The Game Has Passed Hudson Houck By | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

The Game Has Passed Hudson Houck By

Austin Tatious

Austin Tatious

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I know that my provocative title will incite the wrath of the polyanna Dolphin fans who always want to tell us how “it’s only been four games, everything is sunshine and great, Houck only coaches but the players play etc blah blah blah.” Spare me. If you are going to take that position, back it up with actual analysis. This team is now a longshot for the playoffs.

I am a humongous Dolphin and Nick Saban fan. However, I believe that Nick and the Dolphins are eating some humble pie. He is a smart man and good leader, but I think he believed the hype; after all, he is only human. However, this team is bad right now, and he needs to look in the mirror too. I am a big fan as I said, and I am confident he will.

This team has three major needs. First and foremost, it needs NFL starting quality offensive linemen. Second, it badly needs athleticism in the front 7, particularly at linebacker. Zach is in obvious decline and this may be his last season. Third, it needs a shutdown corner.

With respect to the offensive line, here are four irrefutable facts:

(1) The O line simply has not performed even remotely adequately. It is awful, maybe the worst in the league. This is a bottom line business and there are no excuses, it's all about results.

(2) Houck likes big hefty offensive linemen and he is less concerned about movement.

(3) Miami’s offensive linemen, in addition to being physically inadequate, make an enormous amount of mental errors, including penalties and just sheer stupidity. This is as dumb of a group as you will ever see. Smart play is a reflection of coaching.

(4) Houck contributes to the makeup of the personnel. He was involved in drafting people like Alabi and bringing in the abysmal Shelton. He didn’t get rid of guys like James and Hadnot. These are his guys.

This is my analysis. The days of throwing 5 fat slobs out there are over. This is not the early 90’s anymore. NFL front sevens have far more athleticism than ever. Miami’s offensive line theory and personnel need a complete overhaul. We need guys that can move and who are not insanely stupid and have no discipline, toughness or courage. We have ONE good o-lineman, and his name is Vernon Carey. James is maybe adequate if you put talent beside him. Toledo and Berger may be able to play but are unproven. The rest should be backups or out of the league.

What I would do:
  • Get Berger on the field. He reportedly can move like former Dolphin Mark Dixon. That might translate to an actual starter, possibly at right guard or even center.
  • Consider playing Alabi. The fact that he doesn’t play must mean he doesn’t show it in practice.
  • Fire Houck in the offseason. Buck stops with him. The mistakes, philosophy, and personnel are just not right. The game has passed him by. Bring in a younger guy who understand the modern game not the vestiges of 1992.
  • Release McIntosh, James and Shelton. If you’re a fat slob, get out. Alabi hopefully can be a top tackle backup.
  • Demote Hadnot to backup. If he doesn’t improve, let him go in another year.
  • Draft an athletic LT in the first round. This position has been neglected way too long.
  • Draft or acquire an excellent center prospect. This is a major need.
  • Play Berger and Toledo at guard. Have them compete with Hadnot and maybe another free agent.
So, we’d be looking at:

LT: 1st round pick, maybe Joe Thomas out of Madison.
LG: Toledo. Joe learn now!
C: free agent signee, draftee, or Berger
RG: Berger or free agent like Steinbach
RT Carey
Top backups: Hadnot, Alabi

If we can't get a center, maybe we sign a top guard like Eric Steinbach and try someone like Berger at center. Hadnot got his hide handed to him again today.

Hopefully, Daunte can use this as a developmental year and be that much better when the O line upgrades.
 
Toledo can learn all he wants, he needs to learn to stay healthy.

But I do think Houck is overrated and we have a lack of talent on the line.
 
Houck is no miracle worker, but he's still an excellent coach. It would be incredibly dumb to fire him before bringing in decent players. If Miami drafts a couple of linemen in the first four rounds next year and brings in a free agent lineman some other team covets and Houck still doesn't get the job done, fire him. I doubt that would be the result, though. The result of firing Houck would be some other team with troubles bringing him in and getting better while Miami continues to flounder in the trench.
 
that o line is a direct reflection of houck !!!!!! houck is making a big payday but as coach hes not showing me shyt!!!!!
 
That's all fine and dandy Jimmy, but if nothing else how do you explain the absurd number of mental errors? That is a reflection of coaching, IMO.
 
Austin Tatious said:
That's all fine and dandy Jimmy, but if nothing else how do you explain the absurd number of mental errors? That is a reflection of coaching, IMO.
Click to expand...

Normally if your on the line and making mental mistakes (like the snap count) it is because your thinking about what your blocking asignment is and forgetting about that snap count or trying to get a jump on the lineman your suppose to block. So tell me, how is that O-line coaches fault
 
So you're basically suggesting somehow from last season to this season the game has passed Hudson Houck by?
 
Yea u can't blame Houck for this line man, there just isn't great talent and we were all foolish for thinking that there was. Carey is the only one out there playing close to decent. Hadnot has been bad but probably second best on this line, Jeno James is having his worst year as a fin, and probably 3rd best linemen. Shelton . . . just shaking my head and the whole RG situation gets a F----------. These guys are just not any good. And based on Houcks success last year people were confident with the line this year, but lets face it, there is only so much a coach can do. Does Houck need blame . . . sure . . . but this line SUX.
 
Orlandophinfan said:
Normally if your on the line and making mental mistakes (like the snap count) it is because your thinking about what your blocking asignment is and forgetting about that snap count or trying to get a jump on the lineman your suppose to block. So tell me, how is that O-line coaches fault
Click to expand...

Well, I'd argue that the teaching has been absymal because the O line is making a ridiculous number of drive killing penalties. This is just not normal. The players need to be schooled better so they know what they are doing better. They just aren't being taught well.

You are what your record says you are. And the dolphin O line is bad. Houck is the man in charge of that fiasco.
 
Hudson Houck cant make chicken salad with chicken sh*t. I believe he was already quoted on that. The new additions the Dolphins made to the offensive line have just been terrible, and Daunte's play hasn't helped that cause either.
 
Austin Tatious said:
You are what your record says you are. And the dolphin O line is bad. Houck is the man in charge of that fiasco.
Click to expand...

That's the kind of thinking that kept Wanny in a job for too long. It was clear that his teams should have been better due to the talent on them, but he kept a winning record for most of his tenure. You have to take into account what the coach has to work with or else you end up getting rid of good coaches who haven't been given the tools and keeping bad coaches who haven't done enough with good tools.
 
Austin Tatious said:
You are what your record says you are.
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That's unfortunate. Because we're 1-3 with trips to the Pats and Jets up next.

I'm not a happy dude right now! I'm sure none of us are. :fire:

And I know we need OL, but it just seems like we need about everything. I don't know where we should begin. I guess it has to be OL since the last real impact we had in the draft at the OL spot was.....gulp.....Richmond Webb and Keith Sims....back in 1990. Can that be right? Geez!

Anyway, that's just the OL, but we need help everywhere. Remember when we talked during the offseason about whether Welker would even be one of our five receivers or get cut? Heck, he's the best player we have on offense it seems. Glad we at least have him.
 
WarriorWelker83 said:
Hudson Houck cant make chicken salad with chicken sh*t. I believe he was already quoted on that.
Click to expand...
No, that was Gary Stevens before he left here for Oakland some years ago. It just happens to be a line that haunts us still to this day.
 
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