Tag Archive for: Mike McDaniel

Mike McDaniel has received an extension through 2028.

BREAKING: Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel receives extension through 2028

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Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has seen enough from Mike McDaniel, in the best way possible. On Friday morning, the third-year head coach received a contract extension all the way through 2028, per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. The details of the contract have yet to be revealed.

In the past, Dolphins head coaches receiving extensions were preludes to them being fired. In 2011, Tony Sparano received a 2-year contract extension, only to be fired later that same year when the team underperformed. Similarly, head coach Joe Philbin received an additional year on his contract back in 2015, only to be fired after a 1-3 start to the season.

But unlike his predecessors, Mike McDaniel has led the Miami Dolphins to two straight winning seasons and two consecutive playoff appearances. The only other two coaches in Dolphins history to achieve that were Dave Wannstedt and the legendary Don Shula.

When the Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel, it was after being the only team to even grant him an interview. The reward for that gamble is a top-10 offense in the past two years, and a franchise quarterback that has been rebuilt from the ground up.

During a recent interview with Dan Le Batard on his YouTube channel, Tagovailoa finally opened up about how beat down he had felt when Brian Flores was the head coach. His confidence had been destroyed, his desire to play the game had been all but eliminated. But Mike McDaniel stepped in, and on day one he made sure Tagovailoa knew he was going to get the support he was missing.

The result has been astounding. McDaniel tailored the offense around Tagovailoa’s best traits, and Tagovailoa responded by being one of the statistically best quarterbacks in the NFL the past two years. It also led to the Miami Dolphins deciding to reward Tagovailoa with a massive 4-year, $212.4 million contract extension with $167.1 million guaranteed.

The only thing that Mike McDaniel has yet to do – and it needs to be addressed to silence the doubters – is win a playoff game. Miami has made it to the playoffs the past two years, but they were eliminated immediately both times. The Dolphins are hoping that the team’s health will endure into the late months of the season this time around, rather than having to limp towards the finish line with a decimated roster.

Mike McDaniel’s story is one of growth, innovation, and a very real change of culture and atmosphere. The Miami Dolphins are no longer the league’s pushover or punching bag. They are a real contender, they are a destination spot for free agents seeking a championship, and that is largely due to McDaniel’s influence.

If he continues to evolve as a head coach, then Dolphins fans everywhere can expect to enjoy a very long tenure of success and excitement. The window to victory has never been more open.

Tyreek Hill stands with head coach Mike McDaniel during practice

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel wants to ‘do right’ by Tyreek Hill

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2024 is the year of the Wide Receiver for the NFL. All around the league, teams are rewarding their quarterback’s best friends with massive contracts that blow the numbers of years past away. The Minnesota Vikings gave their star WR Justin Jefferson a 4-year, $140 million dollar extension that makes him the highest annually paid WR in the league.

Amon-Ra St. Brown signed a 4-year, $120 million dollar deal with the Detroit Lions, A.J. Brown signed a 3-year, $96 million dollar extension to stay with the Philadelphia Eagles. And of course, right in South Florida, the Miami Dolphins rewarded their homegrown talent Jaylen Waddle with a 3-year, $84.75 million dollar extension which begins in 2025 after Waddle’s 5th-year option plays out.

But even with all these contracts, there are still more players seeking their massive paydays, and they’re all watching these negotiations play out with keen interest. Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is going to be looking at Jefferson’s detail as the basis for his new contract, as is Cincinnati Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase.

And now, during an interview with WSVN Sports Anchor Josh Moser, renowned sports agent Drew Rosenhaus revealed that his client Tyreek Hill is looking at all of these new contracts and using them as a means to express his desire for more money as well.

Miami Dolphins fans will recall a back in 2019, when cornerback Xavien Howard originally signed a 5-year, $76.5 million dollar contract, which at the time made him the highest paid cornerback in the league. Then, as the market usually does, prices went up as other players signed their deals based on Howard’s deal in 2020.

Then in July 2021, Howard requested a trade from the team because he felt underpaid in spite of the fact he had just signed a brand new deal that was higher than anyone else at the time of signing. Ultimately, Miami decided to give in to Howard’s demands and gave him a reworked contract that made him the highest paid cornerback in the league, again. Fast forward three seasons later, and the 30-year old Howard is a free agent looking for a new team, and the Dolphins have an additional $18.5 million in cap space.

