Tell me your thoughts on Nick Saban
OK, I've noticed a little bit of dissatisfaction with coach Nick Saban in recents posts by you that I did not notice last year.
Sooo.
Let me know what you think about the job the head coach is doing. What is he doing well, what is he doing wrong, give me your overall impressions.
If you sign your full name and give me a hometown you're from, I may publish your comments in The Miami Herald later this week. If you go anonymous, you got no shot of having your comments published.
Sooo.
Let me know what you think about the job the head coach is doing. What is he doing well, what is he doing wrong, give me your overall impressions.
If you sign your full name and give me a hometown you're from, I may publish your comments in The Miami Herald later this week. If you go anonymous, you got no shot of having your comments published.
posted by Armando Salguero at 12:36 PM
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57 Comments:
I fully lay the blame on Saban for the team playing flat against Buffalo. He is supposed to be the motivator, but he did not have the Dolphins ready to play against the Bills. I also question the wisdom of playing Daunte when he clearly is not 100 percent. There should have been a quarterback change late in the third quarter when it was obvious that Daunte hadn't made any adjustments at halftime. When it became 16-0, it was time for Joey.
Ken Williams
San Diego, California
I understand people’s frustrations over Nick Saban. All his off season moves have SO FAR blown up in his face: signing Culpepper over Brees, signing LJ Shelton & Will Allen, drafting Jason Allen & releasing Lance Shulterz.
But for people to want him fired is absolutely ridiculous. Saban and us fans are now victims of a team that was wildly over hyped with ballooned expectations after last year’s late season run and the team seemingly finally getting a big-play QB. And being 0-2 is unfamiliar territory for the Dolphins. And yes, I think this past weekend was possibly his worst coached game so far in his tenure.
But I think he’s the best thing that has happened to this team in a long time. And before the ridiculous, obligatory, sophomoric anon comments start popping up about what I’ve written here, let me just say that we all need to calm the heck down. We went 4-11 just two seasons ago. It’s going to take time to build this team into a true Super Bowl contender. All great undertakings take time and Nick Saban is the best man for the job. We just need a little more faith and a little more patience. I mean, what are we going to do? Fire him and hire New England’s equipment manager because he works under the uber-genius-football-Jesus Bill Bellichick? And what happens when the Fins go through a losing streak with THAT guy? We fire him after a season and a half and keep the cycle going? It’s ludicrous. I remember the same exact things being said about Pat Riley 3 years ago before he “retired.”
We need to be patient with Saban. He’s a great coach. He’s driving us in the right direction. Have there been mistakes? Absolutely. But no successful head coach has ever cruised his team into a Super Bowl win right off the bat. Unless you count Barry Switzer, who won it with Jimmy Johnson’s guys.
Let’s all chill and be patient. Saban is the right man for this job.
The Dude
Miami, F-L-Ayeee …
Well said, Seamus. Well said.
Guys, Kid Neutron and The Dude are not your birth names! I cannot put names like that in the paper. Come with your real names or no publicity.
Ron Mexico.
I kid, I kid.
It's cool Armando. But since The Dude has plenty o' readers on his blog, I'd rather not leave my birth-given name. So, if you do happen to publish anything I wrote, you can do so with the name Jeffrey.
If not. That's cool.
And for the record, I think I'm going to name my first born child Kid Neutron. Kid Neutron Lebowski.
Nick Saban is a great coach. This is his first NFL head coaching job and he too, will go through growing pains. But I can't think of anyone else that I would want as our coach. (I would appreciate it though if he never whines and cries on camera again. By the way Armando I promise to let you know when you break par.
Nick has lost his free pass. He no longer is the Messiah come to lead the Dolphins to the promise land. We have realized that he is mere mortal and makes mistakes, but that does not mean he is a failure. I still have faith in the plan that Saban is implimenting, but I can't be niave enough to believe that everything that happens is because of some secret divine plan he has in place. However, if history repeats itself, Nick is in good company with Bill.
