The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Hear me out...

Traditional wisdom would say that since the team is playing better, that Sparano would deserve credit for the turnaround.  I'm not sure that's the case, however, and I see it a bit differently.

I credit Sparano for not losing the team in hard times.  It's a credit to his ability as a coach, and probably as a man, as clearly this team is fighting for him.

But...

I also think that what you do after you're 0-7 doesn't matter.  The very fact that he has a team that shows they are capable of winning 4 of 5 highlights even moreso how inept he was at the beginning.  In my opinion, this season (for all intents and purposes) was over when we were 0-3 and the rest of our division were all 3-0.  It was over then, just as it's over now.

I'm almost more frustrated with Sparano now, seeing that he had the chance and the talent to put together early wins and make a run and was incapable of doing it.

[TL/DR]

Our recent run highlights Sparano's ineptness, because it proves he had the talent all along, but was out of his league until it was too late.

What's different between the first 5 games and the last 5 games?

Chad Henne - Matt Moore.

Vontae Davis is playing.

Dansby is in shape

Reggie Bush is more effective

Its not always the coach's fault, is it?  These are all factors that weren't clicking the first several weeks but have turned the season around.  Of course you can blame Sparano, but its a scapegoat move.

I think you gotta give him a chance to show what he can do with a fresh start.  If they start off next season playing like they are right now, why is that a bad thing?

Sparano is responsible for evaluating the talent on the team.  If the team was worse because Henne was playing, that's on Sparano.

Davis is not some megastar that should doom the entire defense if he is injured.  Everyone else Sparano put on the field sucked; they cut W.Allen to keep Sapp, then cut Sapp after the first game to bring Allen back, which is just embarrassing.  The team was incredibly unprepared, from a conditioning standpoint.  The head coach (and GM) are responsible for all of these things.

How many game weeks does it take for Sparano's staff to get Dansby in shape?  5?  8?

The coaching staff finally figured out how to use him.  Their ineptness in utilizing him earlier is on them.

I'm interested in hearing what kind of issues you would actually hold Sparano accountable for.

He had a fresh start at the beginning of the year!  He also had a fresh start in 2010 and 2009.

OK, you're right, fire everyone.  Let's start all over from zero every time we don't win the super bowl.  Good idea.

^ Your point about Reggie Bush really shines a light on my position.

He is being utilized correctly now (which is great), but I think a good coach (as most of us did a long time ago) would've recognized this prior to the start of the season.

And I agree with that, however, you don't know all the details.  They have a new OC, a new RB, and tried to open up the offense when Chad was in there. 

But rather than saying "hey they finally figured it out" you choose to say "he sucks cause we wasted the season."

Wouldn't you want to take the momentum of the "figured it out" part into next season?  Or scrap everything so we can go back to "who knows what we're gonna get" mode?

I don't have faith that they finally figured it out, though.  I guess that's it.  It wouldn't surprise me one bit to see us rattle off a handful of losses to start next season, either.  He may have figured some of it out with this particular group, but next year...who knows?  Maybe he'll have to learn it all again.

He doesn't strike me as someone with a whole lot of football IQ, when it comes to game-planning, ultra conservative (playing to lose closely) style and decision-making.  In short, he's reactionary.  He let the Reggie Bush thing remain a problem for weeks before addressing it.  Good coaches can anticipate.  ...the same with Henne.  If Henne wasn't the guy to get it done, that should've been recognized and handled by the staff, rather than waiting for him to get hurt.

I don't have all the answers.  But I don't see us getting better (year over year) with Sparano.  Sparano's best attribute is that he doesn't let his guys quit when things get really bad.  I would rather have a guy who could prevent them from getting really bad to begin with.

It's relatively easy to "figure it all out" when it doesn't matter after you're 0-7.

What's hard is to figure it out when you're 0-0.

Isn't anyone else tired of the turnover?  Aren't you sick of an endless merry-go-round of coaches, assistants and players?  We have had 16 starting QB's in the past 11 seasons, and 5 different head coaches.  Bring in a new coach and all the assistants (who most people like) will go away, and probably many players will go away.  How is that NOT a step backwards?

