Jeff Ireland, a positive spin on our GM

What 3 things have the biggest impact on winning a SB?

1. Great Coaching
2. Franchise QB
3. Franchise Defense

Think about that for a second. Great coaching with a Franchise QB can win a SB, and great coaching with a Franchise D can win a SB [as the Ravens & Bucs have demonstrated]. What happens when you have all 3? Perhaps a dynasty caliber team like the 3 time SB Pats or 90's Niners & Cowboys?

How bad off for the future are we truly sitting if:
1. Philbin & Co are the real deal
2. Tannehill becomes the franchise QB we've missed since Marino
3. our defense picks up where it left off when it finished the last 10 games of 2011 as a top 3 defense and the #1 ranked pass D.

Jeff Ireland brought in Philbin & Tannehill, and he'll likely either prosper or perish as a GM based on those 2 decisions; however, make no mistake, the guy can identify defensive talent and field a great D. The problem that I see is that so many picks were made to try and right the offense that defense had to be ignored. In 6 years we spend a 1st & 3 2nds on QB. What would our defense look like if those picks were allotted to the defensive side? It's quite possible we'd have the NFL's top defense. Does it suck that we spent so many picks on QB? Hell yes it does. Does it qualify as grounds for tarring & feathering Ireland? Not necessarily if you think about it. If Tannehill is the real deal, then we won't have to worry about the QB position for another dozen years, and Ireland can do what he does best---- bring in defensive studs.

He helped take Miami's 2009 26th ranked scoring defense to ranked 6th in 2011.
In 2004, before taking over as VP of pro & college scouting, Dallas's D ranked 27th in scoring.
By 2009 it ranked #2 thanks to the talent he scouted.
Upon Ireland's departure in '07, the lack of drafted talent dropped Dallas's scoring D to 30th and 20th in 2010 &'11.


List of defensive players Dallas drafted since Ireland left
2008: Mike Jenkins, Orlando Scandrick, Eric Walden
2009: Jason Williams, Victor Butler, Brandon Williams, DeAngelo Smith, Michael Hamlin, Stephen Hodge, Mike Mickens
2010: Sean Lee, Owosu-Ansa, Jamar Lissemore, Sean Wall
2011: Bruce Carter, Josh Thomas

*** I highlighted the ONLY 2012 starter from that list of 16 players.
*** Now Compare that to Ireland's MONUMENTAL 2005 defensive draft class of DeMarcus Ware, Jay Ratliff, Marcus Spears, Chris Canty, Kevin Burnett.

That's 5 quality defensive starters, 2 of which have been All Pros. That's the type of stuff that transforms defenses and allows a great defensive team to quickly reload and remain great for a long time. He came to Miami and quickly helped to do the same here.

So I ask you guys---- do you care more about what this team did in the past, or do you care about making this team a winner based on how it currently sits, b/c from where I'm sitting, if Tannehill becomes a franchise QB, if Philbin & staff are a great addition, and if we can add a stud WR in Free Agency, then Jeff Ireland can go to work with all those picks to make Miami's D something the league fears.

That deadly possibility (great coaching, franchise QB, franchise D) should buy Ireland this year and 2013. This is potentially a great opportunity for us. He has a chance to make it happen and prove himself to be GM-worthy, but if his decisions during this period prove to be wrong, we'll be left looking for a new GM. Personally, I'd rather see Ireland succeed and not have to watch a rebuild than hope Ireland fails just b/c your mind may already be made up about him.

 

I get what you're saying, but what I'm saying is it doesn't matter what happened during Parcells' years. It only matters what happens from here out. Nobody can complain about what we did at QB if Tannehill becomes a franchise guy. Ireland could be the worst talent assessor of QBs on the planet, but that won't mean a thing if Tannehill is our franchise QB for the next dozen years. If he brings in a FA wr in 2013 who is better suited for us than any 2012 2nd-3rd rounder proves to be, then all the complaining about WR will be a moot point.

 

Like I said, none of what you're complaining about matters b/c I'm going with the approach that he was in charge of scouting all the players, so what's your argument now?

So, in that regard we potentially have a great coaching staff, franchise QB (making all your past QB rants null and void), and GM whose scouting abilities helped turn two bottom tier defenses into top 10 caliber over a 7 year period. 2 teams, 7 years. Argue that, LB.

