For the last few games now, Tony Sparano has made some really questionable calls that could or have affected the outcome of the game. Versus the Saints, he made a horrendous timeout call right before the end of the half when NO was about to kick a FG with 5 seconds left. That turned out to be huge since NO came back and ran a play to score a TD instead, giving them more momentum and started the big comeback to beat us. In the New England game he seemed to lose con idence in the offense and punted on a 4th and 4 around midfield with about 4 minutes left. If we go for it and make it we can continue the drive and potentially score much needed points there. Instead we punt, and end up letting NE score another 3, basically ending the game. Last week he calls timeout (I assume it was Sparano, it might have been Henne) with 14 seconds to play before we kick the game winning field goal. Why not let it run down to 5 seconds so we can kick the ball, and NOT have to kick off to give TB a chance to run one back? Is he just making ill advised coaching decisions this year? Because I don't seem to recall second guessing the man last year. Do you think he makes another mistake this week that will affect the outcome of the game? Edited to fix my late night dyslexia/alzheimers
Are you actually looking for predictions like, "I think he'll go for it on 4th and 2", or do you think you've found a clever way to bash Sparano?
Sparano does seem to get a free pass around here. The guy is great at keeping the team level headed and tough - but I think there are some coaching aspects he needs to learn (he is only in his 2nd year so I am not saying he can't learn these). A few thoughts - We have been falling apart in the 2nd half. Are we not making adjustments? Not coming out prepared? The in-game issues you spelled out above need to be taken care of. The 2-minute offense in the Indy game was embarrassing. He seems to be learning to be flexible with his roster - Wake not seeing time and Ginn just now being put on KR are obvious ones - but he seems to be trying new things with Hartline, Sperry and Clemons all getting significant time. I love Sparano and think he was a great choice - but there are definitely some questionable moves over this season.
1. the saints got a TD before the hald because of sparanos time out. it would have been a field goal if he didnt call a time out. it would have been a dead ball with no points if the officials made the correct call to begin with. 2. in the NE game going for it on 4th and 4 was the right move. they got a field goal after punting to stretch the field. if we gave up the ball closer, it may have been a TD. 3. i completely agree about the time out with 14 seconds left against tampa. especially when i recall hearing the announcer, durring opening kick off say TB had one of the best special teams.
Sparano will let Ted Ginn pass, and it will result in an epic fail. The play will be a end around, with Ginn Throwing a deep bomb... to himself. He will then proceed to run 30 yards to catch the ball he just threw, only to drop the pass from himself and bobble it. Resulting in a Pick 6, which should be a fumble out the enzone for a touchback, but it's Ginn, so we'll be screwed.
I'm not bashing Tony. But I think it's obvious that these instances hurt our team, and there have been more. We have not made very good 2nd half adjustments all year. The way we are getting outscored in the 2nd half is frightening. I love Sparano as a coach and motivator, but I'm just concerned with the pattern I'm staring to see Posted via Mobile Device Posted via Mobile Device
The pats game thats a BIG IF on 4th down i agree with the time out with the Saints game. I think he has done a great job with this team and some of the mistakes i chalk up as learning on the job (2nd year as a head coach) just remember who was coaching for us in the past
yeah I agree. Sparano seems to get a free pass for some reason. Not that he should be bashed or anything but there is no way you can give him an A+ grade for this year's coaching job. Probably a B which isnt bad but certainly there is alot of room for improvement
Maybe I am wrong here, but if we had a penalty on said kick would we not have to incorporate the mandatory 10 second run off for an offensive penalty? So if we either miss it or have time to re-kick ( I don't recall that field goal taking 4 seconds to complete at 20 yards) if we get an holding penalty on us etc. Maybe that had something to do with the thinking. Maybe Henne called it. There are benefits to having the time that have not been mentioned, only that the call was in fact ill advised, when it may not have been. Also remember that Tampa Bay had already blocked an extra point on the day. That could have played into it even though Carpenter did make other field goal attempts. The extra time would be handy if they blocked the kick but we recovered, or had another opportunity to kick it.
yeah i agree. for the mistakes that he has made we must give him time to grow and get better, just like our young players. Parcells made alot of mistakes early in his career and he brought home rings for Giants fans
that was basically my thinking on it too. Since it was third down also, if we had a bad snap the holder would be able to spike the ball to kill the clock and we would be able to retry.
Probably because he led the team to the playoffs last year and all the inept coaches we had before him.
No one deserves a free pass around here. Just remember that last year we had less issues in my mind than this year. We have a lot more injuries than we did last year. For one we lost Chad 1 a few weeks in to the season, big blow. Sparano and the team really trusted him on the field, the games where definitely being coached more on the basis that there was a solid proven guy at QB. Im not knocking Chad 2 because I think he is a great QB but he is a rookie, Sparano did not have to worry about that last year. The same thing goes for defense, we had a struggling secondary last year and our veterans are injured this season, our new guys are doing a great job however they still are green around the ears. So Sparano is coaching a completely different animal. I think he is trying to make lemonades with what he has. Yes he has had some odd calls but remember he is coaching and making calls at that particular moment to win the game at that moment. In my mind, bottom line is he is coaching a team with more rookies on the field than last year and he is doing what he can to try and get them to win games.
