Sparano is gone as Head Coach.  It is just of matter of time now.  Any Head Coach in any profession with his recent record knows his days are numbered.  His record includes:

·         Losing his last 8 starts or half a season (3 at the end of last year and all 5 to begin this year).  This is the equivalent of being 0-41 in the NBA or 0-81 in MLB.

·         Winning 1 of his last 12 Home Games.  This is the equivalent of 5 wins in your last 61 home games in the NBA and 10 wins in your last 121 home games in MLB.

No coach survives this.  And no coach should survive this.

But we are constantly debating whether Jeff Ireland should remain.  After the Jets game on Monday night, I have come to my conclusion on whether the Dolphins should retain Ireland at the end of the year.  And let’s just say, it doesn’t look good for him, IMO.

One of the constant talking points by the MNF crew in regarding the Dolphins was that the Dolphins playmakers need to make more plays.  They kept saying that guys like Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby, Kevin Burnett, Brandon Marshall, and Reggie Bush need to make a big play.  What do all of these guys have in common?  (Here is a hint:  Look at the title of the post.)

When talking about the playmakers on the Dolphins, not once, in my recollection, did the announcers mention any Jeff Ireland draft picks.  The only mention was of Vontae Davis being a good cover corner, Sean Smith not being able to catch an INT, and Daniel Thomas averages 4.9 yds / carry (even though his long carry of the year is 15 yds). 

Here is a link to all of the Dolphins draft picks in team history. 

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldraft?teamId=2700&type=team

I want someone, somewhere, to point to one player on that list from Ireland’s drafts that made a positive, impactful play against the Jets on Monday Night?  I can’t. 

And that’s the biggest problem with the Miami Dolphins during Jeff Ireland’s tenure as GM.  None of his draft picks have a consistent impact on each and every game.  None of his draft picks require an opposing coach to specifically game play for any drafted player. 

Who do opposing offensive coordinators game plan for against the Dolphins defense?  Wake and Dansby, both FA’s.  Who do opposing defensive coordinators game plan for against the Dolphins offense?  Marshall and Bush, neither drafted. 

The complete lack of drafting a playmaker in any phase of the game in 4 drafts is reason enough for Ireland to be gone at the end of the year, IMO.

Update:  From David Hyde's column talking about a tweet from Jimmy Johnson:  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-hyde-miami-dolphins-1020-20111019,0,3028255.column

Q: "What do the Dolphins need to right this train?"

A: "Get better players."

Who is responsible for getting those players?  Jeff Ireland.