Giving Howard a new deal instead of trading him in his prime had pros and cons for Miami. However, in the case of Tyreek Hill, the Dolphins would benefit from keeping him on the roster for as long as they can afford him. Mike McDaniel’s offense is heavily-based on utilizing Hill’s speed and agility in ways that defenses struggle to adapt to.

One can make the argument that Tyreek Hill isn’t necessarily the best overall WR in the league, but it’s hard to think of someone who’s a deadlier weapon. On the boundary, Hill beats any one-on-one coverage going deep. In the slot, Hill finds openings that wouldn’t be there for any slower receivers, making Tua Tagovailoa’s job much easier.

There are some different factors to consider this time around. Unlike Howard, Hill isn’t going public with any sort of displeasure about his current deal. During an interview with the media at the start of mini-camp, Hill expressed that in spite of wanting a reworked deal, he isn’t looking to cause a controversy over it, and being greedy won’t help the team.

“I’m gonna let my agent do his job. That’s his job … We’re gonna make sure it benefits both sides, I wanna be able to help the team as much as I can, and that’s as much as I can say about it.”

This season, Tyreek Hill counts for a little over 12% of the team’s salary cap, with a cap hit of over $30 million. In 2025, financially speaking, the Dolphins would benefit from releasing Hill in the same way they did Xavien Howard. Designating him a post-June 1st cut would save Miami nearly $23 million, while only costing $11 million in dead cap space.

Once again, there are things Tyreek Hill can do that no other receivers in the league can. Not only that, he and Tua Tagovailoa have established a rapport that is difficult to replicate even in today’s pass-centric NFL. Since coming to Miami, Tyreek Hill has had two consecutive career years, and a lot of that has to do with Mike McDaniel’s offense.

“Tyreek Hill has been unbelievably valuable to my coaching career, this franchise, we set out to do some ambitious things from the onset.” McDaniel said on Tuesday. “On top of the fact he wanted to take his game to another level but also be a leader, he’s tremendously important, we’ve always prioritized him that way. For him and I, we stay in our lane with our relationship, and the organization will always do right by players.”

There is a lot to consider with the Tyreek Hill situation. He’s entering the 2024 season having just turned 30, he has lingering off-the-field concerns due to his past mistakes, and the Miami Dolphins will be looking to find money to use in the coming seasons with Tua Tagovailoa’s impending extension, as well as those of Jaelen Phillips and Jevon Holland.

But there can be no question how heavily Miami’s offense leans on Tyreek Hill for its explosive capability. On the day he does lose a step, he’ll still be one of the faster wide receivers in the league, which speaks to how wide the gap is.

Hill has already stated that he wants to retire in Miami. Clearly, Mike McDaniel would love to see that wish granted for both their sakes.

“He’s a big part of everything that we’re doing.” McDaniel said. “I think Tyreek wants that, he’s made that explicit. I think me, as a competitor, I want to make that happen. In terms of the Miami Dolphins embracing Tyreek Hill, I think that is an understatement. We look forward to continuing to grow in our relationship for sure.”

Luis Sung has been covering the Miami Dolphins for over nine years and is the host of Pulse of Fins Nation for the Five Reasons Sports Network. Follow him on Twitter @LuisDSung

Miami Dolphins Mock Draft 2023

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For another year, it won’t be that difficult to put together a Miami Dolphins mock draft. The Miami Dolphins turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to re-tool and reload for the 2023 NFL Season. 

However, as the Dolphins organization looks forward to the 2023 season, the team still has some way to become a consistent playoff team and hopeful Super Bowl winner. General Manager Chris Grier brought in esteemed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to improve their struggling passing defense. Furthermore, new names were brought in to shore up their biggest needs in free agency. 

Before the midseason trade deadline, the Miami Dolphins acquired edge rusher Bradley Chubb from the Denver Broncos, and before the start of Free Agency they traded pick 72 and Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams for Jalen Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro cornerback. Also, they inked a deal with David Long Jr. To help build depth in the linebacker position 

The Miami Dolphins addressed major needs through trades, free agency acquisitions and re-signing key players. While doing that, the team will need to fill holes and depth with four picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Round 2, Pick 63– Zach Charbonnet RB, UCLA

*Projected Trade with Kansas City, Kansas City Trades Pick 63, Pick 95 and Pick 122 for Pick 52, Pick 238 and EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah*

In this Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft, I have the Dolphins trading back to get more picks to increase their roster depth and save $11.19 million by trading away Emmanuel Ogbah. The PFF mock draft machine accepted the trade.

