For several years, I’ve been pointing out the many mistakes that Adam Gase made as a play caller. And now we’re finding out that I wasn’t alone.
Barry Jackson at the Herald points out that several Dolphins complained about Gase not sticking with what was working in games. Sound familiar? Haven’t I harped on that for 3 years, to the point where you guys are sick of me writing about it? One specific complaint the players noted was that when the team was running the ball successfully, Gase would “inexplicably start throwing it.” Ahhhem. Sound familiar?
It’s as if Barry “borrowed” some prose of mine from a few weeks ago, when I used the same word (inexplicable) to describe Gase’s failures.
Other players said that Gase was always trying to “fool” the other team but outsmarted himself. Haven’t I said that a million times as well?
Still others expressed their frustration with Gase over various other issues, including his inability to focus on multiple tasks at once and processing all that a head coach must process. (For example, how about a guy who ignores the game being played so he can go sit on a bench and design plays.)
I noted all these things in the past 3 years, and I often opined that the players must hate Gase. Now that he’s gone, we are starting to hear a few things to demonstrate how right I was. Imagine watching teammate Frank Gore shred through defenses, and then all of a sudden you see Frank called to the bench so that Gase can instead get our QB sacked three plays in a row. Who on earth would respect Gase? (Apparently some foolish owners in Phoenix do, who are interviewing him today for the Cards job).
Gase defended Ryan Tannehill tooth and nail, but he refused to defend his better players, like Pro Bowlers Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry. Believe me, players notice that stuff, and now we’re starting to hear it. When a lineman missed a block, Gase would throw them under the bus and hold them down. But when Tannehill gave free points to the opponent, Gase would say such lovely pleasantries as, “Ryan wishes he could take back that throw.”
Armando at the Herald, yet again today, gave some subtle love to Gase by implying the Dolphins didn’t wait long enough for him to develop. I still don’t get Armando’s passion toward Gase. I think Armando hates Tannehill so much that he is blind to everyone else who is to blame, including the head coach, who was MOST to blame.
Armando did make some good points about the Dolphins’ failed history of hiring coordinators and giving them their first head coaching job. It’s always a failure. That’s why I’m not keen on hiring the “hot” names out there, like the Bears’ DC and the Chiefs’ OC. Khalil Mack and Patrick Mahomes have a little bit to do with those guys’ success, albeit a single season of success.
Let’s hope Mr. Ross learned his lesson about giving away charity jobs to the latest “hot” name out there.
Yep it’s a risk that the Fins shouldn’t take best to go for someone who’s tasted coaching. Need some stability for once.
We all saw the mistakes and if they were corrected next game we could see the growth but it never happened. I prayed for it but they continued game after game… why don’t these reporters acknowledge this???
Interesting. The list of men we are interviewing is almost ALL coordinators with no head-man experience.
Rizzi was a head coach before in college. At least it’s something.
And I’m getting more intrigued with Mike Munchak…
To me ..with all the canditates ive seen so far im not to impressed …I really think Rizzi would be great with great OC and DC,s at his sioe ..even some of the players are saying Rizzi …look at the coaching up he has done with special teams and for those who say special team guys never make head coach …think of John Harbough..good luck and that’s my take.
Herald article today about Jim Harbaugh in Michigan and how easy he has it. He’d be a fool to come here.
You never know someone mentioned that more and more players are skipping bowl games it has to be frustrating. He may have had enough with the schoolboys….
I am also a Michigan Fan and my opinion of Harbaugh is very mixed. He recruits well but has the idea that he is going to power through every opponent and gets out-coached by every elite coach he goes up against. He still does not understand that what wins in the pro-game does not win in college, unless, of course, your team is that much better than your opponent. It took him almost 4 years to bring in a descent QB and even now his offense is predictably basic.
That’s ok we’re asking him to coach Miami not college and he did a damn good job in San Fran. Some guys can’t coach kids and some can’t coach pro’s. This is why I wouldn’t mind them hiring Jim…
Saban?
OMG! Zac Taylor interviewing for Bengals and Cardinals Head Coaching job!
This is Mike Sherman’s son-in-law, who Joe Philbin foisted upon us with ZERO experience or credentials!
http://dolphinstruth.com/bill-lazor-fired-and-that-opens-many-possibilities/
I just read the ESPN ticker saying the Jets are interviewing Gase!
Please hire him !!
LOL! That’s what I was thinking!
I second and third that motion!
