As the rancid taste of the Sparano era clears our collective palates, Finfans look forward to a decision in the horizon that will prove rewarding rather than regrettable. The Dolphins are in need of a new head coach and here’s who I think they should pursue and why.
It has been well-documented that Fins’ owner Stephen Ross hopes to land a “young Don Shula”. But the answer to the organization’s yearning to again be competitive for a post-season trophy lies more in what they need to improve on than in the persona of a coach likely to summon glory days again.
So what is it that the Dolphins are fairly good at, and what are they lacking? Well, the defense seems to be a steady, if not spectacular unit, led by a well-respected coordinator in Mike Nolan who plays aggressive schemes and has the horses, for the most part, to execute them. Their signings of free agents Burnett and Dansby in the past 2 years, along with the drafting of Odrick and Misi to complement Pro Bowler Wake gives them the core to stop the run and play strong 7-man fronts. Another elite pass rusher is needed, but CB V.Davis is an elite cover man himself, and the safeties are good enough to get it done on many levels. Moreover, the defense is considered a unit that needs little tweaking and is well coordinated.
This leads one to the inescapable conclusion that if the Dolphins were to significantly improve their offense, a championship could lurk closer than objects in your rear view mirror. Historically, NFL head coaches and their star quarterbacks have been inextricably linked to winning a title. High profile combos such as Lombardi-Star, Noll-Bradshaw, Belichick-Brady, and recently Peyton-Brees are just some examples. Miami is now on the verge of a draft featuring a few high-profile college quarterbacks such as Matt Barkley of USC, Andrew Luck of Stanford, Robert Griffin III of Baylor, Landry Jones of Oklahoma, and Kellen Moore of Boise St. Coincidentally, the organization has an opportune window to start anew by hiring a HC who can develop this new QB talent and be forever linked to superstardom if the right decisions are made.
The right decision is to hire a head coach with proven experience as an offensive mind, who has developed QB talent, and who has championship experience at the NFL level. 2 names scream at me: 1) John Gruden and 2) Brian Billick. Each has won Super Bowls, Gruden with the Bucs and Billik with the Ravens. Gruden has developed QB’s such as Gannon later in his career and won with an average QB in Brad Johnson thanks primarily to a devastatingly dominant defense. Still, his career as offensive coordinator and QBs coach in the league gives him the penultimate pedigree as offensive Guru. Billick was the mastermind of the Vikings offense back in the Randy Moss and Cris Carter era, and his development of Duante Culpepper is well-documented. His struggles with the Ravens offense during a Super Bowl title run were overshadowed by perhaps the best defense of all time, on par with the ‘85 Bears. Both candidates are in the media, and both are a couple of years removed from their coaching stints, both of which ended on down notes.
My choice is Gruden because he appears to be the younger and more “with-it” offensive mind. Billick is a bit more regimented in his ways, but a Guru nonetheless. Each can develop a franchise QB and knows what it takes to take a team all the way. This is what the Dolphins need. Let’s see what they do about it.
That’s all for now.
By Eric Miller
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23 responses so far ↓
1 Pat Gloster via Facebook // Dec 17, 2011 at 9:24 am
I don’t think the coach should have taken all of the blame. Some resonsibility should have gone to the coaching staff and players.
2 joey michelena // Dec 17, 2011 at 8:15 pm
dallas 26 tampa 9
3 joey michelena // Dec 17, 2011 at 8:20 pm
eric, gruden makes 5 million/year to sit and talk.
He aint leavin the booth.
As for your mention of the qb`s entering the draft, only Luck has merit, the others won`t amount to anything but solid backups.
And luck will be gone when fins pick.
4 Eric // Dec 18, 2011 at 10:11 am
Gruden has an “out” in his contract and would come back to coaching for the right price and the right situation, especially if he was given total control of football operations a la Parcells. As for Luck, he will likely go to Indy, but stranger things have happened with No. 1 picks that were supposed to go to a given team in first slot; i.e., Eli to SD; Elway to Indy…
5 Eric // Dec 18, 2011 at 10:14 am
Matt Barkley, by the way, is rated higher overall than Luck by many experts. Look no further than to Kellen Moore for a poor man’s Drew Brees. Griffin III is a smaller, faster Cam and who just beat out Luck for the Heisman. He has merit as well.
