Cameron's disastrous first season surprisingly similar to Parce...

In 1983, Bill Parcells' first year as an NFL coach, he picked unproven Scott Brunner at quarterback over three-year starter Phil Simms.

[JRod]

Dave,
This really brings out the ambivalence about Cameron's situation. The problem has always been at the top, with Wayne listening to his experts and making one mistake after another. Going along with Wannstedt after he blew the division and playoffs against New England, bringing in Spielman, not insisting that he draft a QB... Three years ago I was cheering for Jim Bates after he took Wannstedt's comatose team and turned them into fighters, capped by beating New England. Wayne listened to his experts instead of giving Bates a real chance after a very strong audition. The Saban experiment was a disaster and demoralized the whole organization.

Now, after we screamed for Cameron, most people want to throw him under the bus. Yeah, he's made some bad mistakes with his calls, but this ragtag team left him no margin for error. I give him credit for getting the running game going and getting Ronnie Brown playing like a superstar and living up to his draft position. When we were losing with Cleo and screaming for Beck, Cam obviously saw that Beck wasn't ready, but under pressure put him in and we saw the results.
As for the defense, he lost the entire secondary, had lots of injuries on the defensive line, and lost Zach Thomas.

Yeah, Cam made mistakes but I agree that this whole situation stinks. The conditions he came in under were terrible and the guy did what he could with what he had. He needs another draft and a second training camp with Parcells' direction to see if he can apply the magic he did in San Diego over here. As for defense, this needs a lot of draft picks and key signings.

[AussieKen]

Great Post JROD,

However I don't think it really matters now. I think this "house cleaning" is needed. Mueller is gone and Cam will too shortly. Maybe its not fair to Cam and I did see some potential with the running game. I saw the potential in Beck as well. The problem however is after so many years of flux, a new foundation needs to be made. We have to do some remodelling. For once we need some synergy throughout the organization and I'm sure that's what the goal is.We actually have the chance to completely rebuild not only the team but the entire franchise. Things will get better soon, mates.:)

[Link]

I'd rather have a fresh new HC then a guy that has been a head coach before(mind you in college) but has not produced a winning record. Sorry he needs to go.

[Felix]

The only thing working in his favor are the injuries that left many holes.

But how do you excuse the numerous questionable coaching calls.

The HC and outspoken players should have their employment terminated.

[Felix]

Oh yeah, and what's the HC salary?

[dolphindonnieofn a]

cam made a TON of mistakes,from day 1 washington game all the way to the cincy game, no clock management and just plain disorientated,sorry cam ,thumbs down,starting fresh is just that,good luck and good bye freind,dont worry your a part of this franchises history ,just the worst ever of it :(

[The Boz]

Cam signed a 4 year $10m salary last season... I know it beggars belief. I think I'd love to work for Wayne. Cameron, or Malcom has he is christened is toast. Long live the king.

[Dave]

JRod wrote:

Dave,
This really brings out the ambivalence about Cameron's situation. The problem has always been at the top, with Wayne listening to his experts and making one mistake after another. Going along with Wannstedt after he blew the division and playoffs against New England, bringing in Spielman, not insisting that he draft a QB... Three years ago I was cheering for Jim Bates after he took Wannstedt's comatose team and turned them into fighters, capped by beating New England. Wayne listened to his experts instead of giving Bates a real chance after a very strong audition. The Saban experiment was a disaster and demoralized the whole organization.
Now, after we screamed for Cameron, most people want to throw him under the bus. Yeah, he's made some bad mistakes with his calls, but this ragtag team left him no margin for error. I give him credit for getting the running game going and getting Ronnie Brown playing like a superstar and living up to his draft position. When we were losing with Cleo and screaming for Beck, Cam obviously saw that Beck wasn't ready, but under pressure put him in and we saw the results.
As for the defense, he lost the entire secondary, had lots of injuries on the defensive line, and lost Zach Thomas.
Yeah, Cam made mistakes but I agree that this whole situation stinks. The conditions he came in under were terrible and the guy did what he could with what he had. He needs another draft and a second training camp with Parcells' direction to see if he can apply the magic he did in San Diego over here. As for defense, this needs a lot of draft picks and key signings.

Hey JRod,
I hope they read your comments because you really nailed it! Thanks for an excellent analysis. I'm just afraid they'll continue to make the wrong decision!

[azzh0le]

I say keep the guy. Let him have another year. Make him work closely with Parcells and the GM. Hopefully that might accelerate his development.
I am sick of them changing coaches.

[Uxbridge Bob - UK Dolfan]

J-Rod, great article, and spot-on.

When will people realise that the last thing we need right now is yet another rookie HC? If Cam is prepared to listen to Parcells' advice, and be mentored by him, he will become a great HC. Give him at least one more year. As a team and organisation, maybe we just had to hit rock bottom to be able to start-over, and get rid of the Wanny/Spielman and Saban hang-overs that we've all be suffering from? Anyone who didn't see this awful season coming must have been blind!

[Dolfan Ray]

Thanks Dave. You always report the truth and this time it hits hard. Most Dolfans are jumping up and down with joy that Cam will be fired and Parcells will be a saviour. I have stood by Cam and hoped for his success all season. I do question many of his decisions, but he's a rookie like Ginn and Beck. To point out how well Parcells did in his rookie campaign and also his record at Wichita is pure fact that all the Cam bashers will hate reading. Do I think Cam deserves a 2nd chance- yes. For 1 reason: stability. If we get another coach it will mean installing another system and more adaption time to a new playbook on offense AND defense. If Cam stays, there will be players with knowledge of his system and will be able to execute better next year. I have pleaded for patience all year and now it appears that everyone wants another hasty decison- fire Cam Cameron. I don't agree. I think Cam deserves to come back. But that may just delay the inevitable if he fails next season. That remains to be seen. I don't think he'll get the 2nd chance. One word of caution to all you hasty Dolfans- look before you leap!.

