Can Miami Dolphins Joe Philbin be more than average?

Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin said that he didn’t come to Miami to be average but that is exactly what is. There is no other way around it. He entered the 2014 season on the proverbial hots seat but was given another year. Many believe that he will enter the 2015 season on the same seat.

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In his first three seasons as a head coach, Philbin is 23-25. In other words he is average. Average as in .500. He is not a motivator of players nor is he a yelling and screaming coach. He is a soft spoken leader who raises his voice not unlike a parent would to a child. He is a teacher, an instructor and thus far he is getting on the field exactly what he is. The team emulates him but that doesn’t win championships.

2015 could field the best talented group of players in Philbin’s entire head coaching career. He has Kevin Coyle returning as the defensive coordinator and Bill Lazor will enter his 2nd with the team as the offensive coordinator. On paper the changes made to the roster should be better, the coaching staff should be better, but in reality, it’s all about Joe Philbin and what he can teach the players to do on game day.

"“I came here to win championships. I didn’t come here to be average and be 8-8,” Philbin told ESPN.com on Sunday. “Steve Ross doesn’t own the team to be average. Our fans don’t want to be average. Our players don’t want to be average. So that’s what we’re here for. That’s why we invest and put the effort, the time into what we do.”"

What he says is true but thus far it’s only talk.

Changes at head coach has a lasting affect on any team. Coaching changes bring assistant coaching changes and system changes and the Dolphins are building for both the future and for the now. It’s imperative that Philbin finds success in 2015 or his job and the short term future of the Dolphins will once again be a question mark. Am I saying that Philbin should stay past this one year? Unlike last years finish to the season when I said no, I may be rethinking that stance just a little bit.

The Dolphins lack consistency on the field, in the front office, and with the coaches. It appears that the front office is finally fixed and the players on the field should be here long enough to make an impact as a complete team. It’s the coaching that is the question mark now.

Philbin will have to do a lot to convince many fans and media that he deserves the chance to continue in his current role. The benchmark for another year has been set by many at making the playoffs. Is 9-7 considered an improvement? Probably not. 10-6 and missing the playoffs however may be.

Miami has a very good shot at getting a fast jump on the NFL season with a softer schedule at the front end. It’s not impossible to imagine the Dolphins opening the season 5-0. It’s the last half of the season that will be the toughest but Miami was given a lot of home games in that stretch and that is another reason Joe Philbin may find it difficult to convince Stephen Ross to retain him should they fail late, once again, in the season.

The Dolphins have the talent on the roster but they must be coached. Winning will empower the players. Winning will bring confidence in what is being taught to them. Winning can take a team that is 6-0 in an easy stretch and elevate them to play harder during a tough stretch. Winning as they say cures everything.

Philbin has that chance this year but he has to make the right decisions as a head coach. He needs to prepare this team to play hard every week regardless of the team they are playing. He is not a “rah-rah” type of coach but perhaps he needs to find that in himself as much as Ryan Tannehill needs to find his voice as a leader on the field.

Players respect Joe Philbin and that is a good portion of the battle but if the team starts to lose then those same players are going to start questioning the staff and once that happens, it’s all downhill. This is pivotal juncture for Philbin and his staff and there may not be a tomorrow. Playoffs may save him and no playoffs may doom him but the Dolphins, dare I say it, need Joe Philbin to correct his mistakes and take control of this team. The franchise needs a leader they can rely on, count on, and trust in. Philbin could be that guy if he can get out of his own way.

What happens this year will have long reaching consequences but what’s best for the team is likely Joe Philbin. For now, but 8-8 doesn’t cut it anymore and if average is the only thing Joe Philbin can bring to the table then it will indeed be time to move on. It’s the same song and dance we sang last year and it’s high time the record stops playing.