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Joe Phibin’s best move as Dolphins coach? Hiring bright, demanding offensive coordinator Bill Lazor to replace Mike Sherman.
His second-best move? Displaying the self-awareness and courage to change, to become more visible and engaging with his players. This is not just window-dressing; some players believe the new approach has made him a better coach.
“It’s like night and day,” quarterback Matt Moore said of the difference in Philbin's comportment around the team. “It’s not like it’s necessarily talking to the boss all the time. It’s a lighter friendship. He’s always around now. If it’s lifting, meetings, he’s always there. I love it.
“You just didn’t have that kind of relationship the previous years I’ve been around here. Tony Sparano was nothing like that. The last two years [with Philbin] were not like that, not anything close to where it is this year. He has done a really good job.”
One result of Philbin’s new approach, Moore said, is that “everyone is more open. There’s more open communication. It’s lighter in here.”
Or, as Mike Wallace put it Sunday: “Just the entire year there’s a whole new vibe. I feel a lot more confident in him. Just the way he’s acting around the team, the way he’s interacting with the players; that’s going to take us to the top.
"I’m not going to say he’s the most entertaining guy. He’s still pretty boring. He’s just showing a lot more intensity with the players. He’s out of his comfort zone.”
Credit Philbin for realizing, as he noted Monday, that he needed to spend “less time overalyzing the tape --- sometimes that has been a problem of mine in the past” --- and “more time visiting with [players] one-on-one, being more available.”
The more relaxed Philbin was on display recently when safety Louis Delmas approached him during practice and playfully repudiated his left-handed high-five, a moment captured on Showtime's Inside the NFL.
“Never left hand, never,... form of respect,” Delmas said. “In Africa or Haiti, I’d cut your wrist off for that.”
Said Philbin: “You serious? OK, I got you.”
Here’s what else players have witnessed from Philbin, besides the unusual nightly bed checks during training camp: He has danced in front of them at least twice --- including once in a team meeting. He brought in a comedian, Gary Owen, to perform for them during the preseason.
He’s allowing cell phones in the lunch room for the first time, hip-hop and other music to be played during practice and eliminated the rule they must wear suits on flights home from road games. He meets regularly with several veterans, seeking their input.
“He’s letting us have more fun,” said defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who came over from Houston during the offseason. “His dance move broke us up.”
Jared Odrick said: “There are clearer lines of communication now and more communication overall. And anybody who likes Seinfeld as much as he does is great with me.”
Whereas Philbin is more popular with his players than ever before, it’s interesting that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has lost some support in his locker-room, according to a report this week from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which cited “lack of respect” shown to his players. Harbaugh is expected to be Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' top target if he makes a coaching change after the season.
Fox's Jay Glazer said it would be surprising if Harbaugh is back with the 49ers next season, even though his contract runs through 2015.
Being liked by players obviously doesn’t necessarily make someone a good coach, and Harbaugh has been far more successful as an NFL head coach than Philbin: 37-11-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance compared with Philbin’s 16-17.
As much as Ross loves Harbaugh, Philbin presumably can save his job by making the playoffs and not imploding in embarrassing fashion in a first-round game, as well as leaving Ross with the firm belief that the franchise is undoubtedly heading in the right direction. Remember, Philbin is Ross' guy and Ross would love to see his faith in Philbin validated.
Though Philbin’s hiring of Lazor ultimately will make more of a difference that his personality change, it helps that Philbin’s bond with his players has strengthened, including Wallace, with whom he has spoken often, just the two of them. Philbin made a point to tell Wallace how much he appreciates the way he has worked after practice the past several months.
### Bears receiver Brandon Marshall delivered a stern message to his Inside the NFL colleagues tonight: "You guys better watch out for Miami."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
His second-best move? Displaying the self-awareness and courage to change, to become more visible and engaging with his players. This is not just window-dressing; some players believe the new approach has made him a better coach.
“It’s like night and day,” quarterback Matt Moore said of the difference in Philbin's comportment around the team. “It’s not like it’s necessarily talking to the boss all the time. It’s a lighter friendship. He’s always around now. If it’s lifting, meetings, he’s always there. I love it.
“You just didn’t have that kind of relationship the previous years I’ve been around here. Tony Sparano was nothing like that. The last two years [with Philbin] were not like that, not anything close to where it is this year. He has done a really good job.”
One result of Philbin’s new approach, Moore said, is that “everyone is more open. There’s more open communication. It’s lighter in here.”
Or, as Mike Wallace put it Sunday: “Just the entire year there’s a whole new vibe. I feel a lot more confident in him. Just the way he’s acting around the team, the way he’s interacting with the players; that’s going to take us to the top.
"I’m not going to say he’s the most entertaining guy. He’s still pretty boring. He’s just showing a lot more intensity with the players. He’s out of his comfort zone.”
Credit Philbin for realizing, as he noted Monday, that he needed to spend “less time overalyzing the tape --- sometimes that has been a problem of mine in the past” --- and “more time visiting with [players] one-on-one, being more available.”
The more relaxed Philbin was on display recently when safety Louis Delmas approached him during practice and playfully repudiated his left-handed high-five, a moment captured on Showtime's Inside the NFL.
“Never left hand, never,... form of respect,” Delmas said. “In Africa or Haiti, I’d cut your wrist off for that.”
Said Philbin: “You serious? OK, I got you.”
Here’s what else players have witnessed from Philbin, besides the unusual nightly bed checks during training camp: He has danced in front of them at least twice --- including once in a team meeting. He brought in a comedian, Gary Owen, to perform for them during the preseason.
He’s allowing cell phones in the lunch room for the first time, hip-hop and other music to be played during practice and eliminated the rule they must wear suits on flights home from road games. He meets regularly with several veterans, seeking their input.
“He’s letting us have more fun,” said defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, who came over from Houston during the offseason. “His dance move broke us up.”
Jared Odrick said: “There are clearer lines of communication now and more communication overall. And anybody who likes Seinfeld as much as he does is great with me.”
Whereas Philbin is more popular with his players than ever before, it’s interesting that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has lost some support in his locker-room, according to a report this week from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which cited “lack of respect” shown to his players. Harbaugh is expected to be Dolphins owner Stephen Ross' top target if he makes a coaching change after the season.
Fox's Jay Glazer said it would be surprising if Harbaugh is back with the 49ers next season, even though his contract runs through 2015.
Being liked by players obviously doesn’t necessarily make someone a good coach, and Harbaugh has been far more successful as an NFL head coach than Philbin: 37-11-1 record and a Super Bowl appearance compared with Philbin’s 16-17.
As much as Ross loves Harbaugh, Philbin presumably can save his job by making the playoffs and not imploding in embarrassing fashion in a first-round game, as well as leaving Ross with the firm belief that the franchise is undoubtedly heading in the right direction. Remember, Philbin is Ross' guy and Ross would love to see his faith in Philbin validated.
Though Philbin’s hiring of Lazor ultimately will make more of a difference that his personality change, it helps that Philbin’s bond with his players has strengthened, including Wallace, with whom he has spoken often, just the two of them. Philbin made a point to tell Wallace how much he appreciates the way he has worked after practice the past several months.
### Bears receiver Brandon Marshall delivered a stern message to his Inside the NFL colleagues tonight: "You guys better watch out for Miami."
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpy
