A deep dive into Mike McDaniel’s offensive scheme: wide zone RPOs

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New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was one of the architects behind a San Francisco 49ers rushing offense that ranked in the upper half of the NFL in rushing yards per game in four of his five seasons as San Francisco’s run game coordinator (2017-2020) and offensive coordinator (2021).

 

 

 

One foundation of this rushing offense was the wide zone (not to be confused with the outside zone, which was another principle of the 49ers’ run game). The purpose of running wide zone variations is to use the horizontal momentum of defensive linemen against them by creating leverage and forcing defensive backs who may not be accustomed to tackling to engage in the run game.

 

The overall horizontal movement of the defense because of these running plays often causes the middle of the field to be left wide open, even more so when the defense is in single-high or cover-zero coverage looks.

 

Combining these wide zone running actions with weak-side slant routes on run-pass options (RPOs) allows the quarterback to make simple reads to determine where the ball should go.

 

 

Another variation of the wide zone RPOs that I expect McDaniel to bring to Miami is with a bubble screen in 11 personnel (one running back and one tight end). The 49ers have used Pro Bowl wide receiver Deebo Samuel in these packages over the past few seasons to great success.

 

This offensive look aims to spread out opposing defenses and put the ball in the hands of playmakers who operate best in open field space. The quarterback in this RPO variation has two options regarding where to go with the ball: hand it off to the running back, who will look to follow the butt of the play-side offensive tackle and then cut up field, or throw a quick pass to the motioning receiver on the bubble screen. That’s it.

 

 

 

Given the confusion that RPOs in general cause defenses, a lot of these reads made by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be performed before the snap even happens. 

A rule of thumb I use to determine an RPO read pre-snap is to compare the number of blockers against the number of defenders in the tight end box. If the number of blockers equals or exceeds the number of defenders, expect a run, but if the number of defenders surpasses the number of blockers, expect a pass. This is not a foolproof method by any means, but I have noticed it is accurate more often than not. Try it next time you are watching a team that runs a surplus of various RPO packages.

 

These wide zone RPO variants are just one of the many ways I expect McDaniel to formulate an offensive scheme that aligns with the strengths of Tagovailoa and the rest of Miami’s offense.

 

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Tua Tagovailoa should have competition to push him for the Miami Dolphins starting job next season

Fresh Perspective: Building the 2022 Miami Dolphins – Quarterback

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Welcome to the next installment of this offseason plan. Now that the cuts to the roster have been established, it’s time to start rebuilding the Miami Dolphins roster, starting with arguably the most important position of all: Quarterback.

Undoubtedly, Tua Tagovailoa is going to be with the team in 2022. New head coach Mike McDaniel made that abundantly clear during his trip to Miami. However, Tagovailoa is already being viewed by many as a bust. He isn’t measuring up to his fellow 2020 draftees, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow.

Part of the reason for their success is because they are more physically gifted than Tagovailoa. Herbert in particular is a magnificent physical specimen, the perfect prototype QB. However, there is a more subtle reason for their greater success. Both Herbert and Burrow were given much more support than Tagovailoa.

Whether it’s fair or not, it feels like the narrative on Tagovailoa is already written. His arm is too weak, he’s physically limited, he struggles in cold weather. The list goes on and on. Surely, with these limitations, he can’t be the answer for the Miami Dolphins. Or so everyone says.

The opinion of this writer has been well-documented on Twitter and in articles. The Cult of Tua, or TuAnon – as they are now called – built Tagovailoa up as this spectacular, game-changing individual who would miraculously save the franchise from its state of mediocrity. Since that has not happened, he must not be good enough.

Or, alternatively, the type of player he is takes longer to develop.

Quarterbacks who are supremely physically gifted – Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert – can reach their ceilings faster than the likes of Tagovailoa. That doesn’t make him a bust, it just makes him different.

Free Agency

That said, there’s no reason why Tagovailoa shouldn’t have to compete for the starting job. Unless the quarterback position is settled beyond the shadow of a doubt, competition is always good to have. Jacoby Brissett, who is an impending free agent, was not good as a starter or even a backup. Even injured, Tagovailoa performed better than the veteran. It’s possible that if Brian Flores had allowed Tagovailoa to play when he said he was ready, Miami could have made the playoffs and he would still be the head coach. Regardless, Brissett is not the answer to push Tagovailoa.

However, there is a free agent veteran who could provide that competition. He could be had at a fair price, he fits the same quarterback mold, and he’s even a Miami native.

It’s time to bring Teddy Bridgewater home.

Back in 2019, the Dolphins were very close to signing Bridgewater to be their bridge QB. “It was very tempting,” Bridgewater said via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “You have an opportunity to be home, play in front of your family and friends, the community you grew up was very tempting.”

Ultimately, he chose not to sign when things fell through. Perhaps this time, coming off a season-ending concussion, Bridgewater will be more open to competing for a starting job. Last season he was given a 1-year, $4,437,000 contract, with a vast majority of that contract guaranteed. He threw for 3,052 yards with 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions and an average of 7.2 yards per attempt in the 14 games he started for the Denver Broncos.

