The Miami Dolphins have continued to make changes after firing Joe Philbin, as Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle was fired and was replaced by defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo. Ryan Tannehill's future with the team could be uncertain and this comes as Ndamukong Suh and the defense have been disappointing, while Rishard Matthews has been a fantasy football bright spot.
The Dolphins have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league this season, as they came into 2015 with playoff expectations. The team is just 1-3 on the season and the franchise opted to fire Philbin after the loss to the Jets in London. This week there were reports that Coyle likely would be fired after Dan Campbell was promoted to be interim coach and according to NFL.com, Coye has been relieved of his duties for the defense.
NFL Media's Albert Breer first reported the news and now defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo will take over the defense. The defense has not performed up to expectations after the team signed Suh to a record contract and there have been multiple reports that some defensive players were frustrated with the scheme that Coyle was using. According to NFL.com, Suh showed up to one practice without cleats in protest of the scheme and another report had some defensive players criticize the scheme in a "closed-door meeting" last week.
Campbell now takes over as head coach and with Coyle out, the scheme could change into something that fits Suh and what he does a bit better than Coyle's. There were also reports that Philbin lost some control of the team in practice, as the Miami Herald reported last week that Ryan Tannehill and players on defense got into it and that defensive players were not "following Philbin's instructions." Philbin wanted the defense to "take it easy" during practice last week, but a number of players continues to practice "aggressively."
Pro Football Talk wrote about the future for Tannehill after Philbin was fired and while a move is not on the horizon now, there is a chance the next coach will want to go in a different direction. Tannehill came off a career season in 2014 and signed a contract extension that puts him in a Dolphins uniform for the next six years, but technically the team could get out of that sooner if they want. PFT writes that the deal is basically a two year deal, as the Dolphins can avoid paying Tannehill guaranteed money if he is cut "before the fifth day of the 2017 league year."
While that date is still a long way off, the new head coach that takes over (or if Campbell stays) could end up deciding to move on from Tannehill. Tannehill has been off to an up and down start this season and some of the main bright spots for the offense have been Jarvis Landry and Rishard Matthews. Lamar Miller and Kenny stills have been slow to start, while Matthews has been a solid fantasy sleepers, putting up 17 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns this season.
