The reasons now is not the time to decide on Cameron
If you already believe Cam Cameron should be fired, you are wrong. If you already believe Cam Cameron should get a second season, you are wrong.
I am not sitting on the fence here, because, among other things that is uncomfortable, it makes my underwear bunch up and it simply goes against my nature. But that was the accusation by some readers when they read my column on the subject on The Herald website today. Here is the column: http://www.miamiherald.com/1190/story/329550.html
The point of my column is too much can happen between now and the final day of the season for anyone to have an informed opinion now.
Here's a test for folks that believe Cameron should get fired: Will you think that way if Miami wins the next four games? Will you think that way if John Beck, under Cameron's tutelage, suddenly begins to play great and upsets the Patriots?
If your answer is yes then you are a fool.
Similarly, here's a test for folks that believe Cameron should absolutely get a second season: Will you think that way if the Dolphins become infamous by losing all 16 of their games this year? Will you think that if the hints of dissension currently peeking through become pronounced and obvious and turn the Dolphins into a dysfunctional team? Will you think that if Bill Cowher or Bill Parcells or somebody of that reputation calls wanting Cameron's job?
If your answer is yes, you too, are a fool.
The point is we don't know what is going to happen. We don't know what the final month of the season will bring. So you guys cannot know if firing Cameron or keeping Cameron is the right move.
It's not fence-sitting. It's simply smart.
I am not sitting on the fence here, because, among other things that is uncomfortable, it makes my underwear bunch up and it simply goes against my nature. But that was the accusation by some readers when they read my column on the subject on The Herald website today. Here is the column: http://www.miamiherald.com/1190/story/329550.html
The point of my column is too much can happen between now and the final day of the season for anyone to have an informed opinion now.
Here's a test for folks that believe Cameron should get fired: Will you think that way if Miami wins the next four games? Will you think that way if John Beck, under Cameron's tutelage, suddenly begins to play great and upsets the Patriots?
If your answer is yes then you are a fool.
Similarly, here's a test for folks that believe Cameron should absolutely get a second season: Will you think that way if the Dolphins become infamous by losing all 16 of their games this year? Will you think that if the hints of dissension currently peeking through become pronounced and obvious and turn the Dolphins into a dysfunctional team? Will you think that if Bill Cowher or Bill Parcells or somebody of that reputation calls wanting Cameron's job?
If your answer is yes, you too, are a fool.
The point is we don't know what is going to happen. We don't know what the final month of the season will bring. So you guys cannot know if firing Cameron or keeping Cameron is the right move.
It's not fence-sitting. It's simply smart.
posted by Armando Salguero at 1:02 PM
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68 Comments:
Armando,
I've been reading your columns and blog posts for a while now - at least 4 months - and I have to say, I really enjoy them. For the first little while I thought you might be a victim of the typical columnist disease, focusing more on contrarian views and pot-stirring than real, genuine analysis and observation. But I've really been impressed with your even-keeled take on this Dolphins season. Many of your competitors have undergone wild swings from game to game: pre-game, the column is full of confidence and bravado, while post-game, it's a vicious attack on the entire organization from Huizenga down to the ballboy. You've really managed to avoid the extreme highs and lows, and to take a realistic/pragmatic view of the players, coaches and ownership. And - possibly most importantly - you post regular updates, rather than the once-per-week posts your competitors weakly counter with.
Nice job. Please keep it up.
this is a straw man argument. no one with a brain is saying to fire cameron before the season is out (apart knee-jerk venting). Of course we want to see how the season ends up. But if it continues the way it is going, he should be gone.
Only if he hires a timeout assistant can he stay. And I know that NOW.
I will gladly take any bet that anyone wants to put out there that we don't win all 4 games as Armando is positing here. This isn't even about if we win 1, 2, or 3 out of 4 (I will take action on 3 wins as well).
What it is about is that this is team that from the start of the season never looked like they were in the same class with whomever was on the other sideline.
I judge Cameron by the fact that for the first few weeks he couldn't even see that Ronnie Brown was the best back on this team. I judge Cameron for pushing as hard as he could for Trent Green while shoving Daunte Culpepper out the door without even giving him the courtesy of a look... especially since this would have cost us nothing.
I judge Cameron for determining that it was better for Beck to start against Philly then the preceding game against the Bills when they had a full extra week to get him prepared.
I judge Cameron for being part of a brain trust that thought Lorenzo Booker could be a player on this team... which I expect in the first year from a 3rd round pick (at least on special teams).
I could go on and on, but why bother... the revisionist historians who read this blog will say that I am a fair weather fan which is the biggest joke of all. What I am is disappointed that things did not work out with Cam and realistic enough to realize that Beck lacks the natural instincts and skills needed to be a success at this level (like most of the QB's who play college football).
I LOVE THE DOLPHINS and always will!! but that doesn't mean turning a blind eye to the obvious.
The most difficult aspect to observe is Cam's leadership presence. I cannot judge what I see on maimidolphins.com conferences. Armando, do you see his infectious leadership affecting players? Is it positive? Do the players REALLY understand him? Sometimes a coach can make all the difference in players. These great coaches use their players to their maximum potential. It took a while for Ronnie to get to his in the beginning of the season, which I was quite impressed with. Great coaches find ways to win with the players they have, even if its one win.
Although, look at the University of Central Florida Football. When George O'Leary first came to Orlando, his team had the worst season imaginable. They fell to an abysmal 0-11 season. Now, they won a conference championship and their current record is 10-3.
This really comes down to leadership potential. Yes, sometimes you can groom a head coach to become a great leader and sometimes you cannot. I saw more leadership and vision from Nick Saban than I did from Cameron. Saban carried himself at a higher level.
Do you see the same potential? Do you see him as a leader?
Alex
Armando, on Cam's watch, we have gone through an offseason where he dismantled a top 5 defense and 12 games in which he has consistently shown poor decision-making. Whatever positive happens these next four games will come in spite of Cam's decisions not as a result.
