Yes, the Miami Dolphins have hit the ground running on their coaching interviews. (You have no idea).
The team will be talking to Mike Shanahan this week, as The Herald reported Sunday. I told you Shanahan was someone you absolutely had to keep in mind. FoxSports reported that interview will be done Tuesday.
The Dolphins are also talking this week to Detroit defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and eventually will speak with Jacksonville assistant head coach Doug Marrone. Austin went through multiple interviews last year and Marrone is the former head coach of the Buffalo Bills who has a history with search point man Mike Tannenbaum, dating back to their days with the Jets.
Chicago offensive coordinator Adam Gase is also lined up for an interview.
[Update: ESPN is reporting the Dolphins have put in interview requests for New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Buffalo RB coach Anthony Lynn, who has never interviewed for a head coaching job but did work for the New York Jets from 2009-2014.]
Austin, who is black, will fulfill the NFL's mandate for the Rooney Rule, which stipulates at least one minority candidate must be interviewed. But I have to say, Austin better be a really, really, really impressive individual to get this gig because his defenses?
The Lions were 23rd in the NFL in points allowed this season. The Dolphins, not nearly good enough, were 19th. In 2014, Austin's D was third in the NFL in points allowed while the Dolphins were 20th.
Shanahan, 63, won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos. He won one of those in Miami. But his time with the Washington Redskins was disappointing. He had only one winning season in the four he was in Washington -- that in 2012 when the team was 10-6 and won the NFC East. His overall record in Washington was 24-40.
As to interim coach Dan Campbell ... He won't be an early interview. The club is going to give him an opportunity to collect himself and his interview strategy before taking an improbable whack at getting this job. He is definitely a long shot but owner Stephen Ross "love"(s) him so you cannot completely discount him.
Gase is supposed to be something of a QB whisperer. He fixed Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler. Ok, so he didn't fix Manning. But Cutler did just enjoy his highest passer rating of his career at 92.3. He lowered his interceptions despite not having Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey being injured much of the year.
On Austin and Gase: Look, the Dolphins need to get two players right and those are Suh and QB Ryan Tannehill. The next head coach must do that to have a chance at winning. Austin can argue he got the most of Suh in Detroit, certainly more than the Dolphins got this season. And Gase can argue he can fix the QB, who is the most important player on the team.
Folks, let me just take this opportunity to tell you this search is going to be unconventional and I promise you surprises. Stay tuned.
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