The question the Dolphins were asking, the question I was asking, the question you had to be asking as the New England Patriots dismantled the Dolphins 38-7 on Sunday, was ARE THE DOLPHINS THIS FAR FROM BEING PATRIOTS GOOD?
Make no mistake, the Dolphins do have talent. Their defensive line is good and deep. Their specialists (punter, kicker, long snapper) are among the better ones in the league. Their wide receiver corps is one good deep threat from being outstanding. The corners will be good once they figure out how to catch interceptions.
But this game was such a total butt whipping, such a domination, that it had to raise questions about, about ... everything.
Remember the Patriots didn't play Wes Welker, or Deion Branch, or Aaron Hernandez. Remember they turned the lights out on the offense in the fourth quarter -- running instead of passing on third down, and running one fourth down when they could have kicked a field goal.
And still the Patriots looked like they're a great team while the Dolphins looked like a bottom drawer team light years from competing for a title. Understand that New England won twice as many games as the Dolphins this year. Twice as many!
And they're rebuilding. And they have three picks in the first 33 selections of next spring's NFL draft. And they have six selections in the first three rounds.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, will be without a second round pick.
Miami will have the No. 15 pick in the first round behind Carolina, Denver, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Arizona, Cleveland, San Francisco, Tennessee, Dallas, Washington, Houston, Minnesota, Detroit and St. Louis.
Can the Dolphins pluck a super star at No. 15 that will bridge the gap between them and New England? Only if that guy is a future Hall of Fame worthy quarterback. But those don't typically hang out until the 15th pick in the draft unless several folks in several NFL outposts are blowing it on draft day.
The point?
No matter what happens in the next couple of days. No matter who the next coach or general manager is -- be it Tony Sparano and Jeff Ireland or someone else -- this Dolphins team isn't borderline title ready.
They think they're close.
They think they're one or two players away. I believe they're five or six players away. And as we saw on Sunday, that's a far, far way from the team the Dolphins have to beat to win their division.
Alot of talk about HC. With Weiss going to Florida and Kubiak staying with Texans and McDaniels not a good fit with Marshall or Nolan, who do you see as OC?
Posted by: JB | January 03, 2011 at 05:18 PM
Mando has squat for scoop
Posted by: Hayden Fox | January 03, 2011 at 05:20 PM
WHAT DO YOU THINK MR. JEFF IRELANMD IS DOING? HE IS
ON THE PHONE WITH MR. ROSS THE OWNER
TALKING TO OTHER PEOPLE ALSO
HAVING HIS SOUP
HE SHOULD NOW TALK TO MR. SHNELABURGER WHO IS SOME WHERE NEAR HIS PHONE WAITING!
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 05:21 PM
So Coughlin and Kubiak are staying put. That leaves Miami the only one left on Cowher's list. Would he want to come here after two putrid losses that show our glaring deficiencies?
I hope Mr. Ross moves fast because teams are already searching. SF seems poised to grab Harbaugh. Carolina will interview SD's Rivera soon. Hmmm...so Carolina is looking for a defensive-minded coach. My paranoia wonders if Nolan is on their short list.
Posted by: LAPhinsPhan | January 03, 2011 at 05:23 PM
surely there are young offensive minds capable of instilling creative and proactive offensive systems. it need not be one of the big names mentioned. i don't trust anyone here to have the intelligence to suggest one, though, to be frank.
Posted by: candy cane lane | January 03, 2011 at 05:25 PM
DOES ANYONE KNOW A RECIPE FOR SEAHAWK STEW?
Posted by: Aloco | January 03, 2011 at 05:27 PM
LIKE I SAIDF BEFORE THEY NEED TO HAVE LIKE IT WAS SAID ABOUT MR. DON SHULA BY VICE LOMBARDY HE CAN TAKE HIS TEAM AND BEAT HIS TEAM AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TEAM TO BEAT HIS TEAM. HE WAS A VERY GREAT MAN!
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 05:28 PM
Candy,
Weiss and Kubiak were at the top of my list and your right I don't have the intelligence to name another.
An interesting article as to why the Phins need to cahnge there philosphy.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/news/story?id=5966355
Posted by: JB | January 03, 2011 at 05:29 PM
Well candy, frankly you might want to throw out your own suggestion before dissing others' lack thereof.
Posted by: Tom | January 03, 2011 at 05:30 PM
as i thought. sigh.