Bridgewater and Tagovailoa have the same style of play. Neither are big-armed, nor the most athletic. However, they are technicians with the football, which means the offense would need minimal change in substitutions. It’s a perfect fit, and Bridgewater could potentially be had for around $5-6 million dollars if it’s guaranteed. May the best man win.

NFL Draft

In all honesty, this QB draft class is bad. Even the projected first round picks are nothing special. With this in mind, Miami has no pressing need to draft a quarterback. If anything, they should hunt for developmental undrafted free agents after it’s over.

One possible target for the Dolphins to look at post-draft is Kaleb Eleby out of Western Michigan. In some draft circles, Eleby is projected as an undrafted free agent. His game is best served in an RPO system, which makes him a fit for what Miami is likely to do. Like Tua Tagovailoa, Eleby is slippery in the pocket, and he takes care of the football.

However, drafting a quarterback shouldn’t be Miami’s top priority. Assuming the Dolphins aren’t stripped of draft picks, the Dolphins will have ample opportunity to try again in 2023 if they so desire. 2022 should be about building around the quarterbacks already present. They will undoubtedly pick up a fringe free agent or a UDFA quarterback to throw in training camp, but that should be all.

Final Roster Projection

Between Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, the Miami Dolphins should be set at quarterback. True, they both have injury history, but Bridgewater is the best fit and has the best chance to step in if something happens to Tagovailoa. Not only that, of all the QBs they could sign, Bridgewater can push for the starting job the hardest.

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So for the final 53-man roster, the count is simply these two:

  • Tua Tagovailoa
  • Teddy Bridgewater

That fills two slots on the roster. Next time, it’s going to be the running backs. With Mike McDaniel as the head coach, the Dolphins should consider finding a talented running back this offseason. Just because McDaniel makes it work with lesser backs, doesn’t mean it’s ideal. Miami needs to find talent at running back again.

It’s been a long time.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Portland Can’t do Anything Right

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A few licks were hit on the Portland Trail Blazers in just six days.  The aftermath resulted in Tchaikovsky’s Chanson Triste echoing in the background of the wasteland Rip City created.  Portland’s latest maneuvers indicate that a rebuild of the roster is in effect.  Regrettably for them, management’s incompetence has royally screwed the team and fanbase.

 

Portland is fooling themselves if they think these transactions were a success.  The only positive is that it creates $50.5 million in cap space for Free Agency 2022, although they’ll have eight players on the books.  Even with all that spending money, it doesn’t mean anything if they can’t convince a difference maker to sign on.  Which could lead to a mammoth dilemma going forward.

 

What if Lillard asks out?  He’ll turn 32 on July 15, and I don’t believe he has the slightest inclination to start from scratch while he is still an elite player.  It could cost him individual recognition if the team performs poorly.  Voters are usually less willing to choose someone at the bottom of the conference to participate in the All-Star game or for a nod on the three All-NBA teams.  But most importantly, if Lillard sticks around, the hairs on his head might turn gray before he plays in another meaningful ball game in April-June.

 

Since #0 entered the NBA in 2012, he has been a role model and one the league’s best players. In his 10 years balling, he has ascended to the pantheon of great Trail Blazers with a spot next to Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler as the organization’s finest. And as recently as October, Lillard was voted into the NBA’s list of top 75 players ever.  

 

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Almost three years ago, Lillard said he’d rather keep trying in Portland and come up short than go somewhere for the opportunity.  It was bold and a reflection of Lillard’s character.  But sometimes people get to a point where they’ve had enough.  Those taken for granted, like Lillard, will not be denounced by my words when they have held up their part of the deal.  

 

It’s been widely reported that Lillard was unhappy with his team’s direction since before he participated in the Olympic games.  I would imagine he feels worse today because the execs handling the roster have fallen asleep at their desks.

 

I’m not a betting man, but if I were to indulge, I’d put my money on Lillard finishing his career in another uniform.  Perhaps he starts to worry about how his legacy stacks up in comparison to  his peers. Or maybe, he leaves because it’s not fun anymore.

 

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Eric Rowe could be a cap casualty in the offseason for the Miami Dolphins

Fresh Perspective: Building the 2022 Miami Dolphins – Roster Cuts

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With the Miami Dolphins projected to have anywhere between $67 and $75 million in salary cap space, the franchise is set to be a big player in free agency. Generally, the Dolphins haven’t fared well in years where they “win the offseason,” but this upcoming year has different circumstances.

In spite of the way the season ended, the talent on the roster is worth building on. Brian Flores got them going too late, allowing a 7-game losing streak. But that doesn’t mean the players are necessarily bad. There’s a good core to work with. There was enough talent to drag the team to a second consecutive winning season at 9-8. Brian Flores being fired had everything to do with outside factors, not his on-the-field coaching prowess.

Miami interviewed several different coaching candidates, and the winner turned out to be former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Already, McDaniel has made it a point to build a rapport with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, which indicates that the Dolphins will be focusing on building a system around the former Alabama standout. With his innovative football mind and strong emphasis on building a running game, McDaniel seems to have a plan in mind to make that happen.

However, before the Miami Dolphins can start adding new pieces, they need to trim some of the fat. There are at least a few players on the roster that are expendable.

