let's be patient. My hunch is that the development of the rookies was something that Joe Philbin probably enjoys and he just might know what he is doing.
We had the Sparano years of immediately throwing them in the fire. Some like Pouncey, Clemmons, Hartline, Misi, et el, have succeeded, but there were many others that were given little opportunity and quickly scrapped. A percentage will always fail. However, I am far more comfortable with the Philbin plan of not rushing the rookies, compared to the Sparano strategy of throwing them in and hoping for the best.
Good results sometimes take time - don't be too quick to call this rookie class a bust.

 

[Hayden Fox]

1:30 am on Saturday night. True loyalty to the schizophrenic mess known as the Dolphins.

My poor daughter was sick. We finally got her back down and checked out the new stories for the day. Good reading on a long night.

 

[Hayden Fox]

Here is my take after sleeping on this thing...thoughts in relative order to the article...
* I am not worried right now with this draft class. Let it play out. Plus, it is on the coaching staff to utilize Dion Jordan's skill set. He has made somethings happen when given a chance, but cannot when he is on the sideline.
* The focus should be on the 2012 class. Tannehill, Miller, O.V. and Martin (until last week) were all major contributors. Give a draft class a chance to succeed or fail before making a call.
* I thought Dallas Thomas was a stretch in April and still do.
* A trade for Branden Albert I thought should have happened in the spring and still lament that it never went down. I loved Jamar Taylor going into the draft, but I would easily trade him now for Albert.
* In terms of the line, I would let both guards walk and I have little use for Martin right now. I still want the skinny on this situation, but I have lost confidence in him. I think he should be a backup, swing tackle. Therefore, four new starters might be needed next year. Plus, looking at the interior FA crop, it is bad. The tackles are a bit better. I am sure players will be released expanding the group, but it is not a great year for linemen in the FA market.
* Sign Soliai....let Starks walk and replace him with Odrick. I like Starks on the team, but I would have kept that tag money and signed a more cost-effective DT and used the rest of that cash re-signing our own and helping the line (Branden Albert extension?).
* I love what Dan Campbell has done with the TE's. I would bring the group back next year. I would take a look at Dustin Keller and how he is feeling. He still has a chance, but for a group that I was sketchy about in late summer, they have done ok...more needs in other places.
* From Jackson's article, I feel just a bit justified that it seems as though Joe Philbin is not any kind of a difference maker. Not in the realm of creativity nor adjustments. It looks as though he kept the team together with his demeanor during the losing streak which is good, but he seems to have a neutral affect on this team.
* It is obvious Jeff Ireland will be blamed with the season turns out bad. Not Joe Philbin. Joe is teflon man.
* The part about players not putting in extra effort is a reflection on Joe Philbin. Very disturbing IMO.
* The players that were brought in this year that are being questioned are no doubt Ellerbe and Wheeler. I think the team backed Dansby and Burnett and have not seen them as upgrades. I still say give these two time.
* Short yardage issues. Knew it in the summer. Should have signed Leach...

 

[dolpns13]

Jordan gets less playing time because of depth. Taylor on the other hand gets less playing time because he sucks

 

[gafin]

Here is my take after sleeping on this thing...thoughts in relative order to the article...
* I am not worried right now with this draft class. Let it play out. Plus, it is on the coaching staff to utilize Dion Jordan's skill set. He has made somethings happen when given a chance, but cannot when he is on the sideline.
* The focus should be on the 2012 class. Tannehill, Miller, O.V. and Martin (until last week) were all major contributors. Give a draft class a chance to succeed or fail before making a call.
* I thought Dallas Thomas was a stretch in April and still do.
* A trade for Branden Albert I thought should have happened in the spring and still lament that it never went down. I loved Jamar Taylor going into the draft, but I would easily trade him now for Albert.
* In terms of the line, I would let both guards walk and I have little use for Martin right now. I still want the skinny on this situation, but I have lost confidence in him. I think he should be a backup, swing tackle. Therefore, four new starters might be needed next year. Plus, looking at the interior FA crop, it is bad. The tackles are a bit better. I am sure players will be released expanding the group, but it is not a great year for linemen in the FA market.
* Sign Soliai....let Starks walk and replace him with Odrick. I like Starks on the team, but I would have kept that tag money and signed a more cost-effective DT and used the rest of that cash re-signing our own and helping the line (Branden Albert extension?).
* I love what Dan Campbell has done with the TE's. I would bring the group back next year. I would take a look at Dustin Keller and how he is feeling. He still has a chance, but for a group that I was sketchy about in late summer, they have done ok...more needs in other places.
* From Jackson's article, I feel just a bit justified that it seems as though Joe Philbin is not any kind of a difference maker. Not in the realm of creativity nor adjustments. It looks as though he kept the team together with his demeanor during the losing streak which is good, but he seems to have a neutral affect on this team.
* It is obvious Jeff Ireland will be blamed with the season turns out bad. Not Joe Philbin. Joe is teflon man.
* The part about players not putting in extra effort is a reflection on Joe Philbin. Very disturbing IMO.
* The players that were brought in this year that are being questioned are no doubt Ellerbe and Wheeler. I think the team backed Dansby and Burnett and have not seen them as upgrades. I still say give these two time.
* Short yardage issues. Knew it in the summer. Should have signed Leach...

