Philbin could stay even if we do not make the playoffs

[CF DolFan]

I keep hearing its playoffs or bust for Philbin and Hickey but I have to disagree. I can see a few scenarios of us not making the playoffs and them getting one more year. I think it is pretty obvious that we are a better team and seem to be getting better. Two of our losses were us leaning on the strength of our team and they failed to cover. Either way ... we were in a position to win with moments remaining and that is a pretty nice goal to reach. Our O-line is still our weak link with our running game a distant second but I would hope that will change in the off season. Either way, the remainder of the team has shown to be good enough to compete withe just about anyone.

Does this mean things are getting perfect? Absolutely not but we are heading in the right direction and that is more than we have done in forever and a day.

[Spider-Dan]

At least 9-7 or he's definitely fired.  Measurable improvement is necessary.

If MIA is sitting at 9-5 (or even 10-4) at the end of week 15 and Philbin manages to lose to two cellar-dwellars to end the season AGAIN, with the result being no playoff appearance, this will also result in his firing.

[JGreenMachine]

I think Philbin should be kept around if this team shows improvement.  A 10-6 finish would definitely help his cause, playoffs or not. 

However, knowing Ross likes the good publicity, if this team fails to make the playoffs and Harbaugh suddenly becomes available, Ross will go after him.

[MikeO]

Remember one thing about Ross, he can have his cake and eat it too here with Jim Harbaugh. The one thing Ross loves more than the Fins is Michigan Football and he donates a ton of money to that school. And Michigan will be in the market for a new head coach at seasons end.  Harbaugh went to Michigan and is at the top of the schools list right now. Ross could keep Philbin on in Miami and help Michigan land Harbaugh to coach their football team. Then have an in with Harbaugh with all of his ties at Michigan, so when the day comes he has to replace Philbin, he has him already in the pipe-line waiting in the wings. And that would make Ross a very happy man!

[masterfins]

I don't see Hickey being let go, this draft class is the best Miami has had in a long time.  Philbin will probably be kept around for another year, unless he keeps calling stupid time outs to lose more games.  At this point Philbin is riding the coattails of his offensive and defensive coordinators.

[Tenshot13]

I don't see Hickey being let go, this draft class is the best Miami has had in a long time.  Philbin will probably be kept around for another year, unless he keeps calling stupid time outs to lose more games.  At this point Philbin is riding the coattails of his offensive and defensive coordinators.

That's no secret though...he has said from day one that he let's his coordinators call the plays and he oversees it.

[Brian Fein]

There is absolutely no reason to even have a conversation about firing Dennis Hickey.  Why is his name even in this thread?  The way I see it, he is one of the main reasons why we have seen improvement this season.

[MikeO]

There is absolutely no reason to even have a conversation about firing Dennis Hickey.  Why is his name even in this thread?  The way I see it, he is one of the main reasons why we have seen improvement this season.

Because he is linked to Philbin. No way they fire one and keep the other. Their contracts are linked up for a reason. If Miami ends the season badly you think they will fire Philbin and keep a GM with 1 year left on his deal? Not gonna happen. Then go and and hire a new head coach to a 4 or 5 year deal when your GM is in the final year of his deal? Common sense Brian. Either both stay or both go.  Unless you want to give Hickey an extension and keep him here for years based on what? 2 good draft picks?!

James and Landry are both contributing at a high level, two home runs no doubt. After that we got nothing. Turner isn't even active and we need help on the o-line so what does that say. Aikens is nowhere to be found. Lynch is out for the year and was very bad in practices before he got hurt. Tripp is just playing special teams. Hazel is on the practice squad. And Fede is a total project who has been active for only 5 games (the games with no Dion Jordan really.) Not expecting every player he drafted to be a home run year 1...but we are getting contributions from only 2, let's be honest. Again, that's good...just not enough to lock up job security in the short term no matter what.

I am NOT knocking Hickey, he had a good first draft and he signed Albert...but let's be fair, he hit on 2 picks as of now and signed 1 free agent of note. Granted better than Ireland but doesn't mean he has job security locked up for next year and beyond. If we end the season badly and Philbin is let go then Hickey should be let go too!

[Spider-Dan]

Hickey's free agent acquisitions have been very good overall; an absurd improvement over Ireland, who was incredibly bad in that regard.

[MikeO]

Hickey's free agent acquisitions have been very good overall; an absurd improvement over Ireland, who was incredibly bad in that regard.

Albert and Finnegan. Who else?

Shelly Smith was riding the pine till Albert went down. Yes a huge improvement over Ireland but again, not enough to secure a job for years and beyond in Miami if the season ends badly

[Spider-Dan]

Earl Mitchell.  Louis Delmas.  Samson Satele.

[JGreenMachine]

Albert and Finnegan. Who else?

Shelly Smith was riding the pine till Albert went down. Yes a huge improvement over Ireland but again, not enough to secure a job for years and beyond in Miami if the season ends badly

Louis Delmas and Earl Mitchell have played extremely well.  And Samson Satele is having a banner year

[MikeO]

Earl Mitchell.  Louis Delmas.  Samson Satele.

I will give him Mitchell and Delmas (they slipped my mind honestly). Not giving him Satele because they only signed him once Pouncey went hurt, it was a last resort move out of necessity

[Sunstroke]

Not giving him Satele because they only signed him once Pouncey went hurt, it was a last resort move out of necessity

But who made that last resort move out of necessity? Was it Hickey? Or was it the Pakistani who owns the dry cleaners down the street?

If you answered "Hickey," you're catching on...

And Samson Seattle is having a banner year

Samson Seattle...able to leap tall Space Needles in a single bound!

[Spider-Dan]

I will give him Mitchell and Delmas (they slipped my mind honestly). Not giving him Satele because they only signed him once Pouncey went hurt, it was a last resort move out of necessity

I don't see why you would give him credit for finding diamonds in a diamond mine (Albert, Mitchell, Delmas), but no credit for finding a diamond in a trash heap (Satele).