"Guys that score touchdowns," Ireland said switching to the offense. The only player who has maximized his red zone opportunities during his tenure in Miami is tight end Anthony Fasano. Fasano, an impending free agent this offseason, contributed five touchdowns this season, and has scored 23 touchdowns in his five-year career as a Dolphins starter. None of Miami's receivers have produced many touchdowns during their tenure. Why? Davone Bess and Brian Hartline aren't deep ball receivers, run-after-catch weapons, or jump-ball options, especially without a very accurate quarterback.
For fun, add up the "Ireland" draft choices the last two years, add up their Td's, and compare them to a single player over that period of time. Clay has 7 DTrain has 4 (or so) Hartline has 2 Compared to say...Megatron? Gronkowski? Graham? Jimmy Graham especially chaffs my ***, we had staff the Senior Bowl, Ireland had a "4th rd grade on him" And here we are We have the immortal Koa Misi and John Jerry instead Ireland bashing? Not really, just took notice of this pathetic production and thought it worth mentioning. But "now" he will turn on his magic GM switch, see the light, and stock us with guys who score more than the captain of the football team at say Florida..alrighty then.
Its not his fault Bill Parcells didn't teach him what a playmaker is. Or that there aren't any Ex Cowboy playmakers available.
Eh, sometimes you should roll the dice on Vets who maybe can do something My issue is this apparent inability to actually draft guys who can not only play in yr 1, but produce Td's or even Int's in yr one, borders on incompetence.
How about the blocked FG and forced fumble on the KO, or the sack to push STL out of FG range on their final drive. Or we're you too bedazzled to notice that too?
All nice, but where are the Td's? I'm reminded of the line from Goodfellas: "**** you, pay me" Enough excuses about why this or that failed, deliver or GTFO
Agreed. The endless *****ing about Ireland has failed to amount to anything. And yet the bashers refuse to GTFO.
He has this offseason, drafting a Qb in rd #1, with a high pick, grants him a one offseason pass. Anything less than 10 wins or a playoff birth, I'll drive the "Fireland" bandwagon. No bull**** about "player development takes 3 yrs" no pablum of "well we tried to sign" or my favorite "we don't know whose decision it was to draft him" "Maury's wigs stay on, even under water!" **** you, pay me.
If we win 10 games won't it be bc the crappy team Ireland put together somehow overachieved? Why not fire him anyway?
Nope, it will be b/c the team he is responsible for finally delivered. Over achieved, whatever, prefer excuses for winning than the last 3 yrs's excuses for losing.
By Ireland definition, Vernon is as much of a playmaker as Hartline, since they both only scored one TD last season. I don't see Ireland willing to pay Hartline a great deal of money, since he obviously doesn't think he is the type of playmaker the Dolphins are looking at to go forward. It will not surprise me in the least if Hartline isn't playing for another NFL team in 2013. Personally I think Hartline is merely an adequate receiver, who would be a third WR on the better teams in the NFL. So if he is looking at signing for huge contract with the Dolphins. I have no problem with the Dolphins letting him go in free agency.
I agree w u. Hopefully he comes back, hes a solid player but he's not the kind of WR that should be getting big time money. I wish we could give him Bess' money bc he's a better fit in the slot for our offense but I'm not sure how Ireland would be able to pull that off. If another team offers him big money IMO he walks and we draft a guy or sign a cheaper FA.
I think the mental component has to be integrated into this conceptualization, as well. A playmaker is not only a guy who has the physical talent to make plays, but is also a guy who views himself as a go-to guy when a play needs to be made, and he turns on the juice in those situations and goes just a little bit harder. Now, I think you have to strike a balance between that and the "me first" guy who wants the ball all the time. It's a difficult balance to achieve. Michael Jordan was the historical prototype for this, and I'm not sure there will ever be another professional athlete as good as him in this regard. He had the physical talent to turn it on when plays needed to be made, obviously. He had the mental component of viewing himself as the go-to guy in those situations. And he was able to unselfishly integrate his teammates into the game, as well. Truly an amazing athlete in every which way.
I'm less interested in Jeff Ireland's definition of a playmaker than I am wanting to find out if he can find players that fit Philbin's definition of playmakers. I think that gets lost in all the debate about Ireland. He doesn't draft based on his definitions, he drafts based on the systems the team is running. I feel like we've seen 3 different drafting philosophies since he's been here. Parcells Era: Draft on a very specific set of rules like size and years of experience. Low priority on playmakers. Occasional, bat **** crazy wild card, like White. The Year of Ireland: Draft on flashy numbers, little regard to polish. Philbin Era: I think Ireland was still trying to understand what Philbin wanted last year and didn't understand that high effort and mental toughness were near the top of Philbin's list.
I was under the impression the team was being re-built, and there was no foundation in 2007-8. We just havent spent a lot of resources on offensive skill players.... yet. WR's and secondary are really the final step to building a roster. Anyone want to guess whats on this offseason's agenda ? If you listed all the offensive players we've aquired..... you'll notice that its more a case of spending rescources elsewhere, than whats being portrayed by the fickle fan... that the GM has failed miserably in his attempts. I think we're at the stage where you get the difference makers.... the icing and sprinkles to top off that cake. I don't see how with all the picks and money to play with that we won't upgrade the skill positions. There's too many good Wr's out there to be had.
I want to say : We'll know in exactly 3 months..... but Fin D is right about Ireland basing his efforts off how Philbin defines a playmaker. Either way, we'll know in 3 months ! We know it's not exactly Hartline, Bess, Fasano. How much do they value Bush ? All i know is you better prepare for insane backlash in regards to every player either let go, traded or traded for, not interviewed, interviewed but not signed, etc. I'll tell you right now that theres a 95% chance the top 3 FA WRs will be offered more $ elsewhere ! Get Ready for chaos folks !
how many teams do you think do not have similar holes in their rosters? I'd estimate maybe half a dozen at most. people need to keep that in mind. We want to be one of the elite, but until this year, we haven't real had the ammunition due to the rebuilding process.
Disagree with De/OT/Rb OG is a toss up, we can easily resign Garner for RT for example Wr and Te are just holes, especially with Hartline a FA, but we literally have no answer at Te.
Didn't most of the league have a 4th round grade on him? He barely went in the 3rd. Doesn't that make everyone a dummy?
Do we have any examples of Ireland grading a player higher then the rest of the league and being right? Saying that he was as mistaken as everyone else only proves that he is no better then them, it does not prove that he isn't inferior.
It doesn't prove that he was inferior either. But that's the point people are trying to make. Jeff Ireland and he alone was stupid for passing on Jimmy Graham. Makes bout as much sense as 3 dollar bill.
We have ammunition because what should be the core of a playoff team is instead a bunch of expiring contracts and some draft picks via trades.
The staff also coached him, one on one, at the senior bowl. At some point it becomes obvious that Ireland has a weakness when it comes to this area of player acquistion, how he adjusts will determine how he does, if it is the same old same old then he probably should be fired. I rarely say "should be fired", however if you study his decision making and outcomes, it is fairly clear he has a serious issue. Expect him to trade for a ready to produce player over drafting someone, it is the "safe" move.
Spot on Des, which would make taking on offense lineman at #12 even worse of a move, more or less it means the last 2 yrs have been wasted. At some point, there is accountability involved, he has his offseason set up, now he has to execute.
On a team that changed team, offensive & defensive philosophies just last off season. Why is this never a factor in anyone's critique? It boggles the mind.
