Front Office: What would you do?

[Dave Gray]

I would keep Sherman, Ireland, and Philbin.

If I had to scapegoat someone, it would probably be a line or backs coach.  ...but I don't know them well enough.

I see a lot of ire against Sherman, but really -- how do you evaluate him?  He's got an offensive line that can't protect the QB or run-block.  Considering that we got nearly 4000 yards out of a QB with that many sacks and no run game, I think it's worth trying for stability.

And Ireland, sure -- he's been pretty weak all told, but I think he's improved and we finally seem to have some building blocks in place.  I feel like we're a few linemen away from being a team winning playoff games.

Philbin kept the team together after the Martin debacle and they didn't fold, which is good for him.

I'm not really defending Ireland specifically and I don't love any of these guys, but I just fear the instability so much.  A new GM might not fit the coaching philosophy or might not like the play-style of the QB we have, etc.  It's just more variables when I feel that there is a pretty big potential for improvement without many changes.

[Tenshot13]

I would keep Sherman, Ireland, and Philbin.

If I had to scapegoat someone, it would probably be a line or backs coach.  ...but I don't know them well enough.

I see a lot of ire against Sherman, but really -- how do you evaluate him?  He's got an offensive line that can't protect the QB or run-block.  Considering that we got nearly 4000 yards out of a QB with that many sacks and no run game, I think it's worth trying for stability.

And Ireland, sure -- he's been pretty weak all told, but I think he's improved and we finally seem to have some building blocks in place.  I feel like we're a few linemen away from being a team winning playoff games.

Philbin kept the team together after the Martin debacle and they didn't fold, which is good for him.

I'm not really defending Ireland specifically and I don't love any of these guys, but I just fear the instability so much.  A new GM might not fit the coaching philosophy or might not like the play-style of the QB we have, etc.  It's just more variables when I feel that there is a pretty big potential for improvement without many changes.

I agree with you Dave.  I wouldn't be too sad if Sherman left, but not upset if he stayed.

[masterfins]

... when I feel that there is a pretty big potential for improvement without many changes.

I agree with this.  A couple lineman on both sides of the ball, a RB, and a solid linebacker, and this team is a playoff team.  However, there do need to be some coaching changes in the lower ranks, I don't know who, but this team was not prepared the last two weeks, and continually fails to make half time adjustments.

[Landshark]

It seems there are more holes to fill now than at the start of the season.  I see Philbin as a milder version of Cam Cameron and that's not what this team needs.

[Sunstroke]

Count me among the group that is ready to see Sherman replaced as Miami's OC. I just think he is too predictable, and doesn't have a good plan in place for each weekly match-up.

[Pappy13]

I keep Philbin and Sherman. Got to give them at least one more year to prove whether it's them or the players. I would only get rid of Ireland if I had someone in mind to replace him.

[Cathal]

How in the world can you keep Sherman? So many bad play calls...

[Dave Gray]

I don't see so many bad play calls.  I see terrible execution.  Sherman gets Wallace open twice per game deep, but the ball is missed.  He can't effectively call run plays, since every play is stopped at the line.

I think people just want someone to blame because we don't score points.  But it's football 101 that this stuff starts at the line.  Without protection to run or ability to keep the D in check by running the ball, no amount of play calling can cover that stink.  And we STILL have basically a 4,000 yard 2nd year QB. 

[Tenshot13]

The only thing that pisses me off with Sherman are the stretch running plays on 3rd and short with Daniel Thomas, which he did multiple times this season, and the deep drop passes when Tannehill was getting killed instead of adjusting to quick slants and screens.  However, as Dave pointed out, you can't ignore the fact that Tannehill had almost 4,000 yards this year.

[Dolphin-UK]

I'm comfortable enough with the team as it is...as far as I am concerned this staff get one draft to sort the issues then we see what they can do.

The weak o line and the issues this team has suffered this year and we miss the playoffs in wk 17...not bad and Philbin seems to be able to make a team gel. I'm willing to give Sherman a break for now...it's pretty hard to call plays when the o line is that bad.

[Dave Gray]

The only thing that pisses me off with Sherman are the stretch running plays on 3rd and short with Daniel Thomas, which he did multiple times this season, and the deep drop passes when Tannehill was getting killed instead of adjusting to quick slants and screens. 

Yes, it is frustrating, but you are really handcuffing your coordinator if pages and pages of run plays are off the books.  There is a certain amount of playing to your strengths, but on 3rd and short, a winning team needs to be able to run for 1 yard -- coordinator be damned.

And I would give you the deep drop passes argument, but for the most part, Sherman has picked and chosen carefully and gotten Wallace open with Tanny time to deliver.  He just didn't make the throws.

[dolphins4life]

I think they need to bring in somebody to challenge Tannehill

[MikeO]

Here is the problem, you hire Philbin to be the head coach. If you start forcing Assistants on him, then Philbin is just a puppet at that point. We just went through this with Sprano. Forced Henning out, forced Pasqualoni out. Forced Bonemego out. Pressure from the GM/Owner forced Sprano to change his staff, and the end result was horrible. Nobody respects your head coach at that point. You chop his balls off and he has no power.

So if you force Philbin to fire Sherman and force a Kubiak, Norv, or Chud on him as his new offensive coordinator....now you have a head coach who does what? They have an assistant they might not want or like...and your coaching staff becomes a disaster. At that point Philbin knows he is a dead man walking and the franchise is just wasting years.

What Philbin SHOULD DO (and I pray for his) is he just takes over the playcalling duties. That way, you can keep Sherman as your OC but if he isn't calling plays all he is doing is just game-planning and such. But Philblin lives or dies with his decisions as it goes to playcalilng. And he gets year #3 to sink or swim on his own.

When it comes to Ireland, I won't type what I wrote the other day again but.....GM's get too much credit and too much blame. The Giants GM 2 years ago was a genius for winning his 2nd super bowl. This year everyone hates him cause they say he is clueless and screwed up their roster. Drafts are so hit and miss. Free agency less so, but as I stated.....cap wise we are in excellent shape and a large part of that is because of Jeff. Keep Ireland, Fire him....I really don't care. Because EVERY GM has big misses and multiple misses. And I think too much is made of GM's and what they do. As long as the guy has some "player personnel" experience I'm ok with whoever the GM is.

[MikeO]

I think they need to bring in somebody to challenge Tannehill

why? That would be the worst thing ever! Want to totally divide your locker-room for no reason?

The kid took close to 60 sacks and still threw for more TD's than INT's and almost 4000 yards. No reason to screw with his head

[dolphins4life]

How many times did he miss a wide open receiver?  If he hits that pass to Wallace yesterday we are talking about a wild card game.