The news broke late today that Peyton Manning is medically cleared to play.  His neck will not keep him from playing moving forward.  Though his arm has yet to fully recover and is not up to NFL caliber yet, it should only be a matter of time before it is.  With this news, the Dolphins are likely awaiting the next announcement, whether or not Manning will be retained by the Indianapolis Colts.  Should he be released before free agency begins, the Miami Dolphins are said to be major players for his services.

We have no idea what is going through the minds of owner Stephen Ross, GM Jeff Ireland, and head coach Joe Philbin, but we do know that they have some very tough decisions to make in the near future.  Finding a quarterback to get the team over the 'hump' has been claimed as priority #1, Ross has said it, Ireland has said it, and fans know that needs to happen.  Nothing against Matt Moore, he played well when given the opportunity, but he lacked the 'it' factor that winning quarterbacks have.  Many believe, including myself, that the Dolphins are a quarterback away from being a playoff contender, and what happens over the next couple months will give us a better idea of how close the team will be heading into the 2012 season. 

The Dolphins will have to decide whether or not they are willing to draft a quarterback, sign one through free agency, or both.  We have no idea which direction they will go, and we probably won't know until it happens.  Jeff Ireland has done a good job of keeping his intentions close to the vest, and I like that about him, don't look for that to change.  The options in free agency seem to center on 2 players, Matt Flynn and Peyton Manning, though neither are free agents yet, as Flynn still has a slim chance to be tagged, and Manning has yet to be released.  In the draft, the top two prospects, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffen III, seem to be a reach for Miami to land.  Both will likely be gone by the time Miami drafts in the 8 or 9 slot, and trading up for them will cost the team dearly.  Ryan Tannehill is considered the 3rd best option in the draft, but it would be a reach to take him that early in the first round.

I look for Miami to try their best to land either Manning or Flynn first, in that order.  Depending on which one they get, if either, will determine how they will execute their draft.  Should they land Manning, I can still see them taking a quarterback early in the draft, to sit for a couple years and learn as much as possible.  Should they get Flynn, I don't see them taking a quarterback at all, opting for a pass rusher and TE in the early rounds. 

Should they miss on both Flynn or Manning, the Dolphins would likely be forced to trade up for RGIII, or reach for Tannehill, Andrew Luck is almost out of the question.  The Dolphins have ties to both RGIII and Tannehill, as Ireland is a Baylor Alum, and Tannehill has been coached by new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman while at Texas A&M.  With the recent success of rookie quarterbacks the past few seasons either one of those could earn the starting position from day 1. 

Free agency doesn't begin until early March, the draft is in late April.  Which direction will the Dolphins go?  Only Ross, Ireland, and Philbin know for sure, all we can do is wait and see.

Phins Up!

BEL

Author:  Bruce Lamb

As the Miami Dolphins and Joe Philbin move forward molding this team into a winner next season, the biggest concern for all sides is getting a franchise quarterback.  This league is driven by great quaterback play, the teams that have it win, those that don't lose.  The Miami Dolphins are a perfect example of this.  When Dan Marino played, they won, since he has left, they haven't.  Sure, they have made the playoffs a couple times over the past decade, but this team is far removed from the Marino days, and the failure to land a franchise quarterback will be the blame until they finally get one.

If you take a look at the past 10 super bowl winning teams, this is what you get.  Tom Brady 3 times, Big Ben twice, Eli, Peyton, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Brad Johnson.  See anything that sticks out?  Ok Ok, yes, Brad Johnson sticks out, but the defense that Tampa Bay team had in 2002-2003 would have beaten anyone.  The remaining 9 super bowls went to teams that had an elite quarterback, and once again this season, Tom Brady or Eli Manning will add another one to their resume.  This is how you win in today's NFL.  Solid defense and an offense that does the whole 3 yards and a cloud of dust routine doesn't work anymore.  You need a good quarterback to have a chance. 

