Dolphins Philbin Feeding CoachSpeak?
By Brian Miller
Sep 15, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin on the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins have a bye week. If they were smart it would be a “buy” week. As in buy some damn offensive lineman. For those looking for a miracle change it’s not going to happen. If you listen to HC Joe Philbin he is ready to stay the course. This according to a quote on the Miami Herald online edition.
"“We believe in the guys that we have,” Philbin said. “We have confidence in them. We have got to continue to strive at all positions. I know everyone wants to focus on one position. There are a lot of positions on this football team that need improvement.“We believe in the guys that we have, and we will continue to work with them,” he added."
So is this just typical NFL coach-speak or is there truth to the comment? Let’s get realistic.
1: Joe Philbin doesn’t throw his players under the bus. Ever.
2: If Philbin and Ireland were planning to buy a new lineman (trade) why tell the current group? If the deal falls through you piss off your current lineman. Makes more sense to let them wait and see like everyone else.
3: If Philbin does in fact mean what he said then it’s safe to assume that Matt Moore will see a lot of time in the second half of the season while Tannehill watches from his hospital bed.
It’s too early to tell what is going to happen over the next week or so. The Dolphins have clear needs along the offensive line and it’s glaring to the entire NFL. The trick is to find someone willing to trade and then for the right price. For those thinking Cleveland is currently shopping everyone, believe me when I say Joe Thomas is not one of the. I am 100% and more certain that Joe Thomas will not be brought to Miami in a trade. In Cleveland he is the Lebron James replacement. Besides the Browns are atop their division why would they trade their best offensive player? Oh, because they won’t.
Truthfully, the Dolphins may have been better off making that trade for the Chiefs LT Branden Albert. There simply isn’t enough teams out there willing to move a top LT or a top RT for the amount of compensation the Dolphins would be willing to give.
For that reason, I actually do believe Joe Philbin’s comment.