With the 2022 NFL season quick approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a have a look at 10 storylines to observe for in a 10-part collection forward of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of coaching camp, which is ready for July 27.
Bringing in Mike McDaniel because the Miami Dolphins’ new head coach this offseason was a 180-degree turnaround from the persona of his predecessor, Brian Flores.
McDaniel is incorporating a gamers’ coach method that counters the disciplinarian, Belichickean fashion Flores deployed.
Time will inform if it results in the franchise taking the subsequent step in reaching the playoffs for the primary time because the 2016 season and possibly successful a postseason sport for the primary time because the 2000 season. After all, Flores did appear to get essentially the most out of his groups, main the Dolphins to back-to-back successful seasons and, earlier than that, squeezing 5 wins out of a 2019 roster designed to tank — though possibly he and the franchise weren’t on the identical web page there. That’s a subject for an additional day.
McDaniel has come into his first head teaching gig with a transparent intent to empower gamers and instill confidence in them. Nowhere is that extra evident than within the method he has included with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Everything McDaniel, his teaching employees and gamers have mentioned publicly about Tagovailoa all through the offseason has been ultra-positive. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith and quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell have adopted swimsuit with McDaniel, stating they really feel Tagovailoa could make all of the throws required of him. The greatest outdoors criticism of Tagovailoa, after all, is that his arm power limits his capacity to throw downfield and squeeze intermediate sideline passes into tight home windows.
The Dolphins’ prized offseason acquisition, star extensive receiver Tyreek Hill, has led the participant cost in fulfilling McDaniel’s needs of backing up Tagovailoa. Hill has deemed Tagovailoa’s passes fairly, and has gone so far as calling him a extra correct passer than his earlier quarterback in Kansas City, Patrick Mahomes, who has possibly been the very best within the sport within the time they performed collectively.
Hill made these feedback that drew lots of nationwide media backlash on his new podcast that he unveiled this offseason. His voice on this new outlet for him is consultant of McDaniel’s first message to Hill upon his arrival in Miami: “Just be you.”
That’s the overriding demeanor that has been seen from gamers in press conferences via Dolphins organized group actions and minicamp forward of coaching camp, which begins on July 26.
Players seem extra free talking publicly. They’re not uptight within the press-conference setting like in 2021, seemingly afraid that one thing they let slip will result in a scolding from Flores.
Tagovailoa has had a few of his most open, sincere conversations with the media, firing again at “Twitter warriors” that criticize his throws after a follow the place he linked on two deep passes to Hill. He has been pointed in noting that he feels better assist from his new coach than he did beneath Flores.
“I think support, for any of us, means a lot,” Tagovailoa mentioned. “To be able to have the support of the head coach, the head guy, that should tell you a lot.”
Schematically, McDaniel is in Miami to revamp the offense, incorporating what made him a profitable offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and run-game coordinator earlier than that.
In San Francisco, McDaniel orchestrated one of many NFL’s prime dashing assaults together with his wide-zone scheme that was efficient irrespective of who he had carrying the ball out of the backfield.
He’ll have among the instruments he wants to duplicate it with the Dolphins. The group’s prime free-agent addition was left deal with Terron Armstead, a bulldozer of a run blocker. McDaniel can work the Dolphins’ in any other case younger line with him and fellow acquisition Connor Williams, a four-year NFL guard who practiced at heart in OTAs and minicamp.
The Dolphins have constructed a committee within the backfield that may have any of numerous backs contribute. Chase Edmonds, over from the Arizona Cardinals, is a dynamic playmaker that may catch the ball out of the backfield. Raheem Mostert, who has performed beneath McDaniel with the 49ers, possesses the elite velocity. Sony Michel, making a South Florida homecoming, could be a bodily runner. The Dolphins additionally nonetheless have Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed at working again, and Alec Ingold is the lead-blocking fullback that makes the run sport complete.
The dashing assault can facilitate Tagovailoa’s throws. Hill and Jaylen Waddle will get open extra simply, together with tight finish Mike Gesicki and slot receiver Cedrick Wilson. McDaniel’s innovation and creativity offensively can put Miami’s playmakers in distinctive positions to contribute. And an efficient floor sport can relieve an offensive line that struggled in go safety final season from being in so lots of these conditions.
McDaniel additionally got here to the Dolphins with the mindset of sustaining what labored, the protection. Defensive coordinator Josh Boyer must show he can run that aspect of the ball on his personal, with out Flores or defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander, however nearly every little thing else on final 12 months’s protection that was nice the second half of the 12 months remained fixed.
Previously addressed
Can Dolphins get similar manufacturing from Tyreek Hill in Miami?
Will Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer be capable to show he doesn’t want Brian Flores’ assist?
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Source: www.bostonherald.com