Was Wanny right about something?

[BlueFin]

Wanny wasn't a bad coach, but he had some failings as a GM and in his ability/willingness to make adjustments that he couldn't overcome. Too many fans seem to see players/coaches as all or nothing. They're either gods or incompetents. Neither is true.

Please, I usually agree with you but Wannstedt has no creativity, and no ability to motivate.

 

[NathanHunt]

I disagree with the Ricky Williams thing, he cost us two first rounders who could be two young staples of this team right now.

There were plenty of free agent options at runningback over the last several years.

I wasn't saying the cost of obtaining Williams was fair. I simply made the statement that Wanny did 4 things to improve the roster he was given.

However, while there were a few options at running back over the last several years, none were a statistical or athletic improvement over Lamar Smith. Simply saying other options were available in hindsight does not state the exact truth of the matter. Jimmy and Dave had looked for an elite back for YEARS. NONE were available. Oddly enough, other teams wanted some too.

Ricky was the only elite back available that fit the Power Running style Wanny wanted. He had the power, durability and speed needed to get the job done. He was a rare talent. And he proved it time and time again.

Wanny traded for the player he felt would put the team over the top. And, he paid according to his expectations, not Ricky's worth. Wanny said as much in the trade announcement "That would lead the league and put him in the Pro Bowl and hopefully put us in the Super Bowl" (AP).

No matter how you feel about Ricky, you can't just dump him like yesterday's garbage and discredit what he did on the field. No other back in Dolphin history has ever done what he did.

Ricky was the centerpiece of the offense. He WAS an improvement. Like him, hate him or the price that was paid.

 

[arsenal]

i think our team has had the talent... it wasn't about the players it was about the coaching, the schemes, the lack of teaching, etc...

 

[rafael]

Please, I usually agree with you but Wannstedt has no creativity, and no ability to motivate.

There are many things involved in coaching. I agree with the lack of creativity, that's why I criticized his lack of adjustments. His motivational abilities were fair. Not in a JJ class, but about middle of the pack. His players didn't quit on him. His game plans were actually more creative than JJ's. Wanny was very good at analyzing DL play and at recognizing DL talent. Anyways, my point was that he wasn't horrible at everything as the thread title implies. I don't think he was good enough and I'm glad he's gone, but it's not accurate to claim he was the worst at everything. There's a tendency to demonize those that are gone and to characterize the new guys as infallible. Both of those extremes are inaccurate.

 

[Kucha]

There are many things involved in coaching. I agree with the lack of creativity, that's why I criticized his lack of adjustments. His motivational abilities were fair. Not in a JJ class, but about middle of the pack. His players didn't quit on him. His game plans were actually more creative than JJ's. Wanny was very good at analyzing DL play and at recognizing DL talent. Anyways, my point was that he wasn't horrible at everything as the thread title implies. I don't think he was good enough and I'm glad he's gone, but it's not accurate to claim he was the worst at everything. There's a tendency to demonize those that are gone and to characterize the new guys as infallible. Both of those extremes are inaccurate.

Ok, I agree with your last two sentences...they were very good...and yes, there have been worse personnell chiefs and worse coaches than Wanny in the past. However, his lack of creativity was, imo, worse than bad - it was horrific and this is what really made him stand out, imo. The man would not adjust to the reality he was facing. I rarely saw him make in-game strategy adjustments (if memory serves me right) and he was addicted to the same tired and predictable strategy week after week even when it clearly didn't work. He would make comments that he wsa going to change this and that but every year and practically every game he would go back to the same thing. Isn't there an old saying that the definition of a fool is of someone who does the same thing over and over again but expects a different result? That's Wanny for you. Probably a nice guy but definitely a bad coach.

 

[BlueFin]

I wasn't saying the cost of obtaining Williams was fair. I simply made the statement that Wanny did 4 things to improve the roster he was given.

However, while there were a few options at running back over the last several years, none were a statistical or athletic improvement over Lamar Smith. Simply saying other options were available in hindsight does not state the exact truth of the matter. Jimmy and Dave had looked for an elite back for YEARS. NONE were available. Oddly enough, other teams wanted some too.

Ricky was the only elite back available that fit the Power Running style Wanny wanted. He had the power, durability and speed needed to get the job done. He was a rare talent. And he proved it time and time again.

Wanny traded for the player he felt would put the team over the top. And, he paid according to his expectations, not Ricky's worth. Wanny said as much in the trade announcement "That would lead the league and put him in the Pro Bowl and hopefully put us in the Super Bowl" (AP).

No matter how you feel about Ricky, you can't just dump him like yesterday's garbage and discredit what he did on the field. No other back in Dolphin history has ever done what he did.

Ricky was the centerpiece of the offense. He WAS an improvement. Like him, hate him or the price that was paid.

Just because they were looking doesn't mean there weren't excellent backs available, they just didn't get them.

It would not have cost two first rounders to get Priest Holmes, who was available before we went after Ricky.

My point was for example, Priest Holmes plus the two first rounders would have been a bigger upgrade to this team than Ricky was.

I don't hate Ricky, I hope he comes back and plays great, but I still feel that was a bad deal and not in the best interest of this organization long term.

 

[Megatron]

Now I haven't done the research on it, but it doesn't look like Saban is/has gotten rid of a bunch of Wanny acquisitions. Maybe Wanny did know something about talent. Kazoo aside, that is. (Fiedler)

NO!

 

[Lazy1]

Its not talent that is the problem... talented players will be let go over the next season because saban wants a team that consists of players that play his type of ball. Alot of Wanny's players will be released because they do not have the same value in a different system.