Tony Sparano: Why the Miami Dolphins Coach Will Survive the 2011 Season

You can't blame Tony Sparano when Chad Henne makes unlawfully horrid decisions—confusing opposing defensive backs with his own wide receivers or checking down on a crucial 3rd-and-15. 

You can't blame Tony Sparano when Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams begin to show signs of deterioration as they become products of the proverbial "running-backs-over-30" declination stage.

You can't blame Tony Sparano for most of the misfortunes that struck the Miami Dolphins in 2010, but he gets blamed for it anyway. It's almost paradoxical. Sparano's players make the small mistakes that costs Miami games, but he shoulders all of the collective blame.

But hey, Sparano obviously doesn't get a free pass—he deserves much of the criticism directed towards him.

This is the coach who refused to part with Dan Henning when literally every Dolphin fan knew he needed to go. Sparano played musical chairs with his offensive line before the start of the season, leaving a unit without cohesion, experience, or skill to block for a team pinned with playoff expectations. He struggled to integrate Brandon Marshall effectively into the passing game. And let's not forget the time he drafted Pat White... or Patrick Turner... or Chad Henne.

So it's perfectly reasonable for Sparano to be on the hot seat entering his fourth season as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

But the notion that he will get axed at any point during the 2011 season? Absurd.

First of all, this is the most talented team Sparano has assembled during his four years in Miami.

The Dolphins boasted the league's sixth best defense in 2010, and that was without 2010 first-round pick Jared Odrick, fourth-round pick A.J. Edds, and veteran cornerback Will Allen.

Offensively, Miami will be younger and far more explosive. Mike Pouncey provides an invaluable upgrade along the offensive line, Daniel Thomas brings a refreshing and unique combination of power and elusiveness, and Edmond Gates might provide that vertical deep threat that the 'Fins so desperately longed for last season.

Not to mention, the team could add free agents like DeAngelo Williams, Darren Sproles, Davin Joseph, Mathias Kiwaunuka, or Manny Lawson.

Personnel-wise, the Dolphins should be a much improved team. This alone bodes extraordinarily well for Sparano's job security.

Secondly, Sparano cannot be judged by one disappointing season. Everybody needs to look at his whole body of work.

In three seasons, Sparano has led the 'Fins to a 25-23 record, including one playoff appearance. That's an undeniably respectable resume—though not a particularly impressive one.

Also, consider how much more talented the 2011 team will be than the squad that went to the playoffs in 2008. This team still needs a quarterback, but appreciate the influx of talent under Sparano's watch (Jeff Ireland takes equal—if not more—credit).

However, an improved team will not be enough—Sparano will have to construct a winning team in order to retain his job. 

That will be no easy task.

The shrapnel from Stephen Ross's disastrous pursuit of Jim Harbaugh could damage Sparano's presence in the locker room. Hopefully, the team has moved on from the incident, but it's something to keep in mind as the season rolls around.

But even if some of the players don't respond well to Tony Sparano, that shouldn't stop this team from succeeding, if only to a greater degree than last season.

Stephen Ross has already made a mockery of both himself and the organization by flirting with coaches before, so unless the Dolphins completely implode during the 2011 season, Sparano will stick around for the duration of the year.