Digging Into the Chan Gailey Hire
Chad O’Shea was fired after calling one of the greatest Dolphins 4th Qtr drives ever
When the Miami Dolphins decided to end the tenure of Offensive Coordinator Chad O’Shea Phins fans were shocked, to say the least. After the unbelievable performance against the Patriots in Week 17, O’Shea’s future in South Florida appeared bright. But, Brian Flores felt he could make an upgrade, so the unexpected happened and Gailey was hired.
With this regime, you have to keep your head on a swivel.
For Phinsnews, the most relevant question now is why did Miami hire Chan Gailey, not why they moved on from O’Shea. But you can bet with the sports betting software sites if Gailey doesn’t meet expectations the second-guessing of why O’Shea was let go will receive a long revisit.
This all starts with Fitzpatrick…
Fitzpatrick is contractually locked into playing for the Dolphins in 2020… That is IF he decides to play. Fitzpatrick could just as easily retire. Even though he had the 8th best QBR in the NFL, it was a brutal season on his body. At 38 years old (mid-way through next season), there’s no way he signing up for another ‘season of beatings’. So, bringing in Gailey, picking up a key Free Agents or two more than planned and using the draft to build around Fitzpatrick is the obvious plan.
But the first order of business is getting Fitzpatrick to believe he can have real success if he returns.
Rehashing what we know about Gailey
We all know that Gailey is a very experienced OC, one of the first to push the spread offense in the NFL, and a former head coach. That’s an excellent resume and it trumps O’Shea’s by a longshot. Also, and maybe more importantly, he has three crucial ties to the Dolphins. Gailey recruited Brian Flores out of High School, was Miami’s offensive coordinator 2000-2001, and coached Fitzpatrick with the Bills and Jets. So Chris Grier, Brian Flores, and Ryan Fitzpatrick are as familiar with Gailey as they are with O’Shea. This makes Gailey a comfortable move all the way around.
Okay, now that we’ve got the well-traveled info out of the way, let’s dig a little past the surface.
Was the Gailey hire all about Fitzpatrick’s feelings?
The obvious reason we hear for the change at offensive coordinator is to entice Ryan Fitzpatrick to come back for another season. Brian Flores has proclaimed his love of ‘Fitzmagic’ (can you blame him?) and wants him to lead the Dolphins in 2020…
… And I also wonder if it might even be for 2021 to complete the trilogy if all goes well this season?
Certainly, the ‘obvious reason’ is a strong component. But the move to hire Gailey isn’t just about getting the ‘Return of Fitzpatrick’ with a coach and system he likes, though.
Personal success is built around team success.
The complexity in the O’Shea and Patriots system is a double-edged sword
Long suspected flaws in the Patriots offensive system were on full display this year. The Patriots offense is brilliant in the flexibility derived from its complexity… but its complexity is too complex for many players. This is especially true for rookies who are expected to contribute immediately. Brian Flores’s move at OC came about in part because these flaws don’t jive with Fitzpatrick’s limited window of opportunity that is forcing the timetable of success to speed up.
If Brian Flores is bringing Fitzpatrick back he intends to go for the brass ring this year. That means rookies must contribute out of the box to improve the team’s talent level. It also means Flores believes that some of the 2019 players are better suited in a less complex system as well.
How Does this move affect Rosen?
How does the new spread offense affect the elephant in the room, Josh Rosen?
Armando presents one way of looking at it. But there is a flip side to this coin. Rosen had a different offense every year in college and he did well enough to get drafted 10th Overall. Maybe the better system fit for Rosen will be one step back and two steps forward. The spread often provides easy reads for QBs due to forcing clearer matchups.
Despite the conjecture from many, all I hear from Flores is that Rosen is progressing. Most see it as spin, but the same was said about the ‘tank’. Maybe it’s time to take his word on this one a little sooner?
The only failing of Rosen’s I’ve ever heard Flores speak publicly on is in the speed going through progressions. Let’s remember Tom Brady sat for a year and a half and then was essentially a game manager for almost a decade before he broke. So, it’s no wonder that Rosen struggled to master this offense behind a disastrous O-line in half a season.
I’m not saying Rosen is the next Brady, but if slow progressions are the primary issue… well, it’s no wonder.
Tua, or whoever Miami draft at QB, the spread will speed up their development
Now, I’m also not saying they won’t draft a QB. The chances are very good they do. But even if they do, whoever they draft would struggle early just like Rosen. If Miami does draft Tua, he won’t play this year due to injury. And given how tough it is to get a hold of the Patriots system, that means Tua wouldn’t really be ready to win until at least 2022. That’s too far down the road.
This move speeds up the timetable for any rookie drafted… as well as Rosen.
Added bonuses to the system change
- Miami’s strongest offensive unit is the receivers. They will be able to maximize this talent now.
- The O-line will benefit due to the defense being less able to crowd the box.
- The running game will see a pick up with more space.
- Modern football is now about space and speed. Teacup football has its place, but big plays and passing are the best ways to find success.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though
We have witnessed how good the Patriots system is and its fruits were showing with the Dolphins offense at the end of 2019. I was willing to wait the 3-4 years to let this thing come together. For good or ill, only time will tell, Fitzpatrick’s success altered the course of things. Now he must deliver more than a few feel-good moments to make this adjusted course worth it. I get this direction, I do. Flores and Fitzpatrick have earned my trust. But, the stakes have been raised for 2020 to make the ‘Fitzmagic Ride’ worth it. Go Phins!!!
