FinaticalOne
DieHard FinFan 4 Life
I’m not sure why you keep bringing up the roster as if it proves anything. You have to adjust for the performance of the coach based on the roster they had.
All 3 exceeded expectations.
Flores certainly had the worst roster to work with. Expectations were any where from winless to 3 wins. So I’d say he’s exceeded those expectations.
But now account for Sparano’s and Gase’s expectations.
Sparano came in after a 1-15 season. Expectations for his first season were very low. NO ONE predicted playoffs, certainly not winning the division. Expectations were around 4 to 6 wins. Sparano greatly exceeded those expectations with the roster they had. I’d argue he exceeded them more than Flores did with this roster.
The same with Gase. His roster was better than both Sparano’s and Flores’, but not many people were predicting playoffs. Expectations were around 5 to 7 wins. He got the most of that roster and exceeded expectations.
If Flores turned a roster of 40% street free agents into a playoff team I’d agree that it was a miraculous coaching effort that signals true genius, but that’s not what happened at all.
He’s turned that roster in one that looks competent, which is commendable, and encouraging, but it’s not something so impressive that it puts Sparano and Gase’s first year to shame.
What Flores accomplish in his first year is not to be discounted. And trying to compare what's done (doing) vs. what Sparano and Gase did in their first year is apple to oranges. Flores has a much tougher job than both of them. Their rosters weren't purged when Gase and Sparano took over. They both inherited a veteran roster.
Sparano's offense wasn't working, so he implemented a scheme the NFL wasn't prepared to defend. They gave NE one of the worst whippings Belichick will never forget, and I loved every second of it. But, the rosters are still a BIG difference.
2008 Dolphins Starters
QB Chad Pennington
RB Ronnie Brown
WR Greg Camirillo
WR Ted Ginn
WR Davone Bess
TE Anthony Fasano
LT Jake Long
LG Evan Mathis
C Samson Satele
RG Ndukue Ikechuku
RT Vernon Carey
DE Vonnie Holiday
DE Kendall Langford
NT Jason Ferguson
LB Akin Ayodele
LB Channing Crowder
LB Joey Porter
LB Matt Roth
LCB Will Allen
RCB Andre Goodman
SS Yeremiah Bell
FS Renaldo Hill
For Sparano's team, that's seven (7) first rounders in the starting lineup. A first round RB, a good offensive line with two first round tackles, and a serviceable center who was drafted in the 2nd round. A very veteran defense with an avg years of experience of 6 years.
For both the 2008 (Sparano) and 2018 (Gase) rosters, the veteran experience on the rosters were a HUGE difference and went a long way to their success in their first season.
What Flores has to work with is unlike any challenge a NFL coach had to face, correct me if I'm wrong.