Are the Miami Dolphins leaning towards an internal promotion

Are the Miami Dolphins leaning towards an internal promotion? Does Darren Rizzi share the same vision as the new man in charge Chris Grier?

Well is seems that current special teams/assistant head coach Darren Rizzi has had his head coaching interview and has received a lot of glowing recommendations from current and former players.

Darren Rizzi is one of the most loved and mesmerizing assistant coaches the Miami Dolphins have ever had, I seriously challenge anyone to find one person who would disagree with that statement. This man is a fireball on the sideline, at both practice and during the game. Darren Rizzi is extremely good at evaluating talent and does an outstanding job at motivating that talent.

Darren Rizzi is a 1992 graduate of the University of Rhode Island. In December of 2007 he was hired at his Alma Mater as their18th head coach. He was an All American tight end for his school and then got into coaching shortly after his playing days came to an end. He is known for teaching special teams, but he has also taught linebackers, running backs and has left an impression on every athlete he has coached.

"“Darren is an extremely well-respected coach, who not only possesses tremendous passion and enthusiasm for the sport of football, but even more importantly, for the University of Rhode Island. He is exactly the type of person we need to energize our football program and put us on the path of competing for a CAA Championship and beyond.”Thorr Bjorn, URI director of athletics in 2007 head coach induction speech."

Darren Rizzi was brought in the Miami Dolphins organization by head coach Tony Sparano in 2009 as the teams assistant special teams coach and has been here since, being retained by every coach that followed coach Sparano, and that has to tell you something about this guy. His special teams rank at the top of the NFL every year and he has helped a lot of the special team players eventually grow into a starting spot for the team. He has produced 3 Pro Bowl players and helped four players reach the NFL All-Rookie team with in the past 5 years.

Darren Rizzi is also a great interview, as he is smart, comical and exciting all rolled up into a professional football enthusiasts. You immediately realize this is more than a job for the guy, it’s something he truly enjoys. His passion and emotions are wore on his sleeve and failure is not even close to a word in his vocabulary.

Darren Rizzi had his interview yesterday with the Miami Dolphins and a lot of outpour was shared backing him with full support from a whole lot of players and NFL personnel.

"It’s about time someone recognizes how good Darren Rizzi is. Glad to see he’s getting a look. Played for him and have known him for years. Great coach, leader, pro and teacher. Demands accountability and respectJason Taylor via Twitter…"

"Heard the news my guy Darren Rizzi is interviewing for the @MiamiDolphins head coaching job, best special teams coach I’ve ever been around! Guys love playing for him and he’s been around the organization for a long time! He knows the culture, the fan base, & what it takes to winReggie Bush via Twitter…"

"Eye-opening support from players — current and former — for ST coordinator Darren Rizzi to become Dolphins HC. Smart, passionate guy who has locker room’s respect. He was open about wanting/being ready for a HC opportunity when I asked him about it in Nov. He will interview.Cameron Wolfe via Twitter…"

So, with all that being said it might shock you that I just don’t know if this would be the right choice for the organization at this point in time. I feel that he might have an issue putting a good and diverse coaching staff together. He has been with the organization for 10 years and unfortunately he hasn’t exactly had a stellar set of head coaches helping him grow. I’m not saying he wont be an awesome head coach, but the staff you assemble means every thing for your success. Your network is limited when you’re in one spot for a real long time, and a lot of the coaches and assistant coaches that have come through the doors in Miami during that time span have not been, well exactly intriguing. I’m afraid it might turn into the same old thing here and I think outside influences are what this franchise just might need.

But being that the Miami Dolphins are in the spot they are in, with the lack of talent and power restructuring I talked about in my last editorial, it might be the only option left. I think there is truth to the whole, “more attractive team” talk and that fact might just help Darren Rizzi out, due to the more attractive teams will more than likely get the higher profile coaches. There was a recent special teams coach who was given a chance and he turned out to be one hell of a head coach, John Harbaugh.

So, maybe Darren Rizzi can lead this Miami Dolphins team into future success if he is the chosen candidate, maybe he can become the head coach Miami is coveting, maybe he turns this franchise around and turns them into winners and maybe Darren Rizzi will be the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins, maybe.