The Dolphins are mired in a five-game losing streak, and their disappointing defeat at the hands of the Jaguars in London last week has led to plenty of speculation about head coach Brian Flores‘ future in Miami. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Flores is indeed on the hot seat.
A 10-win effort in 2020 seemed to indicate that better days were ahead for the Fins, but Flores’ club has taken a major step back this year. Even last season, many players did not like Flores’ handling of then-rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa, who was yanked out of several games early in favor of veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick. Of course, winning can ease a lot of tension, and while Tagovailoa has not been benched in favor of backup Jacoby Brissett this season — either in-game or otherwise — the 1-5 start to the 2021 campaign has intensified other issues in the Dolphins’ locker room.
For instance, Flores reportedly has a difficult time connecting with his players, and the constant overhaul of his coaching staff has also led to consternation. Said one source with direct knowledge of the situation, “[t]here is a really negative vibe down there right now. A lot of players do not trust (Flores). Flo thinks he is a player’s coach, with an open-door policy, but I know a number of players who would tell you they don’t really think he is approachable enough, or flexible.”
Many coaches who come from the Bill Belichick coaching tree unsuccessfully attempt to replicate Belichick’s business-like approach with the Patriots, and Flores — who coached under Belichick in New England for 11 years — is apparently no exception. La Canfora’s source added, “[t]here is still too much of that New England (stuff) going on. It just doesn’t work. There is a psychology to handling players and building a team, and you have to be able to connect and motivate. That’s not the vibe there. It’s pretty bad.”
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is concerned about the direction of his team, and he and Flores are rumored to be at odds over the potential acquisition of embattled passer Deshaun Watson. Obviously, Tagovailoa’s fate would be greatly impacted by a Watson deal, and while Flores has publicly endorsed Tagovailoa on several occasions, La Canfora says the third-year head coach and his staff have never really embraced the young southpaw.
If Miami is able to consummate a Watson trade, it does not sound like Tagovailoa would be part of the package heading back to Houston. La Canfora reports that clubs who have been connected to Tagovailoa in the past — a group that presumably includes the Texans — are not interested in acquiring him at this time.
Blame Grier not Flores. You can’t make chicken salad out of…..
Fish?
You can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish.
All of those high picks and have a 1-5 record to show for it, ouch! People may disagree with the Rams spending picks on proven vets, but their philosophy is working better than the Fins.
Yeah, I still don’t trust the Rams though. Proven vets work for short term gains, but they put you in a hole long term. The problem in Miami is that they’ve just picked mostly underwhelming players with their high picks, and they jettisoned some key contributors without any clear replacements. The coaching staff is in constant turnover, and the GM seems to trust his evaluation skills too much.
We’ve been hearing that for years about the Rams. They haven’t had a 1st round pick since 2016. It’s been long enough to say it hasn’t destroyed their window. The Dolphins spent two top 10 picks on Waddle. Rams spend two late 1sts on Ramsey and also Stafford. I’ll take the Rams model over the Dolphins any day.
In comparison to Miami, sure. But until the Rams win a big one, or a couple, I wouldn’t say that their model is proven.
They were in SB 2 years ago. They traded big time for Goff and been doing it ever since.
Redskins coach George Allen basically had no interest in the draft and built his teams around proven vets. He never had a losing season.
Was it the Belichick magic or is it more of Brady’s magic.
Patriots enjoyed an awesome run with the two but it’s looking more like the factor that pushed it over the edge was Brady
Acting cocky with your professional players usually only flies while you are winning, during the losing season they jump off that train real quick
I don’t believe Belichick or Brady possess any magic. The Patriots were in a division with hapless teams that could offer no competition, so that basically guaranteed a post season opportunity every year.
Brady also has the luxury of playing on the most stacked team in the league by far, while the Patriots lost him and a glut of defensive players. It’s a bit early to make comparisons.
He should be on the hot seat. They’ve shown zero progress since overachieving in 2019. GM should be gone too since he can’t draft at all.
All the coaches from the Belicheat tree can try and replicate it but as Brady has proven it was Belicheat it was Brady. Belicheat is now just an avg coach
Sounds like Flores has hitched his wagon to Tua – who looks more like Teddy Bridgewater with every start.
He was one of the up and coming coaches recently and they had success last year.
Last year they overachieved and that set some expectations. This team is overall young still. They need consistent qb play to go with some quality receivers, but namely a go to runner.
Defense and o-line can be better as well.
There not ready to compete and people are getting impatient.
Seems like a good in-game couch but he always seems so grumpy and not approachable.