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MJ, excellent article! I agree completely from what I have been reading about Gailey’s hire. O’Shea was not let go for doing a poor job, on the contrary, he did a very good job considering what he had to work with and being a 1st time OC. It was really all about Flores wanting to go in a different direction that would maximize a young football team and QB’s plus the ability to play to our strength, the WR core! Dolphins when healthy, actually have one of the best corps in the league. My question, what does this mean for Rosen? Like you said, all those changes in offensive systems. With this in mind, do you think Rosen is trade bait if we say draft Tua? What do you think we could get for him? Does he stick around and compete or even be our 2nd stringer next season behind Fitzpatrick? I believe Fitz is coming back or they would not have already brought in Gailey.
I think it’s already been worked out too. Jeff is not so sure this is about Fitz… could be. But, it seems clear to me… I’ve been plenty wrong before, so this will be a very interesting storyline. I don’t like drafting Tua… tooo many serious injuries. He could be alright… but odds seem to say he won’t be long term. Guy has two ankles and a hip full of metal already!! Such a hard decision.
Don’t think they are doing this just cause Fitz had a great year. He’s not our savior, but can hold down the fort for one more year, as we stack talent on both sides of the ball. We don’t know their plan for QB yet. Phins Up!
You could be right, Jeff–no doubt… I can’t read minds (even though my wife think I can at times). And no he isn’t our savior, BUT his affect on the field and the team’s and Flores’s belief in him was sky-high in 2019. What could have been with a real team around him? I think this is what Flores is thinking (guessing). The move to get Gailey is a big departure from his original plan. Flores is very acquainted with the learning curve of the Pats O. Why the sudden change of heart? It could be many things, but to talk Gailey out of retirement and him being a two-time former coach of Fitz does seem a bit coincidental. We will know soon enough. Do you think they are still drafting Tua? Do you think they really like Rosen? This is where I really don’t have an idea where they are headed.
Nice Article Admin!
Taken from the Coach’s Corner: The offense any coach runs needs to be the offense that fits his current personnel best. You can’t run a spread offense just because “everyone else is doing it”, and conversely you probably shouldn’t run the Double Wing if you have spread players. Even with top level college programs, you recruit for what you want to run, but you will always change slightly what you are doing based on the players you have at that time.
For as Josh Rosen 6 games total 13 yards rushing for the season. I believed what ever the offense the Dolphins runs. Two things must change for Rosen to survived is releasing the ball before contact and able to avoid contact by rushing for minimum 1st down marker etc. On the other hand Fitzpatrick success to extend the play by rushing for 243 yards this season was enough to earned him respect. No way this is to beat up on Josh Rosen.
Rosen is a former high-level tennis player… he can do everything Fitz does and more. BUT, he doesn’t have the pocket awareness. That’s the key beyond going through progressions… but if you go back and watch Rosen this season. He did show plenty of wiggles and moved a ton. Problem was he was behind the clock and froze a bunch. Not sure he has ice in his veins like Fitz.
Re: “Ice in his veins”, I like that reference to Fitz. ! I will also relate that to how “Tom Terrific” plays as well as “Mahommes the Magician”. Stand right in the pocket until the last mini-second and then either release or scramble. Like Jimmy, I would prefer not to draft Tua’ based on his injury history and the major injuries of other QB’s that deterred their performance. It makes no difference whatsoever to me if and when they draft a QB. I’m sure it will be based on copious research and a little bit of “gut instinct”. I will again state the obvious – it is imperative that both “Lines” be heavily fortified with young, mean, and physically-able recruits. There are those among us who are not guaranteed the 3-4 years you say it may take to be a true SB contender, so time is of the essence to some of us. I cannot imagine the FO drafting a WR in the first two rounds unless he’s the next “Megatron”, which I believe we have already on the team. In terms of FA’s, I do like to engage in wishful thinking as I think about the “what if’s” of getting someone like Henry ( RB-TN ), Van Noy ( DT-NE ) or others who will shore-up our Linesmen. And last but not least, is it too early to talk about potential player cuts ? I for one, do hope that Harris ( DE ), Jones ( SS ), and several others, are politely shown the door. And on a very last note, wouldn’t it be something if we had Geseki ( Sic ) and another TE like Travis Kelce ( Chiefs ) roaming the middle-ground and inside the 20’s ? Keep up the great work Jimmy and M.J.
Been burnt out a bit these days, Fred. Sorry, I missed this comment. “Like Jimmy, I would prefer not to draft Tua’ based on his injury history ” Actually, Jimmy was always for Tua then got off a bit with the injury and now seems to be back on. I’m a Burrow guy and been that way since the season started… but I don’t like Tua post-injury at all. Burrow I like but wouldn’t trade the house for him. If he ends up a HOFer then I would pretend like I was for the trade all along. But, it’s too risky for the price as Tua is for injury. ” I for one, do hope that Harris ( DE ), Jones ( SS ), and several others, are politely shown the door. ” They will, but Harris might stick because he is cheap. Jones is gone.
“Keep up the great work Jimmy and M.J.” Thanks, brother. I’ll try to be a bit more timely on my replies. Sometimes if they come a bit afte the article, I forget to look back and check them. Hope all is well!