Dolphins New Coach Search Will Be Filled with Competition

Nov. 28 News and Notes 11 comments ---Bill

When late December and early January roll around, the Miami Dolphins will most likely be conducting a search for a new Head Coach.  It’s clear that Tony Sparano will not be able to lead the Dolphins to the playoffs this season, which will ultimately lead to his dismissal.  It’s also likely that the Dolphins will be looking for a new GM to replace Jeff Ireland (hopefully).  Towards the end of the Dolphins 0-7 start to 2011, it became a daily rumor that Sparano would be fired.  Remember all of the “Dolphins reach out to Cowher” talk?  Sparano putting his house on the market?  Truth is, Sparano was probably 1-2 losses away from being fired in-season.  At that point, there were only a couple of other places that looked like they’d be in the market for a head coach: Jacksonville, Minnesota, and possibly St. Louis.

Now?  There are more jobs that could become available in addition to those places.  San Diego has lost 6 straight games after starting 4-1.  Norv Turner’s conservative philosophy cost him the game yesterday against the Broncos and may ultimately end up costing him his job.  Before the season, many thought the Chargers would run away with the AFC West, as they had a talent laden roster.  Entering week 13, it appears Norv Turner may be on the unemployment line.  Joining Turner MIGHT be Andy Reid of the Eagles.  The Architect and Contractor of the Dream Team appears to have lost his Eagles team and the fan base.  There were chants yesterday at Lincoln Financial Field of ‘Fire An-dy’.  After 13 season in Philadelphia, THIS might be his most disappointing effort yet.  Then there is the New York Giants job….WHAT?  Yes, you read that right.  I believe that if the Giants fail to make the playoffs, Tom Coughlin will be out as the Giants Coach.  The Giants started the season 6-2, but currently sit at 6-4 and have games against the Saints (tonight) and the Packers in the next 2 weeks.  Another collapse could spell the end of Coughlin’s reign in NYC.

So why are we telling you about potential openings in San Diego, Philadelphia, and New York?  Because openings in those cities could directly impact the Dolphins coaching search.  Why?  Because all 3 of those cities have established QBs and a solid talent base on their rosters.  The Dolphins, meanwhile, only have QB Matt Moore under contract for 2012.  If you were Bill Cowher, Jeff Fisher, or Jon Gruden and you wanted to get back into the NFL, would you pick one of those jobs over the Dolphins job?   Make no mistake about it, the Dolphins job will be enticing to potential coaches, but there will certainly be some competition.

Stephen Ross WANTS one of those big name coaches and he’s willing to spend big to get one of them.  Are they the best option to turn the Dolphins back into a winning franchise?  We’ll see.  There is also the possibility that the Dolphins could look for a young, hungry assistant coach (there are a few to keep an eye on).  Again, time will tell.  All we can hope for at this point is that when the coaching carousel stops, the Dolphins will have a coach that fits the talent that is currently on the team.  Hopefully whomever that coach ends up being, can put an end to the mediocrity that has surrounded the Dolphins franchise for far too long.

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  • wynn

    I’m not worried about who the head coach will be. I’m most concerned most about who the g.m. will be. That’s where it will all start A smart g.m. will hire the right people.There right people will draft the right players and sign the right fee agents.

  • KillerFin

    Carl Peterson WILL be the new GM!!! He’ll be good for about 2 years then run the Fins into the ground AGAIN just like he did with the Chiefs!!! He & Ross are business partners it IS gonna happen!!! Jeff Fisher needs to be the tough caoch to whip these NO PLAYING @$$ES INTO SHAPE!!!

  • floodland13

    Steelers’ offensive coordinator would be my first choice…

  • KillerFin

    As we have seen in the past most coordinators do not pan out as head coaches!!! Jeff Fisher is a proven winning coach & is available RIGHT NOW!!!

    • Ellis Mack

      I’m all for Jeff Fisher. He has some unfinished business in the NFL and that is to be a super bowl winner. He has the head coach experience, he’s young enough, and he could delegate or do the things necessary to get the team playing their best football every Sunday.

  • Ben

    I think any coach that comes in will be taking full control of football operations. If its one of the big names, Chower, Gruden, Fisher those coaches will bring a whole new staff. I worry about turnover from a coaching standpoint. Young guys that fit a system and play well being taught a new system and struggling and thus wasting the good years of the their career. I.E, Dansby, Smith, Davis. Although young…i was them to keep growing not trying to re learn a system. But, whomever comes in we need a players coach…this team is young and hungry. Whatever Tony lacked in X and O’s and game management, he was a players coach…and they loved him for that. Gr8 write up. Look forward to more.

  • Iam305Jules

    I don’t care about the fact a past Superbowl winning coach has failed to repeat with another team, because frankly, I believe that curse or whatever it is,will only stand until someone breaks it, just like any other stat or record before it. Having said that, I’d like to Fisher, Cowhert or Grudden, and not necessarily in that order. I am also probably as concerened with the GM position.

  • rich9336

    Jeff Fisher? 6 winning seasons in 17 years.You got to be kidding.

  • T.B.

    Bring in Floyd Reese as g.m. Bill Cowher or Jon Gruden as head coach Reese was the man behind Tenn.when they went to the super bowl.Then lost a pissing contest with Fisher about drafting Young. Looks like Reese knew what he was talking about.

  • http://yankfiu URIDOL2011

    This Dolphin team is close to be a solid team. Remenber they had lost about 4-5 games for estupidity, lack of consistency, usually in the 4 qt, unable to stop critical drives, missing takles, when the game was on the line and so on. We need a provent coach llike Cowher or Gruden. Otherwise, how long more for this team to reach realistic power and consistency to reach at least the playoff? Sparano failed miserable when games were on the line. I will prefer a coach that demand accountability, serious improvement, or drop out. What good is a coach that is love by his players, but in a pile of mediocrecy? I said this because this Dolphin team had this season great oportunities to be at least 7-4, and in contention for playoffs. And what we have at the end of the season? The same ridiculus excuses, we fail short. The NFL is a business of winning or loosing, and players made millions to perforn and conquer. Excuses for what, players and coaches will be paid like winners even if they performed mediocre. That this reality. It is totally clear that players ruins coaches’ life, so the million dollars questions: Where is that love? If a coach cannot make the necesary adjustment to turn things around quickly enough, he should be fired and get someone that can do the job.

  • rich9336

    right on URIDOL