Ireland Serious About Changing This Team
By Brian Miller
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.