MERGEDX2: Gil Brandt comments on state of Dolphins

[registeredguy]

Doesn't mean it is inaccurate either. It appears a lot of people have mixed emotions about Jeff Ireland. Most of the fans seem to hate him, but a lot of NFL people(both in and out of the game) and media members seem to like him and are saying he should return.

I don't hate him. I don't even know the man. I just look at his track record in the draft, and especially in free agency, and I conclude that he is doing a bad job and I want him to go do a bad job for another football team.

That said, to be perfectly honest with you, if the same media members who crucified him for the Dez Bryant thing, who declared that Miami is a trainwreck with Parcells gone, etc. are now going to provide more balanced coverage of the team and not assume that everything associated with the team is total garbage, then that's great. Maybe we'll get fewer "OMG GUESS WHAT THIS GUY ON ESPN SAID ABOUT US" threads.

[Nublar7]

I don't hate him. I don't even know the man. I just look at his track record in the draft, and especially in free agency, and I conclude that he is doing a bad job and I want him to go do a bad job for another football team.

That said, to be perfectly honest with you, if the same media members who crucified him for the Dez Bryant thing, who declared that Miami is a trainwreck with Parcells gone, etc. are now going to provide more balanced coverage of the team and not assume that everything associated with the team is total garbage, then that's great. Maybe we'll get fewer "OMG GUESS WHAT THIS GUY ON ESPN SAID ABOUT US" threads.

I don't really like Jason Cole, but he made great points about why it would likely be a mistake to part ways with Jeff Ireland at this point. It echoed a lot of what I have been saying throughout the season that firing Jeff Ireland is much more than just changing GMs. A new GM is probably going to want his own coach and not inherit Joe Philbin. A new GM/Head Coach might have a different philosophy than the west coast offense and 4-3 defense that was just established this season. That could mean Ryan Tannehill doesn't fit into the plans of the new GM/Head coach and that certain other players like Wake, Soliai, etc. may not fit what they want either.

It is funny because last season when Sparano was on the hot seat I mentioned that just because we are changing head coaches doesn't mean that the team was going to be headed in the same direction philosophically and even mentioned that guys like Cameron Wake and Brandon Marshall might not fit what the new head coach wanted. I got laughed at and called "blind" and all the other insults in the book for even saying that. Obviously Wake stayed and got an extension, but free agency wasn't even a minute old when Marshall got shipped out of town.

As much as people don't like Ireland and say "He has been here for 5 years" and "We haven't made the playoffs in 4 years", etc. firing him now could be massive mistake and basically kill any momentum and development this team gained this past offseason and regular season. I am not a "fan" of Jeff Ireland but I also agree with guys like Cole, Brandt, Joe Rose, etc. that we should probably stay the course and continue building on what we have, especially now that we have our franchise quarterback in place. Firing Ireland and replacing him with a new GM at this stage will almost be like hitting the re-set button for the second straight year and create even more dysfunction within the front office. Continuity for once might be the best route, even if that means staying with a guy that fans are not real thrilled with.

People may not be sold on his drafting, but it really hasn't been that bad and I think the 2012 class was very good. Of course people always want to zero on Egnew because he hasn't been active, but the early rookie returns have been pretty good. No one is dominating at their positions, but not many rookies do. Some do, but not most. Six of the nine draft picks have contributed in some way this season and it will probably be seven of nine assuming Egnew plays this weekend.

[PhinzN703]

Hopefully the Dolphins can get to the point where they don't end up on a list like this again. I'm kind of tired of being on a list of up and coming teams after going a few seasons straight without a winning record.

[FishTank]

Some of you people are just punks.

Blah blah blah. Tannerhell has not improved with ever game. Blah blah blah, it took Firelawn 12 years to draft a QB. Blah blah blah blah but he did this just barely in time to save his jerb. He had a bunch of years and seemed to make a bunch of weird selections under the old coach! Fireland! Ha ha!

Doesn't it seem remotely plausible that Ireland has made some selections based on his head coach's assessment of available talent?

[larouco]

I'm drinking that kool-aid and i dont care what anybody says.

go fins.

i'm drinking a glass of wine and I care what Corkie says

[DolfanDuBbZ~]

I don't really like Jason Cole, but he made great points about why it would likely be a mistake to part ways with Jeff Ireland at this point. It echoed a lot of what I have been saying throughout the season that firing Jeff Ireland is much more than just changing GMs. A new GM is probably going to want his own coach and not inherit Joe Philbin. A new GM/Head Coach might have a different philosophy than the west coast offense and 4-3 defense that was just established this season. That could mean Ryan Tannehill doesn't fit into the plans of the new GM/Head coach and that certain other players like Wake, Soliai, etc. may not fit what they want either.

