Is this what Dolphins fans have come to?

[Pappy13]

Seriously, you're going to use the STEELERS as the poster-boy for instability at head coach???

That's not what I said.  You said it was impossible to switch coaches and remain a contender.  The Steelers have proved that's not true.  They have swithed coaches and remained a contender while doing it.  It is possible.

My point is that it's not the fact that you are switching coaches that causes you problems.  It's the fact that when you have a crappy coach, it takes a couple years to recover from that.  That's what has caused teams several years to reload and become relevant again.  The steelers haven't had to deal with that because they've always had good coaching.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

Whoa whoa whoa!  Carroll should have been given more time? If they did, they might not have Belichick? Actually I'd say that supports the idea that you only give guys so much time before you move on and try to find something better.

Actually it supports the actions of Ross earlier this season.  Carroll was fired to make room Belichick. (I think we can all agree, hindsight proves Kraft was correct in that decision correct).  If BB wasn't available maybe Carroll would have gotten another year.

Ross wasn't willing to dump Sapano just to take whatever coach was available behind door #2, but if he could get what he felt was an upgrade in Harbough, he was willing to fire Sapano. 

Fans constantly are clamoring for whatever unknown is behind door number 2, instead of what they have now. 

[fyo]

My point is that it's not the fact that you are switching coaches that causes you problems.  It's the fact that when you have a crappy coach, it takes a couple years to recover from that.  That's what has caused teams several years to reload and become relevant again.  The steelers haven't had to deal with that because they've always had good coaching.

You're looking at this too narrowly, IMHO. If you go back and read my posts, you'll note that I repeatedly stressed continuity in more than just coaching. The Steelers had what I would call "orderly transitions". They kept the same core philosophy and they kept most of the same people, both on and off the field.

As I've pointed out, one of the problems when you keep switching coaches is that you ruin your depth. It only takes a few years to get back (if you draft well) and it's certainly possible to get lucky and not have too many key injuries. However, if you KEEP switching coaches, you're dead in the water.

When it comes to "core philosophy", this is crucial for player development. You're completely screwing up your young players by changing everything around all the time. It's hard enough to go from college ball to the NFL without chaos surrounding the schemes you run, even the terminology used. Again, you might get away with doing it once, but if you keep doing it, you ARE going to pay for it, regardless of coaching quality.

[Pappy13]

Ross wasn't willing to dump Sapano just to take whatever coach was available behind door #2, but if he could get what he felt was an upgrade in Harbough, he was willing to fire Sapano. 

Fans constantly are clamoring for whatever unknown is behind door number 2, instead of what they have now. 

Agree 100%. I had no problem with Ross looking for an upgrade and failing to find one, giving Sparano another chance, but everyone needs to be aware that just because Sparano signed an extension, nothing is certain beyond this year. He needs to show improvement in 2011 to ensure he's the head coach in 2012. 4 years is plenty of time to put the pieces in place. Not all of them necessarily, but enough of them to warrant continued support.

Ross won't make the same mistake next time. If he plans to look for an upgrade, he'll let Sparano go first.

[Pappy13]

As I've pointed out, one of the problems when you keep switching coaches is that you ruin your depth. It only takes a few years to get back (if you draft well) and it's certainly possible to get lucky and not have too many key injuries. However, if you KEEP switching coaches, you're dead in the water.

I agree, but you also have to realize that some of the changes the Dolphins had no control over. The Dolphins did not fire Nick Saban, he quit. The Dolphins did not fire Jimmy Johnson, he quit.

You can't just force a coach to keep coaching. If they determine it's time to move on, then you deal with it the best way you can. I thought Jimmy was doing a good job, but he was burnt out, so he brought in his friend to coach and maintain his philosophy. It was a good idea, but Wanny just wasn't the same coach/talent evaluator that Jimmy was and the team gradually degraded to the point that Wanny had to leave. I thought Nick Saban was actually doing OK as well until the Alabama job opened up and it was clear that was his life long dream job and he took it. What can you do? Cameron was clearly a mistake and he was gone in 1 year. Now we have Sparano. He's better than Cam, but not the holy grail. He's a middle of the pack coach in my humble opinion. Not the worst, but not the best either. Maybe he's still learning and will actually blossom now that he's out from under Bill Parcells shadow. He might also wilt and die. This year should be a good judge. Either he shows the Dolphins he can do it or we find someone else, because we can't just keep handing him the keys without getting something in return.

[MikeO]

^^ Bill Parcells (while not a coach) quit too!

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^^ Bill Parcells (while not a coach) quit too!

Yeah, but anyone with a half a brain and the least bit knowledge of Bill Parcel's history knew the day he got hired, he would get bored in a couple of years and quit.  If BP's quitting was a shock to the Dolphin's front office, someone hasn't been paying attention. 

[MaineDolFan]

Is this what we have come to?  If a quarterback does not produce right away, we throw him on the scrap heap and draft someone else?  Are we that spoiled? 

I guess I have issue with this statement.  I've been on the fence on whether to respond or not. 

Miami fans are not spoiled.  Miami fans are tired of watching former laughing stock teams (New Orlands, Tampa, New England) go on to win Super Bowls when they (Miami) can't muster up two winning seasons back to back much less be an actual legit playoff team.

Miami fans are tired of trading second round picks for the likes of Jay Fielder or AJ Feeley while watching quarterbacks such as Aaron Rogers and Matt Ryan (both of whom Miami could have drafted) snatched away by teams that just seem to draft better.

Spoiled?  No.  Very frustrated?  Yes.  How many seasons are we expected to sit around and toil in "below average?"  By my count it's been 27 years since Miami was in a Super Bowl.  Without a serviceable QB that time period will extend...and extend...

I was on the "give Henne time" wagon.  Now I am more along the lines of "we need to try something else."

You state that fans can't express this frustration without being accused of being "spoiled" unless they have a solution at hand.  Fans don't get paid to come up with solutions.  They buy the material: The jerseys, tickets, hats.  They take time out of their day to watch, listen and debate.  What difference does it make if someone says "Henne isn't the answer, trade for Carson Palmer" or "Henne sucks, dump him, I want to win now?" 

IMO either "opinion" is correct.  I think attacking frustrated fans of a team that has done exactly diddly shit for 25+ years isn't the answer.

...but maybe that's just me.

[MikeO]

^^^ Great post.

Some "fans" just feel the need to see something 1,000,000 times before they are ok with moving on and trying something different. Other "fans" can see the handwriting on the wall a lot earlier and will call for change sooner rather than later.

I would LOVE to see Henne come out next year and light the world on fire. Do I think it will happen...NOPE! Do I hope it happens....YEP! Same with Sparano, I hope he  becomes a great head coach. Will it happen,....probably not. But I hope for it. But in these 2 cases its like hoping for a miracle.

I have sat through enough NFL football in my life to not need 16 more games of Henne turning the ball over left and right to come to the conclusion he isn't a starting caliber NFL QB on a winning team. I have seen enough. Same with Sparano. I don't need another season to see he can't cut it as a head coach. I have seen him for 3 years, he has shown nothing! NOTHING!

I hope for the best but I don't see much sunshine in our future. I see 2011 being another doom and gloom season. Where 7-9 or 8-8 is what we are. Unles we go out and get a Kolb or Orton and add anothr couple weapons on offense, this team isn't that good. And our coaches aren't that good.

So people can call us fans "knee jerk" or whatever, call  all the names they want, but it doesnt' change reality or the facts of the situation when it comes to the Fins