Robin Martin
Hollywood, Fl
Didn't Belichick start his second season in New England 0-2? Thought so.
It's two stinkin' games. The sky is not falling. Breathe.
People seem to forget the aging, talentless roster and obscene cap situation Saban inherited. Give the man some time. The Bears are just now finally recovering from the Wannstache/Spielman regime.
Jay
Salt Lake City, Utah
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Since two seasons ago I think this team has come a long way. I believe Coach Saban has brought a winning attitude to a team that was content with coming close to greatness. I was pleased with his first draft; Ronnie Brown looks like a franchise back, Crowder was an absolute steal, and Daniels and Roth look like they could be fixtures on our defense. The Culpepper trade seems risky to some, but for the price we paid it was a good gamble. I think he can be very effective with the other tools we have on offense.
My two biggest complaints during Saban's reign are the progress of the offensive line and the hiring of Mike Mularkey. Mularkey is a good guy, but he tends to over-think when he calls his plays. Sometimes doing the obvious is the right call. This was evident against the Bills. We could have run on them at will and I'm confident we could have thrown vertically on two rookie safeties.
Overall I am pleased with our Coach. People are disgruntled over a bad loss to the Bills, but the same people were also upset after the 3-7 start last year. By year's end those same people were calling Saban our savior. I would give him a B+ so far, but being the perfectionist he is, I know he will not be content until he wins a Super Bowl for Miami! Lets Turn It Around Against Tennessee!!
Matt Tandle
Syracuse, NY
This message is for the Dude and Seamus: I get the idea that you
Seamus is Nick Saban writing in
secret to make dumb excuses for
bad coaching as well as really bad
personnel choices and the Dude is
D.Chokepepper in secret. If you 2
morons really believe the B.S. your both writing...you two are
smokin' crack. Come Monday when
the fins are 0-3 what will you be
saying then...the fact of the matter is the fins are tainted, they stunk up the AFC East. I don't care how well they play the rest of the year(they won't),nobody
will pick them to be a contender
next year because how they choked this year....with this coach they'll
be expecting choke next year too.
One more thing: The honeymoon with
Nick Saban is over...watch how
quick everyone turns against him
as the fins continue this unpreventable slide toward destruction. Just watch!
i agree that you have to give nick some time before you can really pass judgement on his abilities as an nfl head coach,that said the window on this team being able to contend for the big dance is quite small!the key players on defence are all getting old and your quarterback has probably already played his best football.it's a difficult situation to step into!i really thought he would be a better judge of talent though!look at what jimmyj did when he came here,the influx of talent that he brought is still the teams core!
Whatever happened with Nick Saban saying he was gonna turn the Dolphins into a team
that other teams would be AFRAID
to play? Has he as well as all you
other people forgotten that
completely BULLSH*T statement?
Saban more than anybody mislead and
hyped the situation! Don't blame
S.I., Blame Saban and his bullsh*t
promises. The situation with the
Dolphins stinks worse than a NYC
subway toilet. All you wussies
need to stop sayin' it's only 2
games...that's bullsh*t! On Monday
you'll be sayin' it's only 3 games, sky's not falling. The sky has falling...you people just can't admit we got duped by
Steve Spurrier Part 2. We've heard the expression "wolf in sheeps
clothing"....well Saban is a SHEEP
in wolf's clothing! Talks a load
of crap but doesn't deliver. Needs
to work on his girlie arm as well.
The next thing the 'nicktator' will do is name Marcus Vick starting QB...it really would not surprise me at this point. What a
shame we got screwed again!!!
James Kelly, Brooklyn, NY
I wouldn't mind trying to get
Jimmy Johnson out of retirement to
come back to the Fins. He was
awesome at talent evaluation!
