Sports Buzz 9/19/15: Joe realizing the importance of having his "guys"

[gafin]

Thumbs up to Greg Jennings, way to go.

In the NFL, nobody ever worries about backup offensive linemen becoming malcontents if they don’t play. But it’s a more common concern when your team has a handful of talented, headstrong receivers, a position where the word “diva” has been introduced into the NFL lexicon.

Everyone knows that was a problem for last year’s Dolphins, with four receivers (excluding Jarvis Landry) all brooding at various times. The Dolphins hope it will be less of an issue now, provided Rishard Matthews and Kenny Stills stay in line, as they have so far this season.

This remains a delicate issue, because offensive coordinator Bill Lazor and receivers coach Ken O’Keefe again have the tricky task of allocating snaps to five receivers who all believe they should be playing and because Lazor has said keeping the receivers happy isn’t a particular concern of his.

This is precisely where the Dolphins’ offseason objective to import the “right guys” and more Joe Philbin “guys” factors in.

Greg Jennings, who was in Green Bay when Philbin was offensive coordinator there, is the poster child for this. Philbin admitted he wishes Miami signed Jennings earlier in his tenure here “because he knows what makes me tick, understands what I’m all about, and I know him. You’ve got to have your kind of guys. In the locker-room, maybe he can communicate some things to another player about the rationale behind some of the things I do. And he's been with me when I've had a lot of success.”

Jennings’ value, even beyond his on-field contributions, is three-fold: He’s not going to complain about playing time, even though he knows he likely will play far less than the 86 percent of offensive snaps he logged in Minnesota last season. He played 68 percent against Washington, even with DeVante Parker getting just one snap.

Secondly, Jennings says he can convey this message that obviously was lost on too many of Miami’s receivers last season: “You have to become selfless,” Jennings said. “That’s one of our focal points we talked about. If you’re not selfless, you’re not willing to take a step back for the greater good of the team. If you can’t see the team before you see yourself, you’re really in the wrong profession.

“Guys are going to have individual success. It may not be every single week. We want to make sure you don’t have a lapse so you’re thinking about what hasn’t happened. Everybody has an integral part to play as a member of the Dolphins – whether that’s a large or small or medium role, it’s a role and you have to embrace it.”

And most importantly, Philbin now has a player who can give him a sense of locker-room dynamics (Philbin could have used that during Bullygate) and tell the coach what he needs to do differently.

The best coaches have those players --- Bill Parcells’ had a long list of “Parcells guys” who told him what was going on in his locker-room --- and Philbin didn’t have enough of them for three years here. Philbin talked about that subject with his coaching friends this past offseason, “about how to build a roster the right way. It has been a positive move.”

Jennings says Philbin is leaning on him to gauge the pulse of the team, but Jennings made clear to teammates that they can trust him. It can be a difficult balancing act, but Jennings – smart and selfless and respected – is well-equipped.

“I shared with the team that I’m one of those guys that I have everyone’s best interest at heart,” Jennings said. “I want them to do well. I know the pulse of the locker-room. I’m not a snitch. I’m not a tattle tale.

“I want [Philbin] to understand the guys in this locker-room have a huge voice and if that voice is not heard, they will begin to shut down on a coach. To be a successful coach, there has to be a two-way street. He has always been a two-way coach.”

But Philbin is more of one now than he ever had been here, mostly reflected in his increased interaction with his players on a personal level.

Philbin told his team at the start of camp that he will fine players only one-10th of what's permitted for first-time offenses because some players thought he was too punitive in past years. The upshot, Philbin said, has been fewer first-time offenses.

“Player discipline has been really good,” he said. “I made the point, 'It's not about being punitive and collecting a bunch of money.’… Now if there's a repeat mistake, like if you blow a coverage twice in a row, that's a problem. If you make the same mistake twice in a row from a team discipline standpoint, that's not good.”

More here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/

 

[Hayden Fox]

I said for years Joe needed "his guys". Good to see him come around to it. I just wonder if it is too late.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I said for years Joe needed "his guys". Good to see him come around to it. I just wonder if it is too late.

Like that kinda **** just happens over night or even over just a couple of seasons for that matter. But way to call it, Hayden.