Former Michigan and UCLA alum Zach Charbonnet packs a punch in the running game. Charbonnet is a physical runner and excels at running between the tackles and in the outside zone scheme. He’s tough to bring down with the first hit and is a pinball bouncing off of defenders. The Bruin running back waits for holes to open in the run game and utilizes his vision on his cuts. 

Charbonnet can be a true three down back for the Miami Dolphin as a workhorse running back, he’s serviceable catching passes out of the backfield. The only concern is his breakaway speed. He’s not as fast as current Dolphins Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson but makes it up by breaking tackles and having the second highest rushing yards over expected (+1.34) in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

 

The Dolphins don’t have any running backs contracted through the 2024 season and selecting Zach Charbonnet with their first pick in this 2023 Miami Dolphins Mock draft paves the way for their RB of the future. 

The Dolphins don’t have any running backs contracted through the 2024 season and selecting Zach Charbonnet with their first pick in this 2023 Miami Dolphins Mock draft paves the way for their RB of the future.

Round 3, Pick 84- Tucker Kraft TE, South Dakota State

Mike Gesicki and Hunter Long are no longer Dolphins which leaves the Dolphins tight end room with Durham Smythe, Tanner Connor, and free agent pickup Eric Saubert. Enter in 6-foot-5, 255 pound tight end Tucker Kraft in this Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft, who Lance Zierlen comps to Pat Freiermuth.

The Jack Rabbit alum is versatile, he can play in-line, from the slot and even out wide. He’s made really tough contested catches by using his massive frame and catches with soft hands to reel in passes. Kraft runs very well and is tough to bring down after the catch racking up extra yards. While Kraft is an average route runner, he excels on short routes to gain YAC. He can get off the line quickly in the tight end alignment and has been utilized as a seam threat over the middle.  

Furthermore the athletic tight end was a major contributor to the Jack Rabbit running game. Kraft is well versed as a run blocker and contains a powerful lower body and strong hands to sustain blocks out wide and to the second level. He will need to lower his pad level in the passing game as a blocker and that will be cleaned up with coaching. The SDSU product should see the field early on due to his run blocking to help spring up a middling Dolphins run game. 

While Kraft may be from the FCS and hasn’t played better competition, his skillset and traits on film have shown the ability to succeed at the next level. Pair this with his production and athletic frame, he could become the next Dallas Goedert, or as head coach Mike McDaniel has worked with in the past, the next George Kittle. Not to mention, Head Coach Mike McDaniel met with Kraft at the combine.

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Round 3, Pick 95- Tyler Steen OL, Alabama

Count on Miami Dolphins General Manager to draft an Alabama prospect. Alabama is one of the most popular schools that the Dolphins draft out of, with five selections since the 2016 draft. I project in thie Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft for Chris Grier to select Alabama OL Tyler Steen. Steen, a Miami native, stands at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds. Tyler Steen went to Vanderbilt for three seasons and transferred to Alabama for his senior year and started as a LT. 
 
As a pass protecter the Crimson Tide product is able to get out of his stance at the first step and shows lateral agility making him a scheme fit in a zone blocking team. For as big as Steen is, he attacks pass rushers rather than defending the QB to wash them out of the play. With his quick feet he’s able to adjust to pass rushers bends and resets his feet. However, Steen will need to clean up his technique and leverage to be more consistent against NFL opponents. 

In the run game, the Miami native utilizes his athletic frame to attack blockers and get up to the second level. Alabama ran a lot of backside runs where Steen was a cut blocker to seal off backside defenders from making a play. He’ll need to shore up his anchor and technique in the run game, focusing on zone blocks rather than focusing on a single player. 

At some point in the future, Steen will become a starting Left Tackle; however, Miami needs help at the Left Guard position and Steen projects to do well there early on, as he showed at the Senior Bowl. Especially if he is taken by the Dolphins and given a chance to develop alongside future hall of famer Terron Armstead.

Round 4 Pick 144- YaYa Diaby DL,/EDGE Lousiville  

YaYa Diaby stands at 6-foot-3 as a potential EDGE/OLB that provides rotational depth to a team’s pass rusher group.  
 
