Honeymoon

[Dubfire]

First let me start off by saying that I bleed aqua and orange. I'm a die-hard Phin fan and will be 'til the day I die. Have been since I saw Dan Marino play for the first time and instead of asking for a Nintendo for Christmas, I wanted a pair if Isotoner gloves and I live in Florida , go figure. If you don't get that, well lemme explain. Dan Marino used to do commercials for Isotoner gloves that are typically worn in cold weather.

Anyway..right now we have been and are in the honeymoon stage with our new HC Nick Saban, Lemme tell you that I am VERY impressed with him and he hasn't even coached a game yet. I think he has the goods to lead us to the promised land. No doubt about it. Of course, there are going to bo some tough times before we get there and I understand that.

My question is, what will it take for you to turn on Saban? How long of a window are you giving him to turn this thing around?

I know at least half of the Saban lovers on this board are going to turn the moment this team falters. I'm giving him a 3 year window to take us to 13-14 wins. That's Elite status IMO. With that will come homefield advantage and so forth. No, I am not demanding a Super Bowl. But from what I have heard and seen so farm there is no question in my mind that we will become an elite team under Saban.

Which side you on?

 

[Nublar7]

I say he should have us in the playoffs in three years. I expect improvement this year and hoping we can get to .500. Anything more will be a bonus.

 

[Dubfire]

I say he should have us in the playoffs in three years. I expect improvement this year and hoping we can get to .500. Anything more will be a bonus.

Come on Nub..dont be so modest. Wanny took us to the Playoffs for chritssake!!!

 

[KPDolfan424]

I'll give him a 3 year window to get us to the play offs- then the following 2 years after that either a superbowl appearance or a superbowl win damnit. Thats fair.

 

[rafael]

For me it's not a time thing, it's a belief thing. I would turn on him if I didn't believe in his system or he refused to adjust something that clearly wasn't working.

 

[PhinSoldia]

we dont have to win 13 games to win the superbowl...granted i would love to win 13 and 14 games....but realistically 12 is all that anybody can ask of him....that would mean that we win the devision and we get a bye

 

[Dubfire]

we dont have to win 13 games to win the superbowl...granted i would love to win 13 and 14 games....but realistically 12 is all that anybody can ask of him....that would mean that we win the devision and we get a bye

I agree with you. My point is that I'm not demanding a SB victory. If he does not deliver that, I'm not going to say he was a failure. I expect elite status though in 2-3 years....A real SB contender and not pretender which is all we have been the last 10 years.

 

[Agua]

For me it's not a time thing, it's a belief thing. I would turn on him if I didn't believe in his system or he refused to adjust something that clearly wasn't working.

Ditto.

A coach does not have control over things like devastating injuries and plain old bounce of the ball, and those things play a huge role in achieving a championship season. We've seen that with the Pats. And, all it takes is a chance once in the playoffs, we've seen that with the Pats as well because I don't think anyone could dispute that they clearly were NOT the best team throughout the 2001 and 2003 seasons in which they ultimately won the SB. So, I don't think a "Give me X by seasson Y" is a very smart approach, at all.

Conversely, if the guy pulls a bunch of numbnut moves, and, like Rafael stated, he refuses to adjust when something clearly isn't working, I don't have much patience for stupidity. Note though, that "clearly isn't working" does not *necessarily* equate to "win in playoffs" - see comment about injuries, bad bounces, above.

 

[Dubfire]

Ditto.

A coach does not have control over things like devastating injuries and plain old bounce of the ball, and those things play a huge role in achieving a championship season. We've seen that with the Pats. And, all it takes is a chance once in the playoffs, we've seen that with the Pats as well because I don't think anyone could dispute that they clearly were NOT the best team throughout the 2001 and 2003 seasons in which they ultimately won the SB. So, I don't think a "Give me X by seasson Y" is a very smart approach, at all.

Conversely, if the guy pulls a bunch of numbnut moves, and, like Rafael stated, he refuses to adjust when something clearly isn't working, I don't have much patience for stupidity. Note though, that "clearly isn't working" does not *necessarily* equate to "win in playoffs" - see comment about injuries, bad bounces, above.

Good post. I agree. Glad to see we still have some level-headed fans here. But you know there is a legion of people on here, who by week 4, if we are 1-3 or 2-2, will be calling for Saban's head.

I know we are in the right hands. I'm excited about our direction for the first time in years. I fully expect from Saban what Ive said in my earlier posts.

 

[unifiedtheory]

This season I'm giving Nick a full pass. If we went 0-16 I might have an issue but that is not gonna happen (if it did I would'nt see the result because I'd toss myself off a bridge before the season ended).

For me it is about improvement. I want to see the new system in place and see how it gets adjusted to suit our players.

If Nick pulled a Wanny "run it every down even though we have no running back" then I'd get concerned.

Reading some of the posts on this board I'm in full agreement with a lot of what I saw...it is all about what the team looks like...the adjustments that get made.

Placing expectations on anything would'nt be any different for me though...I EXPECT and ANTICIPATE a World Championship every season...always have, always will...that being said I'm not gonna be starting firenick.com anytime soon...

 

[spydertl79]

It would take a lot for me to turn on him because I don't think we can find a better coach.

 

[LarryFinFan]

For a run at a SB, everything has to fall into place..coaching, players, no injuries, scheduling, etc...(just ask the Pats)...I don't see that coming anytime soon. But being such a big football fan, just seeing the Fins being competitive again will be great for me. I am so tired of the same old thing that has been here since JJs first season, (playing not to lose), that I won't even watch any old JJ or Wanny games. I really want to see us back to the point where other teams have to worry about us...Saban can do that, I'm sure...