How much progress did we make?.......I'd say we didn't.

[NYNCDOLFAN]

Right now we are the 4th best team in the afc east

 

[dolpns13]

They didnt decide to start using Clay until like 5 minutes left in the 4th.. except for that awesome 4 and inch playcall - cause you know, Clay is a FB and all.

Were they on the field those last 2 games? I don't remember a single play from either of them.

 

[dolpns13]

This is the team that Philbin took over:

Offense - Decent running game (Polite was Mr. 1st Down), average passing game, moved the ball well between the 20s. A lack of offensive playmakers (and poor playcalling) meant that they had to settle for mostly FGs instead of TDs in the red zone. They needed a true #1 WR, a seam threat TE, and one or two upgrades to the o-line. Fasano was a good blocker which helped a lot.

Defense - Top 5 rushing defense. Needed CBs who could make big plays and hold on to the ball (Sean Smith!), and possibly a LB upgrade. Another pass rusher would be nice.

In comes Philbin, and what did he and Ireland accomplish?

Offense - Better QB play. Wallace is good, but no chemistry with Tannehill (yet). Gibson an upgrade over Bess. Neglected the o-line for two straight years; the only additions were bargain-basement FAs or draft projects. Fasano is no longer here to help with blocking, and the line has given up a record number of sacks. (Although McKinnie was a slight upgrade over Martin, they don't get credit for signing him. They were forced to do something by the owner.) Clay is okay. Philbin's offense uses short timing passes in place of the running game, so no FB was needed (or wanted) and the RB position was not upgraded (and possibly downgraded). Instead of Polite and his automatic 1st downs, they now can't convert on 3rd and inches. In the red zone, they now get more TDs, but due to the lack of a running game too many drives are stalled and they rarely reach the red zone. This offense has a habit of being shut out for entire halves of games. Sherman's playcalling is possibly worse than Henning's.

Defense - Philbin (and Coyle) wanted a change in scheme, and after the first year the Top 5 run defense dropped to a middle-of-the-pack run defense. For year two, Ireland swaps LBs, and now they're a Bottom 5 run defense. Grimes is a definite upgrade, and so is Patterson (when he's on the field). Safety play has dropped off, possibly due to scheme changes and assignments. Too many times this defense gives up long runs on 3rd and long, and opponents often march down the field because defenders play 10 yards off of the WRs. Ireland moved up to the #3 pick for a pass rusher who was hurt and rarely gets on the field. He also drafted 2 CBs with medical issues that rarely see the field. His late round LB gets more playing time than his top picks. Against NE, a poached practice squad player got the nod ahead of players that he already had on the roster. (This worked out well, but it doesn't make Ireland a genius!)


Yes, there are some upgrades at a few positions. But, what matters most is that after 2 years of Philbin installing his system and Ireland working his magic we get a team that ended the season shut out by Buffalo and nearly shut out by the Jets when a playoff spot was theirs for the taking. I don't see how anyone in their right mind could think that Ross should keep Philbin (and his staff), or that Ireland is doing a great job.

Completely agreed!!!

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:32 AM ----------

And the 10th best team (out of 16) in the AFC. Although the Bills who are the 12th best team owned us this year, so actually I would drop us to worse than 10th best.

Right now we are the 4th best team in the afc east

 

[whizafriz]

Agreed OP. The areas we made progress in this year are nowhere near enough to become a rock-solid team. Also, when I gauge how many issues we had last year compared to this year, there really is more this year.

From my analysis:
We improved at WR, CB (Grimes and Patterson), TE receptions, and QB had some big, big games won (although he also had some bad, bad games lost).

Everything else we either regressed or stagnated at -- meaning, most of the D, the OL and running game, and kicking.
Not a recipe for a playoff team.