Jim Caldwell Takes Extended Leave Of Absence

The loss of Caldwell for 2019 can’t be understated

Jim Caldwell is taking the 2019 Season off to recoup

Jim Caldwell is taking a leave of absence from the Miami Dolphins for the 2019 Season for health-related reasons. This news is a big hit for the team.

There’s been no report of the exact nature of this sickness. The only indication is his statement: “I will be stepping back due to some medical complications that require my full attention.”

Given Caldwell’s tough as nails persona, this must be a serious situation. Hope and prayers for his well being are first and foremost. This is now the second serious health-related event to blindside the team this offseason. Kendrick Norton’s life-changing car crash happened only a couple of weeks ago.

I knew any news from the end of OTAs till Training Camp would all be bad… so far it’s been terrible.

Caldwell was an excellent safety net for this young staff

From strictly a football side of Caldwell’s loss, this is a heavy blow to Brian Flores and his staff. Over the course of his 17 years of experience, Caldwell was quarterback mentor of Payton Manning, Offensive Coordinator… but also a Head Coach for two teams. This HC experience would have benefited the special teams and defensive side of the ball as well. So his loss degrades the team as a whole.

Miami’s ‘big three’ of the staff is extremely raw with the HC Flores, DC Graham, and OC O’Shea all rookies at their job. Caldwell was the perfect buffer to their ‘greenness’.

The good news is that Caldwell will serve as a team consultant for the 2019 season. Also, Jerry Schuplinski, who has experience as a QB assistant, will take over that duty.

Now is it his loss a complete disaster for the season? No. But, fans should expect there to be more bumps in the road that what would have happened if Caldwell was involved in day-to-day process. The reality is if Flores and his staff are the right ones for the job they’ll get it done with Caldwell or not. But, you can bet with the best bookie software services there will be a bit more turbulence compared to if Caldwell was on the staff.

I had hoped that both Caldwell and Dom Capers would be on the 2019 staff. Caper is now with Jacksonville and Caldwell recouping. No such luck. The training wheels are off early for Flores. It will be interesting to see how he responds. Go Phins!!!


 

16 comments

  • Steve

    Continuation Quarterbacks:

    From 2012 until 2019 there was only one Quarterback drafted and he’s listed below. This is why they are talking about Tanking this season???

    7 223 Brandon Doughty QB Western Kentucky

    These are the Quarterbacks the Patriots drafted and did not stop drafting once Brady was a proven winner.
    4 133 Jarrett Stidham QB Auburn 2019
    7 219 Danny Etling QB LSU 2018
    3 91 Jacoby Brissett QB North Carolina State 2016
    2 62 Jimmy Garoppolo QB Eastern Illinois 2014
    3 74 Ryan Mallett QB Arkansas 2011
    7 250 Zac Robinson QB Oklahoma State 2010
    3 94 Kevin O’Connell QB San Diego State 2008
    7 230 Matt Cassel QB USC 2005
    6 201 Kliff Kingsbury QB Texas Tech 2003
    4 117 Rohan Davey QB Louisiana State 2002
    6 199 Tom Brady QB Michigan 2000

    Miami Dolphins drafted these Quarterbacks: And it appears once Tannehill was drafted, they assumed no need to draft a QB.

    7 223 Brandon Doughty QB Western Kentucky 2016
    1 8 Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M 2012
    2 44 Pat White QB West Virginia 2009
    2 57 Chad Henne QB Michigan 2008
    2 40 John Beck QB Brigham Young 2007
    6 177 Josh Heupel QB Oklahoma 2001

    • admin

      Pat White was quite the bust. We did invest this year though… Even if Rosen does well we should buy into the QB position next year as well.

      • Steve

        Bringing Rosen to South Beach was the best moved yet in two decades, I agree we must invest in the best QB available next season even if Rosen does well.

        Its just a wild hutch but I just felted that Brady Quinn was destine to the Dolphins his draft year, one he may have played better for us and 2 it was a dumb moved not to have drafted him when he was available for us but we drafted a kick returner.

  • Steve

    Continuation no real interest for QB’s!

    2 57 Miami Dolphins Chad Henne QB Michigan Big Ten from San Diego[R2 – 10] 2008
    1 25 Miami Dolphins Vontae Davis † CB Illinois Big Ten 2009
    2 44 Miami Dolphins Pat White QB West Virginia Big East from Washington [R2 – 6] 2009
    1 28 Miami Dolphins Jared Odrick DT Penn State Big Ten from San Diego[R1 – 10] 2010
    1 15 Miami Dolphins Mike Pouncey † C Florida SEC 2011
    2 36 San Francisco 49ers Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada WAC, from Denver [R2 – 2] 2011
    1 8 Miami Dolphins Ryan Tannehill QB Texas A&M Big 12 2012
    3 75 Seattle Seahawks Russell Wilson † QB Wisconsin Big Ten 2012
    3 88 Philadelphia Eagles Nick Foles † QB Arizona Pac-12 SB52 MVP, from Houston [R3 – 10] 2012

  • Steve

    Continuation no real Quarterback interest.