Everyone taught Saban was on par
with J.J....not even close. Saban
is a poor evaluator of talent. If
he is the one that will be choosing
our picks we are DOOMED! Maybe J.J. would consider it...he wouldn't have to deal with the
whole Marino thing! I vote for
Jimmy Johnson-round 2. Maybe Wayne
H. could put him in charge of personnel decisions at the very
least. Fire Saban's lame ass now
and bring back Jimmy Johnson!
Mike Dalton, Los Angeles, CA>
I still think Saban in the coach we need in Miami. That being said...
He has to stop doing the same exact thing that "stache" did, which is be way to loyal to players that are obviously struggling. Didnt we get Harrington just so that we could get back culpecker at 100%?
Didnt he also talk about "there is no way we are going to rush our QB back until he is ready"?
What happened???
Also, if your players cannot understand the schemes, tone them down, stop forcing them to play confused!
Positives, there are many. This team is actually respected now (although if we keeping losing the way we did Sunday....). We have much more talent then we did 2 years ago.
Did anyone ever think that maybe we have tooooooo many coaches? Two many hands in the jar and all that?
Oh, and BTW, all you pusses that keep knocking the fins and the people that support them. At least use a handle and show some balls, bashing a team or other posters under the name Anonymous is just sad!
Allright I accept! I need a bigger
boat anyway and since I kinda do
feel a little responsible for sticking you guys with Wannsted, I'll try to fix the mess. This is
what I'm gonna do:
1) Kick Chokepeppers crippled ass
out faster then he could
solicit a stripper for sex.
2) Find a good head shrink for
good ol' Nicky Blunder boy.
3) Fire Marcus Vick faster than
he could pull a gun.
4) Get rid of all 23 assistant
coaches...that's good $ being
wasted that could go on my
boat.
5) Let Joey Harrington wear his
old Oregon Ducks uniform. It
might make him play like his
old self.
6) Talk to John Madden about
getting that stupid 06'Madden
Football commercial with
Daunte off the air cos'
everytime I see it I want to
throw up!
7) Emmitt can still dance....he
might still be able to play.
Well...it's a good start. Any other ideas...Let me know.
Jimmy Johnson Miami, Fl.
Hey Mike: Is your name mikemare
or meathead...?
Anonymous, Anonymous, USA
Great comeback Anonymous, wuss.
The real questions is:
Are you 12, or 13?
Thanks. You have stated everything I need to know about your intelligence level.
Sorry to waste your blog space Armando. Good job around here BTW! Thought we where all screwed when cole left!
Hey Seamus...we don't think were no-it-alls but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this season is a bust and we were all
lied too! This team is a set back
from last year's team. Don't say
we're bad fans. We have a right to say things when we see out beloved Dolphins being run into the ground. Just because we have the balls to say Saban is a schmuck
who is messing up our team and not
committed to winning doesn't mean we're any less a fan as you bleeding heart politically correct
fans. Get off Saban's jock already!
DAMN!
hey anonymous, instead of saying the same old crap about saban (he's not committed to winning? wtf???) why dont you offer some solutions. your arguments make no sense. these guys are not being political, they're being rational. you don't fire a coach after a season and 2 games. so what's your solution? you hate saban so much, give us a solution. you're such a die hard dolphin fan and obviously smart* -- give us a solution.
armando, you put our comments in the paper??? why didn't you say so. i would've made a stronger effort to be insightful and profound. If you've read my earlier posts, you've already deduced that I'm smarter than any nfl coach(ahem) and knew the fins were only average before the season ever started. Saban is a good coach who may someday be great. People throw the word great around way too much. Great is something that comes after years of consistency and success...not one year.
i'm new to this whole blogging thing, and, after reading some of the things these so-called fans say, i'm amazed you can keep your sanity. it reminds me of why i watch football by myself....there are just way too many stupid people in the world who think the louder they yell something the more right they are.