Posted by: candy cane lane | January 03, 2011 at 05:31 PM
DID I SAY I HAD ANY NAMES?!? NO I DID NOT! I AM NOT THE ONE PRETENDING TO BE A FONT OF PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL EXPERTISE!!
Posted by: candy cane lane | January 03, 2011 at 05:33 PM
I LIKE CANDY AND SHORT WAKS ON LONG PEARS
Posted by: Aloco | January 03, 2011 at 05:34 PM
Christ, dude. Calm down!
Posted by: jim | January 03, 2011 at 05:35 PM
fine. i'll "calm down" despite being ACCUSED of having names. i SIMPLY SAID that surely there must be OTHER names out there, perhaps a relatively unknown young assistant and stated that i doubted anyone here had the intelligence to name anyone. well, they DON'T and for that i am attacked in this way.
Posted by: candy cane lane | January 03, 2011 at 05:37 PM
ALSO IN THE 1970S TIME WHEN MR. BILL PARCELLS WAS WITH THE ((jETS)) HE TOLD THEM I HAVE TO GET THE GROCERYS AT THE STORE IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY THEM.
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 05:40 PM
Lol accused of having names; the only attack here was your insult.
Posted by: Tom | January 03, 2011 at 05:42 PM
definitely 5 or 6 away and the biggest might be at QB! brandon marshall was right, the whole offense does not communicate well, blitz pick up is more, no hot reads. clock mgmt sucks...that could be coaching.
Posted by: fins4ever | January 03, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Chad Pennington, "three years before Sporano 16-32, with Tony 25-23. Coach Sporano has us going in the right direction. Fans out there need to understand the word patience" Yea to Chad Pennington, a very smart man.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 03, 2011 at 05:45 PM
It's 2011!
Where's the jet-pack that was promised to me? Where's the silver lamé space suit? The hover craft? The second home on the moon? The 20th Super Bowl championship for Miami?
I've been lied to!
Posted by: LAPhinsPhan | January 03, 2011 at 05:46 PM
Kris/Joe,
You guys said that no one would survive TWO years of what Sparano has produced. Isn't Kubiak getting a 6th season in Houston? What has he produced in 5 years in Houston? How many playoff appearances has he produced for the Texans in 5 years? How did that 6-10 season go over with the owner this year? Rather than blow everything up, they have decided to do the smart thing....the obvious thing and replace the DC. Bet they go heavy on defence in the draft too. Isn't there situation kind of the mirror image of what we have going on here in Miami. Maybe owners are starting to smarten up and realize bringing in a new head coach is not ALWAYS the answer.
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 05:47 PM
Bobby,
I'm with you on your 5:45pm post. I think we got a whole lot of arumnet from these guys at draft time over Gronkowski too. The problem is they never come back at any point and say they were wrong.
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Jack Del Rio's coaching record in Jacksonville, a very pedestrian 66-65. Back for a NINTH season in Jacksonville!!
If he coached in Miami guys would have jumped off a bridge 5 years ago!!!
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 05:51 PM
Craig, I'm not against keeping sparano but maybe the reason houston has never been to playoffs is because they keep loser coaches for too long. I personally don't think kubiak will ever be in the playoffs. He doesnt have the mentalitly.
sometimes a change is the best thing that can happen.
Posted by: BoulderFinFan | January 03, 2011 at 05:52 PM
i insulted nobody and simply related FACTS. you were the one who insulted me.
Posted by: candy cane lane | January 03, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Honestly Boulder,
It's apparent, as it is here in Miami that only one of their units is working. In our case it's the defence, in their case it's the offence. Gary Kubiak is not the reason that there team went 6-10 this season. the defence was atrocious!! How bad was it? It was SO bad....that Jason Allen could walk in off the street and be a starter.....and make no difference. But seriously....they're heading in the right direction. I like Wade Phillips as a DC and if they go after defence in free agency and the draft they will be fine. It's a weak division and will be there for the taking next year.
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 05:56 PM
good post bobby @ 5;45
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 05:57 PM
Bobby,
Did I read earlier that you want the Dolphins to go after Joseph Addai? Really? The guy has never shown he can stay healthy for long periods of time or run hard when it REALLY matters. I'd be happier with a rookie and Michael Bush.
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 05:58 PM
I think Tavarius Watkins at Utah is a great prospect for Miami. Really good slasher and he can catch.
At QB, a lot of people are high on that kid from Northern Arizona, Julian Steeple.
Thoughts?
Posted by: david norton | January 03, 2011 at 06:02 PM
I think guys need to ask themselves, if our team is SO bad and Tony Sparano is SUCH a bad coach and our team is so short on talent, why would one of the best DC in the game and someone who would be much sought after come to Miami? Any chance he knows more about the game and what's going on with the Dolphins than the fans do?
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 06:03 PM
Boulder,
Change isn't always bad.
Me personally am tired of the carousel that has been the Phins the last decade.
I grew up during the shula era where stability was perhaps taken for granted.
Regardless of the outcome of the HC, it's time Miami fans got behind a coach and displayed some patience.
Posted by: JB | January 03, 2011 at 06:03 PM
when home is not around ,bobbyd12 write very nice posts but when home comes on ,some thing happen to bobby's brain .
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:04 PM
One other thought....I know we are all about improve the offence and everything but one player I'd like the Dolphins to seriously look at is Chad Greenway in Minnesota. He be a great replacement for Channing Crowder, who I couldn't care less if he doesn't come back.
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 06:05 PM
I SEE THAT THERE AR NEW MEBERS OF TH GANG OF DEFEET YOU BROWN DONKYS NEED TO BUY A CLU!
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:05 PM
GOTTA HAVE A QB WITH BRASS NUTS
Posted by: bm | January 03, 2011 at 06:06 PM
i still believe the cuban is a great guy even he fakes me .
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:07 PM
I'm just a broken down old mule. Peeing and crapping all over the street and slobbering. This is one hell of a life.
Posted by: Trampy the Mule | January 03, 2011 at 06:12 PM
So hear's what the MAJORITY of you guys want. You want everybody gone....which would include Henning, Sparano, Henne and possibly even Ireland. That will lead to a new Head Coach, a new OC, possibly a new GM and possibly even a new DC(the HC is going to want his own guy). On top of that you want a neew QB taken in the first round, possibly through a tradeup. So we haven't even taken into account the other holes on the team, the lack of a running game, no pass catching TE, a shoddy OL and this assumes the defence will still be good. On top of all this, just to further complicate things, there's a good chance there will be a lockout, where the coach will only have limited access to the players and everybody may not even come together until a week or two before the season starts. And to top it all off, you are all going to patient wait until it all comes together before the expectations start about making the playoffs. Sounds like a GREAT plan!!!
Posted by: Craig M | January 03, 2011 at 06:13 PM
Craig M,
Question: Would you give up our #1 picks for the next 3yrs if it meant getting Luck this year?
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 03, 2011 at 06:15 PM
Craig M,
Im not neccessarily on the bandwagon of wanting everyone gone. My position is whatever's done I sincerely hope it's what's right. I'm just for whatever finally gets this ship right.
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 03, 2011 at 06:18 PM
ALoco, when Home came on here and posted my condolences when my dad passed on Nov 24th, it changed my opinion of him. I still think he is off the wall, but it doesn't make him a bad person. I haven't impostered or had any blowups with him since, and I dont plan on it. I appreciate what the guy said and for that I'm gonna return the respect. Home is good in my book.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 03, 2011 at 06:21 PM
It's not the 7-9 finish that bothers me with coaches. It's the inability to field half arse special teams, use challenges, 2 minute offense, too many/too few players on field, communication, etc. Can't coach men.
Posted by: popncaps551 | January 03, 2011 at 06:23 PM
Even if we keep Sparano and Ireland, unless our record sinks below 7-9, we need to keep them for 3 more years. Then if we cannot become a perrenial playoff team look for someone else to capt the ship.
If Ross decides to keep them he also needs to sign them to at least a 3yr extension. My deal is either Ross needs to be all in if deciding to keep them or all out and cut bait now. You cant keep them for only one lameduck season.
They have enough worries trying to clean up this mess, without needing the extra added burden of worrying about job security too!
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 03, 2011 at 06:26 PM
That is not true.
Posted by: trans am | January 03, 2011 at 06:27 PM
just had breaking news on. said sparano is gonna be fired and ireladn will be kept and carl peterson will come aboard. said cowher wont take job cause he would want ireland gone also
Posted by: bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com | January 03, 2011 at 06:29 PM
ROSS WIL KEEPP SPARONO AND TELL THE HYENA CHOWER TO GET HES 8 MILION SOMWERE ELSE
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:30 PM
bobbyd12. i did expect this answer from you . home is a good guy ,he's just different .
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:31 PM
now that tony will be gone who do we hire/ cowher looks like hes out. so harbaugh? fisher? gruden?
