Apparently this isn't going to be as easy as we all thought. On Friday we learned that two defensive coordinator candidates turned down the opportunity from the Dolphins.
Al Groh - who was presumably the front-runner - decided to head to Georgia Tech to be defensive coordinator rather than to Miami. That is, assuming he was even offered the position.
Meanwhile, Steelers' LB coach Keith Butler reportedly turned down an offer from the Dolphins to be defensive coordinator, instead opting to remain in Pittsburgh.
So what now? Current secondary coach (and assistant head coach) Todd Bowles is most likely the in-house favorite for the defensive coordinator position. But his unit didn't exactly perform well, either. And it does seem like the Dolphins are clearly looking at a coach who specializes in linebackers.
The team did hire former Giants' defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan as a linebackers coach. Could he actually get a promotion to defensive coordinator just days after taking his new gig in Miami? Not likely.
So where do the Dolphins turn now? Is Packers' linebackers coach (and assistant head coach) Winston Moss - a Miami native and University of Miami alum - a potential candidate? What about Dallas linebackers coach Reggie Herring (who is a Florida State alum)? Ravens' linebackers coach Vic Fangio is an experienced defensive coordinator at the NFL level and could garner some attention.
But truth be told, I have no idea where the Dolphins may look next to fill this rather large void. And the clock is ticking towards the first Senior Bowl practice.
[Update: Armando Salguero provides a couple of interesting names that could surface in terms of Miami's hunt for a new defensive coordinator. One is New England's defensive line coach Pepper Johnson - who played for Bill Parcells in New York. The most intriguing name to surface, though, is Browns' defensive line coach Bryan Cox. Yes - that Bryan Cox. But he's only been a coach in this league for four years.
Just two more names to keep an eye on, if nothing else.]