Good Evening Armando,
I'm not upset at Saban, not yet. Although I do think he's complicit at paying big $$$ to bring a wounded and practically washed-up Culpepper to town in a lame attempt to be a savior at QB. This Dolphin team has been laying big, fat, ugly eggs like this all the way back to Don Shula's last days. Saban has to prove to these players that this type of pathetic effort won't stand on his watch. He needs to yell at these clowns to get remove their heads from their 'forth point of contact' (U.S. Army Airborne talk for 'butt') and start playing football like their lives dependeded on it. I think that placing a few starters on the waiver wire would be a good start.
Tyler Linkenhoker
Bradenton, FL
I don't think this is Saban's fault. I feel he is trying to get his own players in here, and all of these retreads from the Wanstedt/Jimmy Johnson era are just hurting the team. A lot of the high priced old players we have aren't going to cut it for too much longer. How is it Zach is playing so sub par all of a sudden? Maybe his age is catching up with him. I felt before this season and after getting Culpepper that we were a couple years away from being the dominant team we all hope we will be. The secondary was in shambles, even last year. We still haven't found that McGinist/Merriman/Porter type OLB we need. Once Saban finds that player, and Jason Allen proves to be the saftey I can envision him being, then the defense will be what Saban wants. The foundation is there with players like Daniels, Crowder, Roth etc. None of the problems of this team is Saban's fault. If he wasn't left with such a bare cabinet when he got here, this team would be in a different place. Look at Vernon Carey. He couldn't get on the field his first season? Now he is our best lineman on a line that will gell with time. Remember last year, the O-line didn't play well until mid way through the season. Saban will fix whats wrong with this team in time. We just need to be patient as fans and stop being excited about paper championships. ESPN the Mag and SI the mag screwed with this fan bases feelings. Just because Culpepper is on the team all of a sudden, does not make this team championship material. Hes still recovering. Hopefully he will get comfortable soon rather than later.
Nick Saban seems to be hard working, organized, driven, smart and confident. Those seem like pretty good coach qualities to me. As Dolphin fans I think we are very lucky to have Nick on board. If anyone can bring us back to respectability someone with his pedigree and qualities should be able to.
Mark Routliffe
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Although I am disheartened with the fact that the Dolphins are 0-2, I completely support Coach Saban and his staff. Listen, the coaches can prepare the team to the best of their ability, but it is up to the players to execute in order for the team to be successful. Coach Saban did not leave Heath Miller wide open for a TD nor did he throw the interception to Joey Porter that was returned for a touchdown thus sealing the game for Pittsburgh. Coach Saban did not throw an interception inside the red zone against Buffalo, nor did he miss any of the field goals attempted in the game. Arguably, if Mare hits the two field goals and Culpepper doesn’t throw a pick inside the 20, the Dolphins beat Buffalo 17-16 or 20-16. If the Safety doesn’t blow coverage and leave Heath Miller wide open and Culpepper doesn’t throw an INT to Joey Porter, the Dolphins would be 2-0 not 0-2. I think Saban had no choice but to leave Culpepper in the game against Buffalo, as it was a tight contest throughout. I think if he pulled Culpepper and went with the back up QB this early in the season it could have caused an issue on the team. However, if Culpepper struggles early against the Titans, it is Saban’s job to make the proper adjustment and put in either Harrington or Lemon. If he does not adjust the lineup at that point, by putting players in who will execute the gamelan, then there will be cause for genuine concern about the coach and his staff. I don’t think we are dead in the water just yet and I look for the Fins to rally beginning this weekend with Tennessee.
RC
Charlotte, NC
Ok, so I am as disapoointed as everyone else. No way Saban needs to be fired for an 0-2 start. Let's forget the pre-season hype and at facts.
In the Pittsburg game, it was obvious there was no way the Phins were going to be able to have a huge running game. But few do against the Steelers. We needed a change in approach, and I did not see that. This needs to be addressed.
In the Bills game, the team was flat from the start. Definately Saban's fault to some degree. And again, no change after halftime when I fully expected the Phins to come out smoking and blow the Bills out in the last half. This has to be addressed.