You really can’t make this shit up…..this is why the Jets are the Jets and zona keeps sucking. Wow…
Someone on a facebook post mentioned that Rex Ryan has an interview with the Dolphins. Has anyone seen this, or is it just a blowhard fan repeating some gossip?
I’ve been keeping an eye on everything and I haven’t seen that yet…
All I see is the dolphins interviewing Gase 2.0. I am not sold on Rizzi. Why settle out go get a HC for crying out loud and quit with all this Cordinator turned HC crap.
Belichick failed as a HC his first round but his guys played for him and he got production just like Rex and there are even better coaches like Swartz but I keep hearing about cordinators.
Someone wake me up when Gase 2.0 gets hired.
I’m 50/50 on Rizzi maybe I’m wrong as the players seem to like him but it’s not about like it’s about end results. Can he do the job? Can he hire good coordinators around him? He has been around a long time but I’m not sure and would rather have a safer pick.
The problem with Rizzi is the same with Gase before he was hired. We dont know what he will be and both have never built anything solid in the NFL. Miami needs a proven coach who has proven that his teams have progressed under his management. Not some snot-nose that once called a good play and is now going to out-coach Belichick twice a year.
I think it’s vitally urgent this time around to hire skilled coordinators, no matter who ends up being HC. We need to find former head coaches with a chip on their shoulder to come be our coordinators. Jim Schwartz got fired from Detroit’s HC job and then led the Eagles defense to the Super Bowl. Disgruntled ex HC’s make the best coordinators!
Compare that to the bullshit coordinators the Dolphins have had recently. Gase hired his no-name, inexperienced friends. Vance Joseph and Matt Burke had as many qualifications as you and me. Utter failures. Our offensive coordinators under Gase had no power. Under Philbin, we got Mike Sherman, Bill Lazor, and then Sherman’s son-in-law. In the past 7 years, we’ve had garbage coordinators.
Gase’s downfall was his play calling. That was my main gripe with him, as you all know. A head coach can be overrated if his coordinators excel at their own jobs.
Also failed at play design (Romo, Carter, and Aikeman all said this), time management, and just simple coaching technique. He literally sucked at everything. There was no game plan against opponents. Simple technique was never addressed, like how to pick up blitzes or stunts. As if these concepts were never heard of before. The defense could not stop the run. This being the foundation of all defenses and Miami was 2nd worst in the league at this. Most of his wins are directly related to some lucky turnover or play not being dominant over his opponent.
Yes, we never heard of any Dolphins complaining of gase over-working them. I think practices were like a fun day for the players. Why bother working on blitz techniques when we can go serve food to inner-city delinquents instead. Remember Nick Saban when Dolphins coach…he made Manny Wright cry at practice!!! thats what we need
I really don’t know who Miami should hire the more I think about it. Look at the playoff teams today. In the NFC Sean Payton was a first time head coach when he was hired in NO, McVay was a first time head coach in LA, Nagy is a first time head coach in Chicago, Carroll was a retread in Seattle, and Perderson was a first time head coach when hired. That’s 5 out of 6 playoff teams with first time head coaches when they were hired. In the AFC you have Harbaugh with Baltimore, Reich with Indianapolis, Tomlin with the Steelers, Belichick was a retread, Reid was a retread and O Brian was a head coach in college. So overall that’s 8 out of 12 playoff teams that hired a head coach with no previous head coaching experience in the NFL.
Pretty much what I’m saying is just because Miami has struggled with first time head coaches doesn’t mean that they don’t work. They work just as much as retread coaches.
Thanks for putting in that research, and now that I read your stats, you make a good point. I guess that’s what the interviews are for. if a coordinator comes across as stellar, then give him a second look.
But if he’s hired just because some pundit called him a Quarterback Genius, then run away !
As you pointed out earlier coordinators have a lot to do with the success or failure of a head coach. Whoever gets the job whether they have head coaching experience or not needs to hire great coordinators. IMO I would prefer someone older than Gase i thought he was to young from the beginning. He just didn’t have the relationships in place to get the best coordinators. Somehow McVay got Wade Phillips even tho he was younger than Gase tho so maybe I’m wrong about the age thing. The more research I do the more I have no idea how to predict who will be a great coach or not, so many different great coaches come from different backgrounds. Harbaugh for example was a special teams coach before the ravens hired him.
Great points 27…the more you think about it, would it be better to give it to Rizzi for the in your face energy and hire former HC coordinators and go that route??? It is a crap shoot either way!