Fox Sports: In it Together

[gafin]

DAVIE, Fla. --

Joe Philbin is still head coach.

Mike Wallace is still the top receiving threat.

They’re just not the same people they once were.

In an effort to make some sort of arcane disciplinary statement, the Philbin of old wouldn’t have allowed his Miami Dolphins players to wear hats during the club’s walk-through. Nor would Philbin have allowed music to blare over the speakers during practice as in this year’s training camp. And he definitely wouldn’t have danced – “Something no one wanted to see,” deadpanned quarterback Ryan Tannehill – during a moment of levity in a recent team meeting.

The Wallace of last season wouldn’t be trying to become, in his own words, “the last guy to leave the practice field every day.” He wouldn’t be as comfortable in his personal life or in the locker room after having left his comfort zone with the Pittsburgh Steelers to join the Dolphins. He also wouldn’t be as in sync with Tannehill, which was a disconnect that became one of the major disappointments during Miami’s tumultuous 2013 season.

There is plenty new about the 2014 Dolphins. This includes the general manager (Dennis Hickey), offensive coordinator (Bill Lazor) and an offensive line overhauled after surrendering an NFL-high 58 sacks.

But it’s the positive differences in Philbin and Wallace that could help push the Dolphins into the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

After a combined 15-17 record the past two seasons, Philbin may very well be on the proverbial hot seat. But if he’s feeling the heat, Philbin isn’t showing it.

Just the opposite, actually. A demeanor that can sometimes come across as chilly as the frigid water dumped on Philbin by Dolphins players earlier this week as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has warmed considerably.

“I think you see a more relaxed coach Philbin than I’ve ever seen before – a guy who is willing to listen to the players, listen to suggestions and put them into action,” Tannehill said. “Last year and the year before, some suggestions got shot down pretty quickly. Now, he’s hearing us out.”

The thaw was needed. The 2013 bullying brouhaha involving offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin reflected poorly upon Philbin as a head coach without a good feel for his locker room pulse.

“Team chemistry has taken a step up,” Tannehill said. “Communication not only amongst players but from players to the coaching staff … I think there can sometimes be a gap. They’re upstairs all day putting together the game plan. The players are downstairs getting ready in their own way. Sometimes, you’re not on the same page.

“Since everything last year, in the offseason we discussed this and brought this to the table and kind of made it clear. Coach Philbin laid out his thoughts and the leaders of the team gave their point of view. It really helped us get on the same page and open up that communication line.”

On Mike Wallace:

“The comfort level he has with the entire program is miles ahead of where he was a year ago at training camp,” Philbin said. “Maybe we underestimated just the sheer adjustment of a player moving from one program to another. I think he’s more comfortable in the locker room and with the coaching staff and feels better about his relationships with the quarterbacks.”
Philbin added that “the biggest sign of encouragement I think is that we see him after practice working on the JUGS machine on his own catching passes, talking to the quarterbacks, talking to the other receivers.” Tannehill described Wallace as a “completely different guy out on the practice field” than last season.

“I see him on the backside of plays where he’s not No. 1 or No. 2 in the progression, but I see on tape that he’s working backside,” Tannehill said. “He’s running all his routes hard. He’s trying to be crisp at the top of his breaks.

“That gives me a lot of confidence knowing that even when he’s not in the core of the progression he’s working at his craft, working to be the best receiver he can be so when he is in the core of the progression he’s definitely going to be right.”

Wallace acknowledged that sharper route-running should generate better results with Tannehill, who on his end must learn to make quicker decisions in the pocket entering his third NFL season.

“If he’s expecting you to be in one spot you need to be there so he can trust that you’re going to be there,” said Wallace, who hopes to make his preseason debut Saturday night against Tampa Bay after being slowed by a sore hamstring earlier in camp.

“That’s how you build trust -- making plays when he calls on you.”

Like in Philadelphia, Tannehill said Lazor’s scheme will “stretch the field laterally as well as vertically in the passing game. Make them defend from sideline to sideline, which I think when you do a good job zone-blocking up front, puts a lot of pressure on the defense.”

Wallace thinks he can do the same.

“I love it just being able to move around,” he said. “Maybe 90, 95 percent of the time last season I was on the right-hand side. I ran a lot of go’s, a lot of posts, a couple different routes. In this offense, I run every single thing on the route tree.”

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ult-in-past-081614?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:nflonfox


It sounds like the team is a lot more unified than it has been in a long time. Hopefully this translates to the field.

 

[PhinFan1968]

I want them to succeed so badly. All they gotta do is show us they can. I think an 1100 to 1200 yard, 8-10 TD performance from Wallace would cure a lot of insecurity about him, and I don't think that's too much to ask.

 

[Rhoadsy13]

A sign of a GOOD leader is being to recognize your weakness & make adjustments in order to to turn those into strengths, & that's what it appears Philbin is trying to do. So PUMPED for the season to start!

 

[LANGER72]

IMHO...Philbin was too stoic and that approach never works. Getting rid of retard Sherman has helped him finally take charge. Having his old mentor around was not good schematically and he actually undermined his authority.

 

[artdnj]

Tom Coughlin had to adjust in NY just like Philbin. Coaching and leadership must be fluid, Joe is getting it. Having unified fun, and passion goes a long way. It worked for the Giants and it worked for Seahawks...it can work for us too. Fingers crossed!

 

[maralieus]

I hope this is team this time. Last offseason I remember hearing similar reports, even some about the chemistry and comraderie of the offensive line. We all know how that turned out.

Sent from my ass using Tapatalk

 

[Fin Fan in Cali]

Thanks for posting bro.:up:

 

[Phinatic8u]

That was actually a good read.