As always, this roster build is strictly based on personal assessment. Perhaps Mike McDaniel has plans for these players, or perhaps he will see things the same way as here. Regardless, it is time for this offseason series to begin, starting with roster subtractions.

Roster Cuts

Assuming the cap space will be on the low end, that gives Miami $67 million dollars to use in free agency. However, there are a few players who the Dolphins could cut ties with to give themselves even more room.

The first and most obvious choice would be to release players who contributed little or nothing to the 2021 season. Right off the bat, WR Allen Hurns and TE/FB Cethan Carter are easy cuts.

This is the second season in a row that the veteran Hurns has been a non-factor for the Dolphins. There’s no point in keeping him around a third year. As for Carter, he rarely ever saw the field. He played in all 16 games but he made only two catches for 16 yards all season. Plus, with the drafting of Hunter Long in 2021, Miami doesn’t need so many tight ends.

By cutting both Hurns and Carter, the Dolphins save $5.1 million with only $433,334 in dead cap. That puts Miami at $72 million.

Now the next move is a tougher call, but it may be time to move on from Eric Rowe. Brian Flores brought him in from New England to help establish his defense. Rowe has the 5th highest cap hit on the team next season with a little over $5 million, and now Flores is no longer here.

Releasing Rowe gives the Dolphins $4,550,000 in savings with only $525,000 in dead cap. So a net gain of just over $4 million. Rowe’s snaps on defense dropped dramatically near the end of the season, as rookie Jevon Holland came on strong and Brandon Jones started making plays. Between the two of them, Rowe could be expendable. This move puts the team at $77 million for 2022.

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At last, the final roster change is in regards to Jesse Davis. It’s clear that Davis is not cut out to be a starter. But that wasn’t what he was supposed to be in the first place. He was supposed to be a utility backup who can fill any spot in an emergency. Much like the Dolphins did with Jakeem Grant and Albert Wilson, they can try to convince Davis to take a pay cut for the final year of his contract. His current cap hit is $4,610,000. Chop that in half, and Miami saves another $2.3 million. Or, cut him if he refuses, and they save $3.6 million.

As a result of these moves, the Dolphins find themselves at $80 million dollars in cap space after cutting just a little bit of dead weight. That amount of cash to throw around makes Miami’s roster tantalizingly flexible. There is so much room for improvement through free agency, and one more strong draft from Chris Grier could put the Dolphins over the edge into the playoffs at last.

With that in mind, the next story will start the fun part of the offseason. This is the part that Madden players everywhere enjoy most of all.

Adding new pieces to the Miami Dolphins.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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Shrine Bowl is for finding underdogs like Arizona’s Stanley Berryhill III

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LAS VEGAS — NFL Draft prospect Stanley Berryhill lll has fond memories playing at Allegiant Stadium.

It was the site of his first 100-yard receiving game in the Arizona Wildcats’ season opening loss to BYU. On Thursday, he had the longest reception (28 yards) for the West in their 25-24 win over the East in the East-West Shrine Bowl.

The Shrine Bowl is the oldest college football all-star game and is connected with the Shriners Hospital for Children. It’s also the first time such a game is played in the same stadium as the Pro Bowl and on the same week.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Berryhill said. “They’ve done some pretty cool things. We’ve been really busy with practices, meetings but it’s nice to get in here and have some fun with the kids and just do things like that.”

The Shrine Bowl is about finding the underdogs of the NFL Draft. Quarterback Tyler Huntley played in the most recent Shrine Bowl in 2020 before finding his way onto the Baltimore Ravens and eventually starting some games in Lamar Jackson’s absence.

Berryhill was on the field the entire game, showing his route-running ability and contributing on special teams. He has always been an underdog and potentially a perfect match for teams like the Miami Dolphins, who are entering the draft with two picks in the fourth round.

A native of Tucson, Ariz., Berryhill was encouraged to join the Wildcats as a walk-on by Rich Rodriguez but by the time he could hit the field, the program was handed over to Kevin Sumlin, who was fired after three seasons.

Berryhill broke out under Jedd Fisch’s system in his first season as a starting receiver. He was second in the PAC-12 in catches with 83 and fourth in yards with 744 yards.

“You just bought into what they told you,” Berryhill said. “Change happens in football and you got to learn to adapt, face adversity and that’s just what I tried to focus on and buying into what they were telling us and picking up the offense as quick as possible.

“I just try to focus on the gameplans that the coaches put together for the team and lead the team as much as possible so he had the best chance to succeed,” Berryhill said. “I didn’t worry about my individual accolades too much.”

Berryhill recalls being California to snap Arizona’s 20-game losing streak that spanned three seasons as a career highlight.

“That was a big milestone in my career,” Berryhill said. “You go a long time losing and when you get a win you see all the work that you put in paying off.”

Berryhill had a head start on preparing for the NFL Draft after the Wildcats finished their season at the end of November. He started and ended the season with double-digit catches for over 100-yards. His draft preparation has focused on building strength and perfecting the 40-yard dash.

“It’s all technique, really,” Berryhill said. “All in the start for the most part and stances. It’s like you do not want to waste as much movement as possible so you want to just get it and go.”

