Miami Dolphins: 5 Candidates for the Newly-Vacant Offensive Coordinator Job

After a bizzare turn of events that has Tony Sparano staying on as head coach for one more season after the aggressive courting of Jim Harbaugh, the team must now focus on finding it's next offensive coordinator. 

Dan Henning, the Dolphins offensive coordinator since the 2008 season, parted ways with the team on Thursday.

Henning had a tumultuous final season with the team. Miami went from 15th to 30th in the NFL in points scored and regressed in total yards each season since his arrival, going from 12th to 17th and to 21st this past season partly due to the fact that much of the league has adjusted toward their wildcat formation.

While Sparano would be returning for the final season of the four-year contract he signed in 2008, owner Steve Ross showed a willingness to spend money in his desperate pursuit of Jim Harbaugh.

Now Ross will look towards spending it on a big name candidate for the OC job. 

Here are five candidates the Dolphins should look to hire for the OC job in 2011.

1. Josh McDaniels

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DENVER - NOVEMBER 14: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown on the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second quarter at INVESCO Field at Mile High on November 14, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Bron

McDaniels, 34, was recently relived of his duties as the Denver Broncos' head coach after nearly two seasons.

However, there is no denying that McDaniels is an offensive guru and one that is great with quarterbacks. He recently handled Kyle Orton and molded him into an established QB after being a third-string most of his tenure in Chicago. 

Let's not forget, McDaniels was also the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots during the memorable 2007 season when Tom Brady threw 50 touchdowns, and in 2008, when Matt Cassel became an established QB who is now leading the Kansas City Chiefs into the playoffs.

And oh, McDaniels and Nolan were both on the Denver Broncos staff in 2009, so they are pretty familiar with each other—as is wide receiver Brandon Marshall. Marshall was traded from Denver to Miami last offseason but McDaniels isn't the head coach anymore, Sparano is. 

2. Brad Childress

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EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - OCTOBER 7: Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress answers questions from the media during a press conference at Winter Park on October 7, 2010 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Before joining the Minnesota Vikings, Brad Childress was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles when a young quarterback, Donovan McNabb, was with the team. 

Chances are McNabb will not return to the Washington Redskins in 2011 and will likely be cut. With Sparano returning for what is a playoffs-or-bust 2011 season, the Dolphins need to revert back to the formula that got them there in 2008. 

Signing a veteran quarterback (i.e. Chad Pennington in 2008), like McNabb, who has ties with the offensive coordinator would be a bonus for the Miami Dolphins. It would allow the team to either stay the course with the veteran QB, while also drafting another young gun (à la Tyrod Taylor), or giving Chad Henne more time grow. 

He and Sparano would be like brothers (mustache and glasses), especially considering the way they were treated—Childress under the Brett Favre fiasco and Sparano with the Harbaugh dilemma. 

3. Mike Shula

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INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 21: Assistant coach Mike Shula of the Jacksonville Jaguars before a game against the Indianapolis Colts on September 21, 2008 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The only reason this makes sense is because of the name, Shula.

We all know the legendary head coach Don Shula who coached the Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1995 and amassed 257 victories with the team with a pair of Super Bowls. 

Mike Shula is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but before heading to north Florida, Shula was a candidate to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. This was before they made the disastrous hire of Cam Cameron in 2007. 

Shula might not be the hire the Dolphins need but considering his experience which includes a stint as the Dolphins QB coach in 2000-2002, and at the college level at Alabama (2006 Cotton Bowl victory), along with his name, it should be hire that would make Dolphins' fans proud.

4. Russ Grimm

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 7: Russ Grimm poses with his bust during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium on August 7, 2010 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Russ Grimm is an offensive line guy and that molds well with Tony Sparano, as he is in the same area of expertise. Grimm has spent time under coaches like Bill Cowher, in Pittsburgh, and Ken Wisenhunt, in Arizona, going to the Super Bowl twice as an assistant, one with each franchise.

The hiring of Grimm would allow the Dolphins to potentially look at Bill Cowher for 2012 and not have to make a massive clearing for the big name head coach. 

However, Grimm has never been an offensive coordinator which could hurt his candidacy a bit considering the Dolphins need a quarterbacks guy for the job. Grimm could help in making the O-line stronger, perhaps giving the offense a boost.

5. Bill Musgrave

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LANDOVER, MD - 2005: Bill Musgrave of the Washington Redskins poses for his 2005 NFL headshot at photo day in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Getty Images)

Bill Musgrave has been the key figure in the rise of Matt Ryan as the Atlanta Falcons quarterback since he's been drafted.

Musgrave, who currently serves as the Falcons assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach, has been in Atlanta since 2006, having coached quarterbacks such as the Eagles' Michael Vick, the Texans' Matt Schaub and Matt Ryan. 

Musgrave was the quarterbacks coach in 2005 for the Washington Redskins. 2005 was the last time the Redskins won 10 games in a season and made it to the division round of the playoffs with Mark Brunell, who had a resurgence after shaky seasons in 2003 and 2004.