Feb 21, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Dolphins need a strong face lift this season and Jeff Ireland is the man tasked with that option.  A little history will give you some inside information on how things used to work around the Dolphins facility.

Bill Parcells called the shots from top to bottom when he arrived following the ugly 2007 season.  Ireland gave his input and HC Tony Sparano stood outside the war room during the draft.  When Parcells left the Dolphins and Ireland took over the team officially, Sparano had a little more input.

During a Web Weekend event in Miami, I asked Tony Sparano to spell out the process of finding players.  Sparano stood in front of the room and explained that he would tell Jeff Ireland what he needed (not who).  Ireland would look at what was available, compile a list based on salary cap space and present that to Sparano.  They worked the player/s out and then Ireland made the decision.

There wasn’t much involvement from the HC.  That changed last year as Ireland and HC Joe Philbin worked together to form a team that would compete while giving them the best opportunity to fix the team a year later.  This year, Ireland is 100% committed to changing this team.  And it’s not just superficial.

According to the Miami Herald, VIA Jeff Irleand, the entire coaching staff has joined him at the Combine.

The process, according to Ireland, will allow the HC to view the players, his coordinators to watch their side of the ball, the position coaches to focus on their positions specifically.  Then they will all sit down and discuss what they saw player by player.

In most cases, teams send the GM, HC, and maybe the coordinators.  This new process will allow the Dolphins to have eyes all over the field.  They will be able to see who will fit the schemes and who each coach views as a player they can work with.  For Miami, it’s a first.

Ireland doesn’t sit around all season.  He travels and continues to scout college players.  He works closely with his own team scouts and together they process what they see coming to a consensus on who they feel best helps the team fill needs.  It’s a process that under Bill Parcells came down to what Parcells believed to be the best option.

A lot of issue has been taken with the Dolphins drafts since Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland came to Miami.  Contention over who drafted who and who was responsible for this guy or that guy.  The only thing we know for certain is that Ireland had 100% full control over the draft two seasons ago and enters his third this season.

With 46 million dollars to spend and 9 draft picks Jeff Ireland has positioned himself and this team to make a huge jump in 2013.  His commitment to the team and the coaching staff shows in his desire to have their input and expertise with him in Indiana.  Ireland compiles the scouting reports from the teams scouts.  This year, he will use those scouting reports and the first hand coaching reports to make a decision on this years draft.

Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t, but there is no question that this year, Ireland is committed to making this team better.

Feb 4, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell speaks at a press conference at the New Orleans Convention Center the day after Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Super Bowl ends the season and there is a wait of about two to three weeks for the NFL Combine to start.  Which is what is going on now.  After the Combine, there is a two week window until the feeding frenzy known as free agency kicks-off the league new year.  A month later, the NFL Draft.

If the NFL has it’s way, the calendar will change.

According Roger Goodell the NFL is looking at moving some of their events back a little in order to capitalize on the popularity of the NFL.  Under discussion is moving the Combine to early March.  The start of free agency to April, and the draft to May.  The NFLPA of course has said none of this will happen which means of course that some of it might.

The talk of a calendar change immediately makes one believe this is a preeminent move geared towards the one day 18 game schedule where the Super Bowl would played closer to the end of February instead of the beginning.  The NFL says that is not the case and the NFLPA still maintains there will be no 18 game schedule.

If I were predicting what would happen, and I guess since I’m saying what I think will happen means that I am predicting it, the NFL will keep the start of FA at the beginning of March.  It only makes sense due to the relocation problems with impending free agents.  They have to up and move and be ready for the start of OTA’s with their new team.  A delay in the start of the period will only delay their ability to sell their homes, get their kids ready for a new school, and actually move.

The draft on the other hand could be the bargaining chip.  Despite the NFLPA’s insistence that the care about the incoming freshman, the really don’t.  So the NFL can use the move of the draft as a necessary move while the NFLPA holds it hostage to keep free agency where it is.  Until a player is actually drafted and then signed by a team, they are not a part of the NFLPA.

The move of the draft would help NFL teams in terms of organizing draft boards a little longer, seeing what kids get in more trouble prior to the draft itself, and so on.  From a fan perspective, the move to late or mid-May is likely to draw groans.  Most fan would rather the draft be early than later.  It’s a huge draw in both viewers and anticipation but how fans will react to the wait of another few weeks is not known.

The NFL is not tinkering with the start of the season, yet, but they are talking about a mandate that puts all teams starting their training camp on the same day.  This makes sense from a PR standpoint and fans would likely have no issue with that change.  Some believe that starting sooner gives teams a bit of an advantage and frankly I still don’t understand why teams would wait a week when they can start earlier.  Of course how that would affect the two teams playing a week earlier in the HOF game is a question.

The NFL is also looking at a “Signing Day” for free agency when the top players actually announce their destination of choice.  On the surface that seems interesting but players do tend to change their minds at the last minute.  Not so sure about this one.

The NFL is reviewing the use of the challenge flag as well.  Last year, a touchdown run was not overturn because a red challenge flag was thrown.  The penalty was the play was not reviewed.  The NFL will change this and likely make it nothing more than an unsportsmanlike penalty if a flag is thrown on a scoring play which already reviewed.

Coaches now need to be a little more accountable as well.  The NFL and the competition committee are discussing penalties against coaches who leave the sideline and enter the field of play to argue a call.  I can think of a few coaches, Jim Harbaugh ahem, who would have to tone it down a wee bit on the sideline.

The NFL is currently hosting the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and then the owners will meet a short week and a half later for their annual meeting.

Oct 20, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) in action against the Texas A

The Miami Dolphins will be attending the NFL Scouting Combine that will kick-off in four days.  They will interview, time, test, and watch prospect after prospect.  While some players will rise and some players will fall, the Dolphins, like most teams will use this period to confirm what their own scouts have already worked on.

The scouting period for NFL teams is a year long adventure.  One that even GM Jeff Ireland get’s into personally.  The entire season is a scouting combine but teams are not allowed to talk with the college players.  Until next week.  That is when they will get the chance to ask the questions about a players character, their ability to understand a playbook, and yes sometimes about their parents.

This year, the Dolphins attentions will be on defense.

Offensively the Dolphins have little need to for a running back.  They have no need for a starting QB and while they have needs on the offensive line and at WR they have far more needs on the other side of the ball.

The Dolphins will enter free agency needing a pass-rushing linebacker and possibly the need for two corner-backs.  They also will need to gain another defensive end as well as safety to play opposite Reshad Jones.   The Dolphins may be set along the defensive line but that won’t stop them from looking at depth.  Especially knowing that they could lose DT Randy Starks.

With 9 draft picks and 5 of those coming in the first three rounds, Jeff Ireland will confirm all the research he and his scouts have done this past season.  The process will begin next week and culminate in the finalization of their draft boards following the individual pro-days.  The Dolphins will likely base their visits to those pro-days on what they see at the NFL Combine.

Offensively, look for the Dolphins to spend some time watching the aforementioned offensive line with closer attention to the TE position where the Dolphins need to upgrade.  WR will also play a focus as Ireland has vowed to improve the talent at that position.  He hasn’t had a good track record since joining the Dolphins with Bill Parcells.