Like most players who plays in the Shrine Bowl, the NFL is a dream destination. Berryhill never had a favorite team growing up but was inspired to play football from watching Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson play for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I always had an idea that I was going to play in the NFL or have a chance to play in the NFL,” Berryhill said. From when I was a kid in high school, as a kid in middle school, that’s always been a dream of mine.”

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Look at Andrew Wiggins Now

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In the NBA, sometimes the identity a player earned on the court follows him everywhere he goes despite it no longer being true.  This is a common practice among some fans and a minority of media members.  It usually takes a deep trip into the postseason for these groups to adjust to the news.  The latest pro baller to rewrite his narrative is Andrew Wiggins– starter on the Western Conference All-Star team.

 

Failing to reach expectations drives fans and hoops writers/pundits mad.  When a player is chosen #1 overall, the expectations of becoming a franchise rescuer are set on his shoulders.  Normally, it’s a young man who is just 19 years old.  Since 2000, there’s only been one collegiate senior to get picked first–Kenyon Martin.  He was 22.  Of the remaining 21 draft classes this millennium, one player was 21, three were 20, 13 were 19 and three were 18.

 

Going first comes with colossal responsibility.   There are times when the most coveted rookie hits the ground running.  On less occasions they don’t, and then comes the avalanche of verbal jabs about the athlete’s ability to last in the league.  What’s often forgotten about these young men is that they aren’t that far removed from being children.  Labeling someone as a bust is a serious indictment on their abilities and a franchise’s capability to evaluate talent.  It’s best to be absolutely sure before hurling that observation and it typically happens after three or four years.

 

Now that Wiggins has made his first All-Star team, is there anyone out there that still thinks he’s a bust?  His path to the NBA’s annual exhibition was not conventional, but for some time, Wiggins was a very good player floating under the radar because of one poor showing in his only playoff appearance.  There was also the part about Jimmy Butler demanding his way out of town because he didn’t want to play with the young Timberwolves anymore.

 

But before the 2020 trade deadline, the Golden State Warriors took a safe gamble by flipping D’Angelo Russell for Wiggins and the 2021 pick that the Dubs used to take Jonathan Kuminga.   I remember media chatter about the exchange praising the Timberwolves for receiving Russell and not having to give up their FRP for 2020.  I won’t name these jokers but one said it was more about the Warriors not liking Russell. Another babbled that it cost Golden State their opportunity to compete for titles. A third mentioned his doubts about Wiggins reviving his career.

 

That’s bold talk.  At his job, Wiggins scores over 19 a night and the last time I checked, the point of the game is to put the ball through nylon. In 42 games before being traded to Golden State, he was averaging more than 22 points per contest.  Keep in mind that in his final half season in Minnesota, there were only 84 players in the NBA scoring 15 or more per game.  That would place Wiggins in the top 19% of the league in that category, but he was no good because he hadn’t made an All-star team by year five.

 

Look at him now.  By my estimation, he’s the second best player on a contender  that’s 3.5 games away from the top record in the NBA.  Wiggins has also evolved in his time with the Dubs, maximizing his elite athleticism on the defensive end.  That perhaps is one of the most important reasons why the Warriors are dangerous.  He now takes on Klay Thompson’s former role guarding the opposing team’s first perimeter scorer.

 

Who Wiggins was three years ago on the court, is not the same man who is going to help the Splash Brothers and co. get back to where they once belonged.  

 

As James Brown sang, “Know what you see.  See a bad mother…”

 

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Mike McDaniel should be the next Head Coach of the Miami Dolphins

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Reports are pouring in that Brian Daboll is the favorite to land a Head Coaching job with the Miami Dolphins

Daboll is the current Bills offensive coordinator and was QB Tua Tagovailoa’s offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2017.

Many inside the organization advocate for Brian Daboll, his success with Josh Allen in Buffalo; however, it ties back to his relationship with Tua Tagovailoa.

While the NFL and GM Chris Grier is all about relationships inside the front office, on the field it isn’t.

The New Era

Enter Mike McDaniel, 49ers offensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan. McDaniel, a protege of the Mike Shanahan wide zone offense, would fit Tua and the offense as a whole.

The Shanahan offense is coupled with the wide zone running game and a west coast passing attack. This type of offense helped the Denver Broncos win in 1998, thrusted  fourth-round backup Kirk Cousins in Washington, elevated a solid QB in Matt Ryan to an MVP in 2016. 

Look back to Shanahan’s offense with Jimmy Garrapolo and Sean McVay’s offense with Jared Goff.

Both offenses had playmaking WR’s, TE’s and RB’s to help the QB out along with a tactical offensive line suited for the zone game. Not to mention really good defenses that paved the way for deep playoff runs.

McDaniel, learning under both Shanahan’s tutelage and developing a relationship with McVay and Matt LeFluer along the way makes him one of the few coaches that understand offensive football really well.

The basic version of the offense works like this: wide zone runs, under-center play-action dropbacks, crossers over the middle of the field. Seems familiar to Tua’s offense at Alabama.

Both Kyle Shanahan, with McDaniel, and Sean McVay ran the same type of offense with different wrinkles in the game.

