Dolphins special teams coach fired (1 Viewer)

[identikit]

Dolphins special teams coach loses his job

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on October 5, 2010 11:47 AM ETMonday night's special teams meltdown in Miami cost special teams coach John Bonamego his job.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano announced the team has "moved on" from Bonamego as of Tuesday morning. Assistant Special Teams coach Darren Rizzi, who had no prior NFL experience before joining Miami in 2009, will take over.

Bonamego was the team's special teams coordinator since 2008. Monday night's game wasn't the first time he's taken heat.

"This was a tough decision," Sparano said. "I thank Bono for all he's done. Players need to take responsibility too."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/...-loses-his-job/

 

[Bojang0301]

Scapegoat. Sinking ship in Miami already with Parcells gone.

 

[Doug B]

I only saw highlights ... but how do you hold a coach responsible for this kind of thing? Wasnt it just a Patriots fluke-a-thon? I mean, could you really look at film and say on all those scores, "Aha! If THAT guy were in the position he was supposed to have been in, the Patriots wouldn't have scored there".

 

[belljr]

I only saw highlights ... but how do you hold a coach responsible for this kind of thing? Wasnt it just a Patriots fluke-a-thon? I mean, could you really look at film and say on all those scores, "Aha! If THAT guy were in the position he was supposed to have been in, the Patriots wouldn't have scored there".

I think you could, you watch the replays and guys were letting people go unblocked.It's obviously more on the player but man they looked extra bad.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Sporano ran the guy before out of here...forget his name but he was really good and Sporano just let him go.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

The blocked punt and the blocked FG were both caused by the same flaw in the protection scheme.

 

[ChuckLiddell]

I only saw highlights ... but how do you hold a coach responsible for this kind of thing? Wasnt it just a Patriots fluke-a-thon? I mean, could you really look at film and say on all those scores, "Aha! If THAT guy were in the position he was supposed to have been in, the Patriots wouldn't have scored there".

He had no chance of having a job after that 2nd half. I am surprised they waited until this morning. He should have been fired at the end of the 3rd quarter. Wouldnt be surprised to see some players cut today as well.

 

[The_Underachiever]

I only saw highlights ... but how do you hold a coach responsible for this kind of thing? Wasnt it just a Patriots fluke-a-thon? I mean, could you really look at film and say on all those scores, "Aha! If THAT guy were in the position he was supposed to have been in, the Patriots wouldn't have scored there".

I didnt see all of the game, buuuuut maybe a firing is not completely out of order. Extreme perhaps.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5651160

Patriots safety Patrick Chung blocked a punt and a field goal attempt and receiver Brandon Tate returned the second-half kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown in New England's lopsided victory. The Dolphins led 7-6 at halftime.

Chung blocked a punt to set up a touchdown, then blocked a field goal that Kyle Arrington returned 35 yards for a score.

"We practiced everything that happened -- all of those blocks, and people doing their job allowed me to make a play," Chung said Monday.

The Dolphins also had a punt blocked in their 31-23 loss to the New York Jets in Week 3.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The blocked punt and the blocked FG were both caused by the same flaw in the protection scheme.

Sporano said after the game that New England must have watched the film from the Jets game and gotten wise as to what to do.You think so Coach?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

It's fine that Sporano wants to fire the guy but he thought enough of him to hire the guy and work with him all off season, then suddenly week 4 of the season you fire the guy? It's a poor reflection of the head coach.

They should fire the OC and Henne whilke he is at it cause they're not helping things much either. 2 Interceptions in the 1st half that killed drives. Score should have been 17-3, or 21-3 at the half, instead it was 7-6.

 

[ChuckLiddell]

In 4 games the ST has given up 2 blocked punts, a blocked FG, and a 103 yard kickoff return TD.

Conversely, our ST has done nothing positive of note over that same period, aside from some nice punts and solid FG kicking. I dont even remember a really good kick return.

Hate to see someone lose their job, but the firing was very clearly justified.

