Joe

Philbin

The Cowboys have now cut ties with five coaches from their 2022 staff. In addition to Davis being let go, Dallas has also cut ties with offensive line coach Joe Philbin, defensive assistant George Edwards, running backs coach Skip Peete, and defensive line coach Leon Lett. There’s been light speculation about what this could mean for Mike McCarthy’s job security, but owner Jerry Jones is already on the record saying McCarthy’s job security wouldn’t be dependent on the team’s playoff performance this season. For now, we’ll assume these are nothing more than internal changes unless the team makes an announcement on McCarthy.

This should be self-evident after the Dolphins choked away a certain playoff berth by losing to Thad Lewis and Geno Smith. Miami scored one touchdown over its final 25 possessions. In two years on the job, Philbin has been placid to the point of banal, while Ireland’s “approach” remains as scattershot as ever. The duo’s choice for offensive coordinator, Mike Sherman, calls plays seemingly at random. The Dolphins have a nice talent base, but a poor brain trust.

“Criticism of the coaches is consistent with everyone I talk to on the team,” said the source. “You have some assistants who weren’t experienced or comfortable in their jobs. Some players said they didn’t learn much. It’s pretty disconcerting. There’s not a lot of great teaching there.” This mostly has to do with position coaches and coordinators, but even head coach Joe Philbin is taking some heat from inside the locker room. He’s been described as “flat” and “unemotional,” while another said Philbin’s just a guy who’s “on top of scheduling and planning.” Philbin’s seat will be one of the hotter ones in 2014, especially with a new GM coming to town. The only reason he survived this offseason is because owner Stephen Ross thinks so highly of him.

It’s likely creating an awkward dynamic at Fins headquarters. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported in late December that “no one in Miami is safe,” but owner Stephen Ross has made no moves since. The Dolphins signed Ireland to a head-scratching contract extension before the 2013 season, which was likely fully guaranteed. Ross is believed to be pushing for Philbin to fire offensive assistants, including coordinator Mike Sherman.

Owner Stephen Ross forced Philbin to fire OC Mike Sherman on Monday, but Philbin will return for his third season on the job. Per the Herald’s Armando Salguero, GM Jeff Ireland’s job security “has yet to be cemented by the team.” Philbin’s records through two years are 7-9 and 8-8. There is some feeling the Dolphins will pursue Packers QBs coach Ben McAdoo to replace Sherman.

Silver leaves himself plenty of room for error here, but “against all odds” would be highly accurate. Ireland’s Dolphins have failed to turn in a winning season for five consecutive years, topping out at 8-8 in 2013. Ireland’s offseason free-agency spending spree backfired spectacularly, as Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler were major downgrades from Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett, whom they replaced. Miami’s remade offensive line also imploded, allowing an NFL-most 58 sacks and failing to generate any hint of push in the run game. Fins owner Stephen Ross is struggling to be kind. The Dolphins are among professional sports’ most dysfunctional franchises. Assuming Ireland is indeed retained, look for Joe Philbin to stay on as coach with some tweaks to his staff.

A league source tells PFT’s Mike Florio that owner Stephen Ross is “apoplectic” over the situation. It appears Ross will wait until the season is over to make a move, however. In other words, the 4-4 Dolphins would have to rally and make the playoffs for Philbin and Ireland to have any shot at saving their jobs. Irrespective of the Martin situation, Philbin and Ireland both deserve to be on the hot seat. They haven’t done good jobs in 2013, and Ireland has overseen four consecutive losing seasons as GM in Miami.

“We’ve been going out there, and practicing our (tails) off every day, but as players, we’re tired of being embarrassed,” said one member of the Dolphins. “If we get beat in Europe, (players) are going to throw in the towel.” It would not be the first time a team has quit on Joe Philbin, and the real question is how the perennially mediocre coach kept his job this offseason following three years of scandal and underachievement. The Dolphins would likely try to right the ship by axing unpopular DC Kevin Coyle before resorting to firing Philbin, but the real problem in the Miami coaching staff resides at the top.

This is pure speculation at this point, of course, but when given the chance, owner Stephen Ross failed to endorse Philbin as the Dolphins’ coach for the remainder of 2015. Miami is off to a lousy 1-2 start, barely squeaking by the Redskins Week 1 before losing back-to-back games to the Jaguars and Bills. According to writer Barry Jackson, players are also starting to make some noise, complaining about the length and intensity of a recent practice. The Dolphins were believed to be privately flirting with now-Falcons coach Dan Quinn after last season.

Schefter admits owner Stephen Ross could change his mind, but as of Sunday night the decision had been made. Schefter reports Dolphins TE coach Dan Campbell is the leading candidate to replace Philbin on an interim basis if the coach is fired. DC Kevin Coyle will likely be heading out the door as well.