Home
THIS SITE
  Sitemap
  About this Page
  Search Here
TEAM NEWS
  Team Info
  News Wire
  Features
  Training Camp
  On Porpoise
GAMES
  Recent Game
  Schedule
  Statistics
PERSONNEL
  Coaches
  Roster
  Transactions
  Depth Chart
  Draft
  Free Agents
  Salaries
FOR THE FANS
  Places To Watch
  Chat Board
  Mailing Lists
  Other Links
HISTORY
  Team History
  News Archive
  Past Games
  Past Transactions
  Past Rosters
 
Dolphins News: Gary Stevens Fired
    News Wire | Roster | Last/Next Game | Schedule | Links  
         
Last Update:
Dolphins News: Gary Stevens Fired
Back Home
Team News

*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***
Feb 03, 1998: -- Gary Stevens Fired --

At last, the news that we've all been waiting for was released this afternoon as the Miami Dolphins announced that they've fired offensive coordinator Gary Stevens.

JJ said that he decided to dismiss Stevens because he wanted to make a change in their offensive philosophy following the poor showing at the end of the year and the Dolphins inability to run the ball all season long.

Stevens had been the offensive coordinator for the Dolphins for the last nine years, but during that time their running game had never finished higher than 13th in the league and most of the time was ranked in the bottom half of all teams.

This year, the Dolphins were 2nd in the league in passing yardage and 11th in total offensive yardage, but were 29th in the league in total rushing yardage.

There is no word at this time who will replace Stevens and there is also no word on any additional firings.

My Comments:

We pretty much knew this was coming, so it doesn't come as a great shock. The two questions to be answered are who else will be fired (if anyone) and who will replace Stevens.

I approve of this firing - not because I think the system was that bad, but because Stevens refused to make any changes in the system and do things differently when things didn't work. His failure to adjust to the Patriots at the end of the year is the classic example.

Also, his comments on the quality of the players after the season ended were unfair to the players (whether true or not) and practically guaranteed that his effectiveness would be reduced even more next year.

As far as replacements go, I have heard nothing. So far as I know, the only person actually in Miami to talk to JJ is Kippy Brown, the Dolphins' running backs coach and that's because Brown works there. I have heard nothing about any other interviews or conversations that JJ has had.

As to who else will be fired - I think that it's looking more like Beightol will stay as the offensive line coach, although JJ might dump him in favor of Hudson Houck of the Cowboys if Houck is fired.

I don't think that anyone else is in danger of losing their job right now, but you never know.

Related Info:


[Return to Dolphins News]
Curt Fennell, curt@phins.com, DOLFAN in New Rochelle (almost)
     
   

Home TOP
Curt Fennell
curt@phins.com
DOLFAN in New England