We’ve been reading and hearing all the speculation of the Dolphins being one of the front runners to land current Ravens’ coach John Harbaugh. With the Ravens losing yesterday to the Chargers, that narrative has been revved up.
#Dolphins interest in #Ravens HC John Harbuagh is "Burning" as @schadjoe told us on Sports Final tonight. He also shares players thoughts on Gase's last season with Fins, and what attributes they are looking for in new Head Coach. pic.twitter.com/X2yrzEBKFZ
— Chris Fischer NBC6 (@FischerNBC6) January 7, 2019
As per Adam Schefter, the Ravens have begun talking extension with Harbaugh, but that two teams are very interested in the former Super Bowl winner. And the fact that apparently Stephen Ross has to sit down with a pillow on his lap over the idea of acquiring Harbaugh, I’m guessing the Dolphins are one of the teams interested.
I don’t like the idea of it and I don’t care about the examples you can find of when it happened and it worked out. Gruden is pretty much the only real example where it worked though you could say those weren’t his players. Also, don’t be lazy and say Belichick was traded. That’s wasn’t a trade in the spirit of what a trade is. Unless you’re getting a coach such as Belichick and pretty much just Belichick, I don’t see much reason to give up picks for a coach. There’s enough coaches out there who are really good and can things turned around, possibly quickly, that are out there that you could sign without giving up draft picks. McCarthy, Bieniemy, Fangio, Richard, etc are all out there to be had without giving up 1st and 2nd rd. picks.
Is Harbaugh better than them, maybe, possibly. He did win a Super Bowl. That’s something that can’t be taken away. He began his career winning 63 games in his first 5 years, 9 of them being playoff victories. In his following six seasons, he made the playoffs twice winning once. It seems that he’s been a regular coach in the last half dozen years. He made the playoffs this year, a year that at times, it looked like he and the Ravens were destined to part ways. Lamar Jackson took over, and the Ravens went on a run.
If there ever was a team that shouldn’t trade picks for a coach, it’s the Dolphins. They have such a depleted roster as is and that’s before they get rid tons of guys in a few months. Their offensive and defensive lines are so weak and need retooling, depth and just players that can actually play the positions. Oh and and pretty much every unit could use better players. The Dolphins can’t afford to give up opportunities to get better, player wise. I understand the idea that a good coach can get not so good players to perhaps play above their talent levels. I just don’t think that happens all that often, and trading picks for a guy that’s not a sure thing seems like a bad idea. That being said, it certainly seems like something Stephen Ross would love to do. Maybe in his head, one Harbaugh is as good as the other.
Another major reason I don’t want the Dolphins trading for Harbaugh is because in every scenario of it happening, it brings Joe Flacco to be the stop-gap QB for whatever rookie they draft this year or next year. I can’t live in a world where Joe Flacco is the Dolphin’s QB. Give me Fales, give me Falk give me Tannehill give me anyone but Tannehill. Sitting on Sundays seeing Flacco out there and calling out before the play happens that he’s going to one hop a receiver is a reality that I don’t want to live in.
PS- I just know that this is the reality that I’ll be living in nine months. I just know it.
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I couldn’t agree with you more! I too think it’s going to be exactly what Ross will do. He just loves to make a splash and when he wants his “guy”, he’ll go to any lengths to get him. Let’s just hope that this time, he does the right thing, not the sexiest!
Harbaugh is a good coach. I’d give up up 1 first rounder for him, but not 2. One of our problems though is we don’t have a lot of first rounders on this team, so we’d be kind of kicking ourselves by losing more and depending on free agency.
I like Fangio; the interview seems to be cancelled. I suppose because he’s 60 and never been a head coach. I like the idea of the #1 defense in the NFL and think he deserves an interview. I could live with Rex Ryan for a couple of years; at least the defense would be top 10 again.
We don’t have a #1QB, and sometimes those can cost 2 #1’s to trade up. If Eli Manning gets cut, I’d consider him. Peyton did ok after getting cut and moving to the Broncos, but Eli is older. I’m not a fan of Flacco, but he’s probably better than Tannehill, and much cheaper.
On first rounders, we probably need 2 for a qb, 2 for a wr, 1 for a nose tackle, 1 for a center. That’s 6 years away from having a good team, if you don’t compensate with free agency.