The Miami Dolphins have disappointed their fans through the first three weeks of the season. Heading to London this weekend, the team has lost their last two contests, including last weekend's blow out loss to the Buffalo Bills. Now, they will look to fix their season with a win over another AFC East rival, the New York Jets. The team has to play well to try to win back fans who are already souring on the season, and they may need to win it for the coaches as well.
According to a report from NFL.com, the Dolphins could be looking to make changes to their coaching staff if the team does not beat New York this week. "If the team loses three in a row, don't be shocked if someone on that coaching staff gets fired," a source close to the team said, according to the report from Rand Getlin.
Getlin told NFL Network, according to multiple sources, "The ownership is frustrated with the pace at which the team is developing, has been looking for improvement, and those [coaching] changes could be imminent, depending on the outcome of the game." Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has made it clear this is the year he expects the Dolphins to turn around a franchise that has not had a winning record since 2008.
"(Ross) is a remarkably loyal person," the report quoted another source as saying. "But I don't think that loyalty is limitless."
Earlier this week, we speculated that, if Miami were to lose to the Jets, changes could come, specifically on the defensive side of the ball. As we argued then, the Dolphins should look to fire defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle if the defense continues to play as poorly as it has through the first two weeks. Now, with this report from NFL.com, it does appear that is a possibility. It is still very early in the season, and the Dolphins have the time to turn around this poor start. It sounds like Ross has realized that it may be time to cut bait on this coaching staff and, while it may not be the entire staff, it is possible that a major change is coming for Miami.
Whether it be a fast turn around starting this weekend or a shakeup in the coaching staff - something is going to happen.