A prevailing thought throughout sports activities is {that a} staff takes on the persona of its coach.
It positive appears to be the case with the 2022 Miami Dolphins via their offseason and arranged staff actions.
There’s a noticeable distinction within the vibes round Dolphins gamers in new coach Mike McDaniel’s first a number of practices led than below his predecessor, Brian Flores, who was extra of a disciplinarian. Players are looser. They’re having enjoyable in follow. They’re not uptight in press conferences.
That’s to not say it’s higher or worse from a soccer perspective. Many can argue Flores, the way in which he did issues, obtained probably the most out of the Dolphins roster he had the previous two seasons, main them to back-to-back successful seasons and a win shy of a postseason berth annually.
McDaniel’s distinctive teaching fashion, which shall be coupled with a extra full roster, continues to be unproven. But, if profitable in a extremely aggressive AFC, McDaniel might in the future grow to be a trailblazer that demonstrates this strategy might work in NFL circles.
It was evident McDaniel wished to inject an easiness in his gamers as a first-time head coach when he relayed a easy message to new star receiver Tyreek Hill, whom the Dolphins acquired in a blockbuster commerce with the Kansas City Chiefs, upon him touchdown in Miami: “Just be you.”
This week, Hill needed to catch himself from being himself somewhat an excessive amount of in an interview setting, turning a solution to a query about quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s passes right into a sexual innuendo earlier than backing off the sentiment and sticking to reward of his new quarterback’s passing accuracy.
Tagovailoa himself seems refreshed. While he goes right into a pressure-packed season for his profession the place he has to point out strides in Year 3 with every part he wants round him seemingly in place, he mentioned earlier within the offseason that he doesn’t view the state of affairs as strain however, somewhat, alternative.
He additionally spoke extremely of the help he feels from McDaniel, whereas indicating he didn’t have many fond recollections of working with Flores over the earlier two seasons.
“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.”
McDaniel’s player-friendly strategy began from his first paid job as a Houston Texans offensive assistant the place he regarded to earn the respect of former Miami Hurricanes nice Andre Johnson. He did it by proving to Johnson he was there to assist him. And McDaniel does that by providing his progressive soccer thoughts.
“He’s a super genius,” mentioned receiver/returner River Cracraft, who has beforehand performed below McDaniel with the San Francisco 49ers. “That’s all you need to know. He’s smarter than everybody else, no offense to everyone else. The guy knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to prove it this year.”
Players which have skilled the earlier than and after of the transition from Flores to McDaniel have taken discover of the distinction in teaching fashion.
“We all feel the energy in here, and it just feels like a different vibe this year, for sure,” cornerback Nik Needham mentioned. “You never know what happens, but we just want to keep it going. I love what he’s doing here, for sure. He’s a great coach.”
There was a mutual respect between the gamers and their new coach from the beginning.
“We came in, we all bought in,” mentioned defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. “We gave him a chance. He gave us a chance to show what we got. It just felt natural since Day 1.”
McDaniel, 39, is younger for a head coach however nonetheless significantly older than most gamers on the Dolphins roster — most.
“It’s my first time having a head coach that is my generation, and it kind of feels like one of my buddies as the coach, which is kind of cool,” mentioned punter Thomas Morstead, 36, who signed with the Dolphins this offseason. “It’s cool to see people like him that are of a unique background getting opportunities to do what they do, provide value and help build a team.”
The Dolphins, who’ve had two weeks of organized staff actions, shift to a two-day necessary minicamp on Wednesday and Thursday, earlier than one closing week of OTAs to comply with. Around late July, coaching camp will start forward of the 2022 season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com