jterrell said:
Sucked is probably too strong but honestly the Phins were stagnated not better, not worse.
They won 8,9,10,9 games and went 2-3 in the playoffs including a really tough loss to end his career.
The Phins won 9 and 10 games in the years immediately prior to Johnson taking over and 11 wins each of the 2 seasons following his stepping down as head coach.
While he did add amazing defensive talent he struggled on the offensive side not ever adding the key offensive talent they needed to win in the playoffs.
IMHO Jimmy's own ego which led him to Miami instead of Tampa Bay is why he will miss the Hall of Fame. TB had better young talent, lesser expectations and more cap room.
JT, those play off losses were brutal. The loss to Jax in particular was a slaughter.
But Jimmuh's Miami teams were playoff teams, and if not, were competitive to the wire of the regular season.
It's not something that can be easily 'proven' with stats, even wins-losses, but the last years of Shula that team was nowhere near as competitive as they were under Jimmy, and it was a long slow slide under Wanny even tho he reaped the benefit of the talent Jimmy brought in.
Shula's final years record might look pretty solid at first glance, but he was fattening up on the hapless Colts and Bills four time a year. I think in 97 and 98, those 10 and 8 win records brought the Phins only a tie for second place.
It was what was happening in the rest of the AFC East that led to bringing Jiimy in more than anything else..Tuna's quick work in NY and the remains of the Tuna installed competiveness in NE that Pete Carroll hadn't yet pissed away.
Trust me.
The Phins were more to be feared under Jimmuh then in Shula's last years, or any under Wanny.
And now with Saba, they will be back.