[Gee]

Cameron is in over his head. To many problems with this team/organization. One bad move in the past "JJ-Wanstache" and the hole just kept getting deeper and deeper. I really think no other coach could have done any better. Saban saw the rocks ahead and jumped ship. I can't say what this team needs at this point but lets hope they are at rock bottom now and can only go up. GO FINS!!!

[David W]

Excellent article. I believe that Cam deserves to return as long as he and Ireland are on the same page as to what needs to get done for 2008.
As far as big-mouth Joey Porter is concerned, he should have let his game-day performance make any statements that he had to make. The player's job is to play as hard as they can and up to their given talents. In a perfect world they should respect the coach, but losing every week has strange consequences between humans. Eat Porter's salary and let him go in a cloud of under-performance and selfishness.

[Grey]

Many of the veterans questioned Cam's way of coaching. Porter, Taylor and I'm sure there were others. I think he lost the locker room. The monitoring websites, the no music, players confronting the coach - Parcells won't accept that.
That will be Cam's undoing.

[finfanatl]

Great Article! Really puts in perspective. I do believe Cam deserves another year. Whats the worse that can happen we get another high draft choice next year? This team is at least 2 years from making the playoffs. Give Cam one more year, let Bill mentor him and lets see what happens.

[Einstein]

For the sake of continuity, I think Cam should stay ... as offensive coordinator. He made way too many game management mistakes in his rookie debut. I can't see Parcells letting him stay and I wonder whether Cam could be anyone's "guy" outside of his own comfort zone of relationships. Cam doesn't seem to have the drive to make the hard and, sometimes, harsh decisions needed in the job as head coach.

I would like to see him be successful, however, as the offense he crafted for the Bolts is exciting and we sure could use something like that around here.

[Carl]

Excellent article Dave.

Although I like Cameron as an offensive coordinator, I'm not sure he has the gravitas to be a HC. What do you suppose Parcells, Jimmy Johnson, or Don Shula would have done if the punk Porter would have talked to them that way in front of the team? He would have been benched or probably cut. Cam lacks the guts or nerve it seems to be a disiplinarian when it is needed.

If Cameron is reatained, I would bet that he will get a big does of Tuna 101 in the offseason and will be forced to hire an offensive coordinator.

[Tamarac Tony]

Uxbridge Bob - UK Dolfan wrote:

J-Rod, great article, and spot-on.
When will people realise that the last thing we need right now is yet another rookie HC? If Cam is prepared to listen to Parcells' advice, and be mentored by him, he will become a great HC. Give him at least one more year. As a team and organisation, maybe we just had to hit rock bottom to be able to start-over, and get rid of the Wanny/Spielman and Saban hang-overs that we've all be suffering from? Anyone who didn't see this awful season coming must have been blind!

I agree that JRod put together a thoughtful post but I disagree with a couple of things.
1. Sometimes you have to keep making changes till you hit on the winning combination, e.g. SF 49ers until the Bill Walsh/George Seifert era.
2. The fact that Cam so easily caved to public opinion only underscores the fact that he is not ready for prime time and his veterans know this and disrespect him.
3. Despite his contract, he is still a "dead man walking" to a lot of the players and they have no reason to rely on anything he says regarding the future of the team.

For all of those who point to Bill P's losing season at Air Force (not Wichita), it was just ONE season, Cam had five losing seasons at Indiana. It is a little late to be learning clock and game management when you become head coach and Cam still hasn't learned.

It may not be right or fair but Cam is most likely toast. Ten million can soothe a lot of hurt feelings though and I for one will not miss him, nor feel sorry for him. I bear him no ill will either.

Good luck Cam.

[Misprint]

It's funny that you mentioned rod wright and Matt Roth instead of fifita and solia a couple of late rounders expected to be #1 run stoppers by Cam-moron. Matt Roth couldn't fill Carter's shoes and Wright was untested coming off a shoulder injury.
Your supposed to know if your veterans should be replaced that fast. Most teams bring thier rookies along a couple of years to see how they perform, even high picks! He just dumped the veterans, that is why he shouldn't be a Head coach. Every part of the team went down under his supervision.
He took a 6-10 and made it so bad that if it wasn't for matt stover or not going for foorth & one it would have been the worst of all time. Anybody that says this coach has talent is a moron. He's a loser! He had a superior team at San diego and lost to New England. And as far as an offensive coordinator,you don't have to be a genius,look at new england's rookie OC or Dallas Jason Garrett.
Cameron was the biggest mistake of all time.

[Stephen]

Maybe their respective first years have similarities. But did Parcells get dumber and dumber and more clueless as the season went on? I don't have that answer, but in order to be completely fair in this article, maybe that research should've been done. Did Cam show that he was learning anything as the games progressed? It sure didn't look like it. Injuries and lack of talent depth are separate issues from coaching intellegently. I harbor no personal ill will against Cam, but he just doesn't seem to have the promise of being a good coach. You can say JJ went 1-15 in his first year, or Parcells went 3-12-1. But were they as clueless as Cam? Unlikely. Maybe Hyde wants to hedge his bets in case Cam is retained so that he gets future interviews.