6 Antonio Montana // Dec 19, 2011 at 10:46 am
Next coach is doomed as well if the Organization proceeds to pass on a QB in the first round ( since 1983 ) and have a sub par GM & President. Its a commitment to business , not winning. A soft South FLorida attitude along with fair-weathered, loud mouth non-participating fans. I suggest a better seat in the stadium to Tan on sunday’s vs watching a Playoff caliber team. “Just Making” the playoffs is not enough.. Every town wants to win, but, this one is unrealistic as to how to get there. if you want to see how to do it?– go to the AAA and watch the Heat, at least Riley knows it takes Balls & Money to get to the Finals.
7 Eric // Dec 23, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Now that Barkley is staying in college, it appears less likely that Fins will have high enough slot in which to draft Griffin III. Kellen Moore?
8 joey michelena // Dec 24, 2011 at 10:29 pm
what we learned this year about thr FINS :
1) pretty darn good team MINUS soprano !
2) soprano was a putrid coach
3) we have many talented players
4) Matt Moore is a good back-up, yet laughable as a starter.
5) with LUCK, Miami is an instant contender !
9 joey michelena // Dec 24, 2011 at 10:33 pm
5 worst qb`s in the nfl:
1) grossman
2) sanchez
3) fitzpatrick
4) mccoy
5) moore
10 joey michelena // Dec 24, 2011 at 10:35 pm
5 best qb`s with less than 3 yrs. exp.
1) ryan
2) kolb
3) dalton
4) tebow
5) schawb
11 joey michelena // Dec 24, 2011 at 10:36 pm
the HEAT get revenge christmas day against Mavs !
HEAT 98 MAVS 82
LEBRON SCORES 45 !!!
12 joey michelena // Dec 26, 2011 at 6:46 pm
THE HEAT WILL START THE YEAR 22-0 !
SOFT SCHEDULE…
13 joey michelena // Dec 27, 2011 at 7:17 pm
eric, Gruden will be named Dolphins head coach in 11 days.
I repeat, Jon Gruden will sign a 5 year 38 million dollar contract to coach mia.
14 joey michelena // Dec 28, 2011 at 12:52 pm
hEAT 101 CHARLOTTE 87
A LAUGHER , AS THE HEAT GO UNDEFEATED !
15 joey michelena // Dec 29, 2011 at 8:37 pm
hey eric, will ROMO CHOKE again in a huge game vs. G-men ?
16 Eric // Jan 9, 2012 at 9:00 am
Landry Jones is also staying in school…
17 joey michelena // Jan 14, 2012 at 8:42 am
denver 24 patriots 21
49ers 21 saints 13 9`ers rush for 254
18 joey michelena // Jan 15, 2012 at 8:03 am
Ravens 27 Texans 17
Giants 23 Pack 21
19 joey michelena // Jan 16, 2012 at 8:21 pm
2-0 sunday….gutsy pick going with g-men.
20 joey michelena // Jan 19, 2012 at 6:20 pm
Mike Mccoy hiring is a joke. The reasoning: he helped Tebow run a college offense at the pro level. Tebow had a 44 percent comp. pct.
Putrid, yet very dolphin like. First slobrano, and now a joke of a qb coach to run the most anemic franchise in pro sports. Are you ready eric, for Matt moore all next season ? How ridiculous.
21 joey michelena // Jan 19, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Rob Lowe Tweets peyton manning is done. Eric, is this true ?
22 joey michelena // Jan 21, 2012 at 6:55 pm
“offensive” decision on new coach. Philbin is
Larry Coker in disguise.
23 joey michelena // Jan 22, 2012 at 8:20 am
Pats 35 ravens 17
49ers 21 giants 10
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