If Miami, and Joe Philbin have any hopes of winning anytime soon, the search for a franchise quarterback needs to end soon, if not this offseason.  The defense in Miami is good, good enough to win, and a majority of the players on that defense are about to enter their prime.  This unit could get even better than it has played the past 2 season under Mike Nolan.  That isn't the problem with this team, that lies on the other side of the ball.  This team needs a killer QB, one that gets the job done when the game is on the line, one that finds a way to win.

When the coaching search for Miami begun, many had their sights set on Jeff Fisher, he was a proven quality head coach, had the big name, and would have brought instant credibility to the Miami Dolphins.....and I'm glad he chose the Rams.  I had Joe Philbin #1 on my wishlist since the search began.  Despite being knocked for not calling the plays for the Packers, not having any prior NFL head coaching experience, and being a bit older than most of the hot coordinators, I wanted him to go to Miami.  The main driving force behind my wishful thinking was the possibility he could bring Matt Flynn with him.

Now, don't get me wrong, I in no way think Matt Flynn is going to be the next greatest quarterback to join the likes of the Mannings, Brady, Brees, or Rodgers, that is not what I'm saying.  Is he a proven quarterback in this league?  No, he's not.  But in a league where the head coach is joined at the hip with the quarterback he chooses, I like my chances better if I have someone who's running a new offense I'm about to install that has been learning it over the past 4 seasons.  He would have a 4 season head start over anyone they could draft, and he wouldn't have to learn a new offense like Peyton Manning would.  Flynn makes the most sense simply because he already knows the offense.  With that in place, the learning curve of the rest of the offense becomes greatly shortened.  No one has any idea if he is the guy the team can count on late in the game or not, but he has won in the past. 

I look for Miami to make a run at him before anyone else.  It just makes the most sense.  He's only 26, he's been in Philbin's system for 4 years, he's played great in his two NFL starts, and he's a winner.  In a league where the coach is married to the quarterback, doesn't it make sense for the new coach to choose a quarterback he's been dating for the last 4 years? 

Phins Up!

BEL

Author: Bruce Lamb

The great question, will the Miami Dolphins go all out for Peyton Manning?  I hope not.  Would he be an upgrade over Matt Moore?  Definitely.  Would he immediately make the Miami Dolphins a contender in the AFC East next season?  Of course he would.  Would he be the franchise quarterback the Dolphins have longed for since Dan Marino?  Nope.

Signing Manning in Miami, should he in fact be let go by the Colts, looks great on paper.  He's one of the all time greats, a first ballot Hall Of Fame player.  He would immediately make the Dolphins better and be that quarterback that could get them over the 'hump,' but I'm not sold on the whole idea of bringing Peyton Manning to Miami. 

The first issue I have is how much it would cost the Dolphins.  They have some cap space, but not much, and Manning would likely take up more than they have available.  This would mean it would be difficult for the Dolphins to add pieces to the defense to make the switch from the 3-4 to the 4-3, which seems more and more likely to happen. 

The second issue is his age.  He's about to be 36 years old in March.  If the Dolphins sign him, he'll likely give them 2-3 solid years.  For a franchise looking to build for the future, they need to have someone who will be there for the next 8-10 years.  Sure, you could make the argument that Manning will be the bridge to give Philbin time to groom the next quarterback, but how long will it take Manning to learn a different offense?  Would the Dolphins even go after someone to groom early in the draft or will they use the early picks on players to help Manning win now? 

The final issue I have is Manning's health.  As of now, he's unable to play.  He's not cleared by doctors and no one knows when or if he ever will be.  If he does become healthy, how many hits can he take?  I'm not sure I'd be comfortable paying Manning what he will demand and not be 100% sure of his health.  This would be too great a risk for Miami to take.

The idea of Peyton Manning as a Miami Dolphin sounds great.  It would energize this fan base and give them hopes and expectations of a Super Bowl, which they very well could get.  But in the long run, I think it could set this franchise back after it's over.  How have the Arizona Cardinals been since Kurt Warner retired?  Sure, they made it to a Super Bowl and were close to winning it, but they have gone through a rebuilding phase the past couple seasons and the quarterback position is still a question mark.  If the Dolphins look to return this franchise into a winner year after year, I don't believe Manning is the answer. 