No coach can go from jobless to Lombardi trophy in 1 or 2 seasons.  It may have happened in the past but its surely not the norm.

You gotta have some consistency at the coaching positions and I'm willing to take 1 more chance based on what I've seen the past few weeks.  Its my opinion, so don't bother telling me that its wrong cause its not going to change.

I'm not telling you it's wrong.  I'm just voicing my opinion.

You ask "How is that NOT a step backwards?"  I respond: So what if it is?

If you determine that Tony Sparano isn't ever going to get you to win a Super Bowl, then why are you wasting your time?  I would think it's better to move on sooner than later.

I like Sparano.  I won't be raving pissed if he stays on.  However, if I were the owner, I think, since I was committed to making some other changes already, I'd clean house.

It's sad, but we've gotten worse every single year he's been in charge.

Brian,

This isn't "one or two seasons."  This is Sparano's FOURTH YEAR as the head coach.  We have made zero... ZERO progress since year one.  In fact, the team has done nothing but get eliminated from contention sooner each progressive year.

After four years of nothing, it's time to move on.  If you wanted to make this argument for keeping Cam Cameron, fine.  But 0-7 in your fourth year, when you have all your own groceries?  No excuse.  He's had more than a fair shake; he's done, and deserves to be gone.

You wanted Wanny gone after 4 years, and Wanny blew Sparano away when it came to results.

dude its Year 4 of Sparano. You can't make the case he wasn't given enough time. It's year 4!!

I am tired of LOSING! That's what we have done for 3 straight years under Sparano. Under .500 seasons and endless LOSING!

Yup, and it isn't like the team has been in contention late.  The only playoff chance we have had is if we run the table with 6 games left.  That isn't fun.  It ends up with meaningless games the fans don't care about.  His start this year rendered 10 games of the season useless.  No point in watching them.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald says it best.  This team was talented enough to compete all along and grossly underachieved at the start of the season.  It's on the coaching staff to develop, nurture, and prepare that talent.  This was not done until now.  That's why the coaching staff needs an overhaul.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/05/2531938_p2/do-miami-dolphins-lack-talent.html

He might deserve some credit for the recent turnaround, but him and the staff were all inept at the start of the season. You can't have these horrible results and expect to continue coaching in the same place.

If they finish by winning 3 out of last four, I'm torn. The OC finally seems to know what to do with the talent we have, and Nolan's defense is playing like it should have all year. I'm not sure that bringing in a new group AGAIN is the solution in that circumstance. 7-9 after starting 0-7 makes me think keep what we have, just on a short leash. -EK

Sparano has changed many things with this team ala Tom Coghlin after the Denver loss. I guess you could say he got rid of the Bill Purcell syndrome.  It has obviously had a positive effect on the team.

This is a portion of an article talking about it.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/dolphins/suddenly-formidable-miami-dolphins-credit-tony-sparanos-warning-2012404.html?cxtype=rss_dolphins


Burnett said the Dolphins' play in the last five games - four victories and a one-point loss at Dallas - traces back to a speech coach Tony Sparano made after Miami lost to Denver to fall to 0-6.

Burnett recalled Sparano's words: "He said, 'You know what? If you guys want to lose and be 0-16 and get me out of here, no problem. But guess what? I'm not going to be the only one gone, and that's just the reality of this business.' "

The Dolphins - 4-2 since that day and easy winners Sunday after racing to a 34-0 lead - responded to Sparano's warning and to changes that he made.

For the last two-plus seasons, players had privately complained about their grueling schedule and punishing practices. But with his team winless and Sparano fighting to keep his job, he made what he called "drastic" changes - adjusting practice schedules to let players sleep later, reducing the intensity of practices and letting the players police themselves on and off the field.
"Coach put the fun in it for us. He gave us the team," said Burnett, who on Sunday had a sack and an interception returned for a touchdown, Miami's first defensive score of the season. "He said, 'It's on you now.' He didn't give us any more excuses - tired, hurt, scheme, whatever. It's on you now, so if you want to lose, that's on you.' "

The Dolphins expressed their new attitude again Sunday - another day-long party at Sun Life Stadium. The defense held the Raiders to just 136 yards through three quarters and didn't give up a touchdown until 7:51 remained.