If within 12 games he hasn't figured out how to get an edge against a team like the Jets, then it is unreasonable to expect that another season of Cam will be any different.
Cam should be replaced now. Give Capers the reigns for the balance of the season.
Phin fan in exile:
You make good points, but you whiff on a couple as well.
You telling me the Dolphins didn't look like they were in the same class as Pittsburgh two weeks ago, in a 3-0 loss?
You telling me they looked not to be in the same class with Washington in a game they lost in overtime? Or Houston, a game they lost because of a 54 yard field goal? Was that a 13-10 blowout by the Giants? Or maybe the Bills kicked their butts by 13-10 as well in a game the Dolphins dominated the stats and the clock?
You are absolutely right about the Brown thing and other points. But on the class thing, you missed it.
NO fence sitting here. Cam needs to be dragged to the 50 yard line moments before half-time, by the scruff, by Wayne himself and fired ON THE SPOT! We could win the next 4 games, (which we won't! We'll be lucky to win ONE)and it wouldn't change my mind. This team is obviously a hollow-shell of what it was. He inheireted a bad team, not THIS BAD of a team. Between Cam and Mueller, they stripped what little positive leadership and talent we did have and then TO THIS DAY, are hesitating using the talent they acquired to replace them! (LORENZO BOOKER) He screwed Daunte (granted, not a Daunte fan), for GREEN???!!!he traded our #1 receiver WEEK 6, We traded our most productive receiever, he traded a great TE, for MARTIN?!@! What week was it before Ginn was starting? Oh yeah, AFTER we lost Chambers. How many carries did Brown have the first 2 weeks? Why did 3 safeties have to be placed on IR for Jason Allen to play? Why did the 4th saftey have to go on IR for Schulters to replace WORRELL??? Release the depth on defense for one 32 million dollar linebacker? (Although I like Porter and think he'll come around, I think HE was the luxury, not Ginn) Cite Mandy's other blog of questionable calls, and those were just the tip of the iceburg! I don't know what offensive scheme this is, if it's a hybrid west coast, or what, but it's more boring and painful than a trip to the dentist! I didn't watch San Diego, but, from what I've observed, it seems that the Offense revolves around the running back being used as a primary vs a check-down. Makes sense that if L Tomlinson is your RB it would be VERY successful. Anyway, I could go on forever and write my own in-depth blog, but I see next to NOTHING that instills confidence in the team, or ME from Cam, and it wouldn't be too soon to fire him IMMEDIATELY!
Armando, the discussion is about whether or not to fire Cam. Whatever class you claim the 'phins to be in (or to have been in) this season, we know now that it isn't because of Cam. As the previous poster pointed out, the evidence is overwhelming.
Armando,
I respect your opinion and the opinion of others who have posted comments on this web-blog.
In my opinion, Cam should be given at least 2 more seasons. Cam was brought here to improve our offense. Our o-line has been good this season. We had a Pro Bowl running back on this team until his season ended with a knee injury. We are starting a rookie at qb. Ginn is getting better and should have had 3 returns for a TD this season.
How could you get rid of a coach who has had so many injuries on his sqaud? T. Green, Y. Bell, R. Hill, T. Tillman, C. Worelle, R. Brown, R. Williams, V. Holiday, Z. Thomas...and the list goes on and on and on!!! C'mon folks...give the guy a break in his first year who inherited a BAD TEAM. This team was 6-10 last season...that is not so good.
Look at Norv Turner in San Diego who took over a team that was 14-2 the season before and now they are figthing for their playoff lives.
Our defense got OLD really fast. I'm sick of J. Taylor...what has he done this season? Nothing. He is supposed to be our leader and he say's that he respected Nick Saban because he let the veterans lead and make decisions...well that did not get us very far either...who gives a crap about that...Saban left them hanging and Taylor still respect him...wow that shows me that Taylor is already on his way out of here...well good bye...we never really one anything with him so we won't miss him as much as you people think.
I like that Cam Cameron came here to do things HIS WAY...that's the way it should be...if player don't buy into it...they can get out of Miami as well. Remember Jason...this is Cam's team...he is the coach so let hime coach.
Cam is a fresh start...Cam is trying to create a team structure...if players don't buy into it they are obstackles...they should leave than.
Go look back and see how many coaches did well in their 1st year...Jimmy Johnson was 1-15...and I'm sure that there are many more who had bad 1st seasons.
Losing Y. Bell in the 1st game hurt this defense big time. He was critical to calling plays on defense and setting up the defense...he tackled well and he really played well after he took over and became the starter midway through last season and that was when our defense played extremely well. Why did it take Saban 6 games before he started Bell over Tillman? If Saban was so great why didn't he see this earlier?
As for R. Brown...don't you think maybe Cam didn't name him the starter as a means to motivate him? Could it be that he used Jesse Chatman a lot in the start of the season to see how it would affect R. Brown? It worked because Brown was on his way to the Pro Bowl and J. Chatman looks like a really good #2 guy now.
I remember Saban said that Chambers was really not a good #1 wideout in Saban's 1st season...and after that...Chambers blew-up and went to the Pro Bowl.
I think Cam knew exactly what he was doing with R. Brown and it worked.
Keep Cam...he is the right man for this job.
GO FINS!!!
Armando, you watched all those games, as did I, and I know, cause I was blogging with you, yet you throw the 3 point losses in as a testiment to Cam. We all know that with the exception of the Steeler's game (Which NEITHER team could move the ball), that even the close games weren't really that close, and the one's that were winnable, were lost due to either bad decision making, or penalties; both, I consider a coaches responsibilty. I haven't seen one game where I wasn't absolutley BAFFLED at one point or another.
Armando,
I`ve been cheking your blog for a while now,I have a question for you, In your opinion what is not wrong with this team because everything to me looks very bad, but although it is this way,I have been following the dolphins all my life since I`m a kid, and I have never seen such an embarrastment as this, they absolutely can`t do nothing to say it polite. I think the problems really go back and mistakes where done from the Shula`s era just to keep this team winning a few, maybe it was more of a man seaking a record, I don`t really no who to blame but maybe you can tell me.