Phins Up!

BEL 

Author: Bruce Lamb

Now that the coaching search has ended for the Miami Dolphins, the next major hurdle on the offseason checklist is going to be to find a new quarterback.  Jeff Ireland stated the Dolphins need to find someone to 'get them over the hump.'  The Dolphins will explore the free agent market and the draft to get that guy. 

Current starter Matt Moore played well during his 12 starts this season, finishing with a 6-6 record.  However, in those 6 loses, Moore had a chance to lead the team to a victory in the 4th quarter in 4 of those loses and wasn't able to get it done.  He seems to lack that killer ability to lead a team to victory late in the game, that seems to be the 'hump' that Ireland is talking about.

Possible free agents the Dolphins may target are Matt Flynn, and Peyton Manning.  Neither one of these guys are free agents yet, Flynn could still get the franchise tag, though that is unlikely, and Manning hasn't been released by the Colts.  Should both become free agents, it's still unclear who Miami would target.  Flynn has worked with Philbin his entire NFL career, and knows the offense well.  He played great in his only two starts the past 2 seasons, and is going to be a hot commodity should the Packers let him walk.  Manning on the other hand has tons of questions.  Will he be healthy enough to play?  How much will he cost?  Who would Miami draft to groom while Manning plays the next 2 or 3 years? 

In the draft the top 3 prospects are Andrew Luck, RGIII, and Ryan Tannehill. Getting a shot at Luck or RGIII will require Miami to trade up.  Luck is almost out of the question, but RGIII could be had if the Dolphins are willing to give up a lot to get him.  The price tag for him is expected to be two #1's and possibly a 3rd round pick.  Though this seems like a lot to give up, if Miami really feels like they are only a few pieces away from having a championship caliber team, they shouldn't balk at making the deal.  Tannehill is considered a distant 3rd, but will likely be available in round one and potentially in round 2 should Miami want him.

We will have a better idea on which direction Miami will go once they get their offensive coordinator in place.  The leader at this time is former Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, but he is about to have a second interview with Tampa Bay for their head coaching vacancy.  Should he go to Miami, the Dolphins will have great insight on what Tannehill and Flynn can do.  Sherman has coached Tannehill, and Philbin has coached Flynn, it seems logical that one of those two will be in a Dolphins uniform next season.  Of course, knowing how Ireland operates, no one will know exactly who Miami really wants and it will stay that way until they do make a run at their guy. 

Phins Up!

BEL

Arthur: Shane Ford

Although Mike Sherman is going through his second interview with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their vacant head coaching position the rumors are that he is still the favorite to land in Miami as Joe Philbin’s offensive coordinator. When Mike Sherman was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers he gave Joe Philbin his first NFL coaching job so many think it’s only natural that the man that taught Philbin the west coast offense (WCO) be the man that helps bring the WCO to South Florida.

Mike Sherman has also been the head coach for Ryan Tannehill the last four years at Texas A&M. Most draft pundits have Tannehill listed as the third ranked QB in April’s draft. Tannehill would be on display this week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl if he hadn’t suffered a broken foot while training for the event. With many of the underclassmen QB’s deciding to stay in college Tannehill could end up being a top 15 pick so it’s only natural to believe that if Sherman becomes the OC for the Dolphins that Tannehill is someone that very likely could be targeted by Jeff Ireland and the rest of the staff.

Author: Bruce Lamb

The search has ended, the Miami Dolphins have announced Joe Philbin as the next head coach.  The former offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers beat out interim head coach Todd Bowles, and Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.

This decision came as somewhat of a surprise, as almost everyone in the media had McCoy the likely man to get the job.  All 3 of the candidates completed 2nd interviews over the past 2 days, and late Friday Miami announced they were going with Philbin.

