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Fiedler fitting in Miami QB taking the reins and swimming with 'em
Every Tuesday during the NFL season, CNNSI.com's Pat Kirwan will recognize the players and coaches who don't see much of the spotlight but get the job done. At the end of the season Pat will present his Unsung Coach of the Year award in the memory of former NFL player and coach Chip Myers. In January 1999, after having served as an NFL assistant for 15 years, Myers was named Vikings offensive coordinator. Just a month later Myers suffered a fatal heart attack. On the night that the Dolphins proclaimed Dan Marino as the greatest Dolphin and one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, Jay Fiedler led Miami to a 19-6 victory over a very good Ravens defense. There had been a lot of controversy surrounding the choice of Fiedler as the starter (even Marino felt Damon Huard deserved to start). But Fiedler looked relaxed all night long completing 11 of 16 in the pouring rain for a modest 160 yards and a touchdown. It was more than enough to beat Baltimore in Fiedler's best performance as a pro under a lot of pressure. Outside of a one-year stint as head coach of the now defunct USFL San Antonio franchise, Dolphins defensive coordinator Jim Bates had been a position coach in the league for nine years prior to accepting the coordinator role in Miami this year. The Dolphins defense has given up the fewest points in the NFL after three weeks. On Sunday the unit corralled the Ravens, who converted just 2 of 10 third downs and gave up six sacks. The Miami offense is starting to play better and that should make the defense look even better in the next few weeks. In his first season as the Packers defensive coordinator, Ed Donatell is in the process of changing the defense into an attacking man-to-man blitzing scheme. The Green Bay defense held the Eagles to 118 yards passing and a mere 171 yards overall. The Pack sacked quarterback Donovan McNabb five times and grabbed one interception. What's even more impressive was that Brett Favre threw three interceptions and tight end Tyrone Davis lost a fumble. Philadelphia got four extra series starts and they still didn't get a touchdown off the Packers defense. Seahawks tight end Itula Mili had just one start last season but is becoming a productive receiver this year. The former 1997 sixth-round pick caught four passes for 22 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Prior to this season he only had six career receptions; already this season he has eight for 84 yards. Whenever anyone talks about the Vikings receivers, all you hear about is Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Although he has no career starts, wideout Matt Hatchette is considered one of the very best backups in the league. While the fourth-year player caught only two balls for 46 yards against the Patriots, one a 39-yard TD, there aren't many better third receivers in the league. When I worked for the Jets, we drafted a young safety out of Texas Tech in 1996 and thought we'd try him as a corner. Now Marcus Coleman is a starter. On Sunday he turned in seven tackles and an assist, plus he scored a touchdown on a Hail Mary play when he was inserted into the two-minute offense with no time left in the first half. I think you can say this was a successful project. Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel adminstrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated. Unsung Heroes appears every Tuesday at CNNSI.com.
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