JEFF IRELAND related news, articles, and other factual stuff

First off: This isn't an active discussion/debate thread, as there are enough of those already.

This is only for significant news, articles, quotes, etc from around the web that relate to our GM that posters can read w/o having to sift through multiple threads or numerous pages of poster comments. I respectfully ask if the mods can help keep the thread this way please.

 

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Click on link to read full article.

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only a partial excerpt of the article

 

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full article available at link
http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sport...arcells-should-still-bear-responsibility.html

 

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full article available at the link

 

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full article available at link​

 

full article available at link

 

1. All the tidbits contained less than half its original article.
2. Thanks for contributing.

 

Considering the team is in significant transition while Houston is an unchanged contender that should be in midseason form, I'd say----- if the team is still a so called "heaping, steamy, stinking pile of a team" by the end of the year, then by all means, judge Ireland.


BTW, are you saying Ireland made a mistake drafting Tannehill b/c of how his tipped pass INTs completely changed the nature of the game?

 

That's understandable, but nothing in it is poster opinionated, and it's open to everyone in the forum to post Ireland articles in, not just the OP. I've seen too much opinionated speculation around here [and too much biased, subjective speculation at that], and I personally felt that such a sensitive subject deserved a completely objective thread void of poster opinions that Dolphin fans could turn to for factual information [positive or negative] about Ireland in order to best form their own opinion of our GM, myself included b/c I've yet to form my own opinion on how I truly feel about him.

If this non-opinionated thread remains in the rant forum while an opinionated "The ***OFFICIAL*** Fire Jeff Ireland" thread remains in the main forum, then I'd respectfully have to question the motives and integrity of the site.

 

Ireland actually hasn't had full control since 2010 considering the 2010 season started long before Parcells stepped down. Why do you think Parcells waited till the regular season to step down? It's b/c of how involved he was with the draft, FA, etc. That alone should be enough argument as to how much influence he had in '08 and '09, too. If he weren't so highly involved in the draft & FA, he wouldn't have needed to stick around all 2010 offseason. Stuff like this is why I don't feel comfortable passing judgement on Ireland from '08-'10.

 

He's one of the NFL's better talent assessors, and our drafts since 2009 [outside of Parcells' White & Nalbone pet-cat picks] have actually been good compared to the league average. Your assumption that someone else [available to us] will use those picks better is a little naive, respectfully. Take a look at our drafts the previous 9 years before Ireland arrived. They were abysmal. Honestly, how many pieces do you think this team is missing compared to the 2007 team?

QB is hopefully resolved, finally.
The Oline should be set for a while once they gel.
RB is set.
TE should be set for the future.
The Dline is set outside of an extra pass rusher, but some teams are still trying to find that one elite pass rusher when we already have him.
The LBs are set for a few years... but it could use some depth.
Sean Smith is developing into a stud #1 corner, and Rashad Jones has some real promise at SS.
The WR corps is strong at #3-6.
On top of that the team is young and ascending.
This has all been set up in the recent few years.

All we're basically missing are a few easily obtainable pieces now that we have $60 million in cap space and 2 extra high draft picks. It's almost like people are taking for granted that our GM has put us in the position of having that much cap space and draft picks. Shouldn't that be something he should be praised for?
Have you thought that this might've been Ireland's plan all along since taking over for Parcells--- to put us in position to have a ton of cap space and a bunch of quality picks during the same offseason so that we could have the freedom & flexibility to optimally tie the entire team together? Honestly, do you think it's a coincidence that the year following a whole new coaching staff and drastic change in scheme that we're having a ton of cap space and picks? You don't think it was methodically done this way on purpose?

Plus, why settle for last year's moderate to expensive FA receivers when next year's FA receivers seem like a better fit (Greg Jennings & Mike Wallace). I'd rather wait a year and get one of those 2 than spend roughly the same money on Pierre Garcon.... and I'd also rather wait a year to know who my best receiver is before using a high pick or moderate free agent money on a #2 receiver b/c the #2 should serve as a compliment to the top guy, and it's hard to know who best compliments your top receiver and the offense around him if you don't yet have a top receiver. Perhaps Philbin has known something about Greg Jennings that no one else does [considering Aaron Rodgers is already under the assumption that this may be his last year with Jennings], and maybe that's why we didn't make a push for an expensive FA receiver. After all, Ireland being enamored with Tannehill since last August was the reason we didn't make a strong push for Flynn, however at the time everyone was simply assuming Ireland didn't care about the QB position. If we can sign Jennings, we can go into the draft with a strong idea of who will best compliment him.

Then we need another corner and could use an upgrade at FS. No big deal. Neither of those are core positions. And it's not like SB teams are stocked with Pro Bowlers at every position and don't have any desire for upgrades.

If we satisfy WR in FA, then there's nothing else the offense needs outside of depth at Oline. We could use most of the draft on defense to turn it into something truly daunting. Perhaps an elite pass rusher [which there are a handful of] with the first pick, and who would you want assessing the pass rushers more than the guy who drafted/signed Demarcus Ware & Cam Wake? Heck, Ireland is one of the league's best defensive talent assessors period. He found our starting safeties in the 5th round, and now that we have a little play with our 2nd & 3rd round picks he could do some damage at FS. Considering how many talented pass rushers there are atop the upcoming draft, he could very well go with an elite FS [Eric Reid] with the 1st pick and then trade up a 2nd for a quality pass rusher.... or take the elite pass rusher 1st and trade up a 2nd for the second best FS [TJ McDonald]. Ireland could be a real asset to us this draft now that we have far fewer major holes to fill.

We could easily see a 1st & 2nd round draft of:
1. Elite pass rusher (Take your pick of 4 studs: Jarvis Jones, Barkevious Minko, Bjoern Werner, Sam Montgomery)
2. FS, TJ McDonald
2. WR, Da'Rick Rogers (a beast of a receiver who dominated the SEC as a sophomore before getting in trouble and having to transfer. Could be a real steal for us if he's grown from his mistake)

 

Fair enough. Personally, I don't see him as being a "yes man". I viewed him as an aspiring professional who saw an opportunity to be groomed as an NFL GM under one of the NFL's most regarded minds at the time, knowing fully in advance that his mentor would be stepping down within 4 years and handing him the reigns. Seems like an opportunity of a lifetime at the time if you ask me.