Philbin is tasked with bringing to Miami the type of offensive success he had during his time with Green Bay.  He is credited with helping the development of Aaron, and producing one of the most potent offenses in the NFL.  His hiring also increases the possiblitly that the Miami Dolphins would be able to land Matt Flynn in free agency.  Flynn is the back up quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.  He has been with Philbin since he was drafted, and knows the offense inside and out.  He has only started 2 games in the NFL, but in those two games he has shown flashes of greatness.  Landing Philbin and the possibility of signing Flynn seems great at first glance, but like everything else, only time will tell.  One thing is for sure, despite not getting the big name coach most fans coveted, the hiring of Philbin has generated a little excitement in Miami. 

Bottom line, I love the hire, I've thought an assitant with something to prove was better than going after the big name re-tread.  I hope I'm right!

Phins Up!

BEL

Author: Bruce Lamb

Finally, the day may be here.  Friday is the day the Miami Dolphins are expected to announce their next head coach.  After concluding second interviews with the 3 top candidates, Todd Bowles, Mike McCoy, and Joe Philbin, the announcement is expected tomorrow. 

Each candidate brings something different to Miami.  Will it be the one who has been with Miami the past 4 seasons, and may know exactly what this team needs to win?  Will it be the coach who has been a part of a Super Bowl winner, and also helped develop Aaron Rodgers and the hottest free agent QB in Matt Flynn?  Will it be the offensive coordinator who developed a new offense to fit the skills of Tim Tebow and helped him win a division title?

No one knows, and it would be foolish to try and say you do.  The way this team keeps things close to the vest, it's anyone's guess who is going to get the job.  The one thing we do know, is it isn't going to be a re-tread head coach.  Miami is going to hire a first time head coach with everything to prove.  Someone who really wants the job, somoeone who will take pride in his work, and spend every waking moment trying to field a winner.  This is the type of person I was hoping for, I wasn't a fan of hiring a coach who's been there before. 

When Jeff Fisher turned down the job, I wasn't upset.  This is what Miami needs, a fresh face, a new vision.  The 'old' ways of winning games in the NFL just aren't working anymore.  This is a new league, full of creative offensive minds.  Minds that find a way to score points with exciting, high powered offenses that take full advantage of the rules in place by the NFL.  3 yards and a cloud of dust just doesn't get it done anymore.  Sure, you can make your arguments that the 49ers and Ravens still practice this, but when the need to throw the ball come about during the game, these teams can throw it. 

I see Miami going to an offensive mind with their next head coach, I just don't know which one.  Mike McCoy has really made a name for himself by developing an offense to fit Tim Tebow.  He did well last year with Kyle Orton too.  He also helped Jake Delhome during his glory years, helping him reach the Super Bowl.  Joe Philbin brings in his experience with the Green Bay Packers.  He isn't the play caller, but he is the one who developes the game plans, and helped with the development of Aaron Rodgers.  He's also credited with Matt Flynn, who is the hottest free agent to hit the market this year.  Landing Philbin will likely land Flynn, and could change the draft plans of Miami in April.  Todd Bowles is the odd man out in this scenario, which doesn't mean he won't have a chance.  Should Ireland and Ross not be able to make a decision on McCoy or Philbin, Bowles could end up being the man.  He may be the man anyway, no one knows yet, but hopefully that answer will come Friday!

Phins Up!

BEL

Author:  Bruce Lamb

Well so much for Ireland tapping into his Dallas days once again to find the next head coach for the Miami Dolphins, well, at least we know Zimmer won't be the coach, though Todd Bowles could be the guy.  The coaching search for the Miami Dolphins has been narrowed down to 3 according to media reports around the league.

Todd Bowles, Mike McCoy, and Joe Philbin have been asked for a second interview.  These interviews are supposed to happen fast, and a new head coach could be named as soon as tomorrow. 

Today was an active day on the Dolphin coaching front.  Before the news that Zimmer was out as a candidate to replace Tony Sparano, news was released that defensive coordiator Mike Nolan was teaming back up with Mike Smith in Atlanta, taking the same position with the Falcons.  Once the news broke, it made sense that Zimmer was the leading candidate because of his defensive background.  Then came the news that Zimmer, and Bears ST coordinator Dave Toub were no longer candidates for Miami. 

