Lack of Internal Evaluation is at the Forefront of Miami's Issues

[DKphin]

In the NFL, it is all about establishing a culture. Culture is defined as follows:

"The arts, customs, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other group."

The culture of an NFL franchise is a complicated thing. It is not built overnight, and doesn’t come without its flaws. Eddie DeBartolo Jr. built the 49ers into what he referred to as a "first class organization," caring for and treating players like family. However, this led to expectations that tore through Eddie DeBartolo’s relationship with revolutionary head coach Bill Walsh. The New England Patriots have created the "do your job" culture, doing whatever it takes to win. However, we have seen how that way of life led to conflicts with the NFL’s rulebook. The Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s wanted to be kings both on and off of the field, which led to a lifestyle followed by many players that ended up creating several issues for themselves due to various negative indulgences.
There is no ideal culture in the NFL. However, teams do not succeed without some semblance of culture. By having a consistent set of actions and procedures, franchises can make sure that they find the correct formula in which to succeed.
In football, change is not conducive to success; we have seen this with the Miami Dolphins. The team is constantly changing leadership, which leads to a consistent shift in culture. There is no foundation to build upon in the front office.
This lack of foundation in the front office actually has managed to manifest itself on the field in Miami.
No two figures look at a player in the same way throughout the NFL. This is especially true of the coaches and executives that have marched in mass numbers through the doors of the Dolphins’ facility in Davie. Everyone has a different idea as to how the team should be built, and how the players should be utilized. This is not a statement that any one individual’s ideas were better than anyone else’s in Miami. In all honesty, nobody’s ideas led to success. However, the sheer number of opinions in the ears of decision makers has led to a major issue on the field in terms of talent evaluation.

For the Miami Dolphins, one of the biggest issues has been a lack of internal personnel knowledge. The team does not even know what they have on their own roster. This is where issues arise, as the organization creates expectations that are unrealistic or unattainable for a player, they are left with someone in a role they are not fit to occupy.

http://www.thephinsider.com/2016/2/...on-is-at-the-forefront-of-the-dolphins-issues

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

There's a lot of truth there. A lot has been made of the fact that Miami hasn't been able to find the right coach for nearly 20 years. That's an issue for sure. But I think a big question that hasn't been answered for me is the scouting department. Specifically, I'd like to know how scouts are evaluated because the Dolphins have missed so often in this regard. I feel that's part of the internal problem.

Looking over some of the big misses is really depressing. It's not even just about missing on a prospect, but what the team got instead. For example, IMO the Dolphins missed on Vince Wilfork, but at least they drafted Vernon Carey who was a good player.

In the case of Drew Brees, Miami got Fletcher. In the case of Randy Moss the team got John Avery. Instead of Rey Lewis, the Dolphins drafted Darryl Gardener. Those are huge misses, where instead of getting Hall of Fame players, the team got almost nothing.

 

[AJ Duhe]

I think the lack of foresight on talent evaluation has consistently been one of the the team's problem in building a consistent winner, but I've been far more concerned with the inability of the past coaches to pull performance from imperfect talent. This is what Belichick does consistently. He also has an absolute value scheme for specific players and he doesn't break his own rules

 

[SCLSU Mud Dogs]

I feel like the only threads you post are the ones that take a large, steamy dump on the Dolphins.

 

[Highzenga]

This post is on point. We have lacked a culture and an identity since jimmy left. Simply, there has been constantly too many cooks in the kitchen.

 

[dlockz]

There's a lot of truth there. A lot has been made of the fact that Miami hasn't been able to find the right coach for nearly 20 years. That's an issue for sure. But I think a big question that hasn't been answered for me is the scouting department. Specifically, I'd like to know how scouts are evaluated because the Dolphins have missed so often in this regard. I feel that's part of the internal problem.

Looking over some of the big misses is really depressing. It's not even just about missing on a prospect, but what the team got instead. For example, IMO the Dolphins missed on Vince Wilfork, but at least they drafted Vernon Carey who was a good player.

In the case of Drew Brees, Miami got Fletcher. In the case of Randy Moss the team got John Avery. Instead of Rey Lewis, the Dolphins drafted Darryl Gardener. Those are huge misses, where instead of getting Hall of Fame players, the team got almost nothing.

The first two are good examples but Lewis was not that highlly rated at the time. Gardner was considered a steal and was a good player for the dolphins he just never developed into the stud many thought he would be. I would take Darryl Garnder and Zach Thomas any day over Ray Lewis.
What hurt us that year was we had alot of picks with alot of misses. Dorien Brew and Kirk Pointer were huge secondary misses.

---------- Post added at 04:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:06 AM ----------

This post is on point. We have lacked a culture and an identity since jimmy left. Simply, there has been constantly too many cooks in the kitchen.

Actually Jimmy was eroding the culture on the team and his constantly throwing Marino under the bus didnt help. Johnson was a good football coach with a horrible ego and that what derailed his time with the phins, not to mention when the going got tough he quit in a second.
Then somehow was allowed to appoint his successor. Huzienga's biggest mistake was letting him do that.

