The key to the rest of the season will be if the players will play for this staff. Judging by the late game performances the past two weeks, I dont think so. They've lost faith, or perhaps never had it to begin with.
Now, normally on a good team the players have enough heart, pride, and leadership to play for themselves, even if the coaching sux (they then secretly goto the owners and ask for a new coach). But, the Dolphins don't have enough solid franchise-type leadership to pull that off. No one is really there to take ownership; almost like EVERYONE is a journeyman.
Most everyone is a castoff, introverted (or some social disorder), quiet, retiring on Sobe, or just passing through. A typical Parcells-like team; just sit there, do your job, and shutup. Ok, that's nice... but when the front office fails there's no one left to take over.
See how Ray Lewis takes over his team when needed? That's what we need in Miami... good luck with that
As for personnel decisions, Miami has a history of playing it safe in the draft and FA. They want guys who can play immediately (with little coaching), but dont want to invest in playmakers. They then dont gameplan for the talent/situation they have; they're just vanilla (as every opposing team has said about the dolphins). This philosophy has produced crap players every year even when the players should do well.
You need firey, explosive young talent on teams and beasts who will take responsibility. You then supplement that with late-round talent that fits what you're trying to do, then coach em up. You DONT consistently play it safe every year, year after year after year like you're just trying to keep your job.
As for coaching/GM? The owner needs to have a meeting with the Captains, sit em down, and ask them truthfully what the team needs. Owner then needs to go out and produce the solution, then the players can own up to the choice. Owners like Kraft, Jones, and Blank (as you saw tonite) are hands-on enough to get stuff like that done. Ross?? he's just your typical Miami scumbag developer that gives f*ckall about the players really. EVERY SoFla ownership is like this, 'cept for Mickey and that's only because his father died and he took personal direct interest/control of the team... practically breaking himself in the process rebuilding the team and building the brand.
Done? I've been done since Huizenga took ownership... pfft You "homers" from the past 20yrs. have always been a joke to me actually. :err: I never, EVER, expected this franchise to return to the ways of Joe Robbie. The culture just hasn't been there. And this is not my opinion, it's just facts as they've been told to me year after year from guys who came through the organization. MadDog (RIP) alluded to this many many times even on the radio occasionally, which got him into trouble and eventually fired.
JJ gave faint hope but then lost his players after slave-driving them into the ground before the blowout Bills loss... then cited "burnout" as his reason for retiring, but not after taking Marino down too soon in his career. Huizenga then proceeded to allow the team to decline (washing his hands of the team) whilst he raked it in at the gate and from the Marlins lease. Simple as that.
It's all basically up to Ross. He'll either be the ridiculous showman scumbag like he seems to be, or he'll be a true sportsman NFL owner. Dont bet on the latter.
