If there is an ever problematic sentence in professional is one that blames the coaches.
Take for instance linebacker Phillip Wheeler and his comments after the game as told to Andrew Abramson (Palm Beach Post).
Wheeler: "I pretty much knew I was going to get the ball thrown to me, to my man. … I don’t think I had practiced that all week."
— Andrew Abramson (@AbramsonFL) October 12, 2014
First Wheeler takes on the defense that he basically didn’t know and felt that since he is the worst pass covering linebacker on the Dolphins roster that he shouldn’t have been put in that position.
If the average fan could see that quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanted Quarless the whole time, that is he had the inside position and then shifted outside, certainly the coaches should have seen it.
In Wheeler’s defense, he probably didn’t practice that particular 4th down situation and was thrust into a high pressure situation and beyond his own physical ability to cover the tight end. Sure, maybe McCain should have been covering had Koa Misi been on the field.
Wheeler, is a professional athlete who makes a lot of money in the NFL. Phillip Wheeler, we all know was not cheap for Dolphins in free agency after having worked him out favor of other linebackers the previous season. During the 2012 season, Wheeler signed for the league minimum to star for the Oakland Raiders.
As it stands, Wheeler clearly is about 50 percent to blame, but when that timeout occurred, why didn’t he mention to the coaches, “hey, I’m not that good on Quarless, let the rook (McCain) cover him and I’ll blanket the inside or provide some pressure up the A gap?
The main reason why Wheeler probably never spoke up? He took his marching orders gladly because that’s his job. That’s why he plays in the NFL and earns all of that money. To make plays.
On the second part of blame, Wheeler truly got part of the equation right. The coaches probably in desperation put the best coverage they could out there, but with Koa Misi suddenly out of the game and Jimmy Wilson on the sideline without his helmet, Wheeler was the only guy left. There were after all two other receivers (Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb) to cover.
So if you want to blame Coach Coyle, that’s fine, I’m sure he’ll take that and get better and get the defense play better. If as a fan, you don’t like the way Philbin manages the Dolphins clock, coaching and player wardrobe, and play calls, that’s another story.
Coyle today said per Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post:
Coyle on Wheeler: I wish we were successful on the call. You always after a game like that a number of different calls you wish different
— Andrew Abramson (@AbramsonFL) October 13, 2014
The last time I checked, Philbin, Coyle, and Bill Lazor do not make tackles on the field. They certainly don’t throw the ball, and they sure as heck don’t run with the football from scrimmage.
The coaches coach. The players play.
The Dolphins are in the hunt at 2-3, but how much longer is anyone’s guess.
For Dolphins fans, it’s not good enough, but this one is on the players right?
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