Unconventional Coaching Staff, Other Thoughts

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I love the fact that this coaching staff is willing to be unconventional. Whether or not you like the wildcat, or believe it will continue to be successful, it caught the NFL off guard last year and added a few wins at least to our team. When was the last time the Dolphins led the way in creative coaching? I still can't believe that Tony Sparano wasn't voted NFL Coach of the Year, but maybe that will come.

The Pat White Pick
I think most Dolphin fans realized that White was on the Dolphins radar prior to the draft. This is the perfect spot for him as the coaching staff will utilize his best attributes and add on to the wildcat. I got a little nervous when Mike Mayok (sp) starting talking about White when the Patriots traded up. Miami needs to continue to build on any advantages they have on New England and the rest of the NFL for that matter.

Trading Away Picks
Every year fans discuss trading away top picks for veteran players. This year the talk early on was Peppers and now Boldin. Both are great players, but they are each 29 as well. The Dolphins are still just one year and two offseasons removed from 1-15. They need to hold onto picks. Sean Smith has been compared to Mel Blount and Patrick Turner to Keyshaun Johnson. Now I realize these players have as good a chance to be busts then to be superstars, but their ceilings are high just the same.

Changing One Draft Pick
My only disappointment with the draft was that the Dolphins didn't get any pass rushing linebackers in a year when they seemingly were a lot of good ones out there. I like the Davis and White picks, but hopefully passing on the likes of Clay Matthews Jr., Clint Sintim and others won't come back to haunt them. If I could change one pick it would be taking Lawrence Sidbury with our 4th pick. We'll see how that shakes out.

College Free Agents
Of all the college free agents signed by Miami, the most intriguing is Ellis at nose tackle. Watching youtube tape on this guy makes me wonder how he went undrafted. He has ideal size at 6-2 320 and certainly looks quick and powerful in the limited tape available. I do understand that it's a big jump from Division II, but I have a feeling the front office may have just found the nose tackle of the future. Give him a year of NFL conditioning and learning behind Ferguson and watch out.

 

[KTOWNFINFAN]

No doubt there is alot to get excited about for this upcoming season. I wasn't excited about the White pick, but you hit on a good point, he is as much about pushing the envelope as he is anything else. While it is yet to be determined whether or not he will work out you have to love the way the front office is willing to be leaders rather than followers, willing to try new things rather than trying to improve on what everyone else is doing.
It's been quite awhile since we can feel confident about where our FO is directing the team. The future looks bright as a fin fan.

 

[mikethewreck]

I am wondering about their succession planning. Especially with talented coaches like Todd Bowles, are there understudies being trained up to take their places next year when these coaches move on to promotions? This has been one of NE's strengths.

 

[finfan54]

I really do not understand how people could have any reservation of Pat white working out. Its pretty obvious he is born to be a wildcat QB. But I also think he will be able to run the base offense just fine in fact alot of big plays will come from this because the defense will be expecting some kind of WC thing and all he does is drop back and throw down to Ginn. TD!

I agree with the trading away picks part completely but I really do believe this team is much closer than people think. If our draft picks work out as good as last years pack, I can honestly say we are loaded at just about every position. Maybe not the best in the league types at certain spots but enough for BP to start thinking about trading some picks.

The absolute best thing about this regime is not unconventionalism as much as it is they have a plan and they stick to it. They have built the foundation and the character of this team and now they just have to take it to the next level.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I am wondering about their succession planning. Especially with talented coaches like Todd Bowles, are there understudies being trained up to take their places next year when these coaches move on to promotions? This has been one of NE's strengths.

You are absolutely right. As Miami continues to be successful it will be hard to keep coaches. Bowles, in particular, did so much with so little last year. I can't wait to see what he can do with talented players like Davis and Smith in the seconday. But he will be a head coach soon maybe as early as 2010.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

I really do not understand how people could have any reservation of Pat white working out. Its pretty obvious he is born to be a wildcat QB. But I also think he will be able to run the base offense just fine in fact alot of big plays will come from this because the defense will be expecting some kind of WC thing and all he does is drop back and throw down to Ginn. TD!

I agree with the trading away picks part completely but I really do believe this team is much closer than people think. If our draft picks work out as good as last years pack, I can honestly say we are loaded at just about every position. Maybe not the best in the league types at certain spots but enough for BP to start thinking about trading some picks.

The absolute best thing about this regime is not unconventionalism as much as it is they have a plan and they stick to it. They have built the foundation and the character of this team and now they just have to take it to the next level.

I completely agree. A plan is in place and it is working. We are already seeing a roster built up with young, talented players and we have a coaching staff that is bringing out the best in these guys. A typical Dolphin player can now be described as physical, dedicated, hard working and overachieving. Love it.

 

[showstopper]

Next year's draft will be even better if you want/need pass rushers, much better than this past draft's class

 

[Geforce]

I am wondering about their succession planning. Especially with talented coaches like Todd Bowles, are there understudies being trained up to take their places next year when these coaches move on to promotions? This has been one of NE's strengths.

Probably not. They may already have a few coaches in mind, friends and associates, or they might interview a some highly respected coaches like they did when they hired receivers coach Karl Dorrell.