Jeff Ireland was a teflon man, sounds as though things might change if Dolphins don't finish above .500. Ross being patient which is a good thing,making sure he doesn't make a mistake in letting someone go to early.

 

[Hayden Fox]

For the record, I am not a blow it up guy unless the season tanks. That includes standing behind Joe. However, just look at the issues discussed in the article...they are about coaching and execution IMO more than personnel.

For those that want to can JI and keep Joe, I am not sure what you are thinking unless you hire a GM from within. Any inspiring young GM is going to want his own HC first and foremost. Therefore, you are going to get a lesser GM or a guy that will try it with Joe for a year and if the team fails....Boom, blow it up again and a new HC comes in.

Continuity please.

 

[Shouright]

Once again, until a team has adequate quarterback play, it's very difficult to tell how good a job anyone else in the organization is doing.

Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin's fate is tied to Ryan Tannehill. If he becomes a franchise QB, they'll appear to be doing a good job in general. If he doesn't, they won't.

 

[MD]

Agreed it's far to soon to evaluate the entire class but based on Ireland's history and the lack of performance thus far from Taylor, you can start nudging him towards the blown 2nd rounders we have drafted during his tenure.

 

[gafin]

I'm not for getting rid of either unless we do finish below .500. Who knows maybe if they get rid of Ireland they get someone from Green Bay who likes Philbin.

 

[MD]

Once again, until a team has adequate quarterback play, it's very difficult to tell how good a job anyone else in the organization is doing.

Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin's fate is tied to Ryan Tannehill. If he becomes a franchise QB, they'll appear to be doing a good job in general. If he doesn't, they won't.

A team needs adequate QB play but to think you can't determine how others are playing is ridiculous.

 

[Hayden Fox]

Here is the question I would ask each fan...do you view the Fins issues as a personnel problem or schematic/execution problem?

IMO there are places we could have upgrades personnel...no question. However, as example, when all theses sacks were being yielded, how many of us said, "2 TE Sets and run the ball more"? How many said, "give Miller the ball more and allow the line to plow ahead and can the stretch plays". I just don't think Joe and has staff have utilized the talent they have they best they could with the exception of TE and the work Kaci Rogers has done.

Feel free to disagree, but Joe needs to improve folks for us to have a chance

 

[Ryan1973]

Here is the thing, Ross really wouldn't have to get rid of Philbin. If he fires Ireland and hires a GM from another organization, let that guy decide what to do with Philbin. Chances are he would want to bring in his own head coach and Philbin would be gone. That is the way to do it.

 

[Hayden Fox]

I'm not for getting rid of either unless we do finish below .500. Who knows maybe if they get rid of Ireland they get someone from Green Bay who likes Philbin.

Why do you automatically think "someone from Green Bay" thinks Joe is fit to be his coach. Lazy logic people have around here. Maybe they do have a high opinion of him, but maybe they don't want to "hitch their star to Joe's wagon".

---------- Post added at 08:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 AM ----------

Once again, until a team has adequate quarterback play, it's very difficult to tell how good a job anyone else in the organization is doing.

Jeff Ireland and Joe Philbin's fate is tied to Ryan Tannehill. If he becomes a franchise QB, they'll appear to be doing a good job in general. If he doesn't, they won't.

Maybe Joe and Sherm need to put RT in a better position to succeed.

 

[HarryBagpipe]

Agreed it's far to soon to evaluate the entire class but based on Ireland's history and the lack of performance thus far from Taylor, you can start nudging him towards the blown 2nd rounders we have drafted during his tenure.

Yep. Can't evaluate the class fully as of yet but it's hard not to be a bit wary based on previous history.