 

[mwestberry]

The first two are good examples but Lewis was not that highlly rated at the time. Gardner was considered a steal and was a good player for the dolphins he just never developed into the stud many thought he would be. I would take Darryl Garnder and Zach Thomas any day over Ray Lewis.
What hurt us that year was we had alot of picks with alot of misses. Dorien Brew and Kirk Pointer were huge secondary misses.

---------- Post added at 04:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:06 AM ----------



Actually Jimmy was eroding the culture on the team and his constantly throwing Marino under the bus didnt help. Johnson was a good football coach with a horrible ego and that what derailed his time with the phins, not to mention when the going got tough he quit in a second.
Then somehow was allowed to appoint his successor. Huzienga's biggest mistake was letting him do that.

You may be right about the erosion of the team...but we had an identity then...we haven't had one in some time now...just a mixture of things ...to see what works , I guess, but we absolutely need to identify who we want to be and then be that team! It's as if every year we try to do something different but it never works...then a new coach and something different ....please pick a scheme and perfect it...I watch the games and way too often it looks like we don't even look polished on the field...very amateur ...sandlot...weak...disorganized...boring...like we are constantly building this airplane as we fly it

 

[JayFin327]

If the Raiders can climb out of the disarray that plagued them, then I truly believe our Dolphins will someday too.

 

[Birdmond]

If the Raiders can climb out of the disarray that plagued them, then I truly believe our Dolphins will someday too.

Sure. It only takes one great draft and a smart approach to FA. Of course this is assuming you're all in on Tanehill............


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SQuinn17]

I feel like the only threads you post are the ones that take a large, steamy dump on the Dolphins.

They deserve all the criticism they get.

 

[DKphin]

The first two are good examples but Lewis was not that highlly rated at the time. Gardner was considered a steal and was a good player for the dolphins he just never developed into the stud many thought he would be. I would take Darryl Garnder and Zach Thomas any day over Ray Lewis.
What hurt us that year was we had alot of picks with alot of misses. Dorien Brew and Kirk Pointer were huge secondary misses.

---------- Post added at 04:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:06 AM ----------



Actually Jimmy was eroding the culture on the team and his constantly throwing Marino under the bus didnt help. Johnson was a good football coach with a horrible ego and that what derailed his time with the phins, not to mention when the going got tough he quit in a second.
Then somehow was allowed to appoint his successor. Huzienga's biggest mistake was letting him do that.

I totally agree with this.

 

[DKphin]

I feel like the only threads you post are the ones that take a large, steamy dump on the Dolphins.

That is because we live in a society that wants to not offend people with the truth and wants to make everyone fell good rather than telling them what they need to hear. Our organization is in the crapper and no amount of sugar coating is going to change reality.

 

[matt11390]

Coaches have been changed because coaches are not winning. Wanny got a long ride. After him though we seem to change every 3 years because Miami has stunk and us fans have cried for change. Can you imagine giving Philbin 5 to 7 years? No thanks. Let's get a coach that can change that and win then we'll see stability again.

 

[dlockz]

Coaches have been changed because coaches are not winning. Wanny got a long ride. After him though we seem to change every 3 years because Miami has stunk and us fans have cried for change. Can you imagine giving Philbin 5 to 7 years? No thanks. Let's get a coach that can change that and win then we'll see stability again.

People can say what they want about Huzienga but he never kept a coach that had a losing record unlike Ross who has extended two of them

 

[AJ Duhe]

The first two are good examples but Lewis was not that highlly rated at the time. Gardner was considered a steal and was a good player for the dolphins he just never developed into the stud many thought he would be. I would take Darryl Garnder and Zach Thomas any day over Ray Lewis.
What hurt us that year was we had alot of picks with alot of misses. Dorien Brew and Kirk Pointer were huge secondary misses.

---------- Post added at 04:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:06 AM ----------



Actually Jimmy was eroding the culture on the team and his constantly throwing Marino under the bus didnt help. Johnson was a good football coach with a horrible ego and that what derailed his time with the phins, not to mention when the going got tough he quit in a second.
Then somehow was allowed to appoint his successor. Huzienga's biggest mistake was letting him do that.

Yep, I agree with your point of view dlockz. I loved that Jimmy Johnson had a vision for the club, but I believe his ego caused him to make some poor decisions.
1. Jimmy's personnel vision allowed him to see high-level talent within imperfect college talent...Zach Thomas, Jason Taylor, Sam Madison, Pat Surtain, Daryl Gardener, Tim Bowens to name a few. But it also caused him to swing for too many reclamation projects or to try to outsmart other teams...John Avery, Lawrence Phillips, Cecil Collins.
2. Johnson's NEED to control the whole of the culture of the team also caused him to alienate our hall of fame QB. Instead of continuing to do what Marino did well while blending in a power rushing attack, Johnson neutered the offense and turned Marino into a single read QB.
3. Johnson's staff loyalties also caused him to make coaching hires that crippled the offense, Kippy Brown, or to cripple the franchise, Dave Wannstedt.