I don't think Tony gets a free pass here or anywhere. IMO, it's the fact that we have a coach now. One that cares about the team, the guys personally, the franchise and the fans. Look how long it's been since we've had a coach, a REAL coach. To me, we've had no one since Shula with any talent, discipline or heart for the team. The "fill ins" just seemed to be here, to be here, and cared nothing about the team or us. Plus, he's only in his second year as a head coach. He's done more for us in 1 1/2 years than all the others. This is just my opinion, but I don't remember having any respect for any of the coaches, since Shula, until now. I think Tony can and will get us where we need to be.
We made a big time coaching mistake in the TB game near the end of the game as well...probably Henning's mistake, not Sparano's. We were ahead by 6 with like 2:30 left, it's third and six and we called a PASS play for Henne that wound up in an INT, giving the Bucs a TD. No one in their right mind would have called that play...we should have run the ball and punted.
Nah, he has made mistakes BUT he has done more things right then wrong and IMO for someone to start this thread is just being nit picky. So you can choose to nit pick if you want, I'll choose to see the good that he has brought to the team.
Disagree, at some point or another you have to call on your QB to make plays for you. That was on Henne, once he saw the play wasn't going to work he should have just ran the ball and gotten whatever he could before we punted.
I disagree with your disagreement. At that point in the game, you have to play the percentages and avoid mistakes, especially with a second year QB in there. It was a bad call.
It will be ruled a dropped pass at first, but then will be ruled a Interception for a touchdown. The Same Ref Crew fromt he Tampa Bay game will be workign this game as well.
We respect Sparano because we all fear we can be easily "Wacked" at a moments notice at any home game. Too bad the "Waste Management" Owner isn't still around, then we can nickname ourselves "The Mob" and roll into town in Parcells Cadillac on GameDays.
I think Sparano is a good coach but I do think he does questionable things about every week. Like everyone else has said he's still learning and I also think this is a very valid thread in that it at least makes us think about it. Its not that you don't support Sparano just that sometimes the whole coaching staff makes you scratch your head. The thing that concerns me the most is the overall coaching staff's resistance to change. Its like whatever the plan was during the week must stick and the players that are supposed to play at each position are penciled in. Last year the team was ready to shake things up to get wins (mostly except for the Chris Crocker disaster for a few weeks). Luckily, as others have said, this is starting to change with players as the year goes on but still some of the playcalling baffles me. If I had to pick something for tonight I would say either Ricky is forced to run the Wildcat or the defense doesn't pressure Delhomme at all and just drops back. The key is going to be getting in the backfield to rattle Delhomme and keep their RBs from getting into space. Only time will tell but it seems every week obvious choices aren't made.
I disagree with your disagreement of my disagreement... you have to play to win and at that point IMHO it was agood call, just didn't work out. You have to trust Henne to execute the offense other wise he is not going to be ready when you need him most.
Now, throwing the ball on 3 CONSECUTIVE plays with little to no time left & a 3 point lead in New England in December, costing us the divison & a playoff spot is only something that Wanstache & Turner would do.....
i don't think anyone is above criticism. hopefully the thread title was made somewhat in jest, but if i had to guess i'll go with clock management for $500, alex.
nobody gets a free pass on a Bill Parcells team, not even the owner there have been bad calls consistently made in most our games the coaching staff has to get their collective act together & now we can't have a repeat of bad calls in tonight's game or it will be a season-endereveryone must be at their best
Henne isn't ready to be counted on to make an accurate pass in those circumstances. If you're going to have him pass, it sure as hell shouldn't have been that sort of quick-out timing pattern...it should have been a sideline pass to a WR.
I don't see why not.. EVERY qb will make a bad decision now and then, Henne made one, and then took us down the field for a win to rectify it...
Finally, someone who gets it! I love Sparano as a motivator. The guy gets me pumped up just watching him fist pump after a FG. But he has unquestionably made some bonehead mistakes this season. Of course I know he is a 2nd year coach, and I expect some growing pains. But I have to call some of his game management into question. I'd be willing to bet its been called into question by the Tuna as well. I don't know why everyone feels like its a sin to actually raise criticisms of this coaching staff. I've been very frustrated all year long by them. Not just Sparano, but mostly the offensive and defensive coordinators. There have been so many questionable calls made by those 2 guys this season than I care to type out. The WR coaching definitely needs to improve this 2nd half of the season. The amount of dropped passes this season is unacceptable. The one coaching concern I had going into this season has pretty much been the most consistent, Special Teams. As for the thread title, it wasn't like I was actually looking for guesses as to what they'll screw up next. I merely did it to get people to realize that there have been numerous mistakes made this season....which directly reflects why our record is 4-5 IMHO.
Honestly, there have been times that I have asked myself while watching the Dolphins this year, "Do we really want to win this game?" It's a stupid thought... but it's what goes thru my mind sometimes when I watch this 2009 football team (as opposed to last season).
no one is beyond criticism or accountability in the NewRegime yes, I agree Sparano is second only to Shula as a Dolphin head coach but they need (collectively) to make better calls, especially in the second half the responsibility rests squarely on Sparano's shoulders: make it better, no excuses get it done
To me that was huge, Marty. That really said so much about Henne. For the past several years we've had guys under center who make those bad decisions towards the end of a game then seemingly lack what it takes to bring us back. I've become so used to losing games like that, when Henne threw that pick I just felt resigned to watching us lose the game. Henne drove us back down the field and I all of a sudden felt - hey we really are going to be okay with this guy. As to the topic.....I think in more than a few instances, what seems to be a mistake on the coach's part may well be instead, a case of the players not executing the play.
