So far I'm impressed. He sees the holes in this team and is working hard to address them. He's got the right idea but is he getting the right players?

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I know it March but if I were voting now I would say there is no one better.

Lets talk in January.

I think he's done fine so far and is getting "his" guys. I'd like to see him sign a right tackle and hopefully a running back.

I'm saving my judgment for how he handles the first couple of rounds in the draft. Will he truly target BPA?

FA I think he's done great. We'll see how he works the draft. And then we'll see the actual product on the field

No way to know right now.

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I'm surprised he has talked to Davin Joseph still.

I'm happy with the signings hes made though. So lets just call that a good first impression . .

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No way to tell to me either. All I know is being in the position that Miami is in is that in my opinion they should have not only jumped after Albert, but instead of filling another offensive line with a "potential starter" in Shelley Smith, I would have liked for them to have went ahead and paid for Beadles and Howard instead of now still sitting with multiple holes on the offensive line.

Tannehill was sacked FIFTY EIGHT times last year. Draft picks are nice, but we still need veteran STARTERS. As far as I am concerned there are glaring holes that draft picks may or may not help from day one. Not many good names left in FA either. Strief would be ideal if somehow NO doesn't come up with enough money.

I do agree with your sentiment Rock. Until these guys are on the field on Sunday, you don't know what you have.

I will say I like the players he has signed so far. Finnegan is risky to a degree, but if he can bounce back to what he was for the majority of his career, he turns into a great signing. Shelley Smith has a ton of potential, but you have to see what he does on the field.

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Assuming he's still around, let's see who he brings in as HC in '15. I hope I'm just missing something, but my expectations for '14 are minimal. We still have the same HC who couldn't adjust in the 2nd half and game plans only produced 7 points in the last two games.

It's WAY too early for any conclusions.

I here you shularino, but Mike Sherman is gone, and to me, that was a HUGE problem. Bill Lazor seems to be a sharp guy and he did a nice job with Nick Foles and that offense in Philly.

As bad as everything was with this team last year and the various distraction, if they win one of their last 2 games, this is a team that would have been in the playoffs.

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Can't play that "if" game. There were games we eaked out wins, which could've easily gone the other way as well.

Those final two games were so utterly embarrassing though.

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But for those close wins there are 3-4 close losses which could have gone the other way.

For this team to improve 3 things have to happen:

Tannehill has to step up (upper 80s rating)

Some hint of a running game, especially the ability to get tough yards and score inside the 10

Defense has to stop the run in the 4th quarter

Jammer, how about first and foremost an offensive line that can keep our QB from getting sacked 58 times. Albert is a GREAT signing, but THAT"S IT so far in terms of improving that horrible statistic.

Shelley Smith "could be" a good pick up, but what if he is not? People are dissing Armando's recent herald article, but after witnessing last year's goat rodeo on the line, does it really matter if we over paid a bit to get two more veteran starters in Free Agency?

Perhaps not if you want to build young and cheaper, but what if that does back fire and they do not draft the right line pieces? As a fan, the offensive line is where all the improvements need to start then I go along with your other ideas listed above.

Just my take.

The o-line is obviously an important part. But they can't complete passes, have good running vision or stop the opponent's ground game.

They can be more competent and do their job, but these other parts need to step up so that Miami scores more points and keeps the opponent's offense off the field.

I am a big fan of drafting Tre Mason. I will keep saying that I think he "could" be utilized the way LeSean McCoy was under Bill Lazor's offense and really help move the chains. Carlos Hyde is the big back option for sure, so between the two those are great choices if they happen to have a shot at either.

I cannot wait until May's draft as we still have key holes to fill and address.

First impression is good for me, he has been aggressive in bringing in some help in key areas. I know some will criticize the contracts and money. But bottom line for me still is he went after the guys he wanted and for the most part landed them all.




The one thing that worry's me most, whether or not they will go to battle for Philbin & Co.. All this may not even matter..

But at least they cant blame the GM for getting the wrong guys, Hickey is a hand picked "Philbin Guy"

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Caution: Reply may contain sarcasm

I don't see Shady McCoy when I watch Tre Mason. I see Ray Rice.

Here's the thing.....Hickey can't make Philbin a better coach.

What I have liked so far about Hickey is that he seems to be landing the targets he wants and not way over paying to do it. What remains to be seen is how well those pieces fit into what Philbin is trying to do on the field.

So far he's done ok. He seems to have made some good common sense moves. I would say that he is a step above Ireland.

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Anybody is a step above Ireland.
But I'll save my opinion after the games start.

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For a guy so completely awful, he left this team in good shape other than the offensive line.

I never thought Ireland was an awful GM. Philbin on the other hand.......

I agree. Its seems like the thing to do is just knock a guy when he is gone. While I think his tenure here did need to end I dont think he was the main reason for the inability here to win & those of us who listened to him speak at web weekends should agree. Even the offensive line was at least addressed. The Martin / Incognito thing could not have been scouted just like the Hernandez situation in NE could not have been. In the end its the guys on the field who fail as well as the coaches who dictate the game situations.

I thought we had the talent to make the playoffs. We beat some good teams with that horrid offensive line of ours. Those last two games fall on coaching if you ask me.

Still, the talent was only good enough to get us into the playoffs. I agree that it was time for a change. What Ireland needs to do is develop a personality for the job.

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I'll take a Rice clone.

I honestly see more Doug Martin with Mason but I see the point you guys are making

If he's a Doug Martin clone it would explain Miami's interest in him at the combine.

Yep, we'll know when the season starts and we see the final product.

Bottom line, I see a playmaker. If he's there when we pick in the 2nd, go get him. Who cares who he looks like. If we can add a real playmaker at runningback, it will help the offense big time. Especially in the redzone where Tannehill had to throw inside the five too many times last year (in my opinion).

We need a playmaking RB. He will take pressure off the OL and RT.