2 games: 2 disturbing problems. Both games featured a game changing penalty. A defensive holding with Miami leading and Pittsburg deep in their own end. And a useless interference penalty on a deep ball that was not going to be caught in the Bills game. This has to be addressed as well.
Problem 2: Run defense is less than stellar. We can't fault a secondary that has to play the run first because the front line can't stop them. We need to secure the run defense and let the secondary play the pass. This has to be addressed.
So, I will still watch with hope! And that is not easy from here. The first game I watched live at 2:30AM and the second game I watched on a 3X3 screen on my computer, streaming from Yahoo.
Sweden is still behind Nick and the Fish!
Chris Humphrey
Lund, Sweden
I can't even bear to read the venom from Dolfans this week...I understand the frustration of the 0-2 start and of the feelings of yearly disappointment as I've been a fan for 30+ years...but do we really want to crucify Saban for this???...
Saban has in 18 months restored the credibility of this franchise...I don't know the in's and out's of a NFL franchise, but when all of the talking heads nationally go from criticizing the direction of this team to praising the changes being made, that speaks volumes to me...
Wouldn't we rather have a depth chart of a recovering Culpepper and Harrington at QB??...Aren't we much better off at RB with Ronnie Brown??...Isn't Chambers much more closely maximizing his talent now than before???...DON'T WE HAVE A CHANCE NOW???
We have too quickly forgotten HOW BAD things had gotten during the 4-12 debacle...this is not an easy fix and I'm thrilled that Nick Saban is the man responsible for getting this franchise turned around...
Frustrated at losing a game and playing with little intensity-YES...but wanting to lose my mind and run Saban out of town??..are you kidding me???
Scott Williams
Mount Dora, FL
im the guy who coined the phrase nicktator im also the biggest dolphins fan in the world im bryan in ohio and i love coach saban im the first to call into his show every thursday coach is the right man for this job and he will get it done!.
I'm struck by how verbose NS is, saying practically nothing while saying so much. Someone needs to tell him that just because one wants to play it close to the vest with team information, it isn't necessary to assualt a fan's auditory sense with phrases like "relative to" dropped every other sentence. For the love of God, NS, buy yourself a simple, declarative sentence. Subject/verb/object. And stick to the basic prepositions.
Antonio Maceo
Mangos de Baraguá, Cuba
I think Saban is a great coach, but I do wonder this past week how Ronnie Brown averages 4.7 yds/carry and only gets the ball 15 times. If Ronnie is the workhorse we think he is and we have concerns with C-Pep making mistakes late in the game, doesn't it stand to reason, we pound Ronnie a little more? Also, I saw one of the Buf CBs say that Chambers is our playmaker, but C-Pep never looked for him. What's up with that? Coach has to get on that and get it straightened out.
He is a great coach, but right now he has a tough decision in front of him. Does he replace Culpepper with Harrington. It is a decision in my mind that hes has to go with Harrington. The other is QB is not going to work!
SF Shula
Nick (we know him as "Brother") is the whole package. "Brother" is smart, articulate, a leader, and a great football mind. No worries -He will get the job done. I hope this clears the matter up for those with time on their hands.
I have no problem with Saban's coaching so far this season. However, I do take exception to the way Mike Mularkey has called the first two games. He has been so conservative early in games. It would seem to me that if we took a couple shots down the field (where the ball is still in the air beyond the yellow line marking the first down), the opposing defense wouldn't pack the line of scrimmage so tightly and open up the field for us offensively. Our offense has been anemic and seemingly non-existent in the first two contests.
Against the Steelers, one of our touchdowns came as a result of an excellent punt return by Wes Welker which only required the Dolphins to go 15 yards for the score. I recall, under Linehan last year, in the first game against Denver, the Dolphins came out with an emphatic dedication to stretching the field. And the rest of the season, especially throughout the 6-game winning streak, showed a similar offensive philosophy.
Bottom line is that until Mike Mularkey shakes his conservative play calling, the Dolphins offense will continue to struggle and fail to achieve juggernaut status which they are extremely capable of doing.