Amando usually I agree with your post, but this one here is not one of them. I feel Cam should be gone for numerous reasons first and for most no team in League history has went this late in the season without a win!!! I hear everyone saying he inherited this mess , NO HE DIDN'T!!! He accepted this job knowing the status of this team , and he felt he could make a difference, and has FAILED 12 times TOO MANY!!!! No one gave Cam a contract and said we'll let you check out the roster after you sign, HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS WALKING INTO!!!
Now I may be in the group of people who where judging Cam too early and too harsh. But at this point he hasn't even shown he can coach a winning game let alone a winning team!!! Losing makes you sick, it makes you emotional, but from the attitude Cam displays he himself doesn't feel this team can win!!! Its just like your parents when you went to school and constantly screwed up your folks would be very upset because they know you could do better, well why isn't the same true for Cam and his team??? The guy still has that nonchalant attitude like he's just waiting on the offseason to get here so he can draft another FAMILY FRIEND!!!!!
Armando,
In my opinion the dolphins do need some continuity on the HC job, but I`m not sure Cam is the right fit, coming in to this season the only thing that enthusiasted me was the fact that we where getting am offensive minded coach that proved to be a good OC in San Diego, but looking into these past games, all the mystakes and miscues you have to really say that the coach is not working, I`m speaking out loud but I`m pretty much sure if the dolphins at least had a good offense, lets say at least 20 points per game we would not be having this discusion although we are 0-12. That is why he was brought here and he hasn`t changed anything, these coaches get paid a lot of money to look this bad on the playing field.
yout thoughts...
What about Jimmy Johnson and Troy Aikman going 1-15 their first year in Dallas? Where do you think that team would have ended up if they fired JJ and sat Troy. We don't know if that's the future but I think they should at least get the chance to make that happen.
Armando,
Do us a favor .Put us something to vote on.Now that we are on the subject wouldn-t you you like to have an idea what the fans really think about Cam.If you don-t It will be fair for us to assume you only care about your own opinion.
I just got done saying now is not the time to decide. And you want me to conduct a poll NOW of what to do in four weeks?
NO!
I know injuries are a part of the game but how would the Pats look if they were on their third QB, forth and fifth RB, not to mention 26th safety. For those who say Cam didn't know Ronnie was their best RB did you ever think he was just trying to motivate Ronnie? It has to make you wonder why Ronnie went from being a bust in a lot of peoples eyes to being all world before getting hurt.
THIS TEAM NEEDS STABILITY.
Yes, Cam has shown to be deficient, but we need to have some stability and see if the plan Mueller and Cam have pan out. If not, we start from scratch again, putting us back in the hole another two years. This is madness!
For the record, Peter King shares the same sentiment: from his Tuesday MMQB:
WHAT TO DO WITH THE DOLPHINS? From Carmen of Manchester N.H.: "Do you think the Dolphins' problems are a direct result of poor coaching this season or did Cam Cameron inherit the Pop Warner team he has now? Who besides Cameron is going to pay the price for their almost inevitable 0-16 season? By the way, I heard the 'Fins couldn't get into their stadium last week because somebody had painted a goal line in front of the players' entrance.''
Funny guy. Or, as Cosmo Kramer once said, Funghi. The Dolphins have to stop stirring it up every single year. Do you realize they've had five different men in charge of their draft room in the last nine years? Stop the madness. Stop the change. Unless Wayne Huizenga is convinced Randy Mueller is a poor choice to lead the Dolphins through the next three drafts and offseason, he's got to leave the team alone and let the current braintrust have a chance. If Huizenga can go steal a great GM like New England's Scott Pioli, I might feel differently. Otherwise, they've got to let the team develop instead of pulling the rug out all the time.
Sal,
2 more seasons to do more damage and set up the roster to play HIS offense? Draft players and not play them. I think I'll pass.
We had a pro-bowl calibre running back that we drafted 3 years ago, that all but the biggest douches realized was a great back. You can speculate all you want saying that Cam was "motivating" Brown, but not using him the first 2 games HURT US. Those were both 3 point losses as well. Do you think he intentionally under-utilized him to lose the games?
We are starting a rookie QB because Feeley was traded to the Eagles for Ray Lucas Jr (Lemon), and Green, who MOST realized was a hit away from retirement, is on IR.
Once again, the O-Line, Cam's biggest achievment to date. Is nether an achievment, nor HIS! Houck is the line coach, no really, he is, and the line HAS improved, but it's still FAR from an elite group, much less a great group. Ask John Beck how spectacular the O-line is...The line solidified and had a few good games and has since regressed...Hmmm
How could you get rid of a coach who has had so many injuries on his sqaud? T. Green, Y. Bell, R. Hill, T. Tillman, C. Worelle, R. Brown, R. Williams, V. Holiday, Z. Thomas...and the list goes on and on and on!!! C'mon folks...give the guy a break in his first year who inherited a BAD TEAM. This team was 6-10 last season...that is not so good.
Let's see, Green was terrible, Hill, Tillman, Worell, Williams are all transparent. Zach, Bell, and HOlliday are all unfortunate. Ask yourself this though: If Allen/Darius/Schulters started this year after Bell went down as opposed to going through Daniels/Hill/Tillman/Worrel, none of which are the same calibre as Schulters/Darius (who we also cut) and the former #2 Jason Allen, who appears to be on the rise, would we have the same results? If we hadn't cut Zgnonina/Bowens/Carter, would losing Holliday/Trayler/Roth have hurt near as bad? Every team has injuries. The Jets were beat up and were a terrible team, to boot!
Granted, 6-10 is a BAD TEAM, 0-12 is a TERRIBLE team!