 

[Hayden Fox]

Like that kinda **** just happens over night or even over just a couple of seasons for that matter. But way to call it, Hayden.

It should start his first offseason. It happens all over the league. Players follow their fmr coaches all the time. You are trying to say that it takes over four seasons to accomplish? Joe admits himself in this article he wished he went for Jennings earlier.

 

[nick1]

It should start his first offseason. It happens all over the league. Players follow their fmr coaches all the time. You are trying to say that it takes over four seasons to accomplish? Joe admits himself in this article he wished he went for Jennings earlier.

Was that his choice? Or did Ireland decide to go younger with Wallace? Ireland refused to trade for Albert. So don't put it above Ireland to do that

 

[Unchained 07]

It should start his first offseason. It happens all over the league. Players follow their fmr coaches all the time. You are trying to say that it takes over four seasons to accomplish? Joe admits himself in this article he wished he went for Jennings earlier.

Hmmm....the 1st season you say.

 

[Hayden Fox]

Was that his choice? Or did Ireland decide to go younger with Wallace? Ireland refused to trade for Albert. So don't put it above Ireland to do that

Done making excuses for Joe. Ireland was terrible, but getting a few role players in that had experience in GB would not have been that big of deal. Same thing with Coyle's defense. There were a host of Cincinnati FA's available through the years. Do you think that some of them could have helped the transition to Coyle's defense?

Joe made his bed he can sleep in it. He better have got it right this time.

---------- Post added at 07:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:57 PM ----------

Hmmm....the 1st season you say.

What is Joe's excuse last year? I cannot believe there are so many people giving this guy a hall pass. He has done a terrible job.

 

[Unchained 07]

That was a direct response to your proclamation. You said he should have had his guys after year 1 and then pat yourself on the back like your some kind of oracle. I'm saying maybe he didn't have a choice.

 

[cash]

yada yada yada i need 3 offensive TDs tomorrow

 

[raving]

It's virtually impossible to tell from the point of view of a fan (me) - that said - Philbin has left me with an impression of him:

He seems to be a cerebral guy - where he appears to be lacking to me is his ability to adequately motivate his guys to be fiery and fierce and compete!

I loved seeing Suh kick that jackass Redskins' helmet off of his head! We need that!

We need fire!

This team plays flat - it plays down to its competition - it has let Brady and the Jets and the Bills trample all over us when it has counted the most.

I can hardly take that...Shula used to own those punks and fans who got to live in those glory days feel had by the recent bait switch. Now we have been pansies - trampled - mocked - abused...and philbin cannot figure out his time-outs or when to go for 4th down or not or how to stack a line so Brady can't just walk up to the line on 4th and 1 and go through our defense like a hot knife through butter.

When we go out there and smash their collective mother-f..ing teeth into their faces I will be satisfied.

Lets send brady off the field humiliated and end his cheating ass career and move on from this already!

Then we talk about "his guys" all day!

 

[Miamifinz]

Philbin needs to find a way to get his guys to perform how we wants them to consistently. The potential is there - the 37-0 win vs the chargers last year comes to mind. Promised they'd play their best game following the passing of Joe's father last year and they were absolutely dominant. This team is easily a playoff contender if he can get them to give it 100% every quarter, every game.

 

[Daytona Fin]

Get to 4-0 and I'll start buying into his ****. Until then my doubts remain.

 

[hoops]

Ha ha vernon says he was doubled so much last year...good one ov

 

[hoops]

Get to 4-0 and I'll start buying into his ****. Until then my doubts remain.

Im tired of the words...save it joe...when you dont take accountability for your actions your words are hollow to me...

Playoffs or walk the plank

 

[VBCheeseGrater]

Whether he should have had "his guys" sooner or not, it safe to say he does this by now. I've always been glad Ross kept this staff together so they had a full chance to build a long term winner. If things go south this year, then I'll know Joe's not the guy. he was given a full, fair shot.

And if Joe is fired and we hire a new coach, chances are the next guy will be in a better position than a lot of new coaches since Joe and hockey HAVE built something, and they won't be walking into 6 years worth of reversing course every other year...aka a clusterfck.