Head coach Joe Philbin is the model of integrity as a coach in the NFL. Not only has he managed to keep his team above water for the second straight season, at this time last year, the Dolphins were 7-6.
Philbin has become more involved with his players and the ins and outs of that scary locker room after a bully scandal last season. Philbin has worked diligently to rectify his mistakes from last year, but some queasiness at the end of games sometimes creeps up.
Today, the Dolphins stand 7-5 and have a chance to do no worse than 8-8 with a win tomorrow.
Hall of Fame coach Don Shula retired after an 8-8 season, allegedly he was forced to do so. A creative way of being pushed into retirement I might add.
These Dolphins that come trudging along, a team that wins on the road and at home shows that it can win games.
This season has featured games that were close and lost and not close and won convincingly. After two blowout losses early on, the Dolphins haven’t lost by more than 5 points.
Last Monday night, down 13-6, the Dolphins flipped the script on the Jets running offense and used their own running game in the second half. Surely, quarterback Ryan Tannehill was unspectacular at best, seemingly content with dinking and dunking like old Chad Pennington Jets teams.
At this point, how much of all of this winning is Philbin responsible for. If Philbin was a college head coach, he’d be considered the CEO type who pushes his button men (assistants) to coach the team. Philbin would be the guy above watching practices below with binoculars. Taking notes. Taking names. Delegating others to recruit.
Right now, Philbin takes the time to thank the fans, calls the wins a “great organizational win” all the way down to the equipment men, administrative assistants, ticket reps, and finally the players.
Right now, Philbin believes in the players that are in the meeting rooms, practice field, and off of IR.
The players last Monday night fought hard in that second half. They fought for the win.
No matter what, however it happens, these Dolphins, with this structure of an organization, that seems to be working, are winning.
As a fan isn’t that what you want? Stability at the top to trickle down to winning football.
Joe Philbin will be the coach for the foreseeable future.
You want a bold move Mr. Ross, hire Philbin to coach the Dolphins next year and beyond.
Not Rex Ryan who can’t motivate his Jets and ran them into a 2-10 hole.
Not Jim Harbaugh who lost his team’s identity and doesn’t have it better than anyone.
Gosh darn it, Philbin’s earned that extension hasn’t he?
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