Don't really care about San Diego, and Norv. I care that our FORMER #1 receiver is there and is the 6 weeks since he's been there he's gotten 2 TD's, and longs of 40+, things he couldn't do here. That same #1 receiver, plagued with the drops is STILL leading our team in yardage, with Brown slightly behind. Oh, wait, Booker passed Chambers by 15 yards last week....Only took him an extra 6 weeks! Brown is only 40 yards behind Booker, with 1 more catch, and has been down for 6 weeks! Ginn, on the other hand, who wasn't even used as a receiver in the first 2 games, or 4th, and thrown to only 3 times before week 6 has 18 catches for 259 yards, a 14.4 AVG, and a long of 36 with 1 drop? I ask again, WHY did it take so long?
Our Defense didn't get "old fast". I was one of JT's biggest critics the first half of the season, but I'd say he came around. He has been bullied, but somehow he's got 8 sacks (only 3.5 behind the league leader), 3 FF's, 1 INT, 1 TD to answer, "what has he done?"
Maybe JT respected Saban because he saw a LEADER. Cam doesn't strike me as the type! Aside from a catch phrase you've regurgitated from the media in the beginning of the season, exactly how did the defense get "old fast"?
All coaches should be things their way....Not seeing the point here....It would be nice if his way was right once in a while though!
A fresh start....explain
I'll really tired of you guys comparing Cam Cameron to GREAT coaches that had poor first years. EVERYONE knew they were GREAT coaches. It's as absurd as comparing Beck's stats to Mannings. You guys are comparing apples to oranges. Cam has never won a thing, EVER!
Let's be honest. If the headline didn't read "Miami hires Cam Cameron, former San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator", and simply read "Dolphins hire Cam Cameron". Who would have known who the hell he was?
Once again, sacrificing the games and team by not starting your best running back to motivate him is an ABSURD assumption! Cam's other achievement, which was by no means his. The motivation, of already promising Brown, by not playing him. WOW!
Saban said that? Did he bench Chambers as well?
I think you see what you wanna see...
I beg to differ, STRONGLY.
Mandy, let me ask you this? If your boss gave you deadlines for the last 12 weeks which you didn't meet, some which you missed by DAYS, would you still have a job?
Say, that some other reporters had better resources than you. Some are ever better than you. Could you not have met a deadline in 12 weeks?
What about the rest of you? If you were making, what $5 mil/year, and for 12 weeks you accomplished NOTHING, would you still have a job?
I don't need to wait any longer!
This was quite possibly the worst article a sportswriter could write. It lacked any conviction or any true statement other than the obvious. It's a shame that Armando has fallen on his collective as s on this one. What the article should've been about is that this team is and will continue to be is a disaster as long as this no-talent as s clown of a coach is around. Armando, you've already stated all the stupid numbnuts coaching decisions Camoron has made. That should be enough right there to can his sorry butt. Other rookie head coaches have come in adn inherited pisspoor teams and still have managed to win games. I'm not buying your pollyanna, blow-sunshine-up-my-kilt talk. Get off the fence before you tear your marble sack. You're better than this and it's time you show it by concentrating on this team's failures, not on their speculative, four-game, what-might-be future.
Damn it Armando, you are doing nothing more than allowing this crap to fester. You are an enabler.
Can we please not compare Jimmy Johnson/Troy Aikman to Cam Cameron/John Beck? Talk about Apples & Oranges??? Jimmy won National Championships at Miami and Aikman was top pick in the draft out of UCLA. Cam won about 35% of his college coached games and Beck is a 26 year old 2nd round pick out of BYU. Wake up everyone!!!! This team will never go anywhere with Cam!!! Let's cut our losses now and admit he was a mistake.
Regards,
Ray Handley & Rich Kotite
I love this blog. I love Armando. I love Ted Ginn's family. I love to lose.
From Cam's mouth:
Q. Coach, Jason Allen sits for most of two seasons and only gets to play because of injuries. Now he seems to be playing well. Could this be a case of a player who just isn't a practice player and haven't there been many examples of this through the years?
Walter Martinez
Miami, FL
A. No, I don't see that. I can honestly say I've never seen a guy that was a bad practice player, but a good game player. I've never been around one. The great players I've been around have been great practice players. Now with Jason, the timing was just right.
He had been a safety, had been switched to corner and then there was a need back at safety. He just decided in his mind that he was going to take advantage of that opportunity when it was presented. I think (assistant coach) Brett Maxie has done a tremendous job mentoring him. Jason is so dedicated. He's one of the first guys in the building and one of the last guy's to leave. He has embraced the opportunity has made the most of it. Jason has been a very good practice player since he's been starting.
ANYBODY BUYIN' THIS?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Coach: You've flown across the ocean to play a game. You have played on the worst muddy field imaginable. You lost your starting quarterback and starting running back early in the season. Your top tackler has been out with a concussion. Has this season prepared you for just about everything?
Cindy Rookings
Orlando, FL
A. How do you know? Adversity teaches us a lot. It is something you deal with. I've always looked at these type of situations as a challenge. It brings out the best in you. If you're not cut out for those circumstances, you're probably in the wrong business. Do you want it to be that way? Absolutely not. The good teams I've been around have stayed healthy. But that doesn't happen every year. Truth be known, things over time usually balance out. Things will start to come our way.
HE JUST SAID IT HIMSELF "It brings out the best in you. If you're not cut out for those circumstances, you're probably in the wrong business.".....If that's the "best" in him, we're in for trouble!
I think I fail the second test. ;>)
"Will you think that way if the Dolphins become infamous by losing all 16 of their games this year?"
I already presume they will lose the last four. I can't see a win with this offense. I just can't see it. I'm even worried about Beck learning progression at this point. Then again, I'm a sit and watch for the rookie quarterback type of fellow.
"Will you think that if the hints of dissension currently peeking through become pronounced and obvious and turn the Dolphins into a dysfunctional team?"
The veterans have a right to be angry. They were sold out for the Dolphins to build for the future. The Chambers trade was icing on the cake. The roster was already so young and inexperienced that the Dolphins couldn't manage a win with Chambers.