It is funny because last season when Sparano was on the hot seat I mentioned that just because we are changing head coaches doesn't mean that the team was going to be headed in the same direction philosophically and even mentioned that guys like Cameron Wake and Brandon Marshall might not fit what the new head coach wanted. I got laughed at and called "blind" and all the other insults in the book for even saying that. Obviously Wake stayed and got an extension, but free agency wasn't even a minute old when Marshall got shipped out of town.

As much as people don't like Ireland and say "He has been here for 5 years" and "We haven't made the playoffs in 4 years", etc. firing him now could be massive mistake and basically kill any momentum and development this team gained this past offseason and regular season. I am not a "fan" of Jeff Ireland but I also agree with guys like Cole, Brandt, Joe Rose, etc. that we should probably stay the course and continue building on what we have, especially now that we have our franchise quarterback in place. Firing Ireland and replacing him with a new GM at this stage will almost be like hitting the re-set button for the second straight year and create even more dysfunction within the front office. Continuity for once might be the best route, even if that means staying with a guy that fans are not real thrilled with.

People may not be sold on his drafting, but it really hasn't been that bad and I think the 2012 class was very good. Of course people always want to zero on Egnew because he hasn't been active, but the early rookie returns have been pretty good. No one is dominating at their positions, but not many rookies do. Some do, but not most. Six of the nine draft picks have contributed in some way this season and it will probably be seven of nine assuming Egnew plays this weekend.

The writing was on the wall once Philbin was brought in and Tannehill drafted, by Ireland. You see Marshall traded and Vontae moved, by Ireland. All with the OK by his new HC.

Alot of the echo chamber here just refused to see what was right in front of them. While few could see and understand what he was doing for this year. This year was to allow Philbin to change the culture and philosophy of this team. While 'DEVELOPING' Ryan Tannehill. A raw and young athletic capable QB.

I, like you, am not a real fan of Ireland. But when you see the moves made, once he was retained. It all pointed to him having more time than just 2012 to right the ship.

[WesternNYDolfan]

Outside of the Dolphins there is a lot of positivity about the future of the team within the media etc... within the fanbase you'd think we went 0-16. We have a winning record in Miami and attendances continue to fall
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It's sensationalist hacks like Mando and Omar that get the less informed masses riled up.

People who actually understand the League, and have perspective understand that the Fins are on the right track.

[Cleetus]

The writing was on the wall once Philbin was brought in and Tannehill drafted, by Ireland. You see Marshall traded and Vontae moved, by Ireland. All with the OK by his new HC.

Alot of the echo chamber here just refused to see what was right in front of them. While few could see and understand what he was doing for this year. This year was to allow Philbin to change the culture and philosophy of this team. While 'DEVELOPING' Ryan Tannehill. A raw and young athletic capable QB.

I, like you, am not a real fan of Ireland. But when you see the moves made, once he was retained. It all pointed to him having more time than just 2012 to right the ship.

How much more time? When do you say that it is a realistic expectation of the fan to expect a contender out of this team?

[Nublar7]

How much more time? When do you say that it is a realistic expectation of the fan to expect a contender out of this team?

How much more time? I think the Dolphins have to make serious strides in 2013. With $40+ million in cap space, 10 total draft picks(5 in the first three rounds) and a starting quarterback entering his second year, there are really no excuses why this team can't be a playoff caliber team in 2013. They are still going to be growing and developing in 2013, but this will be the make it or break it offseason/regular season for Ireland and what he is building. His contract expires after the 2013 season, so this team NEEDS to prove it is a good team before Ross would give Ireland an extension.

[mfish41]

Ireland is here next year regardless. I can deal with that, though I don't think he's a very good GM, he certainly made a huge improvement by finally drafting the most important position in football where you should draft the most important position in football. Further, if his intention with drafting Martin was to have leverage in negotiating with Long, it would be the first proactive move I think he's ever made, which is a sign of improvement. All I know is that he has a ton of money and draft picks to work with in the offseason, so there is literally no excuse for botching it. There is no excuse for missing the playoffs next year. That being said, I know I can count on plenty of excuses if it doesn't happen...

2013 playoff team or he is a complete and utter failure.

The excuse next year if we don't compete will in all likelihood be something of the "he's in year 1 of his giant reconstruction with the cap space and picks this past offseason". If that does indeed happen, i will have no doubt JI can restart from moments in time. Personally i think Washington and Indy have turned it around moreso than the fins and bucs. JI has leveraged another year i suppose, eventually his house of cards will fall though.