The combination coach is probably wishful thinking

Dolphins fans are desperate. And they're starting to reach for anyone and anything that might give them hope. So I'm getting e-mails suggesting different coaches would be a great idea as long as, you know, they bring someone else in tow.

They want Joe Philbin as long he gets Matt Flynn.

They want Mike Zimmer to run the defense as long as he brings Todd Haley to work on the offense.

They want Dave Toub if he can convince Devin Hester to come home.

While I hope not, you're probably setting yourself up for disappointment. Major disappointment.

The fact is Philbin had a good interview. A club source says he impressed. But there are questions whether he would be in position to move his family following the death of his 21-year-old son last week. His emotional state is uncertain to the point no one knows how it would affect his candidacy for the job.

And to believe he definitely can bring Flynn with him is a fairy tale.

Let's just say it right now: The Green Bay Packers are not stupid. They are likely not going to let a commodity such as Flynn simply walk out the door in free agency without trying to get something for him first. That means they may franchise him. Or they may put a transition tag on him. I predict there is no way the Packers just let Flynn go for free.

And, by the way, Flynn won't be free even if he costs no compensation. He's going to his next team to start, not to compete to start. And he's going to cost starter money. He is the 2012 version of Kevin Kolb. I'm not saying he won't perform once he gets to his next team. I am saying it is going to cost a mint to sign him and probably cost draft picks to get him away from the Packers on top of that.

I heard the idea floated Saturday that Zimmer is headed to the Dolphins because he is familiar to Jeff Ireland and he's a good coach and he also had a solid interview in New York last week when he met with the Dolphins.

But Zimmer has no more experience putting a staff together than you and me. So he might need some help with running the offense, which suggests perhaps Haley would be a fit.

It is plausible, I guess.

Haley's agent is also Jeff Ireland's agent. I'm sure the idea has been floated for Haley to get an interview of some sort. But if the only job available is an offensive coordinator gig, the thinking among league people is that Haley probably would be most comfortable returning to the Arizona Cardinals.

And that's assuming he's not going to the New York Jets.

The point is Haley has options.

If this sounds pessemistic, please rethink that. It is reality. Maybe lightning strikes and the Dolphins can get Zimmer and Haley or Philbin and Flynn.

But lightning hasn't really been striking on the Dolphins' behalf a lot lately.

Comments

[Ron Son]

SO AM I OSCAR!

[JUSTIN CREDIBLE]

SO NOW IT'S FLYNN?

PLEASE GOD NO.

IRELAND YOU MUST BRING HENNE BACK.

PRICE WISE YOU CAN'T GO WRONG.

HE HAS PLAYING TIME UNDER HIS BELT.

TWO YEARS STARTING ISN'T ENOUGH TIME TO BECOME GREAT.

ALLOW HIM THE TIME TO GROW AND HE WILL ONLY GET BETTER.

THE NFL HAS TURNED INTO A PASSING LEAGUE. WE MUST HAVE ONE OF THE WORST GROUP OF WEAPONS IN THE LEAGUE.

HARTLINE AND BESS DON'T SCARE ANYBODY.

WE NEED AN UPGRADE.

WE MISSED OUT ON JULIO AND DEZ TO KEEP HARTLINE.

THAT'S A JOKE.

IF WE ARE GOING TO UPGRADE THEN WE NEED PLAYERS THAT'S AN UPGRADE.

I KNOW MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT THE QB MAKES THE WRs BETTER BUT THAT's NOT EVER THE CASE.

GIVE CHAD SOME REAL WEAPONS.

[New Coach Wanted]

We need to improve the team and coaching so we can win. Most of you have such foolish ideas. I've never seen so much stupidity from so many people.

Unlike you utterly stupid bloggers who can't even follow your own thoughts, I know what I am talking about.

[dusty bottoms]

oscar wont hurt us, we werent winning with what we had thats for sure.

[New Coach Wanted]

None of you should be offering any opinions here. You should stop, look, listen, read, and learn. Until then, you are just making fools of yourselves.

[Mark]

Why would anyone want Henne back? He's a bad memory.

[Armando Stitz]

Agreed. Henne has an arm but doesn't have a brain. Fail.

