Philbin message to Carroll: Job's on the line

[CF DolFan]

I know many of you will be happy to read this. He flat out told Carrol to step it up!  You know ... they could make a lot of money if they would pay-per-view these kind of talks. Kind of sick but would be popular. I'm betting many of you would pay dearly to see these guys get blasted after a poor performance.

Philbin message to Carroll: Job's on the line

Dolphins coach Joe Philbin had a little chat with cornerback Nolan Carroll today.

Carroll, you will recall, had a tough night against Buffalo his last game. He had two pass interference penalties, a holding call and an illegal contact called against him. It was four first downs and 76 yards worth of penalties.

So the Dolphins coaches perhaps felt the need to remind the cornerback that a starting job is notgifted or inherited. It is earned. And Carroll has to earn better than he did last week or he's going to find himself replaced.

"I talked to Nolan today a little bit individually," Philbin said. "I know the coaches communicate with him on a consistent basis. I think Nolan is an aware player. These guys that have been in the league, they're professionals. They know their job's on the line. Told him today. We all get evaluated by our performance on Sunday. That's the most important thing for what we do -- what I do as a coach and what they do as players. He's aware of what he needs to do and things he needs to do better."

I was expecting the conversation with Carroll would be more along the lines of raising his spirits or perhaps serving as crutch to waning confidence. Nope. That apparently wasn't the approach.

 "I think the confidence to us, to me, is gained through your preparation and doing things in practice and doing things consistently. Doing them well," Philbin said. "And then the transfer of practice to the game. We're expecting him to play well Sunday."

Philbin said Carroll has practiced well and obviously you see the team expects him to play well. If he doesn't for the second consecutive game ...

Well, job's on the line.

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2012/11/philbin-message-to-carroll-jobs-on-the-line.html#storylink=cpy

[fyo]

His job may be on the line, but Sanford what's-his-name isn't exactly threatening to take over his job. The only other corner on the roster is newly-signed McCann, so unless Wilson or Jones can step in and play a better corner than Carroll, it seems a pretty empty threat.

[Landshark]

His job may be on the line, but Sanford what's-his-name isn't exactly threatening to take over his job. The only other corner on the roster is newly-signed McCann, so unless Wilson or Jones can step in and play a better corner than Carroll, it seems a pretty empty threat.

Empty threat for now.  But once draft day rolls around, watch out.  If Fireland is still GM at that point he would be wise to dedicate the 2013 draft to receivers and defensive backs

[Fins4ever]

The guy is just flat out awful. It was a terrible pick. Carroll has no business in the NFL. Cut him and put a cardboard poster out there of Patrck Surtain. The coverage will be about the same and the penalties will go down.

[badger6]

kinda wishing we had Bell and Vonte in our secondary at the moment. Just a thought............

[MikeO]

kinda wishing we had Bell and Vonte in our secondary at the moment. Just a thought............

why? Both are having miserable years this season

[EKnight]

Miserable would be a step UP from what Miami has put on the field in pass coverage. -EK

[MikeO]

Miserable would be a step UP from what Miami has put on the field in pass coverage. -EK

That's a lie! Not even close to being true. But you NEVER say a good word about Miami so your opinion on these matters is worthless

[EKnight]

That's a lie! Not even close to being true. But you NEVER say a good word about Miami so your opinion on these matters is worthless

27th in the league against the pass. It's a fact. I didn't embellish or make anything up. The pass coverage is awful. -EK

[Fins4ever]

27th in the league against the pass. It's a fact. I didn't embellish or make anything up. The pass coverage is awful. -EK

I LOVE THE DOLPHINS AND SAY MANY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THEM, BUT THE SECONDARY SUCKS! LUCKY TO BE 27TH!

Wait until Brady lights up them in 10 days.

[MikeO]

Once again when your 7th in rushing defense and 9th in scoring defense the pass defense ranking will be skewed more times than not. When teams can't run on you of course they are going to PASS more. More passing opportunities means more opportunities for success in the pass game on your defense. Not saying Miami's secondary is great but its not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.  For as bad as Carroll was vs the Bills the Bills didn't score 1 offensive touchdown last week. Only 8 teams have given up fewer points than Miami so far this year, how bad could the pass defense really be? Seriously if its as awful as a few of you think then Miami should be giving up way more points than they are.

Why are the Fins 4th in the league on 3rd down defense? If they can't stop anyone via the pass they should be near the bottom of the league in 3rd down defense!! They aren't, they are at the top of the league.

We have had this debate for over a year now, numbers can be very deceiving if you CHERRY PICK certain ones like Fireman EK loves to do. I am not going to say our secondary is great. BUT to say our secondary would be BETTER with Bell and Vontae (who have been beyond awful this year) is just a flat out lie.

Sean Smith and Rashed Jones have improved this year...alot. They are legit NFL player. YES, Miami needs a better #2 and #3 CB. Yes upgrading over Chris Clemons would be nice. This secondary ain't pro bowl worthy but its not that bad either!

[Brian Fein]

Reshad Jones is ranked #1 among safeties on PFF.  Why would you want Bell back again?  Cause the Jets are so stellar?  And this is coming from one of the only people in the world who has a #37 Bell jersey.

Vontae Davis can't even step onto the field.  the Colts passing defense is ranked #20, and no thanks to Davis.  I wish this discussion would just go away.

As for Nolan Carroll, he looked pretty good for a couple games, and then he turned into a pig against Buffalo.  Maybe he'll get his head on straight before Seattle.  The good thing is that Russell Wilson is downright TERRIBLE on the road, so maybe he'll get some help there.

[badger6]

That's a lie! Not even close to being true. But you NEVER say a good word about Miami so your opinion on these matters is worthless

Actually, the secondary does suck pretty bad. I mean really bad. No 2 ways about it......

[EKnight]

It's not that much of a difference but Jones isn't ranked number one any longer. He was after week 5; he is now 2nd or 3rd. The last I saw for the CBs had Smith at 23rd and Carroll at 88th. That's so bad it's embarrassing. I don't know how any one can defend the play of Miami's secondary.  Their total ranking sucks, their individual players outside of Jones suck. One of the most telling stats is that they're 5th in the league in passes defender, but they're in the bottom half of the league in interceptions. The secondary gets plenty of opportunity to make plays, but they can't. There's no way to "cherry pick" stats about the pass D. They're awful.

Re. The other ranks, Mike is wrong, as usual. Run D is 9th not 7th, at 96.8 ypg. The notion that teams "can't" run on Miami is a thing of the past. The run defense has plummeted from tied for first in the NFL to No. 9 in the past six weeks. How bad have they been lately? The past two games, the run D has allowed a 100-yard rusher and a 90-yard rusher. And four of the past five teams have rushed for more than 100 yards. Teams aren't throwing on Miami because they "have to" due to the dominating run D anymore. They're throwing on them because the secondary sucks. -EK

[Brian Fein]

^^ Wrong...

Tweeted 2 days ago by Omar Kelly:

Omar Kelly ‏@OmarKelly
Dolphins SS Reshad Jones is rated by @PFF at the No. 1 safety in the NFL. He's ahead of Eric Weddle and Jairus Byrd. Props.

Sorry, I believe him more than you.