The Miami Dolphins lost to the Jets in London on Sunday and Joe Philbin or defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle could be fired by owner Stephen Ross this week to shake things up. The Dolphins had high expectations coming into the season after signing Ndamukong Suh and he made headlines again after it appeared he kicked Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Dolphins made a number of personnel moves over the offseason and the team has playoff expectations for 2015. The team is currently fourth in the AFC East and heading into the bye week Ross could look at making some changes. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Ross is "more likely to fire" defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle over Philbin, but nothing is certain at this time. Philbin's job security this season likely was dependent on making some progress and so far that has not happened.
UPDATE: According to the Sun Sentinel, Philbin has been fired and Campbell will be taking over.
UPDATE: Adam Schefter reports at ESPN that if Philbin is fired, tight ends coach Dan Campbell is the "leading" option to take over on an interim basis. Check here for more on Philbin.
Coming into the weekend it was reported that Philbin's job could be on the line if he did not get the Dolphins to play well against the Jets. According to NFL.com reporter Rand Getlin, there are a number of players "frustrated" with the play calling on offense and defense and also with the length of practices. This type of sniping and reports usually come when a team is underperforming and that is happening with the Dolphins right now.
The team has gone 8-8 over the last two seasons and starting 1-3 does the team no favors when they are trying to make the playoffs. According to Pro Football Talk, Philbin said after the game against the Jets that he is not looking to fire Coyle despite the defense now playing well. Pro Football Talk reports that Ross is "expected to make a decision" on Philbin Monday and there is a chance that Coyle could be the one to take the hit.
The Dolphins have had enough problems this season already and they could have another one with Ndamukong Suh heading into next week. According to Pro Football Talk, Suh made some extra contact (again) with an opposing teams player, as he reportedly kicked Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Per the New York Daily News video, the kick looks accidental, but this is not the first time (or second time) that this has happened with Suh. PFT describes the play with Suh going after Fitzpatrick and then "swinging a left leg around Fitzpatrick after he falls and kicking him in the head."
Suh avoided a fine in Week 1 of the season after the league thought that his hit to the head of Alfred Morris was unintentional and this could have the same result. The Dolphins did not have a great fantasy football day on Sunday, but players like Jarvis Landry and Rishard Matthews remain the best options moving forward on offense. Matthews had a quiet game in Week 4, but he had two great games back to back with a combined 12 catches and over 220 yards in Weeks 2 and 3. Matthews and Landry are worth starting moving forward.
Check here for more on the Miami Dolphins heading into Week 5 and the bye.