All of that doesn't matter a hill of beans in my opinion though. I was part of a fan base that continually said "blow it up and start over" at the conclusion of each disgusting collapse during the Wannstedt era. It's been blown up. Screw the veterans. They were not winning anyway.
"Will you think that if Bill Cowher or Bill Parcells or somebody of that reputation calls wanting Cameron's job?"
HEY! I pass this one. Any time a better man comes calling you take him. But they ain't calling. The Dolphins would have to make the first move. The Dolphins made the first move with Wannstedt. The Dolphins got the best man in Saban. That did't work out so well. So I'm a cautious optimist in this department too. If Parcells calls - you take him. He has a proven track record of rebuilding teams. You can't ignore that. Cowher - I ain't impressed. He's another Wannstedt.
He's just a louder Wannstedt with spitting issues.
Armando I think YOU missed the point, all those close games the phins lost was because of Cam's miss management...
We as fans do have a right to judge him whenever however we want.
After the midway point in the season WH had his internal report done and after the season he'll have another done. I hope the findings from those reports are studied properly and the decisions that have to be made to fix this team based on those reports are made with a conscious effort to REALLY make this team better. Further more this team can make all the changes they want but if Cam doesn't start making sound football decisions we will still continue losing. Take last nights game as an example.... With Baltimore driving on 3rd down with 3:40 left New England stopped them, what did Belechek do? he called time-out so they'd have enough time for Brady to score. These are the situations and decisions Cam needs to do better to have confidence from his players forget about the fans the players are the ones scratching there heads by some of his decisions. Honestly the way this season has went I'm not sure if Cam would call a time-out in that situation, do you?
Hind sight is 20/20 you can say everybody knew Jimmy and Troy were going to be great because JJ won a national championship and Troy was the first pick. Using that logic Saban and Ryan Leaf should have both won Super Bowls. There were a lot of people questioning what JJ was doing and whether or not Troy could cut it in the NFL. So don't tell me not to make that comparison because you don't have a clue what the future holds. So my guess is just as good as yours.
Yesterday I was of the mindset that the dolphins really can't fire Cam, because then we'd never be able to get a good coach here. No coach worth their clipboard would take a job where they thought they could get fired after the 1st year if things didn't go right. If we fire Cam the dolphins job goes from being one of the most coveted coaching jobs in the league, to being on par with the Raiders job.
Today however, I read a remark by Jason Cole that said from a distance it appears as though the players are trying to get the coach fired.
Things that make you go hmmmm.
About the injuries...
I am justt making an observation here but let's discuss.
Does Cam's coaching and decision making have anything to do with the injuries?
First:
R Brown got hurt during a busted play that happened after Trent Green threw one of his seven interceptions. Ronnie Brown got hurt cleaning up Cam's garbage player's mistake.
Second:
The defensive backs are getting hurt because they are not talented enough or physically gifted enough to keep up. Also, they are making way too many tackles this season that the linebackers should be making. These defensive back guys that would be special teams players at best on another team were hung out to dry by an offensive minded coach that did not retool the defense in the offseason via free agency or through the draft.
Third:
The inability of the Dolphins to score TOUCHDOWNS in the latter half of the season has made the defense that much more susceptible to overextending and getting hurt. Wasn't Cam supposed to be an offensive prodigy?
Am I the only one who doesn't see it? Cam is a born loser. All of you Cam supporters, do you honestly think that this guy will get Miami to the Promised Land? First of all he's in his 50's and has never been successful. 2nd of all, just look at him. He DOES NOT belong. Wayne should've given the keys to Jason Garrett. There's a reason Jerry Jones (3 Super Bowls) wanted him on his staff. I'd feel more comfortable with Dave Campo running this team.
well Armando I dont think we can beat a high school team, I dont think john beck can through up....so if you ask me YES FIRE HIM!! TODAY, get Huizenga out too.
I have questions for you
1. can we win the next 4 games?
2. can beck be the next brady under cameron?
3. can we beat the pats
if you say yes to any of these questions your the fool.
This LOSER picked a KR with our first selection (a @#$!@# KR!!!) in the draft and an 47 year old QB with our second selection, need I say more? FIRE HIM NOW. Now, with the first overall selection looming, who is this IDIOT going to select??? (I hear on good authority that he plans to select- Joe Scuzzy from North Dakota Tech-ball scratcher, because he once dated his mothers cousin).
Sal's comments are spot on, and you people typing in all caps and demanding his resignation are simply tools with too much time on your hands.
Yeah, "fire Cam" and scrub the whole organization. Then bring in re-tread coaches who put bandaids on gaping head wounds, and get you an 8, maybe 9 win-season in three years. Where does that put you - oh yeah, back where you were with Johnson and Wannstedt and Saban. And it puts you back on this blog, spewing your "Fire (replacement coach) NOW", "Bench (newly drafted QB) NOW" nonsense. Idiots.
Yeah, I'm sure you geniuses have the answer to all the Dolphins' problems, that you could draft a team that starts four rookies (and have virtually all of the other draftees make the team). After all, no one holds you accountable for anything you say, so you can say anything.
The fact is, that you don't revamp a team overnight. No one has built a championship organization overnight in the NFL. And unless Cameron is given time to implement changes and personnel and to test whether his system works, we will never know whether this team will turn into a champion. Check out old copies of the Dallas Morning News from 1989 when they were complaining that Johnson was a washed up college coach; better yet, check out the San Francisco papers in 79 when Bill Walsh was 2-14 in his first season, and fans were lambasting his weird West Coast offense (and that crappy rookie QB, Joe Montana). Yeah, I'm sure those organizations would have benefitted from the astute judgment of the open-mouth-breathing masses now demanding Cameron be fired.
Cameron has plainly shown lapses in judgment this season, and he deservedly has been criticized for those. But jeez people, get some f-ing perspective.
I'm very happy that Wayne Huzienga chooses not to listen to windbag fans and what sports writers have to say.
According to the esteemed Mr. Salguero, who I happen to respect, I must be a FOOL, because, as I've mentioned in many previous posts, firing the HC after one year will just put us another year behind.
