Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel should command a room. Even with an 0-2 start to the season, he’s not giving up on the league’s worst team just yet. Following a narrow 33-27 defeat to the New England Patriots in his home opener on Sunday, McDaniel acknowledged the need for improvements but emphasized his focus on the upcoming game against the Buffalo Bills.
As the offensive coordinator, McDaniel’s commitment to getting the play call in on time worked. Yet, at the same time, he admitted he needed to do a better job overseeing the way in which he replaced employees. This same issue led to a series of missed opportunities in the closing seconds of the game against the Patriots. The Dolphins had multiple opportunities to go ahead, though they committed two turnovers in crucial situations.
I was frustrated with the communication with the guys inside the huddle and then what the personnel is, then the play,” McDaniel stated after the game. He understood that these mistakes at the end of the day lost his team an opportunity for the win.
Even through the angst caused by the defeat and the new team’s 1-2 record, McDaniel isn’t worried about job security. He stated, “I think if I worry about my job security, I won’t be doing my job — and I think that inherently is against all things that I believe in.” He further elaborated on his commitment to improvement, saying, “I’ve never felt entitled to this position and it’s very important for me to spend all my waking hours worrying about exactly how to do my job.”
As I previously wrote, the Dolphins don’t have an easy schedule ahead of them over the next several weeks. McDaniel is undeterred, focused on getting his squad ready for their upcoming opponents. Now he’s getting ready for Thursday’s clash with the Bills. He reiterated in no uncertain terms that he will not allow outside influence to intimidate him from doing his job. “I won’t spend one moment thinking about all the things that, whatever people want me to think about,” he remarked.
McDaniel empathetically addressed the frustrations of the fans who watched their team’s awful start to the 2022 season unfold. Though he did not witness any of the banners unfurled by angry fans, he sympathized with their feelings. “Fans want their team to win … I don’t think it’s personal,” he explained.
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa got on board with McDaniel’s sentiments regarding expectations from fans. “I think they want to win,” he said. The connection between McDaniel and Tagovailoa speaks volumes about both men’s pledge to making this thing work again.
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