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Mularkey now calling plays for the Dolphins
DAVIE — First-year head coach Cam Cameron, who gave himself the responsibility to call plays when he joined the Dolphins, called an audible after the team's 0-11 start.
Starting in Sunday's loss to the New York Jets, tight ends coach Mike Mularkey - the Dolphins' offensive coordinator last season - called the plays from the coaches' booth high above the field.
Cameron retains the option of changing the call, but Mularkey now initiates it.
Previously, the plays went directly from Cameron to the quarterback on the field, back-up quarterback Cleo Lemon said Wednesday.
"Cam was calling the plays," Lemon said. "The plays didn't come from anybody else. They came from Cam.
"Now they come from upstairs." With Mularkey calling the plays, veteran quarterback Trent Green, who started the season's first five games, relays the play to the microphone in the helmet of rookie starter John Beck.
Like before, Cameron and his offensive assistants discuss strategy over headsets during the game.
"It is a collective effort," Cameron said. "But all calls go through me." Giving more responsibility to Mularkey, who also has been offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-03), lessens the load on Cameron.
"We changed it up so Mularkey started calling the plays," said Lemon, who also wears a headset to listens to the conversation among offensive coaches. "That's how Trent became the facilitator and Cam could focus on other things in the game." When Cameron was hired in January, he said he would serve as offensive coordinator but might hire one at some point.
The Dolphins' poor offensive performance, along with problems managing the clock, has prompted some critics to say Cameron has been trying to do too much.
Season-ending injuries to Green and running back Ronnie Brown, coupled with the team's decision to trade wide receiver Chris Chambers in October, have contributed to the struggles. Miami's offense has failed to score a touchdown in three consecutive games and ranks 27th in the NFL in scoring offense (16.3-point average).
The Dolphins' offense averaged 16.2 points in 2006 under Mularkey.
Green said he didn't notice any big changes in offensive strategy in the 40-13 loss to the Jets.
"They're both on the same page," Green said of Cameron and Mularkey. "It wasn't like all the sudden we went drastically different this week.
"Everybody is talking to figure out the best thing. Whether Mike or Cam or whoever's inputting who, it's all communication." Beck, on the other hand, looked like a different player than he did in his previous two starts. He suffered his first three interceptions and fumbled three times when he was sacked.
"That was probably a pretty rough game," Beck said Wednesday. "I don't think I've had one like that, not that I can remember. ...
"But at this time the best thing I can do is face it, learn from it and move on."
Starting in Sunday's loss to the New York Jets, tight ends coach Mike Mularkey - the Dolphins' offensive coordinator last season - called the plays from the coaches' booth high above the field.
Cameron retains the option of changing the call, but Mularkey now initiates it.
Previously, the plays went directly from Cameron to the quarterback on the field, back-up quarterback Cleo Lemon said Wednesday.
"Cam was calling the plays," Lemon said. "The plays didn't come from anybody else. They came from Cam.
"Now they come from upstairs." With Mularkey calling the plays, veteran quarterback Trent Green, who started the season's first five games, relays the play to the microphone in the helmet of rookie starter John Beck.
Like before, Cameron and his offensive assistants discuss strategy over headsets during the game.
"It is a collective effort," Cameron said. "But all calls go through me." Giving more responsibility to Mularkey, who also has been offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers (2001-03), lessens the load on Cameron.
"We changed it up so Mularkey started calling the plays," said Lemon, who also wears a headset to listens to the conversation among offensive coaches. "That's how Trent became the facilitator and Cam could focus on other things in the game." When Cameron was hired in January, he said he would serve as offensive coordinator but might hire one at some point.
The Dolphins' poor offensive performance, along with problems managing the clock, has prompted some critics to say Cameron has been trying to do too much.
Season-ending injuries to Green and running back Ronnie Brown, coupled with the team's decision to trade wide receiver Chris Chambers in October, have contributed to the struggles. Miami's offense has failed to score a touchdown in three consecutive games and ranks 27th in the NFL in scoring offense (16.3-point average).
The Dolphins' offense averaged 16.2 points in 2006 under Mularkey.
Green said he didn't notice any big changes in offensive strategy in the 40-13 loss to the Jets.
"They're both on the same page," Green said of Cameron and Mularkey. "It wasn't like all the sudden we went drastically different this week.
"Everybody is talking to figure out the best thing. Whether Mike or Cam or whoever's inputting who, it's all communication." Beck, on the other hand, looked like a different player than he did in his previous two starts. He suffered his first three interceptions and fumbled three times when he was sacked.
"That was probably a pretty rough game," Beck said Wednesday. "I don't think I've had one like that, not that I can remember. ...
"But at this time the best thing I can do is face it, learn from it and move on."
I need a hug. Or a gun.
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