Hiring Cowher or Parcells is not the answer. If we're ever going to win the Superbowl again, its not going to be with one of those guys, its going to be with someone who's never been there before.
I think the losing sucks, I think Cameron has been very unlucky on some of his decisions that could have gone either way. He's made some questionable choices that have not worked out.
This team is in shambles and I don't care if Shula himself was coaching this team, it would still be winless.
Lets keep building....
Maybe move Cam to offensive coordinator and bring in a true head coach that can handle all the reigns?
There are so many things wrong with the people who blame Cam for this team.
1. This team is playing with their 3rd string-quarterback, 4th string-runningback, and number 3,4,5 (Booker is a number 4 to me). For the Patriots that would be Gutierez, Eckel, Welker, Gaffney, and Washington. Bill Belichick couldn't coach that team, on top of the fact that you don't know the 5th and 6th safeties for the bleeping Pats
2. On top of the fact that the team is so injured, the TEAM FLAT OUT STINKS, AND THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CAM. It has everything to do with the Wannstauche and everything to do with Nick Saban. 0 for 56 in the draft on top of the fact that Ricky Williams wrecked the team. No players of value other than Brown and iffy Crowder came out of Saban's drafts. There is no old, medium, or young talent on this team
3. For those complaining about the playcalling, if you're the coach (which I couldn't even to believe to fathom what that would be like) do you trust any of the players on the field. Do you trust Carey, Lekkerkekker, Satele, Hadnot, and Shelton to block for a deep route because I sure as hell don't. As much as you would like for continuity, I don't trust a reverse to Ginn because of the blocking, or any type of stretch run because of Gado/Booker are running the show. How can you possibly call anything complicate if you know the chances of failing are so infinitely high its unbelievable.
All though you want to see chances for Beck, you don't want to have him fail. You might want him to fail now but anything you try will fail with the players on the field, so there is no play you can call that will be good enough
Give Cam 2 drafts and free agencies to patch up this leaky ship which was created by the power drills of the Wannstauche and Saban
Bleep the rest of you
Cam said/did it best ... "Fall Forward Fast ".... Right on his ast
Although the draft MAY turn out OK???
Draft football players who are gamers & have swagger. Drafting speed alone is suspect.
Remember SHULA said ... If I wanted the best athlete I'd have drafted Bruce Jenner (olympic gold in decathalon broke record most points ever.)
'Not fence sitting, simply smart'? Fine, if you TRULY believe there's the slightest chance of this team winning its next four games (including a visit to New England), I agree with you. Otherwise, you're surfing the chain link, my friend!
Could we all please STOP with the 'continuity breeds success' talk! That's BS! Success breeds continuity! How's continuity working out for Matt Millen? In his case having 6 years on the job hasn't made him any smarter. Instead, it has merely given him 5 more years than you he should have to further wreck the franchise! Is that what we want here?
Anonymous at 7:41pm points out how even Bill Walsh and JJ were slammed for their failures early on. Then anonymous adds, "But jeez people, get some f-ing perspective."
I say to Anonymous, you get some f-ing perspective and try to stay on the subject. We are talking about a coach that can't even win ONE GAME, you idiot! You want to build on a coach that can't even win one game? UNBELIEVABLE!
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Now is NOT the time ....
BECAUSE Cam already has a HUGE FORK stuck in his Fall-Forward-Ast
He's DONE!!!
Odds of Cam-Fork greater than odds we'll lose more games!!
Go Phins!! Cheers, JerryD
Reading the blog .... all the Cam lovers are mad at us Dolphin fans!!!
Why? Why? Why?
Tell us why you stand behind Cam & tell us what Cam is going to do. i.e. fall forward fast, put bench-splinters in rookie behinds, hire scrambled-egg QBs, be an offensive genius, etc. etc.
Pump us up with Cam's great moves & future predictions!!! lol
Go Phins!! Cheers, JerryD
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Armando,
Yes, everyone is a fool but you. But seriously, you are entitled to your opinion.
In my mind, Wayne H. should be kicking Cam in the ass right now.
Look at Cameron’s record:
18-37 at Indiana
0-2 (Playoffs) at San Diego
0-12 at Miami
I won’t go on about his series of terrible decisions thus far. I am just waiting to see what bonehead move he’ll make next.
gm parcells head coach cowher january 2008 get it done wayne!
You are wrong Armando. Cam cannot possibly be fired after one season, even if some of his calls and personnel moves are questionable after just one year. No way can ownership make that assessment with this team's lack of talent and all the injuries. After year two, yes, they have enough information to make an informed decision. To even suggest that the decision to fire Cam is a possibility is absurd.
Bull****. Fire Cam now and give Capers four shots to win one. Bad hire, pure and simple, cut him loose. And do not under any circumstances entrust a #1 pick to Cameron.
are always terrible in December . Why should this one be any different...win 4 games...lol. Cam needs to go.
It's a tough debate, no doubt.
On one hand, how do you fire a head coach after one year especially when you consider the mess his roster already was, the hit said roster has taken with injuries, and the fact that it's his first time around?
On the other hand, has anyone noticed any improvement in coaching from week to week? If anything, the game-management deteriorates further as the season progresses.
And the play-calling has been atrocious from the start- going away from the run when Brown was dominating. Sticking to it when we needed to spread the field and take the eighth man out of the box. Trick plays in vital situations.
If you even begin to consider that in clutch times when a little inspiration and grit where all that was needed to make a third down stop or push the pile a measly yard forward, this team could not find it in themselves to deliver. Say what you want about Nick Saban (Heaven knows I detest the guy), but under his tutelage our guys when out and whooped teams they had no business whooping. Anyone remember dethroning the Bears, shutting out the Patriots? It would be misleading to directly attribute those victories to coaching but look at the facts. Have these Dolphins, even at their best, seemed even remotely as motivated as any of those aforementioned games this year? Have they shown that kind of passion even for an entire quarter?
