Miami Dolphins News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Mike McDaniel Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

HC Mike McDaniel gave Dolphins this attribute in victory

By Michael Isaac Jacobs | Last updated 9/10/23

No one can ever accuse Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel of being hesitant. He seems like the type of guy who knows exactly what he wants to order without even looking at a menu.

McDaniel's decisiveness seems to spread through his entire team, and, in Week 1 of the 2023-24 season, the Dolphins served up a comeback road win for their leader against the San Diego Chargers. It was a 36-34 thriller, the kind of game that gets the guys hitting a little harder, running a little faster.

That's because the Dolphins played with the confidence of their coach.

There was one play that shows just how much McDaniel believes in his group. On a fourth-and-7 with about three minutes to go in the first half, McDaniel went for it at the Chargers' 42-yard line, without blinking. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed a 17-yard pass to tight end Durham Smythe to get the first down.

McDaniel, who is in his second year with the Dolphins, loves to go for it. He's a quirky, witty guy, who also exudes calm and poise. McDaniel patrols the sideline wearing gold aviators and a reassuring smile, almost as if he has no worries.

After the win against the Chargers, McDaniel looked supremely confident that his team plays for each other.

“We’ve got each others back.”

Go inside the locker room after the week one win. pic.twitter.com/nbnZ0pTQFv
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 11, 2023

One of the few coaches who also doubles as a coordinator, McDaniel has been dubbed an offensive genius and he's the one that calls each play in to Tagovailoa.

McDaniel's offense produced a staggering 536 yards versus the Chargers and kept Tagovailoa on his feet. The Dolphins QB threw for 466 yards and was not sacked once, even without their most important lineman, left tackle Terron Armstead, all while facing a defense that features pass-rushing specialist Joey Bosa.

Even when the Chargers had time on the clock to get into field-goal position for a game-winning kick, McDaniel knew that his defense, which had struggled all game, would make the stop the Dolphins needed.

Dolphins defensive end Jaelan Phillips got to Chargers QB Justin Herbert on a fourth-and-12 with a minute left in the fourth quarter for the walk-off sack.

“There’ll be a game this year, I told the guys in the locker room, where we’ll have to win the game without scoring a touchdown,” McDaniel said, as per Pro Football Talk. “Teams find a way. I was really pumped about that. It was just weathering the storm, doing what you have to do on both sides of the ball. If we need points, go and get two points, and if we need to stop, get a stop.”

McDaniel's belief in his guys won't stop any time soon. Let's see what the Dolphins do for the second course when they travel to New England for a primetime date with the Patriots next Sunday night.

More must-reads: