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Dolphins' Hill back on top
By Harvey Fialkov | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
3:49 PM EDT, September 19, 2008
DAVIE - It's been an uphill climb for Dolphins free safety Renaldo Hill, but he will get his first start of the season Sunday against the 2-0 Patriots.

Although Dolphins coach Tony Sparano still won't reveal that Renaldo Hill will take over the starting spot from Chris Crocker, he did admit Friday that Hill is, "working there right now with that group.''

Hill also acknowledged that Sunday will be an important game for him, simply because of the long, arduous battle back from last year's season-ending knee injury sustained in Game 7 against the Patriots.

"I definitely want to be on the field helping my team,'' said Hill, who started 23 straight games for the Dolphins until injuring his knee while unsuccessfully attempting to thwart a touchdown pass to Randy Moss. "Coaches had a role for me and starting wasn't it at the time. But I still had to prepare as a starter and continued to get ready. That's how I approach each week.



Crocker was caught out of position on Anquan Boldin's 79-yard touchdown catch last week in Arizona's 31-10 victory, and later whiffed on a tackle which allowed receiver Larry Fitzgerald to turn a 15-yard reception into 75 yards. Only a hustling Will Allen prevented an immediate touchdown. Crocker also sustained a neck injury, but has practiced all week.

"Renaldo's done a good job from a physical standpoint, but so has Chris Crocker,'' Sparano said. "What Renaldo has done is Renaldo's really been physical back there and he's a pretty smart guy back there. So is Crocker. They get us lined up pretty well, but … Renaldo is around the ball. He tackles. He got his hands on an awful lot of footballs in preseason.

"Renaldo started this whole thing back there really the farthest one behind with his knee injury and at the same time in my mind [I was thinking] this guy still had a little limp to him, maybe he's not up to full speed. I thought there were a few people ahead of him at that point and he was getting limited reps early on in training camp.

"As the thing went on I kept seeing him in every situation. Every time we competed he showed up so little by little this guy has worked his way up to a point – I think last week – he played 27 plays. Tough guy, exactly, really physical, comes up, tackles, really a smart guy back there. … More importantly, under control very poised, gets it done, is very loud and very clear with it. I think that's important.''

He got it half right.  At least he recognizes that Crocker sucks balls.

Renaldo Hill almost got cut from the team in preseason.

Why not give J-Allen a shot?  Really?

^ That's what I'm saying

I'll third that.  Where the fuck is Jason Allen?

^^^^at all three of your posts

You know sometimes it seems like Sparano wants to fail.  That's why he benches our top draft picks

If I see no improvement from last year, and so far I haven't, then I'll jump on the fire Sparano bandwagon.  It wouldn't surprise me if Parcells takes over as head coach afterwards.

^ If that's the case then Sparano needs to be demoted and not fired...hopefully he gets his head out of his ass soon enough though...I like his attitude, it's what this team needs.

I just had a thought...if Hill sucks out for us...and we know Crocker sucks....and he won't start Allen...then why don't we bring in someone, like John Lynch?

You can't demote someone from head coach.  The players won't respect them.  Last year, some people on this board had the idea of demoting Cam Cameron to offensive coordinator, considering he called his own plays.  That would've never worked.

  If you want to continue this pattern of ineptitude then fire Sparano.  At some point you are going to have to let a coach build a team.  Another coach would jettison the players that did fit his system & we are right back here talking about another 30 to 40 new players next year.

Miami would be a better team today had Cam stayed.  The players would have the same system & a little consistency.  While as fans we might not understand that but it is very important.

Why would you keep Parcells?  He is the one that hired everyone.

Because he is old & done.  He could not make the Raiders this year.

^ Did he try out for the Raiders?  Just to be clear, I'm not on the "Let's fire Sparano" bandwagon....He is a rookie coach that needs time.

Yes, he did, and was cut before the preseason ended.


So was Cam Cameron.  A bunch of people on this board (who I won't waste time naming) wanted him to stay because "we can't keep firing coaches".  Then, after he was fired, all this stuff came out about how he lost the respect of the team.  I could sense that beginning with the Houston game.  If Sparano loses this team, the same thing should happen. 

^ Compelling argument Tommy...The difference is that Sparano has a sort of a blessing from a guy who is known for being successful in the NFL...where as Cam-moron is just a know-it-all that sucked out...as for the Raiders...they have two pretty good safeties...as we only have one...and Lynch can pay both...I personally think Lynch is better than any FS we have on the roster....other than Allen but we know he isn't going to start anyways.

  He might have lost the team, but the team that won the Super Bowl last year was a team that was lost by the same HC the prior year.

He might have a blessing now, but if the Dolphins don't win, that blessing could evaporate in the time it took me to type this post.  Parcells doesn't fuck around, and if he thinks Sparano can't handle a head coaching job, he'll cut the guy loose and take over. 

I'd love to be a fly on the wall if that happens.

You are assuming Parcell wants to coach again. 

Also,  if the Dolphins don't win, then the only person to pin the blame on is Parcells.  He should be escape the blame, since he hand picked everyone.  By that he should also go.

Guys like Parcells will always want to coach.  It's in their blood.

  Yeap & that is why Miami got rid of Shula.  Because he got old & did not know when to give it up.  Parcells went 9-7 with Dallas his last year & Phillips turned them into a 13-3 team.

Wade Phillips is not a good coach.  The real force behind the Cowboys is Jason Garrett.  Parcells put the pieces in place for that team to go 13-3, but left before he could reap the benefits. 

   I disagree with this & frankly I find it kinda hard to understand how you could make that statement & believe it to accurate.  Dallas is his 5th job ( 2 as interim ) He is 63-32 in his career as a HC & he keeps getting HC jobs so he must know something. 

Parcells may have put them in place, but its his refusal to use them that keep him at 9-7.  Their offense would not be what it is today with Parcells running the team.

Remember he did not want Owens & had to be begged to sign Romo.