Diaby’s quick get off suggest he would be sutied to play as an EDGE in a 4-3 scheme and an OLB in a 3-4 scheme. Diaby’s is able to generate pressure through one moce and one move only, his bull rush. He displays his power to generate displacement, strength to shed blocks and pursuing the ball carrier.   

Diaby is a straight line rusher and needs to learn several different moves in his arsenal, pressure needs to be schemed up for him and will benefit learning from a solid group of pass rushers. 

He’s able to anchor his lower body to shed and climb blocks in the run game but needs for upper body strength to disengage offensive lineman and make the tackle against running backs on lateral runs.

Round 6, Pick 197- Ronnie Bell WR, Michigan 

Ronnie Bell is a tough, hard nosed wide receiver that makes tough contested catches with a frame of 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds. He plays bigger than his frame and playing in a run-oriented offense, Bell can do the dirty work in the run game. 
 
The Michigan Wolverines product is a former basketball player, and it serves him well releasing off the line of scrimmage, getting into his breaks and creating separation at the stem of his route. It allows him to catch the ball with ease. Bell has strong hands that helps him at the catch point. Bell is a pretty versatile receiver in terms of where he has lined up in college, he’s been in the slot, out wide and used on sweeps and motions.

Bell doesn’t have the speed like the rest of the Dolphins have on offense, he is a good route runner who creates separation which works well in a timing-based offense. He reminds me of a possession style wide receiver and someone that can come big on third and short plays. Surprisingly, Bell is a YAC monster, he fights for every yard against defenders and has experience returning kicks on special teams. 

In this Miami Dolphins Mock draft, the 2023 edition, Bell projects as a “big slot” later down the line in his career. Although Michigan manufactured his touches he was a reliable chain mover. He will need to add more play strength against physical defenders in the NFL and to help out in the run game. 

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

Dolphins preseason Bucs

Skylar Thompson forcing Dolphins to make hard choices

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Very few people knew the name Skylar Thompson when the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. In fact, many were wondering why Miami would use a draft pick on a QB who many believed would be available as an undrafted free agent. Surely, there were other developmental players available the Dolphins could invest in during a win-now year.

However, from the moment he put on the uniform, Skylar Thompson was turning heads.

The 25-year old rookie out of Kansas State is showing extreme poise under pressure. Granted, he’s playing against backups the majority of the time, but his preseason performances are undeniably impressive. In just over five quarters of preseason play, Thompson has gone 29-of-38, with 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Even the team’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, can’t help but be impressed by Thompson’s play so far.

“I’ve been extremely impressed with Skylar.” Tagovailoa said after Saturday’s game. “Skylar handled the Tampa game extremely well, and then now he comes in a little later into the third quarter, gets his group going, has — I don’t even know how many plays he had. He probably had a 10-play drive leading up to the score that we had our first score that we had here at Hard Rock for this 2022 season. But I think he has handled it extremely well. He gave us an opportunity to kick a field goal to win the game. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but I think he has done an extremely great job for us.”

To some draft pundits, Thompson’s success comes as no surprise. Matt Waldman – creator of the Rookie Scouting Portfolio since 2006, stated during his evaluation that Thompson has at least one trait that stands out above every other QB prospect in this draft.

“Thompson has the best pocket management of this class. He maneuvers from all types of pressure better than at least half of the NFL starters I’ve watched this year.  He also takes hellacious hits and maintains the equanimity to deliver an accurate ball.”

Perhaps what held Thompson back during the draft were the injuries he suffered at Kansas State. During his senior year in 2020, Thompson suffered an upper-body injury which limited him to only three starts. But in those games, he went 40-of-64, 62.5 completion percentage, 626 yards and four touchdowns.

He didn’t have much better luck in 2021, as he suffered a knee injury that allowed him only ten starts. However, he still put up decent numbers (162-of-233, 69.5%, 2,113 yards, 12 TDs, four INTs) and finished his career by winning Texas Bowl MVP honors in the team’s win over a depleted LSU roster, in which he went 21-of-28, 259 yards and 3 TDs.

Had he been healthy throughout his collegiate career, it’s safe to assume Thompson would not have fallen all the way to the 7th round. His lack of production at Kansas State was partly due to those injuries. It was also partly due to the demands of the scheme he was in. Nonetheless, coach Mike McDaniel saw something in Thompson that caused the Dolphins to deem it fit to use a draft pick on him.

