Fish kick Philbin to curb, kickers miss the points
For starters, some perspective on the big news.
Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross finally had his fill of head coach Joe Philbin, dumping him in the garbage bin Monday morning. To no one’s shock, the move came less than 24 hours after the Dolphins’ latest onfield unravelling — a 27- 14 loss to the New York Jets in London, England.
That dropped Miami to 1- 3. Philbin went 24- 28 in three- plus seasons.
The Dolphins have had six head coaches and three interim replacements since Don Shula retired 20 years ago.
Just seven months ago, Ross had extended Philbin’s contract by a year.
“This was a tough decision for me to make, knowing how tirelessly Joe worked here to make this a winning team,” Ross said in a statement. “He’s a man of the highest character and integrity that I developed a close personal relationship with. I am extremely disappointed with how we have started the season, but I feel confident we can improve quickly with the talent we have on our roster.”
The team named Dan Campbell interim head coach.
Only five years ago, Campbell was a coaching intern on the Dolphins offence. He has coached the team’s tight ends since 2011. Campbell played 11 NFL seasons as tight end from 1999- 2009 with the New York Giants, Dallas, Detroit and New Orleans.
So that’s the temporary new guy. Speculation immediately ran wild as to whom Ross wants to fill Philbin’s shoes permanently.
A big- wheel University of Michigan donor, Ross might take a run at Jim Harbaugh, some believe. But the former San Francisco 49ers head coach already is overachieving in Year 1 of his dream job, at Michigan. And Harbaugh could have had the Miami job in 2011 or this past January, if he’d wanted it.
Don’t expect Harbaugh to leave Michigan. At least, not any time soon.
Maybe Ross will go after another big- name college coach. Hey, how about Alabama’s Nick Saban?! Oh, right. Been there, done that.
STAT OF THE WEEK: Maybe those longer extra points have rattled their confidence or something, but placekickers’ overall success rate on field goals continues to trend downward, after peaking in 2013.
Through Week 4 ( excepting Monday night’s Detroit at Seattle game), kickers have made 82.7 per cent of their field goals.
That’s down slightly from last season’s 84.0 per cent success rate, which was below 2013’ s record 86.5 per cent mark.
Super long attempts aren’t the problem. From 50- plus yards, kickers are 69.7 per cent successful ( 23- of- 33), much better than last season ( 61.0), and ahead of the record 67.1 rate of 2013. Rather, it’s from 40- 49 yards that kickers are less successful. From that range, PKs were 83.0 per cent in 2013 and 77.4 per cent in 2014, but this season they’re 75 per cent ( 60- of- 80).
What’s more, longtime NFL observer Gil Brandt pointed out on Twitter that in Week 4 there were five missed field goals in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime, which could have tied the game or given a team the lead. That’s tied for the most in any week since 1983.
HERO: Todd Gurley, RB, Rams. In only his second NFL game, and first extensive career action, Gurley rushed for 144 yards in the second half against a stout Cardinals defence, as St. Louis on the road upset previously undefeated Arizona, 24- 22. As long as Gurley’s surgically repaired knee holds up, the 10th- overall draft pick might indeed become the league’s next superstar running back, as many draftniks predicted.
ZERO: Ryan Mallett, QB, Texans. He finally got his chance, in Year 5, to become an NFL team’s full- time, unquestioned starter — beginning in Week 2, in relief of Brian Hoyer. But Mallett has blown it with uninspiring play. In three starts, he’s completed only 52 per cent of his passes for just three TDs. The bench beckons.
STOCK UP: The New York Jets. You know they’ve got a fantastic defence when Ryan Fitzpatrick put on his Ryan Fitzpatrick costume in London and quarterbacked like a ham- and- egger who doesn’t know his limitations — and yet the Jets still won big against Miami. The offence will be ugly much of the time with Fitz in there, but the Jets can run it pretty well — and the defence is lights out. Playoffs aren’t a long- shot.
STOCK DOWN: Bills defensive line. Tom Brady two weeks ago and Eli Manning on Sunday got off passes in less than two seconds on average — negating Buffalo’s supposed great pass rush. But the Bills can’t stop the run either. Thus, the front four of Mario Williams, Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Jerry Hughes aren’t earning their quarterbillion.