Jonas Seider
New York, NY
Nick Saban has done a tremendous job in the short time he's been with the Dolphins. Playing in Pittsburgh was a tough opening night assignment and the team was just flat agianst Buffalo. It happens and I feel the players are more to blame than the head coach. They are professional millionaires who shouldn't need a whole lot of motivation. And let's not forget last year's ressurection from the mess Dave Wannestadt left behind. I still believe Coach Saban will have this team in the playoff hunt come December. It's a long season. Kevin Cronin, Green Township, New Jersey
Nick Saban has about a 50/50 chance of succeeding in the NFL. At LSU, he recruited great athletes who were also solid citizens. As I watched him put the Dolphins together, I saw him bring in people with less than solid credentials; all for the cost of winning. Sometimes that blows up in your face and in his case that could well be the result.
When at LSU, he said things like my family and I need to have a place to call home; to hang our hats and Baton Rouge is that place. He also said that money wasn't a factor in any of his decisions as to where to coach but he is money driven. All this was said just a few months before he jumped ship. By the way, he never even said goodbye to the LSU fans. He deflects the blame at times as you have already seen. So I don't wish him any bad; actually I wish him well for the sake of the fans but I won't be surprised if he never sees an AFC championship game.
Seamus .... could not have said it any better. Well said my man.
look no further than mike mularkey if you're going to blame somebody.any buffalo fan will tell you that.
I think Nick Saban is doing ok and I'll give him another two years before I really start to judge him over all. That being said, I don't understand why he didn't at least keep Surtain, like another post said, our stromg unit has now become one of the weakest. I also think he made a mistake with Dante and should have gone after Brees.I've been saying this even before we acquired Dante. If we lose to the Titans or Texans with Dante he should definitely sit him down and give Joey a try. What I'm also afraid of is that if we do win the next two games then the Fins are gonna have this false confidence and could possibly be demolished by New England and then what?
Jim from Grants Pass, OR.Coach S would/should FIRE himself with the production the D backfield has had. Simplify the assignments, they are PRO athletes they need to react not decipher. Daunte is getting KILLED, lets not forget 10 sacks. Not great conditions to come back under. O line SUCKS. Shelton is a waste/very slow. 3 reasons to get Joey some playing time. Daunte is not 100%, J could be a spark, (this team lacks motivation)and marketing. The world thinks J sucks(he could become solid trade bait, if people new differently). SI sucks. The SI jinks will cost us 2 games this year.
Why do we need to work out Charles Rogers when we supposedly had a real tough time putting Marcus Vick on the practice squad. Put him out there!! We could use all the talent we can get. Booker cant run away from anyone.
In Saban I Trust.
Coach Saban is the best thing that has happened to South Florida football in a long time. He has the right attitude to take us all the way. One step and one week at a time...we should not get a head of ourselves.
One of the key things that I personally have not observed from Nick Saban is a prescence of being a strict DISCIPLINARIAN as a NFL coach with his players; like Shula was. Maybe he just doesn't display it in public when addressing the media versus the locker room or a closed practice, but it certainly isn't apparent to me after observing this seasons' team so far! Yet, it was the one attribute that I was under the impression he had brought with him to the table!
One of the attributes for being a superior NFL coach in today's game is having the ability to DEVELOP 'cohesion' with the given talent you have on the squad. Because of FA, injuries, and other variables you have to be able to pull together different levels of talent for WINNING against a different opponent each week - period. An example of that would be what Jack Del Rio has done with Jacksonville. Yet, unlike the end of last season, I have not seen this from Saban so far this year.
Also, a head coach has to have the ability to IDENTIFY talent and utility with potential players, as well as staff, to be successful during the season for making it to the playoffs. I know that Dolphin Fans hate him, but let's be honest Bill Bellichek is a master at it. Yet, so far this season I've been scratching my head while observing key areas with names like Culpepper, Will Allen, and Mularkey just to name a few.
