Mike Smith edges Tony Sparano by 1 vote for COY

ajk23az

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Per Rotoworld and MSNBC Sports (http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/28493629/)

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Smith edges Sparano by 1 vote for Coach of Year
Both coaches sparked turnarounds from last-place finishes to playoffs

NEW YORK - Mike Smith and Tony Sparano performed so brilliantly as rookie head coaches it was almost impossible to separate them.

Atlanta’s Smith edged Miami’s Sparano by one vote Sunday for The Associated Press 2008 NFL Coach of the Year award.

Both coaches oversaw sensational turnarounds, leading their teams from last-place finishes in 2007 to playoff berths this year. Their achievements were reflected by the closeness of the balloting, with Smith getting 23½ votes and Sparano 22½ from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL.

After improving from 4-12 to 11-5 and making the NFC playoffs as a wild card, the Falcons fell 30-24 at Arizona on Saturday night. That should not detract from a memorable season that bodes well for the football future in Atlanta.

“I think we have tried to establish that we’d be very systematic in how we did things, that we were going to have a plan,” said Smith, who helped guide quarterback Matt Ryan to the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Smith also had a first-time starter at running back, Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. “We laid that plan out from the very beginning how we were going to practice, how we were going to travel, how we were going to meet, how we were going to communicate, and I think the guys really appreciated definitely how we presented the plan in the framework for us to start the season.”

Smith also had to deal with a makeover of the Falcons organization and its image following the incarceration of quarterback Michael Vick for dogfighting and the resignation after 13 games last season by coach Bobby Petrino. He left Jacksonville, where he was the defensive coordinator, to take on one of the biggest rebuilding challenges in sports.

“We went through every bit of pain last year that an NFL owner or a franchise or a community of fans could imagine,” said Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who hired Thomas Dimitroff away from New England to be general manager before hiring Smith. “At least that’s my viewpoint. On the other hand, to see things come around this year as well as they have, it’s just a tribute to the men involved who are making these decisions.”

Sparano, a former offensive line coach in Dallas, joined Bill Parcells with the Dolphins and the makeover in Miami was just as impressive as in Atlanta. The Dolphins were 1-15 a year ago before cleaning house, and Sparano guided them to an 11-5 mark that won the AFC East. They were hosting Baltimore on Sunday in a wild-card game.

Sparano echoes Smith’s philosophy on establishing a winning identity.

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“You have to have some kind of luck,” Sparano said. “But I think part of it is a philosophy you try to put into place. You want to make sure they understand from Day 1 that if you’re a guy who thinks being in the training room is a good habit, it can get you beat. Not being on the practice field, we don’t get better at fundamentals and our techniques.”

Only one team has ever improved as much as Miami’s 10-game turnaround: the 1999 Indianapolis Colts.

Just four coaches received votes despite a year in which a half-dozen did exemplary work. Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher, the longest-tenured coach in the league, received three votes, while last year’s winner, Bill Belichick of New England, got one.

Smith is the second Falcons coach to win the award; Dan Reeves got it in 1998 — when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl.
 

Chocolate Lab

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Tony Sparano was probably more deserving

I think Smith was definitely more deserving. Sparano was able to bring in several coaches he was familiar with, had Parcells overseeing things, and -- most of all -- had an experienced solid QB to run an offense he already knew.

Smith did it all with a ROOKIE Qb. That's pretty amazing.
 

CF74

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Yeah the Falcons over came the Vick debacle, it's only fitting...
 

OAM

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You go from 1-15 to 11-5 and win your division with Belichick in there your first year taking over the team no one gets that award over you. Mike Smith did a great job this year but Sparano totally made history this year with that turnaround. The humble Italian got snuffed because the Home Depot owner needs positive publicity for his team.

I look at Miami's roster and I have no other clue to understand how they have won more than 4 games this season other than coaching. This is regardless of the division they play in with Brady being hurt. This is considering they play Buffalo twice this year and lost once to them. Tony Sparano is a miracle worker. The wild cat offense, lol!
 

OAM

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CowboyFan74;2552998 said:
Yeah the Falcons over came the Vick debacle, it's only fitting...

While dealing with the Mike Vick debacle Atlanta still manage a 4-12 record. Not great but better than 1-15 by leaps and bounds. Let's not forget, Pennington was not with Miami up until the last month of training camp. People say he was familiar with the system?

Why because he played for Parcells when Parcells drafted him a decade ago while on the Jets? Hahahaha, yah OK! This is Tony Sparano's offense, not Bill Parcells offense. Parcells is the personnel executive on this team. Not the game planner and certainly not the play caller. Not even coaching players on execution. Tony Sparano was overlooked at Dallas and now has to be overshadowed by Parcells after going from1-15 to 11-5? Unreal!
 

OAM

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Displaced Cowboy;2553009 said:
I just want to know how Wade Phillips didn't get a single vote.

Hahahahahhahahahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! That is so funny, you're awesome man.
 

Chocolate Lab

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OAM;2553025 said:
While dealing with the Mike Vick debacle Atlanta still manage a 4-12 record. Not great but better than 1-15 by leaps and bounds. Let's not forget, Pennington was not with Miami up until the last month of training camp. People say he was familiar with the system?

Why because he played for Parcells when Parcells drafted him a decade ago while on the Jets? Hahahaha, yah OK! This is Tony Sparano's offense, not Bill Parcells offense. Parcells is the personnel executive on this team. Not the game planner and certainly not the play caller. Not even coaching players on execution. Tony Sparano was overlooked at Dallas and now has to be overshadowed by Parcells after going from1-15 to 11-5? Unreal!

You have no idea who the Fins' offensive coordinator is, do you?

Are you related to Sparano? "The humble Italian" got snuffed by the Home Depot owner? What the hell?
 

Eddie

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If the Fins can beat the Ravens and advance in the playoffs, there's no doubt who deserves the COY award.
 

Temo

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Chocolate Lab;2553083 said:
You have no idea who the Fins' offensive coordinator is, do you?

Are you related to Sparano? "The humble Italian" got snuffed by the Home Depot owner? What the hell?

1. Chad Pennington became the starter for the Jets in 2002, Dan Henning's last season with the Jets was 2000.

2. This is as much Tony Sparano's and David Lee's offense as Dan Henning anyway.

That being said, I have no doubt that Pennington had a full grasp of the offense, probably even more so than Ryan. He's that smart a guy.
 

Venger

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Displaced Cowboy;2553009 said:
I just want to know how Wade Phillips didn't get a single vote.

Post of the day.

I would have voted for Sparano - 1-15 to 11-5 and winning your division which includes the Patriots who went 16-0 last year is an impressive accomplisment, in any league.
 

Chocolate Lab

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Temo;2553136 said:
1. Chad Pennington became the starter for the Jets in 2002, Dan Henning's last season with the Jets was 2000.

2. This is as much Tony Sparano's and David Lee's offense as Dan Henning anyway.

That being said, I have no doubt that Pennington had a full grasp of the offense, probably even more so than Ryan. He's that smart a guy.

The point is that Henning's offense is still Parcells' offense. Where do you think Sparano got his offense from?

And David Lee's offense? He's just a QB coach.

I do give Sparano mad props for running the wildcat in the pros, though. I've always wanted to see that.
 
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