Miami Dolphins Coaching Search Down To Mike McCoy & Joe Philbin

Today is D-Day for the Miami Dolphins as owner Stephen Ross is expected to name the new head coach for the franchise. In recent days, interim head coach Todd Bowles appears to have fallen out of the running. This is now a two horse race between Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin.

When making his initial announcement regarding the coaching search, Ross stated that he was looking for “the next Don Shula” which has led many to believe he will look for a young coach who would be with the team for many years to come. This would favor McCoy who is only 39 compared to Philbin who is 50.

Philbin’s strength comes in his experience having been a coach since entering college football in 1984. He coached in the college ranks for nearly 20 years before joining the Packers as an Assistant Offensive Line Coach in 2003 and has been the Packers Offensive Co-ordinator since 2007. Most notably, Philbin has been the only OC that Aaron Rodgers has ever had as a starter since he became quarterback in 2008 and, along with Quarterback coach Tom Clements, has been credited with alot of the praise for helping to reinvent Rodgers throwing motion (and that of backup Matt Flynn).

His weakness lies in the fact that he has never been an NFL play-caller (Mike McCarthy does that in Green Bay) and so may need a gifted Offensive Co-ordinator to help him in that respect.

By contrast, McCoy has only been a coach since 2000. Unlike Philbin, he started out as a player who played briefly in the CFL, NFL Europe and even had one game as the third string quarterback for the 49ers in 1997. After his brief playing career, he was hired by the Carolina Panthers who he stayed with until after the 2008 season.

McCoy was responsible for the success Kyle Orton found in Denver and also for the complete revamp of the Broncos offense to accomodate the unique gifts of Tim Tebow. McCoy has a reputation as a budding quarterback guru who many in Denver feel could be their next Mike Shanahan if they can hold onto him.

Unlike Philbin, McCoy has called plays in the NFL and understands the pressure of doing so in a big-game environment. Anyone who has seen the dramatic comebacks of Tebow this season can attest to that.

So which way will Ross go? McCoy is clearly the frontrunner in this battle and many expect him to win the job. However, there is talk that Philbin may join the Dolphins staff in some capacity regardless. McCoy however has plenty of suitors and would be favourite for the Oakland Raiders Head Coaching job should Miami pass him up.

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