How about a nice compromise.  Win more than either one of the 2 previous years and you stay. Lose more than both of the previous 2 years and you're gone.

This is tough.  I know I've been very critical of Tony Sparano and have been calling for his head for a while now.  This information makes it a little tougher to judge.  It's so up and down with Sparano, I have the grey hairs to prove it, but has he finally figured it out?  I know, I know, their wins weren't against juggernauts, but a big win is still a big win.  Do you bench Tebow because he's "not an NFL QB" ?  Sorry for being cliche and bringing Tebow in as my example, but it is what it is.  I know Miami is on pace for yet another 7 - 9 season, but for a coach to put his ego aside and change everything about the culture of his scheme speaks volumes.  I just don't know anymore what to do about this team.  It's been pretty much a roller coaster ride.  Don't get me wrong, I love roller coasters with a passion, but after being on one for YEARS, even an avid coaster fan would get sick of it.

at best Miami can finish 8-8, so a 1 game improvement over last year....at best. Odds are Miami will lose one or two from here on out and will match or do worse than the past 2 years.

There is no way in hell he stays.

I forsee Dave Wannstedt 2.0 developing.


Good/Great defenses and mediocre QB play.

Here's an anology.

Your child is throwing a fit and throws his bowl of food on the floor.

How much credit does your child get when made to clean it up?

Perfect analogy!

Carrying that analogy to it's logical conclusion- you advise givign away the child, then? Not so perfect an analogy. -EK

I was thinking along those lines.  Ever hear the phrase "You don't throw the baby out with the bath water"? you don't get rid of somethng good to get rid of something bad.

If he is getting better and doing a good job now why would you discard him just because previously he wasn't acceptable. Kind of like cutting off your nose to spite your face .

He was exceptionally slow in adjusting this season.

Are you saying he'll never need to adjust again?

Or that NEXT TIME, he'll adjust quickly?

Not saying either. I said he has obviously gotten better ... learned on the job ... adjusted to meet his staff or whatever.  I can only assume he will contnue to rise. 

I'm betting Cleveland wishes to hell they never got rid of Bellichick.

CF, I don't disagree with you, but honestly, how do you tell the difference between a coach who has improved as a coach and one who is just slow to adapt?

Sparano FINALLY adapted to the players he had available, after God knows how many weeks. Is that because he's a better coach now or is "slowly adapting to changing circumstances" what we can expect in the future as well?

It's the difference between Belichick and Wannestedt... and I'd rather not have another Wannestedt.

He gets too much blame when the team plays like shit, and he'll get too much credit when they win.  No different than any other coach. 

However, the fact that he hasn't completely lost the team and that he's got it to where they're actually playing well again, that's something he should absolutely get credit for. 

I don't doubt that he should get credit for it, but I have a hard time seeing how he can come back next year. Unless he just blows out the remaining opponents (assuming the opponents don't lay down) and makes the Dolphins look like they could be a playoff contender this year, I don't see him returning.

Actually judging by what has been written lately, the team started doing better when Sparano quit coaching so much and turned over the direction of the team to the players and just let them play. Can't remember what article I was reading but it said that when Miami was 0-7 Sparano had a meeting with the players and basically told them if they wanted to be 0-16 that was up to them and they had to start being accountable for the way the season had gone up to that point and how the season would end up was in their hands. I think it was Burnett who was talking about the meeting. Burnett said that was a turning point in the season as Sparano actually lightened the load in practices, but expected more studying by players and more accountability by players.

So I'll give Sparano some credit for realizing that maybe he didn't have all the answers and started to give the players the freedom to start making plays, but maybe he should have done this years ago. I complained for a solid year that he needed to take the reigns off Henne and just let him play, that he was overcoaching protecting the ball and Henne was playing scared of making mistakes. I blame that on Sparano and the OC. Daboll has become more aggressive and it shows. There's more downfield throws and there's more downfield completions. DB's aren't so eager to jump routes anymore which means fewer INT's and they're actually backing off receivers which has allowed more room for them to work underneath and more running room for Bush. It's finally working as it should have all year, but it took Sparano 7 straight losses to unleash the team and just let them have some fun and start playing football.

