The Miami Dolphins offense will change the NFL

By Michael Isaac Jacobs | Last updated Sep 28, 2023 12:08 AM ET

The Miami Dolphins' high-powered, innovative offense is all that and a bag of chips. Years from now, the Dolphins version of the run-pass option, programmed by head coach Mike McDaniel and orchestrated by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, will be remembered the same way as the Buffalo Bills no-huddle in the early '90s and the St. Louis Rams' "Greatest Show on Turf" in the early 2000s.

"[Dolphins head coach] Mike McDaniel does a great job of being creative with how he uses his skill players, and getting them set up to play to their strengths," former Rams QB and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner said, as per Clutch Point's Nick Meyer. "And their kind of aggressive nature to throw the football, and even though they throw it in a different way, they’re very explosive just like we were very explosive."

The Dolphins offense is bussin' in such a historic fashion that they are on pace to annihilate some lofty records. Through the first three weeks of the season, the Dolphins are averaging 552 yards of offense per game, which is impressive on its own, but also 219 yards above the National Football League average. That's completely astounding and equal parts insane.

Bills HC Sean McDermott, who will face the Dolphins this Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, understands that his AFC East division rival has already transformed the NFL.

"Very good skill. Tua is throwing the ball extremely well. And their schematics are almost revolutionary in what they do," McDermott said, as per NFL.com's Kevin Patra. "Coach (Mike) McDaniel is very creative and does a lot of things to get you out of position on defense."

At this moment, every defensive coordinator in the league has the Dolphins game tape on a continuous loop with hopes of concocting an antidote for how Miami poisons its enemies. No team wants to suffer an embarrassing loss as large as the one the Denver Broncos did in Week 3 against the Dolphins.

Likewise, there is no doubt that other teams will try to emulate the Dolphins, but to mimic them would require the proper personnel. The Dolphins have four of the top 10 fastest players in professional football: wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill along with running backs De'Von Achane and Raheem Mostert.

The rookie Achane, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M, was clocked at 21.93 mph when he scored the seventh Dolphins touchdown of the day against the Broncos. It's the top speed out of anyone to date in 2023.

There is nothing gimmicky about McDaniel's play calling. The Dolphins execute the most RPO plays in the NFL – which allows Tagovailoa to utilize his lightning release and sharpshooter accuracy – but they also line up in traditional sets and can switch seamlessly between different looks based on what the defense puts out there.

McDaniel's design is for his QB to assess the tendencies of the defense before the ball is snapped. Based on the defensive front, Tagovailoa moves the chess pieces around before he yells "hike!." This creates matchup issues and misdirection to take away premier defenders from the point of attack. Ultimately, Tagovailoa, who has the highest passer rating in the league, deciphers which boxed area of the field gives the Dolphins the biggest opportunity for yards after the catch.

Last season, the Dolphins drew up more WR screens and short zone reads to connect on quick slants over the middle, mainly because their running game never materialized. So far this year, the Dolphins offensive line has dominated, which has given their featured back, Mostert, cut-back lanes. Since defenses must give Hill and Waddle extra attention, the Dolphins rushing attack has fewer defenders to worry about.

If Tagovailoa sees a safety or two moving up towards the line of scrimmage in anticipation of a run play, he can pull the hand-off back and zoom a pass downfield to one of his star receivers. The Dolphins have options and thus far everything has clicked perfectly.

At some point, someone will figure out how to contain this record-breaking offense, which will mean that NFL defenses will change. McDaniel will then have to adjust, but until that happens, he can pop open a bag of Lay's every Sunday and watch his team crunch the opposition.

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