So, I'm just starting to wonder on the question that maybe, just maybe, Nick Saban wasn't meant to be an NFL coach? You know, it wouldn't be the first time someone has tried to come from the college ranks successfully into the NFL.
As a DolFan, I only hope that it's just a process that will continue to unfold under Nick Saban and that this franchise will return once again to dominate the AFC!
Jay Wallace
Lake Worth
I think part of the problem is that Saban inherited Wannestadt's mess...poor draft picks and the fact that Wannestadt gave away so many draft picks. The pickings have been pretty slim for Saban the past couple of drafts, but hopefuly next years draft will produce a better crop. This is classic case of trying to re-build a team with very little to work with but I believe that things are going to get better. I strongly believe that culpepper is the better QB and that in time the decision to go with him over Brees will prove to have been the right thing for this team. Just remember how soundly the Steelers were beaten by Jacksonville the other night. They were totally dominated from start to finish and these are the superbowl champs who could easily be 0-2 if not for a few brakes in the game against the Dolphins. All is not lost let us have a little faith and patience. Saban is a good coach, it is just not going to hapen over night people!
Work in progress. Many things to be excited about. Let's remember that the Dolphins were leading the SB champion Steelers late in game 1 on the road, in a very emotional stadium. It's there if the players execute. We are not a SB team. We could be next year. This is not about 1 year quick fixes. Saban has coached the Dolphins for a grand total of 18 regular season games. Are we much better off before his arrival? Yes. Are we headed in the right direction? Yes.
Give it time.
I disagree with those saying it is coach Saban's fault the team came out flat against the Bills. I feel the coach prepared the team for the game. It is up to the leaders in the locker room to raise the energy level. They didn't and the team fell flat.
On the coaching front, the Offensive play calling was too conservative. I hope Saban and Mularkey work on turning that around. The Fins have the potential to have explosive Offense, but instead of hitting the gas and going for it, they seem to be stuck in neutral. Some of that is the energy of the players, some of it is the play calling. Through it all though the leaders of the team need to maintain focus and encourage those around them to play up to the level they are capable of.
All in all, Saban has been great for this organization. The only reason we are debating the job Saban has done, is because expectaions are high. He and his staff have created that enthusiasm. They took a team that was down and out a couple of years ago and completely turned it around into a team with high hopes and expectations. Fans have to feel that with Nick onboard great things are possible. The Dolphins have a great fan base. Unfortunately, fans can get caught up with short term goals and not look at the bigger picture. Saban has a plan and quite frankly, I can't think of another coach I'd rather have leading our great franchise.
Mike Price
Colorado Springs, CO
Saban/Culpepper=Wannstadt/Fiedler.
Saban's proved nothing... Culpeper's proved nothing.... wait and see??? We were not prepared for the Bills sure..... less talk, more results....
There are some good comments and some extremely bad comments. We as Dolphin fans have been spoiled for so long with Don, Jimmy and Dave. Imagine living here in MD where the Ravens have gone from the Super Bowl to losing year after year and they think their coach is a god here. Give Nick sometime, he has changed the defense like most new coaches do and it will take a little for it come in to play. For those who think the secondary is in real trouble, listen to KC and NY fans, they are not anywhere near being happy with Sammy, Patrick or Sam in the secondary. Everyone also is looking at Brees, but who have the Saints played so far? No one good and Culpepper’s number are very similar. The Dolphins played a good Pittsburg team and Solid Defense from Buffalo that gave New England fits as well. This team is good, the only thing that needs to improve is the offensive line and for the Mike M. to stick with the run a little longer. There has not been a time so far this season in which the Dolphins had to go to the pass (except for the last 2 minutes of each game), so Mike needs to give Ronnie the ball more because he gets better as the game moves on. I thought during the second half of the Pittsburg game everything slowed down for Ronnie he started gaining yards and then we go and get pass happy.
The Fins will be fine this year and for many more to come.