Cmon, what kind of argument would you have if the D remains top 6, Philbin proves to be as good here as he was in GB, and Tannehill becomes a franchise QB? That would satisfy the 3 most important aspects of being Super Bowl caliber.

 

^^^

 

Sparano - Philbin
Henning - WCO
Parcellian blue print on offense - Non Parcellian blue print on offense

The only thing that's remained is the way he approaches the defense.... but if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? But even that's been tweaked a bit b/c Ireland isn't as strict when it comes to adhering to a specific size/build/experience mold.

 

yes and no.
Ireland can identify defensive talent. That he's shown for sure IMO. It goes as far as making sure to keep Soliai around.
The 2 "ifs" are Tannehill & Philbin..... but they're not unrealistic ifs IMO.

Essentially, the past means nothing. Philbin, Sherman, and Tannehill can take care of the offense. The pieces are there minus 1 or 2 receiver upgrades, and those can be satisfied via proven NFL FAs. Ireland can take care of the defense and keeping it a powerhouse if Philbin & Tannehill do their part on offense. It's a perfect symbiotic relationship if it works out. I'm not saying it will happen, but IMO it's worth giving a year or two to see if it does.

 

All valid concerns my friend. It's not about me trying to be right about anything b/c I'm not saying I'm sold on it all being able to happen. I'm still on the fence regarding Ireland, but if we can put ourselves in the position where he can focus on building a dominant D b/c of Tannehill & Philbin running the offense, I think we have a chance to do something special b/c the one thing I do have confidence in Ireland is his ability to identify defensive talent, and I simply don't think that should be taken for granted is all.

Everything you mentioned is a legitimate concern, one I share as well. I believe Ireland has a plan to address these keen concerns you brought up, but the timing he plans to address them might be different than what the fans are expecting who want to win now. I'm not saying I believe whole-heartedly that he'll make the right decisions, but if QB & HC are finally out of the picture, I'd actually like to call his hand to see what he has in store. I'd like to see what plan of his convinced a successful billionaire with a billion dollars invested into this team to buy into him b/c that guy has more to lose than any of us, and I doubt he's going to choose Jeff Ireland, a guy he'd never met before, over his billion dollar investment.

 

Ridiculous, huh?
So he was VP of pro & college scouting of Dallas during that time and personally convinced Jerry Jones to draft Demarcus Ware, and then followed that up with creating our 6th ranked scoring D despite being terrible two years prior, but it's ridiculous. yeah, ok. 2 defenses in 7 years that he helped turn around. Put on the blinders all you want but it is what it is.

Let's see: Demarcus Ware & Cameron Wake. If you stack those 2 up vs the rest of the NFL I believe Ireland is winning that battle. If you combined his 2005 draft in Dallas with the guys he brought in here, we'd have the #1 defense in the league.

BTW, your post is full of nothing but immature bashing. You wanna be a big boy------ come back with some posts that have substance and merit b/c you're opinionated gibberish carries no weight. Until then I advise you to stick to the rant forum where diplomacy and respect aren't a prerequisite.

 

Unfortunately, until we know what Philbin is, what Tannehill is, all we have is the "if" game b/c neither you nor I can say otherwise until those 2 cards play out. If those 2 cards turn out to be Aces then it would be possible that Ireland isn't as terrible as people think.

Do you agree that the 3 most important things related to becoming a SB contender are coaching, QB, and defense?

 

WRONG. During the last 10 games (when we were 6-4) the defense was top 3 and #1 vs the pass. You ignorantly want to blame the defense, but a wiser person will blame the coaching staff who couldn't figure out a way to preserve 4 4th quarter leads.

 

Wrong. Over the last 10 games our defense averaged out to being top 3 in virtually EVERY category.

Think about what? Think about you not making any point whatsoever with that statement?

 

How are we much different w/o Vontae? last year we had no outstanding corner. This year we might not have Vontae but we have SS24 looking like an upper echelon corner. I'm sorry but I'd argue that our upgraded Sean Smith paired with Richard Marshall is no poorer than last year's SS & Vontae. Not to mention our Safety play should be improved vs coverage considering Bell wasn't exactly the creme de la creme of cover safeties. You realize that eventually you HAVE to put your young guys in, right? Do you also realize that if Rashad Jones returned to Georgia for his senior year he had the talent and ability to have become a 2nd round pick?

 

I understand. Those with nothing intelligent to say resort to insults despite not being provoked.
Now I know you have nothing intelligent to say.