So far, McDaniel appears justified in that assessment.

“He just gets better every day.” McDaniel said after the preseason loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. “This game the operation was better. There was one time that he kind of lost the play clock a little bit, and we had to burn a timeout, but more than anything, he really had command over everything. And he is starting to make plays that when one or two aren’t there, feeling the concept. And like that touchdown they threw to ‘Z. White’ on the left-hand side, that’s something that Skylar doesn’t make at the beginning of preseason. So, I’ve seen continued improvement, but he is very diligent about the process. He has got the makeup of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. So I think all of his teammates can feel that too.”

Now given the opportunity to produce in a QB friendly offensive scheme, it’s clear Skylar Thompson’s production was not due to lack of skill. PrizePicks.com had Thompson’s O/U on passing yardage at 165.5 yards, assuming that he would play the entirety of the second half if not more.

In spite of entering the game with less than a minute left in the 3rd quarter, Thompson was nearly able to reach that prop. As he led the Dolphins down the field and nearly led what could have been the game-winning drive, Thompson went 9-of-10 for 129 yards and a touchdown, all in the span of barely over one quarter’s time.

Skylar Thompson wasn’t supposed to make things difficult. But he is. Now, the Miami Dolphins have a difficult choice to make. Do they run the risk of letting him test the waiver wire? There are surely QB-needy teams who would love to claim him as their own. Or, alternatively, do they roster three quarterbacks? That idea is unprecedented in today’s modern NFL, but the Dolphins may not have a choice.

Veteran backup QB Teddy Bridgewater has a contract worth up to $10 million. $6.5 million of it is guaranteed. The way it’s structured, as of this moment, releasing Bridgewater saves Miami a grand total of zero dollars in cap space. And it puts them in a deep hole financially as they would be forced to pay him that amount no matter what.

However, if the Dolphins can trade Bridgewater, that changes. Trading him saves Miami $4.5 million in cap space with only $2 million in dead cap. The hard part is finding a trade partner.

These are the questions Skylar Thompson is forcing the Dolphins to answer. His performance in preseason and in practice make it extremely difficult to justify waiving him. By the same token, keeping him instead of Bridgewater hurts the team financially. In 2023, Miami is going to need every penny they can save.

And if they simply keep all three QBs? Then another position that may need the extra depth will lose an important piece. The Dolphins are low on cornerbacks and good offensive line depth. Can they afford the extra roster spot? It’s up to Mike McDaniel to weigh the pros and cons and make that choice.

As for Skylar Thompson himself, he’s determined not to let the situation get to him as the preseason rapidly approaches its end.

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“That decision is out of my control.” He said. “All I can do is focus on being the best teammate that I can possibly be every day, continue to grow and try to learn and get better. That’s really all I’m focused on right now, and everything else I know will take care of itself whichever way that may fold. This is out of my hands. I’m just here to be a good teammate – help the team the most whichever way I can.”

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

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Dolphins breakout candidates

5 Breakout Candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022

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The Miami Dolphins kicked of the Mike McDaniel era this week when rookies reported to the team’s facility. The Dolphins 2022 draft class featured a franchise-low four selections, but with undrafted rookies, a decent crop arrived to start training camp. With veterans poised to report on Tuesday July 26th, it’s time to consider which Dolphins are breakout candidates for the coming season.

McDaniel, the quirky offensive guru and 11th head coach in franchise history, is tasked with reshaping one of the most stagnant offensive attacks in the NFL. The Dolphins haven’t had a top-10 offense in 27 years, when Dan Marino was still under center.

Entering his first training camp as a head coach, McDaniel must identify the players that can help take Miami to the next level. The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game in 2000 but seem to have populated the roster with players talented enough to end that drought.

Here’s a look at five breakout candidates for the Miami Dolphins in 2022.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.

The headlines this offense naturally went toward the trade acquisition of Tyreek Hill, but the signing of Cedrick Wilson Jr. should also excite ‘Phins fans. Miami targeted Wilson early in free agency, which signals confidence in potential production and offensive fit.

At 6-foot-2, Wilson stands as a solid complement to Miami’s other speedy pass catchers, and he’s something of a burner himself. He fits McDaniel’s as a run-after-the-catch threat, something that, coupled with the addition of Hill, pushed DeVante Parker off Miami’s roster.

