The Senior Bowl is a well-known evaluation tool for college prospects looking to make a lasting impression on head coaches and general managers across the NFL. But the 2021 Senior Bowl was unique for the evaluation window it offered the Miami Dolphins beyond the players on the field. It seems as though the Dolphins were committed this week to conducting an on-field evaluation of two of their internal candidates for their vacancy at offensive coordinator. Running backs coach Eric Studesville and tight ends (and quasi-2020 quarterbacks coach) George Godsey took turns throughout the course of the week with being hands on with the players — and head coach Brian Flores confirmed that effort extended into Saturday’s Senior Bowl game.
“We split – so Eric (Studesville) called half the game and George (Godsey) called half the game. I thought both guys did a nice job and I’m confident in all the guys on our staff,” said Flores.
“I thought they did a great job. As I said the other day, we’re still working through those – the coordinator situation.”
Flores and his staff definitely enjoyed a week of valuable evaluation of the prospects — but the evaluation of the offensive coordinator candidates was just as critical. The Dolphins can ill-afford to continue to see their play caller role cycle through coaches on an annual basis and create a lack of continuity with how the team installs offenses. Changing vocabulary will be harmful to player development and chemistry, too. There’s plenty at stake — which is why if this week’s evaluation helps provide the Dolphins clarity to hire a coach who can serve in the role for several seasons and take the best aspects of the 2020 offense but expand upon the weaknesses, we should all be happy.
Even if that means an internal hire that isn’t considered as sexy as some of the other candidates at the beginning of the process.