Is a Civil War brewing among the heads of the Dolphins?
Civil War is internal strife that leads to one ruling faction being removed from power.
Was Adam Gase‘s decision to begin a roster overhaul not only an admission of rebuilding, but signs that Civil War is taking place between the Dolphins elite? And if it is, is this a good thing?
First, let’s nail down some facts bullet point style for brevity:
- Mike Tannenbaum wanted an experienced coach, but Ross pulled the Trump Card to his preference and chose Gase.
- Tannenbaum once again felt he had very good depth at the O-Line position going into the season.
- Gase didn’t “get” the media’s fixation on the offensive line.
- Gase chose Joseph which is in opposition to Tannenbaum’s preference to an experienced coach.
- Chris Grier and Tannenbaum have final say on player acquisition, but Gase has final say on player retention.
- Gase is in full support of Ryan Tannehill and places most of the blame on the O-Line play.
- This is the second year that Tannenbaum has been attached to failure to diagnose O-Line talent and brag about it (See Mathis last season).
- Tannenbaum is in his second season of control with a GM as a bulwark to protect him from full responsibility. It is also a second season where lack of talent and questionable decisions have been a focus of the season and its failures.
- Gase’s firing of Turner and Thomas is direct repudiation of Tannenbaum’s decisions.
- Gase is nothing if not aggressive, forthright, and unafraid of confrontation.
- Tannenbaum and Ross are friends.
- Ross owns the team, has final say, and is the one person who will remain standing.
Okay, doesn’t take an expert pay per head software to bet that the Miami power structure is getting antsy and friction is building.
Ross has got to be disappointed in Grier, Tannenbaum and Gase because he must be tired of being a joke and has invested heavily in the stadium.
Tannenbaum has got to be disappointed with Gase and Joseph because he built the team with the understanding that Gase would get the “O” to generate points and leads, and his “pass-rush” D he built would take advantage.
Gase has got to be disappointed in Tannenbaum and Grier because of their complete failure to provided him with the tools to succeed — especially in the department of the O-Line.
If it is Civil War, then it’s Gase on one side and Tannenbaum on the other.
We know that Ross is not “disposable” and Grier and Joseph are the most disposable. That leaves Tannenbaum and Gase as the primary weights to the pendulum.
We haven’t heard from much of anything from Tannenbum.
Gase on the other hand has pressed that it’s a lack of Offense that is the primary reason for Joseph and his defense’s lack of production. He has further stated that Tannehill’s main issue for lack of production is the Offensive Line and with it the failures of the entire offense…and by association the whole team.
His statements lays the failure of 2016 square on the lap of Tannenbaum; and for Tannenbaum, this is three coaches who have levied the same charge despite Tannebaum’s belief he had taken care of the position.
I don’t know if Gase and Joseph are the “right coaches”. Honestly, I can’t even say with 100% certainty that Tannehill given a real “O” couldn’t be the guy or close to the guy. BUT, what I can say is that Tannenbaum has been terribly wrong two seasons running and has bragged about his decision prior to seeing that decision be a main reason for the Dolphins failure.
So for me, I side with Gase. But, the real question is who will Ross side with, and what will be the ultimate outcome if Civil War is actually taking place? What do you fellow Dolphins Fans think? Go Fins!!!