Wilson comes to Miami following a career-year with the Cowboys. He made 45 catches for 602 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Dallas quarterbacks registered a 138.0 passer rating when targeting Wilson on intermediate routes. That figure ranked eighth among all wideouts.

Although he’ll share time and targets with Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Mike Gesicki, among others in the passing game, Wilson should provide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a reliable redzone threat. Waddle led the Dolphins with 15 redzone targets last year, but no other player was in double figures.

Gesicki saw nine, as did running back Myles Gaskin. Departed wideouts Mack Hollins and Parker vacate 14 redzone targets between them, so Wilson could pick up the slack there. He saw nine redzone targets last season, making six catches, including three for touchdowns.

 

While the 27-year-old fourth-year pro has never recorded a 1,000-yard season, he’s poised to assume a significant role in the Dolphins’ passing attack.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: RB Chase Edmonds

Miami revamped their backfield this offseason with the additions of Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, Sony Michel, and Alec Ingold. While there’s a clear tie between Mostert and McDaniel given their shared time in San Francisco, Edmonds stands taller among Dolphins breakout candidates.

Edmonds was one of two running backs last season that registered more than 100 carries, over 5.0 yards-per-carry, and over 40 receptions. He finished top-10 in yards-per-rushing-attempt (5.1) and generated 341 yards after contact. Edmonds posted career-highs in 10-plus yard carries (19) and missed tackles forced (16).

Edmonds looks like a great system fit, too. The 49ers used a zone blocking scheme 282 times last season, 6th-most in the NFL. Edmonds thrived behind zone blocking last season, ranking first in the NFL in yards-per-attempt (5.8).

Edmonds seems to have an inside track for the starting role in Miami, and his dual-threat nature has him poised for a breakout season. He made 43 catches in 12 games last season, finishing 14th among running backs. He averaged 3.6 receptions per game, so if he had played a full season, he might have finished with 61 grabs. That figure would have put him top-5 among all running backs.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: S Brandon Jones

While most of the offseason attention will go to Miami’s other safety Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones also looks ready to make the leap next season. He flashed an elite skill for his position last season, blitzing the quarterback, and finished with five sacks. That figure led all defensive backs in 2021. He also recorded 14 pressures.

Miami personnel official Matt Winston said recently Jones is “very reliable, in terms of what you’re getting day in and day out. You know you’re going to get some sort of explosive play. He’s got a niche rushing the passer in exotic packages. Really being a force in and around the line of scrimmage is where he’s stood out to me.”

Jones posted a 77.6 pass-rush grade in 2021 for Pro Football Focus, which ranked 10th among qualified safeties.

During OTAs, Jones told reporters he wants to avoid being labeled a “blitz only” guy. He said his goal is “just trying to be and find the best way for me that I could be well rounded.”

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Jaelan Phillips

The No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Phillips finished with 8.5 sacks, second among all rookies last season behind only Micah Parsons’ 13. He also registered 16 QB Hits as a rookie.

Phillips played all 17 games last season, but seemed to get more comfortable as the year progressed. He recorded seven of his sacks in the second half of the season, including a run of five games registering at least half a sack. Phillips should get more run in 2022 following a rookie campaign that saw him play just 54 percent of defensive snaps overall.

Teammates recognize Phillips’ potential as well. Three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead said Phillips “has the chance to be special” in the NFL. And Phillips’ pass rush partner, Emmanuel Ogbah, noted Phillips “has the mentality” and he’s “excited to see his growth this year.”

For comparison’s sake, Jason Taylor managed five sacks as a rookie, then nine in his second season. Taylor set Miami’s single-season sack record (18.5) in 2002, his sixth season.

If Phillips follows a similar trajectory, he’ll be among the elite pass rushers in the game. Should he make a four-sack jump in Year 2, he’d finish with 12.5, a figure that would’ve tied for seventh-most last season.

Dolphins Breakout Candidate: Tua Tagovailoa

This one seems like the obvious one, so I’ve saved quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for last among the Dolphins breakout candidates. Behind an improved offensive line and with a ground attack designed by running game guru McDaniel, a run-after-the-catch design for this offense should be one Tagovailoa thrives in.

Over his 12 games last season, Tagovailoa registered 2,653 yards, 16 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions with a 67.8-percent completion percentage. He led the league in deep ball completion percentage (50.0 percent) and red zone completion percentage (64.9 percent). Tagovailoa posted the highest clean-pocket completion percentage among starting quarterbacks (76.3 percent). That’s noteworthy considering offensive line play should improve following the additions of Armstead and Connor Williams.

