It's not popular here, but, gun to head, I think the head coach is good for a couple of losses that shouldn't happen. I hope I am wrong. One mistake I've continually made is to write people off in football because everyone, and I mean everyone, gets beat. How you come back from it is where the winners shine. Philbin has the opportunity right here and now to show he is a top flight coach once and for all.
The offensive line added some building blocks, but the question is will the unit be ready in 2014? I'd say that's a unit that can be pretty darn upper echelon in 2015. In 2014, probably below average early. Dallas Thomas will be a first time starter coming off an injury when he couldn't come close to getting on the field. Shelley Smith's metrics show that he is a poor pass blocker. Pouncey is hurt. James is a rook. Turner isn't ready and is making a huge jump. You put this all together and what does the math get you?
I will say, I am optimistic about the O line coach. Hopefully he can can maximize the talent and get us on an upswing, and as I said get us ready for an elite unit in future years. I just can't see that as realistic early in 2014 but I can see them develop as time goes on and especially in future years.
This is the year for Tannehill to take the major step forward in terms of playmaking, i.e., game winning plays. He has the running mate in Jarvis Landry to get it done. Both OT's should be at least reasonable. He has an excellent O coordinator. I'm not worried about playoffs, record, anything. Just Tannehill. He does his job and does "all he can do" and then we can do whatever we need to do in the offseason around him including head coach if need be.