McVay loves to use 11 Personnel with 3 WR’s and uses Robert Woods to create mismatches on defense. Shanahan uses more of a 21 Personnel look with 2 RB’s, 1 TE, 2 WR’s.

If both coaches are able to use the same philosophy, which has worked well in the Modern Era. McDaniel can too.

Implementation

The whole “Leader of Men” mantra which exists about NFL Head Coaches is from an old era. The modernity of the NFL has come down to not who can lead a team, but a coach that can invest into players and make them understand what it is all about.

That’s who McDaniel is, it’s what he has done the last 17 years in the league

McDaniel can make his mark, if chosen as the next HC to improve the menial Dolphins Offense by implementing the Shanahan scheme and developing Tua Tagovailoa.

Currently, the 49ers scheme is mainly game-planned by McDaniel, and is built on maximizing weapons. 

Miami has some offensive Weapons in Jaylen Waddle, Lynn Bowden Jr, and Mike Gesicki. However, they need more along with an offensive line.The Dolphins have struggled the last three seasons in maximizing their playmakers and just got to the use of pre-snap motions last season.

McDaniels with the 49ers have put their playmakers in positions to succeed by motioning receivers and running backs across formation and in the backfield.

Fixing the past

The Miami Dolphins have never fielded a top 15 offense, but have wielded great defenses in the past. 

Currently, the Dolphins have defensive playmakers locked up beyond 2023 and are rumored to keep the current defensive staff intact.

Time and Time again, the Dolphins have failed to support recent franchise quarterbacks with never ending offensive line troubles, lackluster running game play and minuscule playmakers.

Now, Miami has an uber-talented defense, a decent crop of offensive playmakers which can be improved through the draft, and a QB that fits the Shanahan system like a glove.

All it takes is a coach that can implement changes to turnaround a lackluster offensive line and make changes to support Tua Tagovailoa. That coach is Mike McDaniel.

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Tua Tagovailoa

Fresh Perspective: Dolphins must avoid repeating history with Tua Tagovailoa

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It’s been said that learning is easier when one fails rather than when one succeeds. With all of the failing the Miami Dolphins have done over the past two decades, one would think they would learn their lesson by now. But unfortunately, that does not seem to be the case. Miami is about to make the same mistake with their quarterback all over again. Tua Tagovailoa was viewed as the answer to all the franchise’s problems. As it turns out, it’s not that easy.

There are so many other factors that are mandatory for a team to win a Super Bowl. Yes, the quarterback is undoubtedly part of it. Most of the teams who made it to the playoffs in the past several seasons had a top 15 QB leading their offense. But in a world where all the attention is focused on the quarterback, the pieces surrounding them tend to be overshadowed.

Miami’s first mistake

Former Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill has just been eliminated from playoff contention. There’s no question that in some ways, he’s holding the team back. He’s always had trouble sensing pressure, and he has a bad tendency to stare down his receivers. Nevertheless, in all three seasons he’s been the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans, he’s made the playoffs.

No one will make the argument that Tannehill is the reason the Titans have found success. Tannehill is surrounded by talent. Now he has all the pieces needed to succeed.

He has a decent offensive line, something he rarely had in Miami.

He has an excellent running game, courtesy of Derrick Henry. The one year he made the playoffs with the Dolphins was the year Jay Ajayi became a star.

He has good weapons with A.J. Brown and the newly added Julio Jones, among others.

He has a good defense, he has a coach who supports him, he has everything a quarterback needs to succeed. So now, if he can’t get the job done, there’s nothing else to look at except his own shortcomings.

But during his time in Miami, there was always an excuse to make with Ryan Tannehill. He didn’t have an offensive line, he didn’t have a run game, he didn’t have good weapons. These are all true statements. He didn’t have what the Titans gave him, and so the Dolphins never made it to the playoffs. But surely, if Tannehill were a better QB, they would have accomplished something!

Perhaps so, but also perhaps not. Recent events have proven even an elite QB is not enough.

Elite QBs still need help

The Green Bay Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night in the divisional round. Future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers is now 0-4 against the 49ers in the playoffs. Is it because Rodgers himself is insufficient?

Was Dan Marino not good enough to win a Super Bowl?

No one who watched Dan Marino play would dare suggest he was the problem in Miami. Likewise, it’s very difficult to make the case that Aaron Rodgers is the reason the Packers keep coming up short. Yet, it seems people are making that exact accusation in the aftermath of Saturday’s game.

Everyone is taking turns criticizing Rodgers for his failure. Unquestionably, he deserves some criticism. Rodgers is not a perfect quarterback. But he is one of the league’s best. Easily top 5 in the NFL. Now he is the reason the Packers fail to win in the playoffs? Is the implication that a future Hall of Fame QB who regularly puts together MVP caliber numbers is not good enough to get the job done?

How can you possibly upgrade from that?

Without a doubt, much of the criticism Rodgers is receiving is due to his off-the-field remarks. But there is a significant portion of analysts who are saying that Aaron Rodgers – the player – is holding the Green Bay Packers back.

If that’s the case, then there’s very little hope for any quarterback who intends to take his place.

