Should we credit Ireland for this defense?

[SkapePhin]

The Dolphins have a fierce pass rush and a stout secondary. As good of a job as Hickey has done to solidify the putrid OL Ireland left here, it seems like all the top defensive contributors are Ireland guys. Just go down the line...

Wake
OV
Starks
Odrick
Jones
Grimes
Misi
Jenkins
Wilson

This is a top 5 defensive unit and a top 3 passrush. Does the much maligned Ireland deserve credit for putting this unit together?

There were misses, including Jordan, Wheeler and Ellerbe, but the core of this talented D was built by Irish.

 

[J. David Wannyheimer]

Sure. Can we also credit him for the hot mess of an offense he put together? He invested so much in the OL and couldn't even get it to be serviceable.

Oh and let's not forget the big contracts to Wheeler and Ellerbe...

 

[Mazinator1027]

Absolutely. People become so obsessed with wanting to see someone fired that they forget any good that person did. Just because Ireland had his problems does not mean everything he did was bad. There is no one else that can take credit for putting the main pieces of this defense together.

 

[Phinatic8u]

Jenkins was a pretty meh draft pick, then he got a good LB coach to teach him up and he's now good.

I will give him OV, Grimes, Jones, Wake and Starks though.

Odrick, while a good player, was a bad pick due to passing on Earl Thomas.

 

[datruth55]

I don't give him credit for Wake...that was Parcells that recruited Wake here...and Wilson is more of a liability than a credit...but sure...he should get some credit although he had no idea what he was doing and it's been the coaching staff that have put these guys in position to play well and they've also coached them up. He also gets credit for Wheeler and Ellerbe though...no surprise the defense is better without them both.

 

[Tiko377]

Jenkins was a pretty meh draft pick, then he got a good LB coach to teach him up and he's now good.

I will give him OV, Grimes, Jones, Wake and Starks though.

Odrick, while a good player, was a bad pick due to passing on Earl Thomas.

Yep same with Misi he got drafted to be a Pass Rusher were he didnt pan out.

Coaches changed him to middle linebacker

 

[datruth55]

Jenkins was a pretty meh draft pick, then he got a good LB coach to teach him up and he's now good.

I will give him OV, Grimes, Jones, Wake and Starks though.

Odrick, while a good player, was a bad pick due to passing on Earl Thomas.

I liked Jenkins when we drafted him but mostly for his ability in pass coverage when he was at Florida...but I didn't expect this...I expected a situational coverage linebacker.

 

[Phinatic8u]

I liked Jenkins when we drafted him but mostly for his ability in pass coverage when he was at Florida...but I didn't expect this...I expected a situational coverage linebacker.

Gotta remember though, Jenkins was a stud recruit to Florida, he's always had talent. Just finally realized his potential.

 

[ohall]

I credit Hickey for not blowing up the good pieces Ireland had assembled.

 

[Vaark]

Considering after rehabilitating his value after his last stellar season, Grimes could have gone anywhere so I'm giving Hickey the props for proactively re-signing him before he could hit the open market. Factoring that in, I give Hickey the credit for 3/4ths of the defensive backfield and the infectious aggressive attitude they bring to the entire D.

 

[Mazinator1027]

I don't give him credit for Wake...that was Parcells that recruited Wake here...and Wilson is more of a liability than a credit...but sure...he should get some credit although he had no idea what he was doing and it's been the coaching staff that have put these guys in position to play well and they've also coached them up. He also gets credit for Wheeler and Ellerbe though...no surprise the defense is better without them both.

I dont see how the coaches putting their players in a position to succeed detracts from Irelands success. It was Ireland's job to sign and draft and the coaches jobs to develop.

 

[spiketex]

How about giving some credit to Kevin Coyle for the performance of the Defense.
I find it amusing that after a good win, the Jeff Ireland shrine is wheeled out and we are dutifully expected to give thanks to the ginger.
Thanks Jeff but I'm still happy Ross chopped you.

 

[datruth55]

I dont see how the coaches putting their players in a position to succeed detracts from Irelands success. It was Ireland's job to sign and draft and the coaches jobs to develop.

Well lets just say Ireland drafted players that didn't fit what they were originally drafted to play. For example, Jared Odrick, IMO is a 4-3 DT coming out of Penn State but Ireland drafted him to play DE in the 3-4. DT is his more natural fit. Ellerbe is a 3-4 linebacker...he's not as effective as a 4-3 OLB. Dion Jordan is a 3-4 OLB, Ireland drafted him to play DE in the 4-3...Vernon is a tweener...would have been outstanding in a 3-4 defense as an OLB...he's been good in the 4-3 though. It's examples like those where I don't give Ireland credit as much as I do the staff.

 

[roy_miami]

How come the head coach gets zero credit for the defense being elite?