As much as you tell yourself that firing a head coach after one year might not seem logical, make a pros/cons chart and the incompetence becomes painfully obvious. Perhaps it is time to acknowledge that we hired the wrong head coach.
And this obsession with time is slightly ridiculous as well. If you know you've got the wrong man, what is one or two years going to buy you? How do you know you've got the wrong man? How do you know you'll be alive to realize it tomorrow or the following year? You don't. You revise the evidence, you brood over the data, and you make a sound decision for the future. The future is merely a second away.
Sorry Armando you are wrong.
This article should be titled “I feel sorry for Cam Cameron” because that is what it sounds like.
The first 12 games carry more weight than the next 4 because
12 > 4. Besides the first 12 games is the best indicator of what the next 4 games will be like.
Cameron is not a very good head coach. The 0 – 12 record is the ultimate expression of that fact. He should be fired and Marty Schottenheimer hired to replace him.The sooner the better.
Very Sad wrote:
Miami , FL (AP)-A seven-year old boy was at the center of a Miami-Dade County courtroom drama last week when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and regulation requiring that family unity be maintained to the highest degree possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her.
When the judge then suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said that they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the court granted temporary custody to Cam Cameroun of the Dolphins, whom they firmly believe is not capable of beating anyone.
Two days later Cam filed charges against the child for allegedly beating the crap out of him.
The Cam lovers? It has nothing to do with being a Cam lover. It has nothing to do with getting made a dolphin fans who slam Cam. But it has all to do with opening your eyes and being sensible. some of you have no sense at all.
let me remind you all...Cam inherited a bad team...6-10. the defense is old...this defense was good but ALWAYS fell apart when we needed a play...that's a fact. it is time to do things differently. I trust Cam is the right one for the job. We need new players on the defense and our offense will only get better.
Cam needs to run this team his way...he is the headcoach people and if players don't buy in they can leave. Seriously...Thomas and Taylor need to go...they either get on page with the coach or leave...we have not won anything with them so they won't be missed as much as you all think.
It's Cam's team face it. Mueller and Cam will get the right players in this system. We need to re-build...no more re-tooling because the only think the re-tooling has done is made us mediocre...we traded a lot of draft picks and not made the playoffs.
It is time for a change...and it is the players who need to change not the coach...he's only been here less than a season. Understand? Oh and just because I would like to see Cam stay...does't mean I'm not a Fins Fan. I'm probably one of the biggest diehard FinFans in New England...a place where it is very difficult to be a FinFan...believe me...I live in Connecticut and follow this team no matter what the situation is.
GO FINS!!!
Please spare me the rah rah stuff on Cam. Armando what haven't you seen now that tells you that this is the right man for the job? I agree wait until the season is over, and then find someone else to take this team to the next level. How long are we going to sit here season after losing season. The Fins are the laughing stock of the NFL and that was very apparent on the Monday Night game.
If Cowher is available I'd jump at the chance of having a proven coach than one that's looking to prove himself. Cam has made some terrible decisions this year...may I remind you of the Joey "Money Bags" Porter deal? What a bust, and he comes with a mouth, that even at 0-12 he's using on the field! Please...Cam's game plan sucks, even his own players don't buy into it. This season is frustrating and embarrassing, I certainly don't want to see it in 08. Even Coach Genaro (Unecessary Roughness) won a game, and that's a movie. Hollywood wouldn't even write such a script, but Cameron sure has this season.
So let's keep him for the next 4 games and go winless, we'll have both records..yeah!!! Coglin's law, bury the dead they stink up the joint!
Losers are born just like winners. His record points to loosing but college and the pros are totally different, he could still have great success regardless of how he starts out. His calls are plain dumb in my opinion, and show no indication of greatness but there could have been other variables we did not see. He inherited very little talent but so have others and managed one win or two, and yes I am accounting for injuries. Having said all this not winning once in 12 tries against often inferior teams is enough for me. He lacks motivation, discipline and character. Every week we hear his rap about fixing mistakes and correcting penalties, but that’s where it stops because the players sure aren’t buying it. How many times to you need to show someone how to hold on to the ball, or to tackle before they get it? Coaches are teachers, mentors and leaders, and while he may have a good football IQ does not mean he can teach it or motivate others. That’s my point about him, he is not reaching anyone but himself with his methods. Its as evident as ever now, his players are in the brink of mutiny, and he is about to completely loose the little bit of control he has. If I were Wayne I would have to let him go, maybe he is the right guy, but not for Miami and not right now.
I don't understand what you're gonna find out in 4 weeks that you dont already know. We'll either be 0-16 or if we are really lucky 1-15.
Ok what do you do?
Felix Gonzalez inspires the question: when has a season gone awry, when the fans have little choice but to turn to a Cocktail, or begin to quote it?
This one goes out to you Felix. “The luck is gone / the brain is shot / but the liquor we still got.”
Salud!
Can you folks PLEASE stop with the " Cam inherited this MESS" NO HE DIDN'T !!!!!!!!!!!!!! He accepted this mess then told all the fans he would make the playoffs!!!! When Cam interviewed for the HC job he knew the condition this team was in, and instead of him giving a fair and honest assement of the team he told Wayne and the fans exactly what they wanted to hear, BUT IT WASN'T the truth!!
Maybe we could give Cam some slack if he had won a game or two, but
0-12 BE FOR REAL!! When we where
0-6 peolpe where saying its too early to Judge Cam!!! Now we are
0-12 and you Cam lovers are STILL saying its too early to Judge him, even after all the loses, questionable calls, questionable personel decesions??? I said I was gonna give the guy a chance but he hasn't shown anything!!