The Miami Dolphins are still looking for someone to fill the shoes left by Dan Marino. No one has even come close in the two decades since his retirement. So why are people still under the erroneous belief that a quarterback will fix all of Miami’s problems? Dan Marino, the greatest Miami QB of all time, with one of the greatest coaches of all time in Don Shula, could not win a Super Bowl. He didn’t have the running game, and at times he did not have the defense Super Bowl winning teams usually have.

Miami has an opportunity here. They need to avoid repeating the mistake they made with Ryan Tannehill and, yes, Dan Marino. They need to stop looking for a savior, and start building an army.

Dolphins repeating the mistake

Take a look at the teams remaining in the playoffs – as of this story.

  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Cincinnati Bengals

Four of those teams have a quarterback considered to be either good or great. Joe Burrow is at least in one category. Results vary depending on who you ask. Nevertheless, that still leaves two teams with QBs who are nothing special. The Los Angeles Rams have Matthew Stafford, who up until his arrival in LA under Sean McVay, was rarely considered one of the league’s top QBs. People respected him, they knew he had skill. But they also knew there was a limit to how far he could take the Detroit Lions.

One year with the Rams, and he’s in the playoffs, battling for the NFC Championship Game. What a difference a change of scenery makes. Stafford did not magically improve, the pieces around him did. WRs Cooper Kupp, Odell Beckham Jr., Van Jefferson, Robert Woods. RBs Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson, not to mention the star-studded defense.

All of these teams are positively stacked at every position. That’s what gives them that edge.

The Dolphins need to do the same for Tua Tagovailoa. The Alabama standout was hyped by Dolphins fans everywhere. Even Chargers fans – now perfectly happy with Justin Herbert – were hoping Miami would choose Herbert over Tagovailoa. That is not a coincidence. The consensus pick pre-draft was Tagovailoa over Herbert. But now, one QB has been given support to succeed. The other has been cut off at the knees at every turn.

Reports are coming out that coach Brian Flores did not want Tua Tagovailoa. That it was him who kept pushing the narrative that Miami wanted to trade for Texans QB Deshaun Watson, in spite of his legal controversies. The current consensus is that GM Chris Grier and owner Stephen Ross ultimately overruled him. However, that was the beginning of the end as the relationship between Flores, Grier and Ross rapidly deteriorated from there.

Five Reasons Sports’ own Alfredo Arteaga has determined that after watching Tua Tagovailoa during the tail end of the season, his mechanics had crumbled. His struggles can easily be attributed to that. But that’s not all there is to it. Take a look at the pieces around Tagovailoa.

Miami’s offensive line was absolutely terrible in 2021. Austin Jackson regressed mightily at both tackle and guard, and Jesse Davis continues to be a liability starting at right tackle. It wasn’t until the final week of the season, when the year was already lost, that Brian Flores made a change and put in undrafted free agent Robert Jones instead.

Almost immediately, there was an improvement. That is an example of Flores’s failures with personnel decisions. He refused to look for ways to improve the offensive line, instead insisting that he was sending out the best five guys to start every week. Obviously, that was not correct.

Then there’s the running game. The Dolphins had no running game. That is, until Duke Johnson became the starting running back. For some reason, Brian Flores felt that the running back room was good with Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed. Obviously, that was also not correct.

Then there’s the weapons. Miami has three players who can make a difference in the game. But only one actually did. Tua Tagovailoa helped Jaylen Waddle break Anquan Boldin’s rookie reception record. As for DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki, Parker missed seven games and wasn’t available for Tagovailoa to throw to most of the time. Gesicki, on the other hand, was available, but criminally underused. That was either by coincidence, or by design. Gesicki was off the field far too often, with Durham Smythe and even Adam Shaheen taking those snaps.

Finally, the head coach. It isn’t hard to see that Brian Flores did not support Tua Tagovailoa. The young QB even made it a point to show everyone that he easily could have played during the Houston Texans game in spite of his injured finger, throwing the ball in warmups only to be sidelined for Jacoby Brissett.

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If Brissett hadn’t suffered a knee injury the next week against the Baltimore Ravens, his return would have been delayed even longer. When he did come in, Tagovailoa started off cold but eventually found his rhythm, showing that even while injured, he could do a better job than Brissett, who Flores seemed to believe was the better choice.

But in the end, it wasn’t good enough. Tagovailoa couldn’t deliver when it counted, and Miami was knocked out of playoff contention. Undoubtedly, that’s partly his fault. But to pretend that Tagovailoa has all the pieces a QB needs to succeed is ignorant of reality.

Build up the army

Joe Burrow in Cincinnati has one of the best WR trios in the NFL. Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and of course his former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. His offensive line isn’t very good, and that shows when facing a team who can get pressure on a QB. But when you have three WRs who can make defenders look dumb and get excellent yards after a catch, it’s easier to make up for it. Also, he has a solid tight end in C.J. Uzomah, and an undoubtedly excellent running back in Joe Mixon, who ran for 1,205 yards this season, as well as catching 42 passes for 314 yards.

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Justin Herbert – on top of being more physically gifted – also has better support. Both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams are easily better options than DeVante Parker. Allen alone is a certified top NFL WR, with Williams being an excellent number two. True, Herbert’s offensive line is also bad, but he does have a running game. Austin Ekeler is one of Herbert’s most used weapons. Just this season, he ran for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns, while catching 70 passes for 647 yards and eight more touchdowns. That combines for a total of 1,558 yards from scrimmage and 20 touchdowns total from the team’s starting running back.

