The Structure of Winning Organizations | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

The Structure of Winning Organizations

JTech194

JTech194

Starter
Joined
Jun 14, 2004
Messages
2,132
Reaction score
174
Location
Miami Florida
If i were the owner this is how I would build a perrenial winner in the NFL. What I mean by perrenial is a team that will be competitive consistently and usually in the playoffs and will make deep playoff runs and\or superbowl appearances on occasion. They may have a down year or two but not much more than that. (Steelers, Ravens, Patriots etc...)

1. I will consult with top football people not currently working for teams to get an idea of the different styles of football and decide what style I feel would fit my organization the best.

2. Hire a GM that is over everything football related and explain to him the type of football we're going to play (Pass Heavy, Run Heavy, Traditional, Gimmike, Finesse, Hard Nosed etc.. ) This GM will be my one and only point of contact when it comes to the state of the football side of the the organization.

3. The GM will be responsible for hiring the coaching staff and the people in the personnel department. The HC will report to him, the assistant coaches will report to the HC. The director of scouting (DOS) will report to the GM and everyone else in the scouting department will report to the DOS

4. The GM can decide if he want's to also be the Head Coach (ala Bill Bilichek) or if he want's to hire a HC. That decision would be totally up to him.

5. The GM MUST FIND A COACH THAT RUNS OR IS WILLING TO RUN THE STYLE OF OFFENSE\DEFENSE WE AS AN ORGANIZATION WANT TO RUN. This is an absolute must

I think this accomplishes several different things.

1. It sets the vision and philosophy of the organization. So any coach that gets hired, MUST share that vision and philosophy. This prevents new coaches coming in with new philosophies which in turn needs new players, new scouts (or at least a shift in scouting focus) which will by default set your team back a few years.

2. With one GM over everything football, I as the owner have ONE POINT OF CONTACT if things go bad! If I decide it's not working.... I fire the GM and the new GM decides what to do with the coaching staff.

The way the current dolphins structure is set up, if something goes wrong Ross has to talk to Hickey, Talk to Philbin, Talk to players and THEN DECIDE who to believe. This has to be the STUPIDEST setup I've ever seen. The GM says the coaches aren't developing talent, coaches saying the talent isn't good enough etc....
unqualified Owner has to decide which is more accurate... This is a recipe for disaster as proven by Ireland\Philbin last season.

3. Most importantly, it brings stability. The ORGANIZATION sets the philosophy, NOT THE COACH! if you have to fire the coach, you don't have to worry about having to change your philosophy as an organization. Just find a new coach that shares that philosophy.

For example, Steelers. They haven't won a SB in years BUT.... They are always competitive and in or near the playoffs. They are NEVER looked at as dysfunctional and are always respected as a football team. Even in down years, no one ever sees them as an easy out.

Patriots... Bill B has Implemented a system over there that I'm sure will be adopted by the organization. When he retires... I wouldn't be surprised if they hire from within. If I'm Kraft, I'm telling the new GM look... the system is in place, the blueprint is here, it works and it's proven over 10 years. This is our vision, follow it.

Ravens also come to mind. It seems like over the past several years they've played the same style of football since no matter who the HC or OC\DC are and I think it's because of their GM Ozzie Newsome and the overall philosophy of the organization.

How would you do it??
 
I disagree with point #1. You don't decide you are only playing one style of game and nothing else. What if Shula had said they were only a power running team and passed on Marino?
 
Copy the structure of the Green Bay Packers from top to bottom and you'll build a winning organization for years to come. It all starts with the GM and player acquisition.
 
"What if Shula had said they were only a power running team and passed on Marino? "

Not sure....after all, we did go to the super bowl with David freakin Woodley and a pretty good D the season before we drafted Danny boy.
 
BahamaFinFan78 said:
I disagree with point #1. You don't decide you are only playing one style of game and nothing else. What if Shula had said they were only a power running team and passed on Marino?
Click to expand...

That's a good point, in a case where you find a hall of fame QB there are ways to maximize that players skill set while still staying true to your core beliefs. You would just implement more passing plays ala Ravens, Steelers, Patriots but still play a power, hard nosed physical style game. Same would be if your philosophy was more of a spread finesse style, if you drafted or signed a hall of fame caliber RB then you could just implement more running plays.
 
For the most part I think it's solid, but couldn't disagree more with #1. That is actually part of the problem Miami has had over the past 6-7 years. A good coach can change his style based on his personnel. Miami has and does try to change their personnel to fit coaches schemes. I know we all hate him but Bellichick does this better than anyone and you don't even have to look on the offensive side of the ball. How many times has he switched from a 3-4 to a 4-3 to a hybrid type of defense because of the players he has? Heck like already mentioned, what would Marino have been if Shula would have stuck to his guns on a strong defense and power running game where the QB throws 12-18 times a game?
 
None of this really matters as long as Ross owns the team. He just doesn't know what works in the NFL and that's why he keeps on messing up. He needs to let the GM make the day to day decisions and hire his own coach.
 
Well if you want to look how winning organizations are structured its nothing like the Phins.
 
Sounds like Ross has too many advisors. Parcells ran the show for a while and it wasn't too nice. Maybe he saw what was in store with Ross.
 
gofins60 said:
As long as Philbin isn't part of it!
Click to expand...
Actually you may be surprised to learn that Joe is beloved by many of the Packer players and coaches - especially Aaron Rodgers who is lavish in his praise of Joe's coaching in his development as a QB.
 
spiketex said:
Actually you may be surprised to learn that Joe is beloved by many of the Packer players and coaches - especially Aaron Rodgers who is lavish in his praise of Joe's coaching in his development as a QB.
Click to expand...

I do believe Joe is a fine co-ordinator. He is a planner, an organizer. When given time, he can prep, prepare and get players ready. What he is bad at is game time, on the fly adjustments and decisions. He never even called plays at Green Bay. This is why making decisions with the game on the line for the last few minutes makes him "queasy"
 
A good QB can make any poorly structured FO look good. And Green Bay is run by board members in case anyone was wondering. But they do have a good GM in Ted Thompson.

Its not about the structure or the organizational hierarchy, its about the people you employ and how you manage them, reward them, and hold them accountable. Any structure can be effective if you have the right people. You can have a football czar overseeing everyone and be effective, and a team could have no GM title listed on their organizational chart and be just as effective. I'm not upset that we have a "football czar" position, I'm upset at who it is.
 
datruth55 said:
Copy the structure of the Green Bay Packers from top to bottom and you'll build a winning organization for years to come. It all starts with the GM and player acquisition.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with the fact the the stealers are well run.

But, Green Bay is the most consistent organization top to bottom & has been for many decades. There was a bit of downturn from the late 70's until they got Favre & Holmgren. It was a bit bumpy early in the Thompson/McCarthy yrs but that has worked out well.

edit - Ross needs to man up and let #13 & #99 be his primary advisers. They want to and have a damn clue.
 
I don't care how the structure is as long as it wins.

I'm not going to firm my opinion from some guy working at ESPN who has never worked in an NFL organization on any level but feel obligated to tell you how to form your opinion.

Teams have won Super Bowls under so many different structures that we talk at nausea about what works best. It doesn't matter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom