There’s no team in clearer need of a QB and a leader than the Miami Dolphins. You can’t even make a case for the Colts or the Rams in this 2011 season. Sure there are many teams that have suffered from the shortened off-season. You have teams like the Cardinals, Eagles (yeah I’ll say it), and even perhaps a team like Cowboys. The teams here have something to prove. The Cards went out and put big money in to Kevin Kolb to be their “savior”. But I have to question that. I’m sure that a lot of people may have agreed with it. But I don’t. I’m not a Cards fan, obviously, but I really scratched my head. Kevin is a good athlete, but not a quarterback worth as much money as he got. But that’s not my point of this post.

I’ve been a Miami Dolphins fan for as long as I can remember. I remember watching the battles in the 90′s with Dan the Man, and I remember the most recent decade without him quite more vividly. We’ve tried so hard to replace his shoes in the years that he’s been gone. At one point he even returned to be a more behind the scenes role for the team. I can respect that, but his short stop back in South Beach was nothing compared to his current role as an analyst on Sunday morning television. Then you bring in another big fish to the aquatic team and we do nothing but flounder around. Still… trying to fill that void of “The next Dan Marino.” I’m not, and would never, try to demean the long vibrant legacy of Dan Marino. As a fellow PA native, I loved his career. I love his personality in and out of the game of football. But the Dolphins for the few years after his retirement struggled to find their niche. This is something that I believe the Patriots and Colts will struggle to do as Tom Brady and Peyton Manning move on to the next level in their lives.

I propose this, to the Miami Dolphins (and to the Colts and Patriots also), that instead of trying to replace your star and find “the next….[insert name]“. Instead of trying to replace this legend and future hall of famer, focus on trying to be the best. Sometimes that means you need to build your line and draft the Jake Long’s. With the season that Matt Ryan is having, maybe it’s turning out to be for the best.

But let’s bring times to a more current situation. You’re faced with a definite quarterback situation. You thought maybe, JUST MAYBE, Chad Henne could be the answer. And I’ll tell you what, Chad’s not been horrid. Sure the TD-INT ratio is in favor of the bad side by -6. But in the four years he’s been with the team I think he’s been mismanaged much similarly to how San Francisco’s quarterback Alex Smith has. We ignore the cannon that Chad has, and the underestimate the speedsters that are around the field next to Brandon Marshall. Brian Hartline has proven that he can get past the best defenders in the league, and Davone Bess can certainly get underneath. Chad goes down when Miami completely changes up their running game. There isn’t a clear running back in that backfield this year. Reggie Bush is essentially reinventing his career, becoming a more rushing back as opposed to the normal receiving back that teams were used to seeing in New Orleans. Daniel Thomas has yet to step in and become a back that we had hoped. When he’s healthy he’ll be a fine back that can operate within a tandem. There’s no doubt that Mr. Henne would’ve eclipsed the 10,000 passing yards milestone this season had he not been hurt but that’s not going to happen. After this season, the Dolphins are faced with a decision to make.

Do you keep both Matt Moore and Chad Henne around making them their starting guys? Thus, bypassing a QB in the first round, focusing on something like good defenders? I think not. I like and am very impressed with Matt Moore. This last game against the New York Giants was quite impressive and was lost on a defensive battle by both teams. The Giants showed something that the Dolphins have been lacking all season long. The ability to finish the game. A leader on both sides of the ball would be ideal. We’ll never know if the Dolphins were affected by the shortened off-season and I won’t allow anyone to chalk it up to that. We’re well passed the point where they can be in playing shape. I’ll let an 0-3 start go unnoticed. But when you’re still win-less going in to week 9, there’s something wrong.

There needs to be a couple of changes around the entire organization. Stephen Ross, as an owner, you need to regain full ownership. It’s okay to invite guests in like Marc Anthony, Jimmy Buffett, Fergie, Venus and Serena Williams (and whomever else), but keep your power. Nobody in this world has too much power that they can act leisurely with it. Second, Jeff Ireland has done nothing but [quite obviously] recruit former Cowboys. I’m honestly surprised that Tashard Choice wasn’t sought after when waived by Dallas. And I’ll be surprised if Rob Ryan’s name isn’t in the mix of things soon. However, I don’t buy it. The Cowboys weren’t winners when these talented guys were there, and they’re not now. A change of scenery doesn’t do everybody good. Mr. Ireland has, in my mind, over-welcomed his stay in South Beach. It’s time to move on. He’s had a great time with the organization and so far has managed to keep us afloat. By enough is enough, he had his chance.

Last, and sadly least, Coach Tony Sparano. I’m sorry, but it’s quite obvious that a coaching change is in need. But it didn’t happen after 0-3, 0-4, 0-5 and so on. A this point, you’re in to the second half of the season. I think Coach has some good ideas, and a good group of players. But there’s just nothing on the docket that is helping them perform better. We’re getting 55 minutes of football, and then five minutes of failure each game. That extra five minutes is where we lose the game. I think, as a lifelong fan, you give the Coach the benefit. It’s been endured thus far. It’s most likely worth it to hold strong. Keep ‘em in there til the end. Show future coaches that you’ll stick with them through the thick and then. I wouldn’t want to coach for a team that is trigger happy.

The reason I suggest they stick it til the end with Sparano, is because it’s not all on him. The players of course need to take the blame, but so does the management staff. Those like Jeff Ireland and his staff. The team has not made a big move in terms of acquiring good coaching staff or talented players since acquiring Brandon Marshall. Thanks for Reggie Bush. But we’re not in the game of acquiring one player per off-season. One player does not simply win a game, it takes 11 players on each side of the field to do so. And when you have 50-some guys on your game day roster, what is one person going to change? Now you’re facing a terrible situation where you need next year’s draft class to come in and assume the role of new blood and new leadership. If you draft guys like Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley, you need them to come in and be THE guy. He’s going to be your guy to come in and lead your team. Don’t make it a drama, make the decision and stand firm with it.