Tua Tagovailoa is expected to be on par with his constituents, with injured and misused weapons, RBs who get benched by free agents off the street, and an offensive line that forces him to throw in less than three seconds on a regular basis? The Miami Dolphins already tried this with Ryan Tannehill. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.

Quarterbacks need pieces around them that they can count on when the moment arrives. Right now, the only one Tagovailoa can count on is Jaylen Waddle, and even he made some mistakes in key moments that could have helped fend off the dominating narrative that Tagovailoa is a bust. Whoever the new coach is for the Dolphins, he needs to recognize that while a QB is important, a lack of support will doom him.

Miami must give Tua Tagovailoa a good running back, like Herbert and Burrow have. They must give him reliable weapons, like Herbert and Burrow have. With any luck, they will also recognize that they need to give him a good offensive line, which Herbert and Burrow actually do not have.

If after all that is done, Tagovailoa still doesn’t measure up to his fellow 2020 draftees, then it may be safe to move on. But if they decide that based on 2021’s results that Tagovailoa is already a failure, then they’ll just keep setting up replacement after replacement for failure. Dan Marino isn’t walking through the tunnel anytime soon. And even if he did, his own career proves that a QB alone isn’t enough to win it all.

History is there to learn from, Miami Dolphins. Stop looking for a savior, start building an army. Don’t make the same mistake again.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for seven years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

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Carter Verhaeghe’s journey to the Florida Panthers

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Carter Verhaeghe was born in Waterdown, Ontario, a community in Hamilton, just about an hour southwest of Toronto. Like many other Canadian boys, he grew up playing hockey. 

Verhaeghe played his Minor Midget hockey for the Hamilton Jr. Bulldogs before he was selected 38th overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection by the Niagara Ice Dogs.

He spent four seasons with the Ice Dogs, which saw him hit back to back 82 point seasons in his final two years with the team. In his final OHL season, Verhaeghe was the captain of the Ice Dogs, scoring 14 points in Niagara’s 11 game playoff run to cap off his junior hockey career.

In the summer of 2013, Verhaeghe was able to live many Toronto kids’ dreams when he was selected in the 82nd overall in the third round of the NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Despite being taken fairly high in the draft, Verhaeghe never got to suit up with the Leafs. He played two games with their AHL affiliate the Toronto Marlies in the 2013-2014 season, but his tenure with the hometown team was short lived when he was traded to the New York Islanders in 2015.

Verhaeghe spent two seasons with the Islanders’ minor league affiliates, splitting time between the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL and Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL (two tiers below the NHL).  

In the summer leading up to the 2017-2018 NHL season, Verhaeghe was once again traded, this time to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Verhaeghe would play two full seasons in the AHL with Tampa’s minor league affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. In the 2018-2019 campaign, Verhaeghe finished the year above a point per game with 82 points in 78 games. 

At that point it was six years after Verhaeghe was drafted and he still didn’t get a chance to suit up in an NHL game.

All of that changed in 2019 when Verhaeghe cracked the Lightning’s NHL roster out of camp. 

After multiple trades, and playing in multiple leagues and cities, Verhaeghe finally made his NHL debut on Oct. 3, 2019 against the Florida Panthers.

That season was a good year for Verhaeghe to make his NHL debut as the Lightning took home the Stanley Cup. He suited up in 52 regular season games and eight playoff games on route to Tampa’s championship season. Verhaeghe wasn’t a regular for the Lightning during the 2019-2020 season, only getting 13 points during the regular season and two in his limited playoff appearances. He was also about to become a restricted free agent following his rookie NHL season.

Tampa elected to not tender a qualifying offer for Verhaeghe, which made him an unrestricted free agent. While Tampa was celebrating their Stanley Cup run, the other team from the Sunshine State had a different type of off-season. 

The Florida Panthers were in a hole. They got knocked out of the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers in four games (best-of-five series) by the New York Islanders. The team had parted ways with their general manager Dale Tallon and brought in former Columbus Blue Jackets assistant GM Bill Zito to take over as the new GM. 

Zito immediately got to work to try and transform the Panthers into a winner and one of his first off-season moves was bringing a Stanley Cup champion to his team, Carter Verhaeghe. 

Verhaeghe signed a two-year, $2M contract with the Panthers on Oct. 9, 2020. 

With the AAV and term so low on the contract, this move seemed like a low-risk signing at the time. Panthers fans were soon about to figure out that this move would become one of the best in the team’s history.

Carter Verhaeghe jumped into the Panthers 2020-2021 opening night lineup and he never looked back. 

In his first season with Florida, Verhaeghe scored 36 points in 43 regular season games. He was trusted by the Panthers coaching staff with a top-six role on the wing, spending a lot of his time alongside captain Aleksander Barkov. Verheaghe played power play, got overtime shifts and finished the season third in scoring for the Cats, just behind Jonathan Huberdeau and Barkov. 

Come playoff time, Verhaeghe had three points in six games, before the Panthers were eliminated by his former team and eventual back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, Tampa Bay. 

