In 2008, Bill Parcells hired Tony Sparano as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team that posted a league worst 1-15 record the previous season. With the help of, arguably, the easiest schedule in the league and an unfortunate injury to New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady, Sparano led the Dolphins to the best single season turn around in NFL history. The Dolphins won the AFC East with an 11-5 record, putting the Dolphins in the playoffs for the first time in 7 years; however, their playoff run was cut short by the Baltimore Ravens to the tune of 27-9 in the Wild Card round.
After a successful season and winning their first division title since 2000, Miami Dolphins fans thought this was finally the return to glory the franchise was waiting for. Then again, the whole easiest schedule in the league part, and the fact that they only beat two teams with a winning record during the season might have put expectations a little too high. After the 1-15 Cam Cameron debacle, Dolphin fans would have been happy not being every other team’s homecoming game. After back to back 7-9 seasons, the early success put a damper on the real improvements the team had made under Sparano. Miami improved as a team despite the regression in the win column.
The improvements didn’t stop new owner Jeffery Ross from reportedly trying to reach out to Jim Harbaugh, Bill Cowher, and Jon Gruden while still having Sparano under contract before the NFL lockout began. Ross went as far to fly to California to speak with Harbaugh about the job which wasn’t vacant. Now with the seeming lack of faith in Sparano, the Dolphins have yet to show up after the lockout beginning the season with a 0-7 record. Now Sparano is reportedly making jokes with officials about his job security. Yeah, it is that bad for him. This is the same guy that led them to the greatest turn around in NFL history. The win now mentality in the NFL is going to cut short Sparano’s term as Miami Dolphins head coach.
Should Sparano keep his job? Probably not. Should Jeffery Ross have shopped around for a new head coach without firing Sparano first? Definitely not. Is Sparano the only person to blame for the Dolphins current ineptitude? Absolutely not. The Miami Dolphins are franchise that needs a major overhaul in many areas.
When Jimmy Johnson got to Miami as the new head coach of the Dolphins, he began the last major overhaul in Dolphins history by replacing thirteen starters and the long time kicker in his first year. While Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Dolphins didn’t light the league on fire, his teams made the playoffs every season after his first year. Johnson built a team that remained competitive even after he retired to the FOX Pregame show. In the four years that Johnson helped draft the team, he drafted four rookies who would become Pro Bowlers. That is exactly the same amount that the Miami Dolphins have drafted in the twelve drafts since Johnson left the team.
The Dolphins inability to draft quality players is most evident in their 2007 draft class. With ten draft picks in that class, only two players remain with the team, DT Paul Soliai and P Brandon Fields. There are several other picks still in the NFL such as first round bust Ted Ginn Jr., now with 49ers and John Beck, the starting quarterback for the Redskins (at least for this week).
In 2008, Sparano arrived, along with Bill Parcells, and helped rebuild the team through the draft. Just in the last four years, the Dolphins have drafted nine starters. Now of course, starting on a 0-7 team doesn’t mean you drafted quality starters, but it does mean young players are in position to learn and develop into quality starters. Also, some of the picks missed the mark. Drafting Pat White in the second round to become the Wildcat quarterback of the future didn’t exactly work out, and neither has current starting quarterback Chad Henne. The key is drafting the foundation of the team and using free agency to fill the roster.
Under Sparano (with guidance from Ireland and Parcells), the Dolphins have began to do this as good as some of the better teams in the league. In same twelve year period that the Dolphins drafted four pro bowlers, only three teams drafted fewer. The Oakland Raiders, whose scouting department consists of tape measures, scales, and a stop watch, drafted three. The St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers each drafted only one. Each of these franchises took serious nose dives after the 2003 season. Tampa Bay and Oakland have rebounded in the last couple years with strong draft classes.
On the brighter side of draft classes, New England and San Diego drafted twelve pro bowlers which created a dynasty and a highly talented yet under achieve team. The Jets drafted eleven which has led to two consecutive AFC Championships despite starting a rookie quarterback. Throw in Baltimore and Pittsburgh drafting ten each and are regular playoff contenders. Not to discount quality coaching, but drafting the right talent makes a big difference. Sparano was helping the team in the right direction.
Bill Parcells is gone. Jeffery Ross is the new owner. And the lowly Dolphins can’t win a game. Tony Sparano will not be coaching the Dolphins next season barring a nine game winning streak to end the season. The team he leaves behind for the next coach will be much better than the one he inherited when he took over from Cam Cameron. If his GM could have brought in a decent quarterback, the team could have been much more productive. Sparano is not the greatest coach in the league, but he deserves more credit than he receives from the media, the fans, and his team’s performance.