Coach says he’s ‘a grunt’
Dan Campbell brings tough new approach.
DAVIE — The Dolphins had earned a reputation as a physically and mentally soft team under Joe Philbin, and the franchise’s decision makers felt the only way to save the 2015 season was to put it in the hands of a former NFL player who categorized himself as “a grunt.”
That term — used to describe an overachiever, a player who hustles and scavenges for everything he gets — epitomizes new interim coach Dan Campbell, who took over Monday after the Dolphins fired Philbin. The coaching change came a day after the Dolphins dropped to 1-3 with a 27-14 loss to the New York Jets in London.
Philbin was 24-28 in his threeplus seasons as coach of the Dolphins, who haven’t had a winning season since 2008 and endured the
“Bullygate” scandal under his watch in 2013.
Team owner Steve Ross made it clear Monday that he’s been thoroughly disappointed with the Dolphins’ performance, and he said he’s been thinking about firing Philbin since their embarrassing 41-14 home loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
“I believe in our football team. I believe in our roster. I don’t believe that we were really performing to our capability and potential,” said Ross, who spent $155 million in free-agent contracts and $126 million extending contracts this offseason. “This was the time to make this decision. We played four games, and I haven’t seen a lot of improvement. I’ve seen the same ole same ole.”
The Dolphins have been outplayed in just about every facet this season, but Ross feels there is still promise with 12 games remaining.
“I believe that this team has a lot of opportunities,” he said. “It’s a long season and my goal is still to make the playoffs. I felt that [a coaching change] was the best opportunity we had.”
Philbin released a statement through the team Monday, in which he thanked Ross, the players, his assistants and the fans. “This is a tremendous organization from top to bottom,” he said. “It is my hope that the 2015 Miami Dolphins achieve great success both on and off the field.”
Campbell — a tight end in the NFL for 11 years and the Dolphins’ tight ends coach since 2011 — said creating a more competitive environment in practices and taking a more aggressive approach to playcalling will get the team headed in the right direction. He plans to institute a “culture change” when practice begins this week. (The Dolphins don’t return to game action until Oct. 18 at Tennessee.)
Campbell flat out said he wanted practices to be so intense, so competitive that fights break out. Ironically, that’s what took place Saturday during the Dolphins’ walk-through in preparation for the Jets game.
According to sources, Dolphins defenders took offense to derogatory comments quarterback Ryan Tannehill made to scout team defenders and eventually stopped practicing during the dry run before Sunday’s loss.
Multiple sources say Tannehill had committed a couple turnovers early in the walk-through and was bothered by scout team defenders intercepting his passes.
During an exchange with linebacker Chris Mc- Cain, who picked off a pass from Tannehill, the starting quarterback told the defenders “enjoy your practice squad paychecks,” a source said.
An altercation ensured, and after coaches got things under control, the Dolphins’ defenders aggressively went after more of Tannehill’s passes. When coaches discouraged them from doing so, they stopped practicing.
Campbell will be forced to address that issue, adding it to an extensive list of problems Philbin left behind. At the top of the issues Campbell plans to address is the fact that the offensive and defensive lines are being pushed around, losing the battle in the trenches. Some of that has to do with personnel issues.
“This team plays hard. They have not quit. They play to the finish, but the fact of the matter is they are not competing,” said Campbell, who joined the Dolphins’ staff as a coaching intern under Tony Sparano in 2010 and was promoted to tight ends coach a year later. “I have to get them to compete more. ... We have to go back to the basics and learn how to fight for the win on any rep, at any time.”
Campbell said he hasn’t decided whether he’ll make changes to his coaching staff, which could include possibly replacing defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle or offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. But nothing has been ruled out, and he hinted that nobody’s job is secure. And that includes his. Ross said Campbell will be considered as a permanent replacement at head coach, but only if the Dolphins turn their season around. The last time the Dolphins hired an interim coach, Todd Bowles led the Dolphins to 2-1 record to close out the 2011 season. Bowles is now the head coach of the 3-1 Jets.
“I’m going to talk the talk, and walk the walk, and you follow me,” Campbell said. “My plan for this team is to be competitive. Find ways to win games. Win now.
“It’s still early. We have time to turn everything around. We have plenty season left in us. We can’t wait.”