Tagovailoa ranked fourth in play-action completion percentage (69.0-percent), too. While he might not excel throwing into tight windows, his top-3 receivers for 2022 can all create space for their quarterback with their speed.

Following his hire as Dolphins head coach, McDaniel said of Tagovailoa: “I think it’s important that you empower the quarterback with the rest of the players around him and the scheme you bring forth. So, I think his best days are in front of him.”

Tagovailoa’s accuracy and decision-making should help him capitalize on the talent upgrades surrounding him in Miami this season.

 

These veterans will report to Miami’s facility on Tuesday, July 26th, set for training camp. The first practice open to the public will occur on July 30th. Follow 5 Reasons and Three Yards Per Carry host Alfredo Arteaga for updates during training camp to see who stands out among the Dolphins breakout candidates.

What Erik Ezukanma brings to the Miami Dolphins

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With the 125th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma.

The Miami Dolphins 2022 NFL Draft series continues with fourth round pick Erik Ezukanma

Round 3: Pick 102

Pre-draft

Initially in the draft process the Miami Dolphins were interested in Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma. During the NFL Combine, the Miami Dolphins had a formal interview with Ezukanma.

“Throughout the process, Miami did show a lot of interest and I had a formal (interview) with them at the NFL Combine. That’s where I got this hat. They just showed love throughout the process and for them to pick a spot with me, it was big.”

Erik Ezukanma on his pre-draft process with the Miami Dolphins

On Mike McDaniel’s evaluation of Erik Ezukanma, both he and Chris Grier liked him enough to draft him.

“It was exciting to watch him play and I think he fits the energy and the skill level that we’re looking for. We want guys to be fast and play fast and doing both with a decisiveness and a team-first passion that he bleeds. We’re excited to add him. That was the biggest thing, I saw a football player playing the receiver position.”

Mike McDaniel on Erik Ezukanma 

Scouting Report

Strengths

At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Erik Ezukanma’s best ability in his toolkit is his contested catch ability. He’s goes above defenders and makes catches with defensive backs draped all over him.

The red raider product has the size, length, and strength to defeat press jams. Can make spectacular catches in the open field and when covered by defenders.

My favorite asset of Ezukanma and how Texas Tech preferred to use him. Ezukanma is built for breaking tackles after the catch. He looks like a power back when breaking away from tackles with his frame.

Another facet of his game is his versatility. At Texas Tech, Erik Ezukanma lined up mostly out wide; however, he was used plenty in motion, on screen plays, and swing passes as well as the occasional jet sweep.

“I’m a versatile guy. I feel like I can fit in right where Jaylen Waddle – the way he can take the ball out of the backfield as well as be a deep threat down the field, but also just a versatile guy with RAC ability and YAC ability – yards after contact and run after the catch. You can put me anywhere on the field and I feel like I can help the team in any situation.”

Erik Ezukanma describes his play style

Ezukanma’s hands are strong and among several NFL talents. However, with a revolving door of quarterbacks at Texas Tech Ezukanma had some drops that showed he was adjusting the other quarterbacks

Weaknesses

As mentioned above, a revolving door at quarterback and a coaching change was not ideal for Erik Ezukanma.

His production during the beginning of the season was red hot with 13 catches and 322 yards in his first two games.

The Texas Tech alum needs to improve his release package at the next level. He doesn’t gain enough separation on most of his routes, with the exception of the drag route over the middle.

Erik Ezukanma does not have enough route running ability which is needed for the NFL. Furthermore, while Texas Tech runs a spread concept, Ezukanma was used on scripted routes to maximize his usage and gain production.

There some inconsistencies at the top of his routes and when making adjustments in traffic, more so relying on his frame and contested catch ability to make plays on the ball.

Projection

The way in which Erik Ezukanma or “EZ” can simply pluck the football out of the air is ridiculous. There should not be any issues with his hands throughout his career and based on what he has shown on tape.

I expect Mike McDaniel to put Ezukanma in any position and let him work. His playstyle is very similar to Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins, who was also able to snag nearly every deep ball.