Todd Bowles, who was the defensive backs coach before becomming interim head coach after Sparano was fired, remains a top candidate.  He knows the team, and more importantly he knows Ireland.  The two of them worked in Dallas together, and that could go a long way in his quest to become a head coach.  He is considered a great head coaching candidate, players love to play for him, and former players say he knows the game really well.  Bowles was also in contention for other jobs, but some contend that was just to satisfy the Rooney Rule.  When you talk about philosophy between a head coach and general manager, Bowles and Ireland were cut from the same tree.  A huge question if Bowles were to be hired would be the coordinator positions. 

Mike McCoy fits the young Don Shula mold that Ross was looking for, well, at least the young part.  He is the current offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, and is getting a lot of props around the league for how he transformed the Denver offense to fit Tebow.  He also led Kyle Orton to one of his best years, and was the QB coach when Delhome led the Panthers to the Super Bowl.  McCoy has tons of energy, and is considered a good leader by many.  He's scheduled to interview for the second time on Wednesday in New York.

Joe Philbin is the final candidate in the running.  It has been said that he would love to accept the job if it were offered.  He is the current offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers, and helped in the development of Aaron Rodgers.  The major knock on him is the fact that he doesn't call the plays for Green Bay.  A major plus for hiring Philbin, would be the chance that he brings Matt Flynn with him to Miami to run their version of the west coach offense. 

Those are the 3 that Ireland and Ross want to interview again.  Hopefully in the next day or two one of them will be named the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins.  After 3 weeks, I'm a little tired of the coaching search, I'm ready to move on to potential defensive and offensive coordinators, free agency, the draft, you name it, I would rather be talking about that right about now!

Phins Up!

BEL

Author:  Bruce Lamb

Now that the dust has settled a little from the Fisher decision, the Dolphins continue their search for a head coach.  Based on what many reports say, the reason Fisher chose the Rams over Miami is because Stephen Ross wouldn't allow Fisher to have more power than Ireland over the final roster.  A move that made clear where Ross is putting his confidence.  He basically chose Ireland over Fisher.  He tried to get the big name and failed, now he's depending on the guy he backed to come through with a homerun.  No hire is going to win a press conference, but hiring a coach that can win is now Ireland's main priority. 

The next coach is going to be who Ireland wants, not who Ross wants.  It's rumored that Mike Zimmer is the leading candidate, and Miami could move fast to land him.  It's no surprize that Zimmer leads the list, he's one of the hottest coordinators out there. What is interesting, is when you start to read between the lines and start connecting some dots.  Ireland and Zimmer were both with the Cowboys from 2001-2006.  During those years Zimmer was the defensive coordinator.  His 2003 squad led the NFL in yds allowed, and he also showed the ability to run a 4-3 and 3-4 defense, having switched to the 3-4 once Parcells arrived.  Showing the ability to run either defense is a huge plus, as Miami has a couple questions to answer on the defensive line.  Also, hiring a defensive coach may make the probable departure of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan hurt a little less. 

Another dot that could be connected is what may happen to the offense.  Current offensive coordinator Brian Daboll may not be someone who Zimmer prefers.  Although the offense did play well the second half of the season, another, more attractive offensive coordinator may work better with Zimmer.  Ireland could go after Todd Haley, who also worked in Dallas while both Ireland and Zimmer were there.  He was the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator from 2004-2006.  He also played a big role in the development of Tony Romo.  From there Haley went to Arizona to be the offensive coordinator from 2007-2008.  In the second season Haley called the plays, and that year the Arizona Cardinals appeared in their only Super Bowl.  Haley could run the entire offense and Zimmer could put most of his focus on the defense.  This is a pair I would feel pretty good about. 

