Miami Dolphins 2016 coaching search: Top 5

Oct 13, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz talks with the officials during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Lions beat the Browns 31-17. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Schwartz

Before the Buffalo Bills got Rex Ryan, they had Jim Schwartz designing their defense and last season the Bills had a very good defense. Schwartz was there for only one season after being fired as the head coach of the Detroit Lions, who by the way had a very good defense.

Where Schwartz comes up short is on offense and he would need to hire an offensive coach that is as ambitious and innovative as he is on defense. Perhaps a retention of Bill Lazor and the keys, all of the keys, to the Dolphins offense handed to him? It would be an interesting thought to see a defensive mind who knows how to use Ndamukong Suh come in and keep the offensive coordinator who knows his quarterback. Even if for only one season should it fail.

Schwartz was saddled with a bad situation in Detroit and the Lions owners finally grew tired of “almost”. Schwartz coached the Lions from 2009 until 2013 but he spent the first two years breaking the team down hoping to rebuild it. He wouldn’t have as many of those issues in Miami.

Next: Darrell Bevel - from the upper Northwest to the lower Southeast