Dolphins new coach Mike McDaniel, left, and normal supervisor Chris Grier stroll in direction of the rostrum for a press convention on Feb. 10 on the workforce’s coaching facility in Miami Gardens. (Mike Stocker, Mike Stocker / South Florida Solar)
The Miami Dolphins made a stunning change on the conclusion of the 2021 season, shifting from Brian Flores to Mike McDaniel.
Regardless of the brand new course, it might’t be thought of a rebuild after back-to-back successful seasons for the primary time since 2003, each through which the Dolphins got here up one win in need of a postseason berth. McDaniel ought to instantly be in comparison with the usual that Flores set, so neglect a couple of studying curve for the 38-year-old first-time head coach.
Flores was fired, largely, due to how he butted heads with proprietor Steve Ross and normal supervisor Chris Grier. Ross pointed to an absence of communication and collaboration when he defined the choice. Flores countered by naming the Dolphins in a class-action lawsuit towards the NFL, alleging racially biased hiring and retention practices towards Black coaches for outstanding roles. His most damning declare towards the Dolphins was that Ross supplied monetary incentive to tank and lose video games through the 2019 season, which Ross has vehemently denied.
Now, Ross and Grier employed a polar reverse in demeanor with McDaniel. To ensure that McDaniel, who has a background of teaching offense, to make them look sensible for selecting him, he must flip Miami’s offense round whereas sustaining the workforce’s protection to show the workforce right into a official playoff contender.
With most of McDaniel’s teaching employees already in place, listed here are 5 issues McDaniel and the Dolphins should do that offseason:
Handle Xavien Howard’s contract
The Dolphins can have a probably league-leading quantity of cap area, and why not use a small chunk of that to appease your finest participant and ensure he’s comfortable?
When Miami added 2021 incentives to Howard’s contract throughout coaching camp final August, it merely kicked the can down the highway, maintaining him on board for the season to get him to tug again his commerce request. After Howard’s 10-interception 2020 marketing campaign, he added one other 5 in 2021, together with one which was returned for a landing. He additionally pressured and recovered two fumbles, returning one for a landing, and will be largely credited for not less than two of Miami’s most spectacular wins together with his game-changing turnovers.
With the Dolphins maintaining defensive coordinator Josh Boyer from Flores’ regime, together with a number of different defensive assistant coaches, the scheme is more likely to stay comparable. And to ensure that Miami to have the ability to freely blitz its safeties, the workforce must be strong at cornerback with Howard, Byron Jones reverse of him and Nik Needham within the nickel.
Discover out what you've got in Tua
The Dolphins appeared intent on sticking with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for his third season earlier than McDaniel was employed, so he presumably needed to be on board with Tagovailoa earlier than accepting the job.
Now, McDaniel should discover a approach to rework Tagovailoa right into a top-tier quarterback to justify the belief in him past this season. Tagovailoa has had each viable excuse, between restoration from the hip harm that ended his school profession to lack of help inside the group with the pursuit of Deshaun Watson, to a matador offensive line and lack of offensive playmakers.
No matter what Tagovailoa has had round him, he has proven limitations together with his arm and zip on his throws. One other yr faraway from the hip harm may appease a few of these considerations, together with an offseason following rib and finger accidents that value him time in 2021. He’ll have an opportunity to show all these components have led to a few of his uneven play over two seasons, but when he has to battle via accidents once more in 2022, it’ll be troublesome to proceed to place the franchise within the arms of such an injury-prone quarterback.
Repair the offensive line
A significant component in maintaining Tagovailoa wholesome is addressing the offensive line, particularly on the deal with positions the place a lot of the stress comes from. The Dolphins have already used a lot draft capital on the road in recent times and are nonetheless arguably the worst in move safety.
There are a selection of linemen the Dolphins may draft with their choose from the 49ers on the finish of the primary spherical, however there’s legitimate motive to really feel uneasy about letting Grier draft one other lineman. A part of the repair has to come back via free company with established, veteran choices. McDaniel is aware of what a robust offensive line appears to be like like from working with the 49ers, and so does his offensive coordinator rent in Frank Smith, so their analysis expertise may assist bolster this unit.
Additionally they will determine linemen that match what they need to do offensively, a run sport that options the surface zone scheme. The Dolphins are more likely to change into a run-first offense beneath McDaniel, and that may play a job in facilitating issues for Tagovailoa.
Discover a top-shelf inside linebacker
That is the place the Dolphins’ protection can take the subsequent step. It’s already sturdy up entrance on the line of defense, particularly if Miami is ready to re-sign defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah this offseason. The move rush is there between Ogbah, Jaelan Phillips, Andrew Van Ginkel and others that even contains the safeties. That younger mixture of Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones has an abundance of potential, particularly when mixed with the cornerback protection of Howard and Jones.
Jerome Baker is a good chief to have on protection, and he’s versatile to both slide to play outdoors linebacker or get paired with one other inside linebacker when in a base 3-4 set. That might be the ultimate piece to a longtime protection that Flores turned over with McDaniel maintaining defensive coordinator Josh Boyer in that position.
Add extra playmakers
For one, if McDaniel needs to characteristic the run sport, as he’s been recognized to do, he might prioritize the working again place greater than the Dolphins did beneath Flores. Take an opportunity on an early-round again so that you’re not relying on a gaggle of late-round or undrafted backs earlier than having in-season veteran additions like Duke Johnson and Phillip Lindsay take cost within the working again room by yr’s finish.
McDaniel can have enjoyable scheming up methods to get Jaylen Waddle the ball, however he'll need assistance round him that may keep wholesome and out there. Will Fuller was anticipated to offer that as a deep menace in 2021, however Miami solely received a sport and 1 / 4 out of him that by no means coincided with Tagovailoa’s availability. Discover one other receiver to enrich the remainder of the offense. Tight finish Mike Gesicki’s lack of blocking prowess gained’t swimsuit McDaniel’s offense properly, however letting him stroll additionally opens up one other gap for a confirmed pass-catching menace.