Precedent set for ousting of Cameron

By Hugo Guzman  |   Wednesday, December 12, 2007  |  Comments( 11 )

Miami Dolphins
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
With each passing day, the Cam Cameron bandwagon seems to get smaller and smaller. The Miami Dolphins' first-year head coach has gradually alienated fans, media, players and perhaps even the team's front office, too.

Yours truly has defended Cameron throughout this tumultuous campaign, but the coat of armor he's been anointed with is starting to wear thin.

In his defense, Cameron has been a miracle worker in some respects. For example, he's been able to completely revamp an offensive line that has languished in mediocrity for the better part of a decade. All of a sudden, the Dolphins resemble the Denver Broncos in that virtually any running back can excel; and, aside from the last two outings, Miami's pass protection has been serviceable all season long.

He's also reversed the trend of jettisoning draft choices in exchange for free agents, infusing the franchise with a plethora of picks and young talent. In the process, Cameron has rid himself of several capable yet overwhelmingly mediocre contributors who have personified this pedestrian franchise for years.

Some will say that Hudson Houck should get credit for the offensive line and that general manager Randy Mueller should get credit for the influx of youth and draft picks, but if Cameron is going to be faulted for all of the bad, he should get some credit for the good.

There are some other potential bright spots that have manifested themselves under the Cameron regime. For instance, Miami now has two potential game-breakers on offense -- Ted Ginn Jr. and Lorenzo Booker -- courtesy of the first-year coach.

But the bottom line is that Cameron, whose current record is 0-13, is now just three games away from posting the worst regular-season mark in NFL history.

So regardless of any individual success stories, or the conventional thinking that says a rookie coach should get more than one season to prove his mettle and turn things around, Cameron is definitely in danger of losing his job.

In today's league, head coaches are on an incredibly short leash. Guys with a much stronger head coaching resume than Cameron have been handed their walking papers after just one season. In fact, just last year Hall of Famer Art Shell lost his job as head coach of the Oakland Raiders after finishing the season 2-14 and losing his locker room in the process.

Unfortunately, Cameron's first year is following an extremely similar trajectory, both in terms of his regular-season record and his inability to maintain rapport with his players. Veterans have voiced their indifference toward Cameron; unnamed sources say that Miami's most notable veteran, Jason Taylor, has been at odds with the coach throughout the campaign.

Clearly, there are some striking similarities between Shell's ill-fated season and Cameron's, but Cameron's mishandling of rookie quarterback John Beck could prove to be his ultimate undoing. Trotting out Beck and endorsing him as a guy who is ready to start, then pulling him after fewer than 13 quarters of play reeks of desperation and exasperation.

Those are two qualities that are not becoming for an NFL head coach.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (11)

About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 11  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
CTFinFan		07:56 AM
12/12/2007
When a team crashes and burns, how do they fare the next year with a new coach? With the same coach? In other words, does a new...
No.2
steven		08:36 AM
12/12/2007
This article implies that the draft & FA market was properly handled when in fact the Dolphins let Wes Welker walk out the door...
No.3
JJ		10:16 AM
12/12/2007
I am sick of people saying that the Ginn over Brady pick was bad. What has Quinn proven? He hasn't even played. Ginn has shown...
Team News  |  View All Dolphins Content
Henne takes baby steps, Wake...
In a game filled with mental mistakes and execution errors, the Miami...
1 year, 3 months ago   |   Henne takes baby steps, Wake takes giant strides in Dolphins win over Packers ( 4 )
For Dolphins, it’s not how t...
Dolphins fans are fretting because of Miami's two-game slide, and with...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   For Dolphins, it’s not how they start, it’s how they finish ( 1 )
Wait until the Dolphins’ off...
As exciting as a second straight road win is for the Miami Dolphins, w...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   Wait until the Dolphins’ offense catches up with the defense ( 2 )
Random observations from Dol...
If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that a win is a...
1 year, 5 months ago   |   Random observations from Dolphins’ Week 1 win at Buffalo ( 11 )
Dolphins Ginn in New York
Returning a kickoff for a touchdown is a very rare thing in the NFL. W...
2 years, 3 months ago   |   Dolphins Ginn in New York ( 1 )