    1 2 Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown † RB Auburn SEC 2005
    1 24 Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers † QB California Pac-10 2005
    1 25 Washington Redskins Jason Campbell QB Auburn SEC from Denver[ 2005
    7* 250 St. Louis Rams Ryan Fitzpatrick QB Harvard Ivy 2005
    1 16 Miami Dolphins Jason Allen S Tennessee SEC 2006
    1 9 Miami Dolphins Ted Ginn Jr. WR Ohio State Big Ten 2007
    1 22 Cleveland Browns Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame Ind. (FBS)from Dallas[21] 2007
    1 1 Miami Dolphins Jake Long † OT Michigan Big Ten [10] 2008
    1 3 Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan † QB Boston College ACC 2016 NFL MVP 2008
    1 18 Baltimore Ravens Joe Flacco QB Delaware CAA from Houston[R1-6] Super Bowl XLVII MVP drafted 2008
    2 56 Green Bay Packers Brian Brohm QB Louisville Big East from Cleveland[R2-9] 2008
    2 57 Miami Dolphins Chad Henne QB Michigan Big Ten from San Diego[R2 – 10] 2008

    • admin

      I really, really liked Ronnie… he was about to break out when he tore his ACL… liked him a lot.

  • Steve

    Hello Dol-Fans

    This is a set back for the Dolphins. Hopefully Jim Caldwell will have a speedy recovery back. Looking back on the last two decades.
    The Dolphins Best team was 2003 that season they won 10 games but it was enough to make the playoffs. I believed that team had they made the playoffs possibly could have made it to the Supper Bowl that season?
    Offense and Defense was they had. The problem was back then the Dolphins failed to draft a top round QB. Listed below is just who were the available quarterbacks for the Dolphins.

    2003 Miami Dolphins Team Season Highlights “Men At Work”
    https://youtu.be/MJEd4g8pLmk

    The 2000 team was very good they just ran out of steam.
    Miami Dolphins 2000 team
    blob:https://www.youtube.com/e8a0a512-dfc4-436b-b22c-fc8913a0e9b7

    Round
    2 39 Miami Dolphins James Johnson RB Mississippi State 1999
    2 53 Miami Dolphins Todd Wade OT Ole Miss SEC 2000
    199 New England Patriots Tom Brady † QB Michigan Big Ten 2000
    1 26 Miami Dolphins Jamar Fletcher CB Wisconsin Big Ten 2001
    2 32 San Diego Chargers Drew Brees †QB Purdue Big Ten 2001
    3 90 Miami Dolphins Seth McKinney C Texas A&M Big 12 2002
    4 108 Jacksonville Jaguars David Garrard † QB East Carolina C-USA 2002
    2 49 Miami Dolphins Eddie Moore LB Tennessee SEC 2003
    1 19 Miami Dolphins Vernon Carey OT Miami (FL) Big East from Minnesota[9]2004

  • STEPHEN FABRIZIO

    8-8 I THINK IS A LITTLE BIT OF A STRECTH. TOO MANY NEW AND YOUNG PARTS AND PIECES. I HAVE THE TEAM BETWEEN MAYBE 4-5 WINS. TOUGH VETERAN COACH LOSS. I CAN ONLY PRAY HE GETS THE TREATMENT NEEDED TO COME BACK STRONG.

    • admin

      I’m in the air, Stephen. Could be 3 wins if Flores and crew are overhyped. 4-5 wins seem the most likely if they are average. But, if they are the real deal and can pull together a solid Oline and can make use of this amorphous D and get Fitz to be smart… I could see around that 8 win mark. That though would mean we have something special here in out Florida. We’ll have a better clue by Week 3 of Preseason. I’m excited… hope I stay that way.

  • Van

    Calwell didn’t impress me but he had experience at being the head coach. Flores is now driving the Dolphin machine by braille. 8 and 8 is looking better and better!

    • admin

      Caldwell is an above Avg coach with very good experience. He isn’t elite, Van… I agree, but he isn’t great. His experience though would help with early bumps… Flores is pretty much the driving force though like you said. 8-8 would be a massive win for this franchise. I’d sign on to that with a smile.