Posted by: bill_cnnrs@yahoo.com | January 03, 2011 at 06:33 PM
HYENAS CHOWER CAN GO TO THE SCOTLAND TEAM OR THE DRAGOONS NOW///THEY WILL GIVE OT TO HIM IN THE SPAIN MONEY
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:33 PM
Aluminum oxides, barium salts and God knows what else was in those toxic chemtrails that killed now over 3000 red winged blackbirds that fell out of the sky on New Years Day.
Were u aware that chemtrail composites of Aluminum oxides & barium salts are conductors of radio frequencies to carry ELF waves
When the military HAARPs the Ionosphere they are essentially microvaing the Ionosphere and playing God with the weather
Home knows why for "No apparent reason" over 3000 redwinged blackbirds fell from the sky to their death
However mainstream media will never tell u slaves
That would be like telling u the truth
... and we cannot start doing that now
U know u r not ready for the truth
Posted by: Home | January 03, 2011 at 06:35 PM
i can't find gruden any where ? could he be the next coach.he's a sneak as we know .
Posted by: ALoco | January 03, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Craig M: you made some good points -- I commend you on that. We can debate ad nauseum about regime changes all we want on this blog, BUT the bottom line is what will Ross do?
Remember, the man has paid approx. billion dollar for this team. He had SB aspirations after believing in Parcells and company. He spent a pretty penny to get Dansby and Marshall here (as well as upgrade the stadium and game day experience). He's seen the empty seats at home games. He saw the ugly losses on prime time and the embarrassing losses to losing teams. He's heard and read the angry cries of boos from fans desperate for a respectable team.
If he keeps Sparano next year, he knows that fickle fans may not support the team or buy tickets/merchandises unless the team wins immediately and consistently. Can he trust Ireland and Sparano to pull that off?
I don't envy Ross's position right now. So the questions are: how much more patient does Ross have? Is he a risk-taker or a cautious decision maker? We don't know yet.
Posted by: LAPhinsPhan | January 03, 2011 at 06:35 PM
Australia is all HAARPed up
U Get That, Huh?
Posted by: Home | January 03, 2011 at 06:36 PM
Just curious. Did anyone hear the ref say "you know I gave you that" when the long pass interference was called just before Bess scored? He said it twice to one of the Dolphin players! He may have been talking to someone else but it sure seemed like he felt sorry for us!...........LOL
Posted by: joefromorlando | January 03, 2011 at 06:41 PM
bill, bill, bill. Stop making things up. Sid Rosenberg said on his show today that anything u hear today will be B/S. No decisions will be made till tomorrow at the earliest.
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 03, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Craig M - great posts today.
In regards to our qb situation.....I'm a displaced fin phan living here in NM. While I have to do quite a bit of reading, etc in regards to the Dolphins......Bronco news and rumors run rampant here. Orton is out.....word I'm hearing right now is a 3-4 round pick for him. What do you guys think? He's progressed well in Denver and is still relatively young. Could be a late bloomed type ala Trent Greene. Would at least provide competition at the position. Maybe pick up Seneca Wallace in FA to round it out.
Posted by: wolfman1313 | January 03, 2011 at 06:43 PM
If Sparano/Ireland retained without an extension prepare for a 4-12 2011 season at best. Players tend not to play hard for lameduck coaches. How hard would you work for a lameduck boss? LOL................
Posted by: DyingBreed | January 03, 2011 at 06:45 PM
wolfman1313, because of Labor situation teams are not allowed to trade players for picks. Unless a new CBA is signed before the draft it's not gonna happen
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 03, 2011 at 06:46 PM
darlington reported that ross and dee met sparano and ireland for 3 hours at davie.
Posted by: BoulderFinFan | January 03, 2011 at 06:48 PM
(CNN) -- The over 3000 thousands of birds that fell from the sky just before midnight New Year's Eve in Arkansas likely died from massive trauma, according to a preliminary report released Monday.
The birds -- most of which were dead when they were found -- were red-winged blackbirds and starlings, and they were found within a one-mile area of Beebe, about 40 miles northeast of Little Rock, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said.
Keith Stephens, a spokesman for the commission, said the birds showed evidence of trauma in the breast tissue, with blood clots in the body cavity and a lot of internal bleeding. All major organs were normal.
Amazing like they were microwaved out of the sky by some unknown source
Hmmm ...
Posted by: Home | January 03, 2011 at 06:49 PM
BoulderFinFan, true, they had their meeting today. Now we gotta wait to see the decision
Posted by: bobbyd12 | January 03, 2011 at 06:49 PM