Does anyone remeber last year when Vince Young finally got the start, he help the Titans win, he wasn't great and made rookie mistakes, but he did show he is a LEADER, he did show signs that he can command the offense!! What has Cam in 12 games shown?? And what has the 26yr old QB shown ?? Any sign of a leader???I'm just looking for a flicker of a sign?!?!?!
once sgain your wrong. like to see you fired along with Cameron & Mueller. need to get rid of them before they have the opportunity to screw up another draft. and this will be the best draft in Dolpin History to screw up
I have declined to post recently because of my bitter disappointment with this team. I would like to emphasize this word "TEAM." Losing is as much a mind-set as winning, losing is as insidious to the psyche as winning is contagious. Breaking the chain of losing requires unbending, unmitigated leadership from all of the people in an organization who profess to be leaders.
The headcoach is, of course, the main thrust of this leadership, but the headcoach does not step on that field every Sunday. The headcoach does not block, does not tackle, does not catch passes, does not have penalties called against him (for the most part). The game is played on the field and the people who are losing these games are ones playing it.
Let's face it folks, we have changed the coaches over and over again, but the results have remained the same. Certainly they are worse this year, but this losing psyche has been festering within the minds of the leadership players on this team since they assumed this responsibility. For this group of players (and you know who I'm talking about) to allow coach after coach to be lambasted in press and by the fans because their own lack of will and their own lack of leadership is appalling to me.
When is Jason Taylor going to stand up and say, "I take responsibility for the players under my leadership." When the press went after Randy Moss, Tom Brady not only stood up for him, but did so emphatically. And guess what, not another word was spoken about it. And then Brady promptly took his team down the field and won the game with 44 seconds left. Why, because that team felt his presence, not Belichick, BRADY. Not the guy in the hoodie, BRADY.
That leadership on the field is what is missing on this team and what has been missing and may actually be the reason Nick Satan ran out of here. I don't care if it's Cameron, Wannstedt, Johnson, Saban, it is up to these players. When they decide to walk on that field and tell that other team that they are going to beat the "F" out of them no matter how good the other team may appear to be. That is the day this team will win a game. Until that day this team will be nothing but losers no matter who the coach is.
Patrick
The problem with your logic on this one is that everyone who wants Cameron fired sees a few things: A)total lack of progress, B)actually going backwards in growth in a number of areas,C)continual display of horrible decision making and poor game management skills without recognition of errors, D)aloof/oblivious responses to dissention in the locker room,
E)the status quo remaining the same for the next 4 games.
Most people see the 'fins for what they are, a highly flawed team, lacking in talent and sadly, lacking in quality decision making even on game day. As a former OC, Cameron should be good at at least one job-play calling and even that, his purported area of strength, is a huge catastrophe. He actually called better games early in the season when we were playing teams like the Cowboys. We're to the point now, where our play calling doesn't even keep us competitive.
He's got to go!
Toby, I don't disagree... Cameron has not impressed me either, but I think the players have to be held accountable as well. We can only cite play calling and mistakes because the games have been so close. If the players truly want to win a game, they will do so regardless of the hapless coaching.
Yeah the thing is that the dolphins will not win the next four games and neither will they upset the patriots. The reason is because Cameron could never pull that off this season and any coach that loses as many games, especially the way we have lost them on very questionable calls. Yes he should be fired. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't want to sit around and watch to see how many years it takes a rookie coach to learn the NFL. Some coaches can win their first season, some can't. And I can't imagine how long it would take Cameron to learn to win as a head coach and also watch us use more draft picks on players because we know their family. We can not afford to take any more steps back.
I will tell you what is wrong you bunch of morons.Every city has the sport franchises that they deserve.
Most of them here are own by the same griddy jerk.He has been spitting on your face for years now but yet you keep turning the other cheek.If you want things to change ,boycott the remaining games,don't buy anymore dolfins items at the proshop and stop paying outragious money at the concession stands until he is gone.Ask the press to asses his tenure as an owner instead of blaming every coach and GM he hires.Then and only then you would earn the right to complain.At the mean time,stop the wishfull thinking and the damn whinning you patetic whimps!!!
Armando,
Wow... a response to my post... I must have said something that struck a chord...
That being said, it is very telling that the games you say show the dolphins were in the same class as their opponent include 2 games played in the slop and 3 games against teams that share the bottom of the barrel with the dolphins and all of which they lost as a result of bad coaching decisions and play calling.. which circles back to the main point of my argument in the first place.
I hate to say it fellow dol-phans, but we will certainly have to endure another "cameo" appearence next season,unless MR.PARCELLS, think's south florida would be a nice place to enjoy a rebuilding project. WAYNEOOOOOOOOO, has shown that he does not have the ball's to get rid of the people in his front office that slowly and methodically run this great organization into the freaking sand on south beach, so do not think for one second that this team is going to have anyone else but MR.INDIANA, running screen's to ronnie brown next year, oh yeah can't wait to see glenn dorsey in aqua next year,and if our freaking G.M. DROP'S THE BALL ON THIS KID OUT OF L.S.U. HE NEED'S TO CANNED AS WELL................
"Cam lovers" ... I said it & didn't mean to offend anyone.
Just too many people writing negatively about our brother Phin-fan bloggers ... instead of talking football.
Great football points ... I saw some great positive points in support of Cam & giving him a chance.
Let's respect each others opinions & talk football ... we're all on the same side & its great to brain storm.
Go Phins!! Cheers, JerryD
I'll give you one good reason why Camoron should be fired: He passed on Brady Quinn. Can any honestly say that the phins would be 0-12 if they drafted him?
Not hard people.
Patrick, you bring up an excellent point about on field leadership. Mike Nolan talked about it tonight on FSR. He referred to his own team needing some guys who "weren't going to put up with it anymore." He mentioned that when he was with the Giants they had two players that filled that role, Lawrence Taylor and Phil Simms.
We have a huge hole in our team of 5-7 year veterans who could provide that leadership. Guys like JT and Zach are burned out and just can't do. I feel bad for them, because they have left it on the field, but never got the support from the rest of the team.
Now, as for Cameron, I don't think this gets him off the hook. I have been completely unimpressed by him and have very little confidence that he has the personality, the chutzpah, if you will, to lead this team out of the quagmire its in.
I'm pretty firm in my belief that Cam should be fired if this team remains winless.
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