Maybe he has learned a lesson, but then again maybe this team is talented enough that if they had a great coach instead of just an average one we'd be thinking about playoffs rather than next year right now.

I do.

"Sparano has obviously gotten better."

I refute this statement.  I'm not saying that he hasn't, but it certainly isn't obvious to me.  It's easy to coach well when you're winning big.  He is still not showing that he can win close games.  Dallas showed that yet again.  I don't think he's yet figured out to manage a team that isn't firing on all cylinders.  A good coach can "find" wins.  Sparano has never been able to do that.

Dave- how many coaches are there currently who can do that? I'm being facetious or argumentative, here. It's an honest question. If there's not a better available option who can fix that problem, then there's not that much of an upside to blaming/firing Sparano when the season ends at this point. -EK

I give partial credit to Sparano for the recent run, however he still should be replaced.  My only fear is that a new coach comes in and wants to replace most of the players, even the good ones, with players he is familiar with.  I also don't like the idea of bringing in all new offensive and defensive schemes for the players to learn.  Hopefully, the Fins get a guy like Cowher or Gruden who will work with most of the existing parts.

Oh I don't know.  I could start rattling off guys, but then the group discussion would move to those individual coaches and blur the point.

I still have that sinkin' feeling when the game is coming down to the wire that we're going to find a way to blow it.  So far, Sparano hasn't helped me feel any better about that.  This probably isn't indicative of a normal situation, but we did give up 2 TDs really late in the game (granted, it was garbage time). 

You may be right.  Sparano might be figuring it out and on the way to becoming a good coach.  However, I just don't have any faith that that's the case.  It's his 4th season now and the team seems to get worse every single year.

And yet we don't still have a Q.B. got fucked for luck!! >:D Sure the colts are gonna try to win one unless they want to join the bucks??  Or did they wait to late?

Sparano did mediocre with mediocre talent.   In the words of Bum Phillips, he couldn't take hisn beat yourn and he couldn't take yourn and beat hisn.  He'll probably be the modern day equivalent to a Chuck Knox.

Recent Run was a result of 3 things....

1) Defense giving up 2.9 yards per carry average over the last 7 games (including Philly game). Defense raised its level of play to carry the offense.

2) Moore while not great is better than Henne and he converted more times in the Red Zone and led more TD drives. Which makes life easier on everyone.

3) Softer schedule and got some bad teams (KC, Wash, Buffalo, Oakland, even Dallas was banged up that game we got them)


Period that's it.  It had nothing to do with coaching.

^^^ Agree for the most part, also note that Moore wasn't throwing INT's, which was a big factor.

One thing that annoys me that various users keep noting is how the Fins beat teams that were banged up.  HELLO, the Fins are using a second string QB and have had players banged up all year.  In spite of that, they played several games close which they lost, and blew out a couple of those weaker teams.  It would be nice if we gave the Fins as much consideration as we seem to give all the teams they play against.

Having a second string QB (who, for the most part played better than your starter) isn't exactly the same as having an MVP caliber RB out (J. Charles) and your best defensive player and Pro Bowl safety (E. Berry) in the Chiefs game. The Redskins were also missing their starting RB in Hightower and their best TE in Cooley. Buffalo lost Jackson during the game, and he was only leading the league in rushing when he went down. The Raiders were without their starting RB, and another Pro Bowl player in McFadden, no Jacoby Ford, and no Denarius Moore. Every team we beat had at least one (or usually a couple) significantly better players out before or during the game. That's not in any way similar to Miami having guys "banged up" (every team has this, but they're still on the field playing) or having a more efficient Moore in place of Henne. It's not that I'm not giving credit where it's due- I'm being realistic. Miami lost the only two games it played against relatively healthy teams, and one of those got blown out at home by a 4-8 Philly team. -EK

Hell has frozen over, I actually agree with all of this.

Don't get used to it. It may never happen again  ;)