Hiring a defensive coach won't be what most fans want.  Offenses put butts in seats, but now that the NFL playoffs have made it to the conference championship games, it's mostly the defensive teams that still remain.  The San Francisco 49ers were able to slow down the New Orleans Saints just enough to advance to play at home in the NFC Championship.  They will be playing host to the New York Giants, who used their defense to slow down Aaron Rogers and the Green Bay Packer offense that seemed unstoppable most of the year.  Two of the most potent offenses in the NFL were done in by defensive teams.  In the AFC the Baltimore Ravens fit into that category as well, defeating the Houston Texans.  The Texans also had a stout defense this season, but the offense was doomed to come up short after losing the starting QB Matt Schaub and his backup Matt Linert.  New England is the lone offensive team left in the field.  They cruised past the Denver Broncos.  Despite how well the Bronco defense played the past weeks, the Patriots pretty much had their way with Denver's defense.  The Ravens defense matches up well against the Patriots, having won the last time these two teams met in the playoffs in New England 33-14. 

So out of the teams remaining, 3 of them rely heavily on their defense, while 1 relies on it's offense.  The most balanced of the 4 is the New York Giants, who also have a pretty solid offense.  Could the results of this season, with the high powered offenses falling short in the playoffs to defensive teams change up the draft a little for Miami?  Would they pass on trading up to try and get a franchise quarterback that everyone says you need?  When you look at Matt Moore, would you say he compares pretty well to Alex Smith or Joe Flacco?  His numbers are pretty close, but the defenses those two played with were better than the one Moore had.  The Miami Dolphins lost 5 games when they had the lead in the 4th quarter.  Some of the blame is put on Matt Moore for not being able to finish games, but some of that blame needs to be put on the defense.  Getting an elite pass rusher to line up opposite Cameron Wake may make more sense with the number 8 or 9 pick.  I have a feeling we have another draft like that to look forward to, no exciting names that catch or throw touchdowns, more likely a name of someone that tries to prevent that. 

If Zimmer is hired, this looks like the direction Ireland will go.  If the defense improves it's pass rush, Haley can do enough with Moore and this offense to score enough points to win games next season.  We'll see what happens over the next few days.   

Phins Up!

BEL

Author:  Bruce Lamb

As most, or all of you know by now, Jeff Fisher has decided to coach the St. Louis Rams heading forward, not the Miami Dolphins.  He was there for the taking, Ross was close to landing the big name that would put fans back in the seats.  After all, Ross is a business man, and making money is his MO right?  He has to figure out how to make money, and a big name coach would have been a good start.  This is what the media thinks, this is what most fans think, this is what I thought, until Ross spoke to the media after Fisher decided to take his talents to St. Louis, not South Beach.

After the news broke, media and fans speculated on what went wrong.  If money wasn't the issue, what was?  It was reported that the main reason Fisher chose the Rams is because the Dolphins wouldn't give Fisher more of a say on the final roster.  This was later deemed not true, but if it were true, kudos to owner Stephen Ross for making a statement move.  Following the Harbaugh scandal, the front office of the Miami Dolphins was thought of as questionable, and still is.  It's a walk with caution atmosphere.  Why would anyone want to work in that enviornment?  Ross doesn't know how to run a football team, he needs to just stay out of the way.  He needs to bring someone in to take care of the football side of the Dolphins and just have Ross write the checks.  Contrary to what many believe, if Ross stood behind GM Jeff Ireland and didn't bow down to Fisher, Ross deserves a pat on the back.  This move showed everyone how this organization is set up, no questions asked.  This is just what Ross needed to happen, now he has credibility, and so do the Dolphins.  I realize I'm in the vast minority with this theory, but just hear my case before you make any judgements.

Shortly after Fisher made his decision, Ross decided to hold a press conference to address the media and fans.  He didn't have to do this, many wondered why, I did too until I read the transcript on what he had to say.  When you read into the statement Ross made, you can see the things that made him such a successful businessman.  When talking about Fisher choosing the Rams over the Dolphins, Ross had this to say; 

"It's funny, in the back of my mind, I've really believed you go with people who
have something to prove and are younger. That's how I've always worked in my
business. I was always fighting that idea in my mind while I was talking to
(Fisher). Something told me if I get someone like him with that experience it'd
be good. At the same time, I don't feel lost. I believe someone really good who
has something to prove is going to be better. New ideas.

"I have mixed
feelings (about Fisher choosing St. Louis). But I feel very confident we'll find
the best man for this organizaiton. I feel very good about it. I'm not
discouraged at all."