[New Coach Wanted]

Hey, my poser is back. Has anyone ever seen someone so pathetic and unimaginative they resort to impersonating a poster because their arguments are so weak.

My bet is the fake New Coach Wanted is dusty buttoms or maybe CraigM (who likes to call me pompous.)

I am certain that whomever it is won't admit it because he has no balls. It is too funny though; I get a kick out of it.

[oscar canosa]

I am afraid that's not a valid point, Ron Son, as the majority does not agree with you and is probably some kind of defect of your imagination.

[dusty bottoms]

lol justin

[JR]

Mark, Sparano said he'd consider Henne for the Jets practice squad.

[oscar canosa]

It WILL hurt us, dusty, as a new system takes 2-3 years to install and win. I prefer to take my chances with the system already in place.

[dusty bottoms]

nice jr lol henne will hold some teams clipboard next year

[Ex Fin Fan]

I like Moore and I think he is very capable of being a top 10 QB but is that good enough?

[dusty bottoms]

really oscar, sure didnt take the niners that long

[oscar canosa]

See, Ron Son, dusty's and my opinion are different but still valid as 50% of them might be true. Your (opinion), I'm afraid, is 100%(FOS) and won't qualify.

[RoadRage]

I've been hearing "we are a few pieces away" for 17 years...?

[11crashJenson]

Marc Trestman's Team Bio,
Its pretty impressive, Do some reading and see if you don't agree that Ross should be looking at him.
http://en.montrealalouettes.com/page/marc-trestman

[Scarpo]

I would like to see Dan Marino on the sideline coaching the Dolphins.

[oscar canosa]

You have a point there, dusty. The guy is a wizard and we need one like that.

[Jeff Ireland]

"I'll only hire a HC that'll do everything I tell him and has a prostitute sister (or mother."

[Ron Son]

oscar bro, if you think the Dolphins are a talented team then u dont know what talent is thesedays. They're like an expansion team without the draft choices.......or a coach....or any prospects for an elite QB. I dont mind you disagreeing, its hard for you to be objective. I get it.

[#1 Dolphin Fan in Montreal]

Jacoby Jones, you douche.

[Scarpo]

I would like to see Dan Marino has the coach.

[oscar canosa]

Ron Son, I agree we need a Major League QB and Coach. But overall , 90% of People(NFL knowledgeable) agree that the Dolphins have NFL competitive talent. So you are in the 10% that disagrees and that makes your opinion not worthy of consideration. Good bye.

[#1 Dolphin Fan in Montreal]

I have a feeling it's going to be a VERY LONG DAY for T.J.Yates and that Texan offense against Ray Lewis and his boys.

[AJ]

Hire Dan Marino to be the Head Coach

[David Marino]

I'm getting sick of all the crying for Flynn or RG3. No QB will amount to anything behind our current O-line. We ranked 31st in sacks allowed. We need to win the battle in the trenches if we want to win the game. Henne and Moore have shown a lot considering the line they were working behind. Let's stop going for the names and go for talent both in a coach and in players.

[Jeff Ireland]

"First round picks should be a sure thing. That's why I plan to get a lineman."

[Jeff Suckland]

Dolphin Winningest Coaches

1. Todd Bowles - .667 [5 games coached]
2. Dave Wannstedt - .575 [73]
3. Don Shula - .565 [455]
4. Jimmy Johnson - .563 [64]
5. Tony Sparano - .475 [61]
6. Nick Saban - .469 [32]
7. Jim Bates - .429 [7]
8. George Wilson - .268 [56]
9. Sham Shameron - .063 [16] <---LOL

With that said, what's wrong with Bowles OR Wannstedt? Bowles just because he's already there or Wanny because he's won some games in his lifetime.

Not sure if its ever been done before. Re-hiring a coach that quit. Dave been winning games over the last 20 years as much as Fisher has been winning games over the last 20 years. Most of you guys are just upset with Wanny because he couldn't get us over the hump. But the dude did win some games in Miami.

Dave (NFL and College win/loss)
124 - 117 [.515]

Jeff (NFL win/loss)
142 - 120 [.542]

I guess it would look bad if Dave actually accepted an interview at this stage of the game. He already at BuffaLOW.

