Dolphins Begin OC Search
By Brian Miller
Oct 14, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of a referee flag on the field during the second half of the San Diego Chargers game against the Indianapolis Colts at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won 19-9. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
It would be nice for once to write an article that didn’t have me smacking my head on the table or stretching the stress out of my neck. So with a crack in my neck as I turn my head one way and the next and quick rub on the red spot from hitting my forehead, I begin.
The Miami Dolphins apparently have interviewed their first offensive coordinator candidate. Philadelphia Eagle QB coach Bill Lazor. On the surface it would sound great to bring in someone from that high-potent offense in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, Lazor has only been there one season previously serving as the OC at the University of Virginia and has been an NFL assistant coach for three different teams. The team has not made an announcement but Profootballtalk.com reported the interview a short while ago.
The interviewing of an OC doesn’t have me shaking my head. What has me shaking my head is why the team is looking for an OC when they haven’t found a GM? The fact they are actually interviewing OC’s is as close as we are going to get to hearing Stephen Ross announce his plans for this football team. According to PFT, the Dolphins will begin their GM search on Friday. Two days after their first OC interview. The problem is what if a new GM doesn’t want Philbin?
Ross has backed himself into a corner on this by announcing to all incoming candidates that they will have to work with Philbin as the head coach. For how long is another story. It also seems to lend more credence to the probability of a tiered chain of command that has several branches to it. A direct line between coach and GM with an existing line to coach and Dawn Aponte. A line between GM and Aponte with no line to Ross and a line from Aponte to Ross as well as a possible Czar with a line stretching towards everyone. Confused yet? It’s a lot of lines.
I appreciate the fact that Philbin is doing his work here to get the position filled but I still can’t help but feel the horse is trailing the cart in this one. Stephen Ross, again, isn’t doing it right. I gave him the benefit of the doubt before but it appears that the business model he is employing in Miami may not be the best for an NFL franchise. Hire the GM, let him sit with Philbin, make a decision and move on towards building some real continuity with this team. Right now, it’s a complete mess from top to bottom and it appears that everyone is working on their own agenda.
Slow it down.