I do like Saban as a coach, but am very dissappointed about what has happened so far this season. I did like his pick of Allen in the first round, and do honestly believe it will payoff in the long run.
Dolphins.
3 areas.
coaching - Saban. Book on suceeding, strong personality, determination - he is timid in the NFL. underhand throw of flag, -trepidation. He faces 0-2 with....fear, questioning...my kind of guy who does this. there is hope.
talent - brees. had a bad feeling when it wasn't him that signed. honestly felt culpepper was a good sign through herald observations. timing off? hope so. hunger is the key to miami's talent. have no idea if this is enough...i shower alone, and the locker room is where these subtleties apply.
desire - low expectations would bring this miami club closer. vanity without sucess? bring superbowl predictions from players after a playoff apperance - Mr. Chambers, are you listening?
Still primarily a college coach, I think Saban hasn't learned about the importance of the O-line in the NFL. With a poor O-line you are doomed in the NFL. Culpepper is not the long-term answer at QB. He has mental flaws in his game. They still need a young guy with a big arm with great game management skills to groom. His assistants don't stay long which is a huge negative. I don't think Saban will be the great NFL coach that many have predicted unless he changes his focus.
In past years, maimi has come out looking like superbowl contenders,just to peeter out in the 2nd haif of the season.
Last season they lost the magority of the first part of the season and where strong in the second part of the seasonand missed playoffs by one win!
I would rather them get the kinks out early season and go into playoff with a full head of seam,unlike past playoff appearances where they get blown out early and look like they shouldn't have been there.
THE SEASONS ONLY 2 WEEK OLD, SABIN AND DOLPHINS WILL BE SUCCSESFUL THIS SEASON.
By the way there will be more losses this year....A record of 10 and 6 would have gotten us in last year.
The common response is to blame the biggest names...here Saban and Culpepper. The two biggest problems with this team, however, are the offensive line (which has obvioulsy been pathetic) and Mike Mularkey. Culpepper's hesitation against Buffalo did result in some of those sacks. But he seemed more decisive last week and did not hold onto the ball like he did agaisnt Buffalo. I agree that he has looked "robotic" but his mobility will return with time. More importantly, he will improve mentally. He just needs time to regain that confidence, something he will never do if put on the bench, as some of you kneejerkers suggest.
Now, here is where Mularkey comes in. He is far too conservative, particularly when it is plain to see that his "congestive short game" hasn't worked. Mike needs to spread that field out. Let Daunte throw the ball deep (his strong point). This may speed up Daunte's psychological return.
At the risk of further digressing, I am happy with Saban during the very short time he has been here. I had to hold my jaw off of the floor during his first few months here but I think things are working out now. This team is vastly improved from only a few short years ago. Two questions for the naysayers: a) did you actually belive that Daunte would be 100% in week 1 b) have you forgotten the wannstedt era?
The common response is to blame the biggest names...here Saban and Culpepper. The two biggest problems with this team, however, are the offensive line (which has obvioulsy been pathetic) and Mike Mularkey. Culpepper's hesitation against Buffalo did result in some of those sacks. But he seemed more decisive last week and did not hold onto the ball like he did agaisnt Buffalo. I agree that he has looked "robotic" but his mobility will return with time. More importantly, he will improve mentally. He just needs time to regain that confidence, something he will never do if put on the bench, as some of you kneejerkers suggest.
Now, here is where Mularkey comes in. He is far too conservative, particularly when it is plain to see that his "congestive short game" hasn't worked. Mike needs to spread that field out. Let Daunte throw the ball deep (his strong point). This may speed up Daunte's psychological return.
At the risk of further digressing, I am happy with Saban during the very short time he has been here. I had to hold my jaw off of the floor during his first few months here but I think things are working out now. This team is vastly improved from only a few short years ago. Two questions for the naysayers: a) did you actually belive that Daunte would be 100% in week 1 b) have you forgotten the wannstedt era?
Michael Kennefick
New Bedford, Mass
(Dolfan living deep in Patriots Country)
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