[Jeff Suckland]

Wanny wasn't even fired. Wanny quit because the team was tanking after Ricky up and QUIT. The whole offense tanked. Then Wanny appeased the masses by quitting. BTW...Jay Fiedler won some games also. I always thought Jay was a good QB. Way better than Eli Manning that's for sure.

Shameron didn't quit and Tony didn't quit. At least Wanny was a stand up guy doing the right thing for the organization.

[Joe Robbie]

What ever happened to Mark Trestman?

[42lyleblackwood]

Jay.
Keep Nolan and pity Aloco.

[DOLFANCENTRALFLA]

Armando:

Chudzinski and Moss. Canes are winners.

[Charles Campbell]

Why not bring in Kevin Gilbride for an interview.

[DOLFANCENTRALFLA]

Looks like Moss is available to talk to now. Bye Packers.

[amsmith965]

Hey Ross, Baylor has another kicker you could interview for head coach?? Matches up with Ireland pretty well and knows just as much about football!!

[phins n' skins]

Winston Moss .... lmfao, inside linebackers coach on the team with the worse defense in the entire NFL. Come on Mando.. you must be able to come up with someone better than him.

You mention someone and everyone is suppose to think he's the best option, I would be extremely disappointed in picking him as the coach.

What a joke.... do your homework before you pick a name from a hat a annoint him as the best option because Jokeland might pick him. Let them take him. Anyone except Billick or Moss. Wisen up Dolphans, pick an offense oriented coach who knows how to run an offense.

[Tracy474]

There's one name no one has mentioned. A young coach that would shut the Miami fanbase up, for once; Mike Shula.

[marchcool]

In my opinion Bowles would be the best choice. He proved to know how to handle the whole team and I liked the way the Dolphins played. He has some charisma. Moreover, he knows very well the morons he has by bosses. He's young and aggressive. The only inconvenient is if he can be manipulated by those 2-digit IQ Ireland-Ross tandem or not.
In this way the transition would be smoother than hiring a completely new coach. Then the Dolphins can move on and focus on the draft, free agency, etc.

[John]

inimounts - well said, I feel where you are coming from, but I respectfully disagree. You can have passion for anything. Just because these are humans on the field doesn't change anything. The NFL is a product. It might seem cold to put it in those terms. But the owners, those who invest in the creation and delivery of their product know this to be a fact. However, they bank on another fact...that we, as fans, will view the product emotionally, or as you put it, with passion. We are often critical when we are disappointed in our teams, but not like we are with other products. We will still buy, or buy-in on crappy products (teams) because of "loyalty" to our team. Yet it is still a product. And how many other products would we continue to purchase if they gave the equivalent level of service as, say, a 1-15 football team. Most of us, if we had a microwave oven that performed like a 1-15 team would ditch it, let alone continue to purchase from that manufacturer. The word you used, passion, is what allows us to continue to buy-in and expect change. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a product. The issue is with us, the fans. We’ve all heard that “fan” comes from “fanatic” and most etymologists agree. Fanatic = "marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion".
The genius of the NFL is that, like other sports, the manufacturers of the product can count on fan support even when the product they put on the field is inferior to others. I'm not being holier-than-thou here. I'm as guilty as anyone. I've been supporting my 'Fins since they came into existence, the same year as my birth and attending games going back to the brief stints Flipper did in the Orange Bowl, in a temporary pool behind the goal posts, retrieving footballs from field goals and xp's and giving the ball back to the Ref's (look it up if you don't remember/believe it). It's our passion that allows Ross and other owners to get a pass for an inferior product. This is not to demean players or coaches or to say these are not teams. They certainly are but they are a product of a business first and foremost. But again, unlike other products in any market, inferior designs or inferior teams get a pass for being so because we have faith that they will turn it around. But that faith or devotion does not mean it's not a product. But my intention is not to persuade others to view teams as products. For years I too couldn't see it that way. To each his own, brother. Let’s just agree that it’s high time our Fins became relevant again. Interestingly, those folks who are fortunate enough to spend a little time with NFL players come to see how much of a business football really is. More interestingly, younger players like rookies tend to view the NFL like they did their respective college careers: it's football but at its highest level. Older or retired players, to a man, abandon that paradigm and see it for what it is: a business (and if it is a business, by definition, there must be a product or a service offered).