Miami Dolphins: Jury Is out on Joe Philbin but Jeff Ireland Has to Go

The Miami Dolphins just lost a game they had to have.  With a chance to silence some naysayers and pull into a tie with the New York Jets for the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture, the Dolphins faded late.  Miami finished the game in the same fashion it started it, uninspired and with minimal effort.

Miami was clearly impacted early by the drama-filled week they had to withstand.  The Dolphins' first quarter looked more like an episode of The Walking Dead than Monday Night Football, quickly falling behind 15-0 to Tampa Bay.  The team was flat, the play-calling was awful and in the end, the shattered offensive line folded and allowed back-to-back sacks of Ryan Tannehill.

During much of the second half, the Dolphins looked like the team that started off 3-0, great halftime adjustments are a credit to coach Joe Philbin.  Ryan Tannehill has shown flashes of greatness during this season, and the Dolphins have every reason to believe he can be the quarterback they have been searching for since Dan Marino called it a career.

Rishard Matthews' breakout game is a testament to Philbin getting the most out of his players.  Let's not forget that Philbin was the architect of the Green Bay Packers' offense during their last Super Bowl run.  Whether or not Philbin survives the season with the Dolphins will depend on how much fight the team shows during the remaining seven games.  Winning a few of those won't hurt either.

The play-calling this season has been horrendous.  Mike Sherman was brought in by the Dolphins in part to help ease Tannehill's transition from college to the pros. That transition has come and gone.  Sherman stubbornly stuck to the run game even when it was apparent Tannehill could carve Tampa Bay's defense in the no-huddle offense.

The most confusing call was the delayed handoff six yards deep in their own end zone to the left side with the starting left tackle and left guard currently not on the team.  The result was a near effortless safety by the Bucs.  Sherman and the Dolphins have to part ways—the Tannehill transition has run its course.

GM Jeff Ireland fell out of favor with Dolphins fans long ago.  The scandal combined with poor front-office decisions and an undesirable record should spell the end for Ireland.  

Ireland chose to let Jake Long and Reggie Bush walk in order to free up cap space for Mike Wallace and Dustin Keller.  That decision has backfired as Tannehill and Wallace still lack chemistry, while Wallace's effort has been questioned at times this season and Keller suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason.

Ireland brought Richie Incognito into the organization despite his reputation.  He then allowed both Long and Bush to reach free agency.  Incognito's ignorance cost Miami starting left tackle Johnathan Martin.  The end result is a No. 1 receiver whose effort is questioned, a Pro Bowl tackle and Pro Bowl running back allowed to reach free agency and the starting left side of the line caught up in a bullying scandal.

Ireland has to be gone, he should have been gone yesterday.  The lack of talent and chemistry on the line falls squarely on the GM, because Bush and Long wanted to stay in Miami and were shown the door.  The lack of a running game and pass protection falls on Ireland.  NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith practically said Ireland should be fired on ESPN in an interview with Stuart Scott (via CBSSports.com's Will Brinson).      

Isn't it ironic that the much-talked-about offensive line of the Dolphins kept Tannehill upright for 58 minutes.  In the final two minutes, the Dolphins could have used Incognito and Martin.  The lack of control in the locker room may be on Philbin.  The lack of talent at crucial positions and players of questionable character without question falls on Ireland.  

Time for a little damage control. Ireland needs to go, and he needs to be shown the door immediately.

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