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*** First of all, the idea a few years ago to align Mike Tannenbaum, Chris Grier and Adam Gase was not a poor idea. The team did make the playoffs in year one. The ensuing year had calamity after calamity and when Ryan Tannehill elected not have surgery, it was such a setback for so many involved. Then in year three, it truly looked like Adam Gase wanted out of Miami which took the team off of the track. What a crazy turn of events. The prior attempt was close in theory, but more direction this time is needed.
Here is what I would do philosophically in trying to build Miami into a consistent winner.
Tenants
Hayden Fox's Short List
Here is what I would do philosophically in trying to build Miami into a consistent winner.
Tenants
- Streamline the chain of command: Steve Ross just did this. He beat me to the punch. There was too much “report to him”, “I report to whomever”. Chris Grier is a capable executive. Allow him and his selected coach to move forward with a vision and philosophy.
- Franchise Vision and Culture: We are back here again, but this is still the most vital aspect going forward. The Miami Dolphins need to figure out how they are going to try to win football games. What is the prototype player they are looking for? They need to figure out the expectations they have of players on and off the field. Once that is established Steve Ross must let it playout...not for two or three years, but longer. Allow this vision to take place while make subtle adjustments that happen along the way. The Dolphins hit “eject” way too much. Now, is the time for stability and allowing a process to take place.
- Attractiveness of the Job: This is going to be a hard part to this hire. The team, media and fans have to understand that this job is not going to be looked upon as attractive. The owner has hit constant resets, there is no current QB, they pick at 13 this year, the head coach will work under the GM, it sounds like a rebuild...there are not a lot of apparent great parts of the job. Therefore, it is important to find candidates that understand this and despite all of this are "all in". By the way, stop with the names like “the Harbaugh’s”, Lincoln Riley or Urban Meyer. This hire is going to be a man looking for his second chance, that is a grinder...which is exactly what the Dolphins need right now.
- Build the Trenches in 2019: The franchise needs to invest draft picks and free agent dollars in their offensive and defensive lines. Perhaps a young QB comes in this year. Maybe next year. However, whenever that is, they need to be protected. The team needs to run the ball and take pressure off its QB and defense. Build the offensive line. The defensive line was so bad last year it needed to be rebuilt anyways. This might be the time to move to an odd front. All that being said, invest money and picks in the front seven. Build the lines so that the team is ready to build around a young QB.
- Experience- Three years ago, I called for an experienced head coach. Miami needed it then and it needs it now. My list you will see has coaches (one exception which I will explain) that have been head coaches before. This is a characteristic Miami needs before getting to its feet again. Hire a man that has been through the battles and has failed at something. Failure is fine...that is how one learns. Accept that is a part of coaching and will be better for it.
- Build a Staff- This is not discussed enough when backing a coach. Who can build a staff with quality?This is likely going to be a major rebuild job. The HC will need quality assistants to teach and develop. The rebuild will be faster with a talented staff.
- “Be the Adult in the Room”- Looking back, this is my biggest gripe with Adam Gase. He tossed talented, but immature players overboard. Where were his mediation skills in keeping a mercurial talent onboard? Miami needs a head coach that knows the line between a player needing the behavior curbed versus the player being counterproductive for the team.
- Who is All In?- This is another huge part of the job I mentioned earlier. Find a coach that is pumped and jacked to remake this team. Maybe the candidate has South Florida ties. Maybe the candidate is scorned from their last stop and want to prove a past employer wrong. All that said, the selected coach needs to be completely invested in the brand and willing to work under the current situation.
- Be Attractive to QB’s of the 2020 Draft- I wonder if the Dolphin’s approach will be to find the franchise QB in 2020. If that is the case and Miami’s rebuild plan tanks the team to a 2-14 or 3-13 finish in '19, the new coaching staff must be attractive enough for draft-eligible QB to want to come out. Remember, these QB’s are typically not financial hardships. Plus, they know they get paid well on their second contract. Where they get drafted is so important. Miami must look stable and a good place to develop.
- Be a Fit- The coach needs to fit. So what he failed prior. So what he made a bad decision? So what he is not as “hot” as a Lincoln Riley. Some of the “lackluster” hires at the time years ago happen to be the best coaches in the NFL right now. The reason they worked is they are a fit.
Hayden Fox's Short List
- Bruce Arians- Older individual. However, he is a proven program rebuilder. He can coach QB’s and would likely assemble a great staff. I question if he would be interested considering he retired and this could be a tough rebuild. I could see him rejecting overtures.
- Vic Fangio- I like they want to interview him as we speak. What Gase would recommend to him about Miami would be interesting, no? Fangio is the only coach on my list that has no prior HC experience. However, the man is 60 years old and has coached under so many successful coaches with different philosophies I am making an exception. Match him with a quality OC and you might have something. The Bears will be in the tournament awhile, so get ready to possibly wait.
- Marvin Lewis- I think he is a fit. Folks, he remade the Bengals into a viable franchise. The Bengals were a complete joke of a franchise until he showed up. To be honest, Miami kind of has the same rep as the Bengals had prior to Lewis. Lewis has experience in turning such a situation around. He has experience with personnel and could take some pressure off of Grier. Marvin Lewis also has his own demons to overcome in not winning in the playoffs. He will be motivated. He is a successful coach that deserves a second chance.
- Matt Rhule- I think he would bite. He is a proven program builder. Rhule coached a bit under Tom Coughlin. He helped build Temple football and rebuilt Baylor from complete ashes. Rhule is my only college coach and would be a steal.
- Dan Campbell- Campbell is a fit with Ross and Grier. He will need to be surrounded by strong coordinators. However, you could build it like the Titans model. Campbell has grown likely in New Orleans. Campbell was mad when he was passed over for Gase. He cared about being a Dolphin. Players respect that he played. Invest in an OC and DC and he could make it.
- Jim Caldwell- It is gross how underrated Jim Caldwell is as a coach. He went to a Super Bowl with the Colts, won a Super Bowl as an OC for the Ravens when Cam Cameron was fired. He got the Lions to the playoffs and was fired off of a 9-7. Just because he is a quiet man he gets killed for it. He can definitely coach QB’s and has some ties to some current coaches on staff.
- Chuck Pagano- Pagano, like Caldwell gets destroyed for no reason. The blunder play versus the Patriots is likely why. His career was kneecapped by Ryan Grigson and injuries to Andrew Luck. Pagano will be able to bring a strong staff with him. He has experience in different situations and has had success as a head coach. Plus, he said he wanted to get back into football to beat the Patriots...I love that.
- Mike Munchak- Experienced as a head coach and so productive as a line coach. I do not like hiring line coaches as HC’s. However, he has coached in Tennessee prior as a HC and will have likely learned from such an experience.
- Todd Monken- Monken is a super sleeper to many. He has college head coaching experience at Southern Miss. He won at USM and lit up the scoreboard in Tampa with two different QB’s. Monken could be a candidate for an OC job if he fails to secure a HC gig.
- Jim Schwartz- He should get credit for building the Lions up from an 0-16 trash fire. He never got totally over the hump, but should be considered successful as a HC considering what he was facing in Detroit. He has managed a defense successfully in Philadelphia.
