Interesting article. Read it earlier and it gave some interesting insight into what was going on between 2008-2010 as far as talent acquisition.

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It goes beyond the draft to the practice field as well.

If a coach can't identify who is the diamond in the rough and who is the highly rated guy that isn't going to be anything better than average, a team is screwed.

Yo, AQNOR, try not to post so much of the South Florida media articles. You don't want to see ole Big Dave handled by the Po-Po, do ya?

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Sorry Dave. I apologize.

Or lack thereof.

Our "Director of College Scouting" is Chris Grier, and he has held that job since 2003 when he was promoted from area scout (00-02)...

I know scouts essentially just gather information for coaches and GM's.. But when looking at the last 10 years of drafting, then thinking that the same guy is running the college scouting for the Dolphins, I have to believe he is not very good at his job...

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Stories like this is what supports the argument of not letting coaches have input. They tend to fall in love with players and see what they want to see instead of what is there. Its rare that a coach can do it all.

You'd also have to go back to 2003 and see who have been the decision makers, from Dave Wannstedt to Nick Saban to Mueller/Cameron... and as we can see in Salguero's article, Sparano, Henning etc having input on players.

The coaches have done this team a disservice from a personnel standpoint.

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Lets not forget Ted Ginn and family. Cam Cameron was smitten by him.

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Follow me on Facebook - Phinfever - Miami Dolphins Fan Site @BigDavePhinfever

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Yup, the final decision makers really are the ones to blame. Once guys hit the draft there is a ton of information available for them to make decisions.
I just find it ironic that the same guy has been running our scouting since Johnson/Wanny ans we have a history of bad drafting...

Just my way of looking at everything involved rather than just one guy... Right now for me I like having one guy taking input from others and making decisions, most people hate him but I am giving him a chance, and the reason is exactly what this article is about..

2008 - 2010 Parcels controlled our team, 2011 Sparano had his contract worked so he had control along with Jeff.
So 2012 and now is pure Ireland, nobody can go over his head and each decision is his at the end of the day. The thing I do like is that he appears to get his coaches and coords opinion of each player before they are signed, drafted, released or traded.
There was a scene in HK of him talking to someone regarding Vontae, and his question was asking whether or not someone saw him in the long term plan for the Dolphins... His actions would tell me the answer was no..

So while the coach doesnt make the decision, he is still a big part of it from what I have gathered...

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The way it should work:

Coaches - Determine what kind of skillset they need at each position. For example, they need a speed receiver who can provide a vertical threat or a big receiver that can fight for the ball in the air. They need linebackers that can blitz and cover tight ends or thumpers that can hit. They need big cornerbacks that can play zone, play the ball in the air and tackle on the outside or man corners that can press. They need athletic offensive linemen or road graders.

The coaches should identify the type of system they want to run and communicate what they need at each position to effectively run those positions.

GM - The GM should evaluate players that are available in free agency or the draft that meet these skillsets. He should identify strengths and developmental needs, measureables, review film to see if the player being evaluated is better at zone or man, jump balls or deep routes, etc.

Coach - Once the GM has selected the players, it is up to the coaches to find a way to make the players fit, to help develop the players, to make sure they are conditioned, make sure they understand their assignments etc.

Unfortunately, what happens all too often is coaches fall in love with players and step on the GM's toes, or GM's fall in love with players and force them on coaches whether they fit or not.

It sounds as if the way it is working between Philbin and Ireland is that Philbin is telling Ireland what he needs to be successful and Ireland is doing what he can to acquire the talent.

Obviously we don't know for sure as we're not a fly on the wall, but if it is, then it is a symbiotic relationship that is working the way it should.

All this crap about the coaches really wanting John Jerry while Ireland had Jimmy Graham on the Dolphins draft board or Henning feeling that Henne would be every bit as good as Ryan or Flacco just goes to show that the relationship between coaches and GM was a bit dysfunctional for a while...

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Yeah and we also really do not know... The same exact thing has been said recently about Egnew being a guy Philbin really liked.... So who really knows.

Great coaches coach players, not names...

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Rex Ryan coaches numbers. And he refers to his rookies by the school they came out of.