 

[jchapman70]

It's fine that Sporano wants to fire the guy but he thought enough of him to hire the guy and work with him all off season, then suddenly week 4 of the season you fire the guy? It's a poor reflection of the head coach. They should fire the OC and Henne whilke he is at it cause they're not helping things much either. 2 Interceptions in the 1st half that killed drives. Score should have been 17-3, or 21-3 at the half, instead it was 7-6.

How much of those totals came from last nights game?

 

[The Captain]

John lived across the hall from me in my dorm at Central Michigan and we went to Daytona for spring break. The guy lives and breathes football and is a really good guy.

We'd all be partying in our dorm and he'd be in the middle of the room, diagramming and running plays with some of the other players.

I hope he lands somewhere else soon.

Good luck, John

 

[Kirby]

Sporano ran the guy before out of here...forget his name but he was really good and Sporano just let him go.

ArmstrongWhy wasn't the guy that brought out the wildcat on 3 and 6 fired?

 

[Dave Larkin]

No doubt it was an ugly show from the Dolphins special teams last night, but this just reeks of scapegoat-ism, to coin a new phrase. What are the odds of all of those plays happening in the same game?! Incredible stuff.

 

[perry147]

Scapegoat. Sinking ship in Miami already with Parcells gone.

Interestingly, Parcells always preached the importance of special teams.

 

[Insein]

The blocked punt and the blocked FG were both caused by the same flaw in the protection scheme.

Sporano said after the game that New England must have watched the film from the Jets game and gotten wise as to what to do.You think so Coach?

CHEATERS!!!! Watching Film now!!! Wait...

 

[Jayrod]

They focused in on the guy last night after the second blocked kick and I told my buddy that I bet he doesn't keep his job after this game.

PM me for all of life's answers as I am clearly smarter than everyone else.

 

[POTA]

I don't know if it's a coaching problem, a player talent and/or execution problem, or some combination. But I had the same feeling watching the Dolphins on special teams last night that I did watching the Bears on offense Sunday night. Every play looked like a disaster waiting to happen, and then frequently it did.

 

[Nightly Mistake]

I don't follow the Dolphins closely but haven't special teams been a problem for some time? My impression is that last night was merely the final straw hay bale.

 

[aerolaw]

The Dolphins have added 16 different players to the active roster since the last cuts of preseason, far and away the most of any team. Last week they cut one of their best ST players from the last 2 years for missing a block on the NYJ punt block. They certainly were not doing the special teams coach any favors by turning over the bottom of their roster with such frequency, ,as those are usually the players playing ST. Like any other unit, they have to learn to work together and need some kind of continuity.

The firing likely had more to do with "pr" than anything, showing the fans that they are trying to do something, because as Sparano said . "the fans deserve better".

Last thing, I still think its Wannstedt's fault... he fired one of the best ST coaches in the game (Westhoff) because he couldnt get along with him, Westy had been with the team a while and dont think he would have gone anywhere but for that.

 

[Reaper]

The Dolphins have added 16 different players to the active roster since the last cuts of preseason, far and away the most of any team. Last week they cut one of their best ST players from the last 2 years for missing a block on the NYJ punt block. They certainly were not doing the special teams coach any favors by turning over the bottom of their roster with such frequency, ,as those are usually the players playing ST. Like any other unit, they have to learn to work together and need some kind of continuity.The firing likely had more to do with "pr" than anything, showing the fans that they are trying to do something, because as Sparano said . "the fans deserve better".Last thing, I still think its Wannstedt's fault... he fired one of the best ST coaches in the game (Westhoff) because he couldnt get along with him, Westy had been with the team a while and dont think he would have gone anywhere but for that.

Man, am I grateful for Westoff.... he might retire after this year so, we'll be back to earth as well....The story above reminds me of the Jets last year Vs the Dolphins, the Jets decided to tinker with the roster and they kept a few ST aces off the roster for depth elsewhere and then BOOM, The Jets lose mostly due to ST disasasters and Ted Ginn.