How much success would Ireland and Sparano have flying solo?

[Nublar7]

First off, this is not another thread about Parcells and his infinite opt out clause. I will say that he is most likely staying at least until the conclusion of the 2009 season. What this thread is about is this quote by Parcells from last week. It just got me thinking today.

I'm going to be with Miami until I feel that the team is in position and (general manager) Jeff (Ireland) and (coach) Tony (Sparano) have enough experience that they can handle it

Is Parcells trying to tell us that he doesn't believe Sparano and Ireland can function and run a football team successfully without his guidance at this current moment? I know this team had a huge Parcells stamp on it last year, but I like to think Ireland had a lot to do with the personnel moves and that Sparano did a fantastic job on the field.

Lets look at Sparano first. Sure he probably got a lot of pointers from Parcells, but day in and day out, Sparano was the head coach. Parcells was not in the locker room before games giving pre-game rally speeches, nor was he at many of the team's practices. In fact, Parcells did not attend any road games and watched from his home in Florida. I am sure the players could feel Parcells' presence around the team's facility, but Sparano was their leader. I would have to think Tony Sparano has "enough experience" to handle being a head coach in this league. He came up one half vote shy of earning coach of the year honors and no amount of Parcells' presence could have got him that close.

As for Ireland, he is a little harder to evaluate. He came from Dallas as their V.P. of College & Pro Scouting to become our General Manager. He had a pretty good reputation coming in and he had a very successful first draft. However, here is where you can really make your case for Parcells having all the power. If Jeff Ireland was flying solo, would Jake Long have been the #1 overall pick? Would Langford from the small school of Hampton been drafted in the 3rd round? Would Ireland have made the trade with Dallas that brought Fasano and Ayodele to Miami for just a measly 4th round pick?

I guess what I am really trying to get at with this thread is that what does it take to "have enough experience that they can handle it"?

Atlanta had basically the same set up last season with little known Mike Smith as head coach and first time GM Thomas Dimitroff. The only difference is that they didn't have a Parcells' type figure overlooking them and they also managed to win 11 games.

Of course a Parcells' presence is a great sell to free agents looking for new homes and it brings instant respect to any franchise.

The ultimate question is, would you feel 100% comfortable with just Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland running this team without Bill Parcells? As I mentioned above, this isn't at all about Parcells' contract structure, it is about your feelings on Sparano and Ireland flying solo. Would they have had as much success in 2008 without the Tuna? How would you feel moving forward with just these two?

 

[CrazyCarl]

I may be in the minority, but I think that Ireland and Sparano have more to do with our success than Parcells..

Its not like Parcells is making ALL the decisions and Ireland just does what he says, Parcells even said himself that he doesnt wanna be doing all that and that he is here to put the pieces in place (Caoches and Staff)

So, I think we will be fine once Parcells leaves.. We have two Parcells guys running things now as it is and I feel comfortable with them when he leaves.

 

[GoonBoss]

Well, I don't think what Parcells is saying is a ding on either of them. Niether has been in the positions they are in before, and like it or not they do bear the stamp of Parcells. BP wants to make sure they have the best chance possible to succeed. I think they would do fine on thier own, but, there is no reason to push BP out the door either.

When I was leaveing A/1-7 Cavalry, it was my first gig as a line medic, I was the Senior medic for Alpha Troop for two years. I was extremely attached to those guys, and, them to me. When I was training my replacement through my last gunnery and, last few FTXs I always found something else to tell him.

Finally, my driver (Who would become the driver for my replacement) pulled me aside and said "SGT Goon, He's never going to be ready if you keep telling him what to do. He's a good NCO, and, a good medic. He'll be fine, and, the guys will be fine."

Right then I realized that I never really wanted to let those guys go, and, I wouldn't until I forced myself to. BP doesn't want to let his replacements fail. He obviously thinks they can do the job, otherwise he wouldn't have hired them. This is just him hanging on to what I think he thinks emotionally is his, until he can pull away and let those guys fly on thier own.

 

[phinfan33]

i think they'll do just fine when he leaves/retires,or whatever he's gonna do...does it help them to have Parcells there for guidance? yes it does being how Bill has held both positions they now hold...but when BP does step down,i honestly think&believe they'll be fine and continue to do good...on a side note...Jake Long was Jeff Irelands choice,not Parcells...BP wanted Chris Long....

 

[Phorever Phins]

I do believe they would do just fine. Parcells is just phone call away

 

[sleek]

Nubular nice thread. I was thinking about the same issue. IMO I think Sparano & Ireland will do well without Parcells and in a way am excited for that day to eventually happen. I think having freedom is what allows a person to grow and become better. Someone can tell you all the right moves to make but until you experience it alone it is then that you can achieve full confidence in yourself. The one area that I think will suffer is what you have mentioned about the player draw that Parcells brings however if Sparano & Ireland do well they will start to create that draw.I think the biggest reason Parcells was so important to us was because our owner and his staff didn't have any clue on which coaches to chose for what positions. Now that those pieces are in place I think Parcells role is not as big.

 

[Zounds]

I think Sparano would countinue to be a good coach, and Ireland would continue to bring in good players. Those wont change. Ireland came up through the ranks in personel, so I take it that is his specialty. As far as general operations go, once Parcells has all the operational processes and procedures in place, it should be smooth sailing until someone else comes in and changes everything. As long as something like that doesnt happen, such as Ross interfering with football operations, the bed is made for good things to happen even without Parcells. Parcells implemented a good system, but he doesnt need to be there to run it imo.

 

[Oraclepz]

well either way it doesnt hurt to be an apprentice under one of the greatest football minds in the nfl.

 

[Ed Norton]

Sparano probably would have went on to become a good football coach but I'm not too sure he would have had a excellent staff like this assembled so quickly.

 

[PHINANALYST]

I think they will be fine without him ... 2 years in the position, you 'should' know what you are doing. Someone should also be able to evaluate your abilities effectively. 1 year is simply not enough.

What I suspect will happen, is that whatever Parcell's did last year WRT football operations - will be scaled back this year ... so he and Ross can see whether Ireland is ready to run the show. Same with Sparano, every rookie coach will make some mistakes ... does he make the same mistakes this year.

I see him gone .... but hopefully, not to another team and another guaranteed $$$$$ - but just to hang around here in some 'consultant' fashion.