Verhaeghe proved himself and showed his doubters wrong in his second NHL season. He was awarded for his efforts, signing a three-year, $12.5M contract extension with the Panthers. 

This season, Carter Verhaeghe hasn’t lost a step. With the Panthers looking like one of the top contenders for the Stanley Cup, he continues to shine, even with all the high scoring forwards the team has.

In 39 games, Verhaeghe already has 33 points while being a plus 15. He has excelled his play off the rush and is one of the most dangerous players on the ice at all times. 

The Toronto native was once a forgotten man with many NHL organizations. Today, he is one of the top players on the Florida Panthers and is not only part of their championship efforts this year, but for many years to come.

Like many players who have been brought in by the Panthers over the course of the last two seasons, Verhaeghe has found his game and his home in Sunrise.

Mateo’s Hoops Diary: Purple & Mold in Los Angeles

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The Lakers keep getting kicked while they are down from members of their past outfit.  James Worthy always keeps it real on the halftime broadcast, but now Magic Johnson, another Lakers legend emerged from the shadows with condemnation for the underachieving group.  He said the owner deserved better. 

 

It’s some impeccable timing.  Jeanie Buss deserved better than what Johnson gave her while serving as president of the Lakers from 2017-2019.  His behavior was a stark contrast to his TV persona of all smiles and giggles.  Behind the scenes, as ESPN’s Baxter Holmes reported, he was a bully who didn’t have the stones to tell his boss that his welcome was worn out, even after he rambled on to a dazed and confused press corps about their “amazing relationship.”

 

At building a team, Johnson was no good either.  When LeBron James arrived and made the Lakers relevant again, he incomprehensibly decided to construct a team around his star player that didn’t maximize his abilities.  Johnson said scrap the shooting, let’s put playmakers around the man who reluctantly finds someone he trusts with the ball.  

 

Then Pelinka was left as his successor.  He’s most responsible for the state the Fakeshow finds itself in.  Each year under his control the identity of the team has changed.  Heading into 2019/2020, LA loaded up with defensive role players plus the addition of Anthony Davis from New Orleans.  AD and Rich Paul held NOLA hostage and ultimately got their way, while the Pelicans, to this day, are fumbling with what’s left of that exchange. 

 

That Lakers team won it all.  Next, in their 71-day offseason, Pelinka altered the group’s core by letting go of the unit’s defensive role players for an offensive identity.  

 

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This past summer, Pelinka reached for the stars.  It cost the Lakers much of what was left of their championship DNA, trading for Russell Westbrook, who’s fit with James and co. has been suboptimal to this point. 

 

In the interest of transparency, I was one of those people who thought the Lakers were back in business after their swap but have recently sold as much stock on LA as possible.  Davis’ eventual return cannot save this team because he’s not an effective perimeter player.  The Lakers have spacing issues already in his absence and they even resorted to running James at center to help stretch the floor.  It was a gimmick that only worked on the bottom tier teams. 

 

Spacing is far from the team’s only issue.  Westbrook’s decision making as lead guard incessantly digs the Lakers in a hole they can’t climb out of.  Over LA’s last six games, #0 has made his last 25/87 attempts (28%) from the field. 

 

 In the loss on Jan. 12 at Sacramento, the Lakers went on a 10-4 run in the last five minutes to cut the deficit to four.  Then Westbrook came waltzing upcourt, readjusted on the left wing and hoisted a triple from 25 feet out that bricked.  On the next possession the Kings splashed their own 3-pointer, burying the Lakers, now done seven with less than a minute to go. 

 

A few nights later at Denver, the Lakers couldn’t hang with the Nuggets and all they had to show for themselves was a loss by 37 points and bowed heads.  It was their poorest showing of the season, less than a month after the group’s second worst defeat– an L at home to San Antonio by 28 points on Dec. 23.

 

On Monday, the Lakers delivered on James’ promise of improvement, holding the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz, a group 13 games above a .500 record, below 100 points.  The Stifle Tower made 6/8 shots in the restricted area and the Jazz converted 16/21 attempts total in that zone.  Utah’s undoing this night was their fiending for long range bombs.  Triples were 55% of their attempts, while they barely made over ¼ of their rounds fired from deep. 

 

 On Wednesday at home against the Indiana Pacers, Rick Carlisle’s group hammered away at LA’s interior.  Domantas Sabonis kept catching help when assaulting the interior on a mismatch and finding the open man– ending up with a triple-double, making 75% of his field goals.  Late in the game, Vogel benched Westbrook.  Russ kept slicing his way into the paint but falling short all but once in his 11 tries.  

 

Someone’s going to have to pay.  Unfairly, it might just be Vogel who gets the axe.  Reports from The Athletic said he was “coaching for his job” after the Denver smackdown.  This tells this mad observer that Pelinka is a man with close to zero basketball character.  How convenient for the man who builds the team for the coaching staff to use, to not have any heat on them from ownership, to my knowledge, for his performance improving the roster.

 

Vogel is not a perfect coach, but he does have a ring, won only 15 months ago.  If he is let go, good luck to Pelinka finding someone that’s going to trust him.  Championship coaches don’t grow on trees.