X’S AND OMAR:
Omar Kelly examines the key plays of the game.
MIAMI GARDENS — Adam Gase, Hue Jackson, Todd Haley and Sean Payton, please step forward.
You’re the next contestants on “Do You Want To Coach The Miami Dolphins?”
Some of these possible coaching candidates might decide not to play.
After all, the Dolphins have plenty of competition when it comes finding their next head coach, someone they hope will get this franchise off the mediocrity merry-go-round.
Tennessee, Philadelphia and Cleveland are searching for head coaches. Indianapolis is expected to fire Chuck Pagano, and the New York Giants have reportedly convinced Tom Coughlin in retire.
There could be as many as eight teams competing with the Dolphins as owner Steve Ross’ circle of trust sets out to find the franchise’s ninth head coach. But how desirable is this Dolphins job? While Miami has spent more than a decade being a second-class citizen to New England, which has owned the AFC East, the next coach should be encouraged by the fact that Sunday’s 20-10 victory was Miami’s third consecutive win over New England at home.
Say whatever you’d like about New England’s performance Sunday, or its lack of desire in the regularseason finale, but the Dolphins have split the series with the Patriots the past three seasons. Not bad for a 6-10 team. “It’s consistency,” pass rusher Cameron Wake said, addressing the franchise’s main issue.
“It’s probably more frustrating to know the ability is there. It would be different if we could just never beat teams, or never stop the run, or never get to the quarterback. We have always shown that we can do things, but just doing it consistently week in and week out, that’s challenging.”
It also would be nice to score points on offense, which wasn’t the case this season.
The Dolphins have a hot and cold quarterback in Ryan Tannehill, who has all the tools to be a good NFL starter, but lacks consistency.
While Tannehill’s development did stall in 2015 — his numbers were down in just about every important statistical category — he did pass for 4,208 yards and scored 25 touchdowns. Tannehill’s 88.7 passer rating hints that he’s a middle of the pack quarterback, and his 64 NFL starts can’t be overlooked.
However, making him compete for the starting spot next season for the first time since his rookie year would be ideal. So would getting Tannehill a respectable offensive line, considering he’s been the most sacked quarterback in the NFL for the past four seasons.
Three pieces of the returning offensive line — left tackle Branden Albert, center Mike Pouncey and right tackle Ja’Wuan James — would be pretty respectable if they could ever stay healthy for a full season. But the interior of the offensive line needs a ton of work, and depth remains an issue considering Jason Fox started 11 games this season, and was manhandled in most of those games.
But the offensive line would be the only glaring issue on offense if running back Lamar Miller, who led the team with 10 touchdowns this season, returns in 2016.
Speaking of Miller, the Dolphins also have a ton of free agents like the former University of Miami standout. Pass rushers Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby, receiver Rishard Matthews, inside linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and free safety Louis Delmas’ future with the franchise depends on the amount of money offered in March.
The Dolphins also have a few avenues to explore, like restructuring Ndamukong Suh’s contract, and releasing a half dozen expensive veterans, that could create between $40-50 million in cap space this offseason.
That’s right, the Dolphins have the ability to start fresh after yet another purge of the team’s talent base.
That could be enticing to a head coach if he trusts the individuals — executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum, and the soon-to-be general manager Chris Grier — responsible for building the roster.
“That’s a question above my pay grade,” said Wake, who admitted he has no clue about his NFL future because of his age (turns 34 this month), the Achilles injury he suffered in October, and his $8.4 million base salary for next season, which the team can turn into cap space by releasing the four-time Pro Bowler.
It’s a good thing Tannenbaum’s has connections and is known as a pitchman because he’s got a tough sales job ahead of him — and plenty of competition.