“That’s one of my strong suits. I feel like throughout my career I’ve really worked on contested catches, bang-bang plays. I feel like in the beginning of my career at Tech, that was one of the places I struggled at, but I gained more confidence with that and just getting bigger in the weight room, buying into the weight room and being able to make those contested catches even if a defender is on my back or hitting me at the same time. So I feel like that’s one of my high points of my game.”

Erik Ezukanma on his contested catch ability

Often, wide receivers are asked to block in Mike McDaniel’s offense. Ezukanma is more than willing as a blocker and should see an increase in snaps as the season progresses on run plays. Ezukanma has the size and strength to be an asset as a run blocker out on the edge.

In Miami,  he will be best served as a possession receiver that can work the middle of the field, a red zone target and a mismatch against defenders on motions, screens, and jet sweeps.

The modern day of NFL wide receivers is changing where wide receivers are more athletic than defensive backs. A weapon in any route or scenario that can make big plays, Ezukanma is just that.

Mike McDaniel will find a way to get Erik Ezukanma the football and let him eat.

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

 

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What Channing Tindall brings to the Miami Dolphins

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With the 102nd pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins selected Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall.

Pre-draft

The Miami Dolphins brought in Channing Tindall in a 30-visit. Overall, General Manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins brass were impressed with the Bulldog Product. 

Chris Grier cited his game speed, versatility, and character. 

“That character too, that part of him really stood out to me like, ‘Hey, this kid loves ball and wanted to be around his teammates and do anything he can to help them win.’ And it paid off. They won a national championship. We really enjoyed getting to know the kid. Specifically, the speed stands out on film on him.”

Chris Grier on Channing Tindall

Tindall on his pre-draft visit in Miami:

“I just really got in with the linebackers coaches. I talked to the whole staff and I felt like home, honestly, when I was there.”

New Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Tindall

Scouting Report

Strengths

Channing Tindall is a super fast and athletic linebacker that runs a 4.4 forty time.  He’s a sure fire tackler who always brings down the ball carrier

At 6-foot-2, Tindall may be a tad undersized but it does not show on film. The Georgia product is a hard hitter and flys by blockers blowing up run plays. Has surprising strength for his size. 

Channing Tindalls’ coverage skills are reminiscent of a big nickel, or strong safety in the slot position. He’s able to cover tight ends in press man and stick with faster running backs. 

In terms of Tindalls’ pass-rushing prowess, he has some natural pass rush moves. In high school, Tindall was an EDGE. He’s got fluid hips and nice lateral movement. 

He provides a good outside rush and is able to get around bigger offensive lineman with his blazing speed on the outside. Also, as a run defender, he takes good angles and pursues ball carriers. Very rarely do you see Channing Tindall out of position.

Weaknesses

Tindall was never able to secure a starting spot in the linebacker core behind Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean. 

While the Bulldog alum did see increases in production numbers his senior year, he barely even logged over 600 snaps over four years at Georgia. 

In such a talented collegiate defense, Tindall was rarely focused on as a weakness and that might have not shown how he does when teams target him. 

Routinely, as an “undersized” player he was pushed around when teams ran at him. A majority of his successful plays were when he was a chaser than in a blockers face.

However with such little snaps, the reps Channing Tindall played in, he made the most of his opportunities. Tindall was third on the team in tackles. 

Projection

Projecting how new Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Tindall will not be hard. 

Miami’s defensive philosophy asks their linebackers to play the run, rush the quarterback and occasionally be a spy in coverage. 

Channing Tindall has done all those things in his time at Georgia. 

“I think when you watch the film, it’s a very talented defense and how they use him – they use him as a spy, they use him to blitz, he covers backs. Just a lot of the ways that are kind of similar to how he will probably be used here in different schemes”

Chris Grier on how Channing Tindall was used in Georgia

Tindall is one of the fasted linebackers in this year’s class – he’s a player who covers like a safety and possesses serious tackling and hitting power.

It’s likely that Tindall will be used as an inside linebacker, but that’s not all he can do. Not only can he be a MIKE, he can also be on the outside as a SAM or WILL linebacker. 

“The way they use their linebackers is different. They use their linebackers everywhere, put them on the edge sometimes, put them on the line, they put them at Mike, Will. They are very versatile and I feel like I fit into it.”

Channing Tindall on the Dolphins Linebacker usage

It’s a solid selection to start of Mike McDaniels’ first ever draft as a head coach. Channing Tindall fills a need and brings more athletic talent and speed that the Miami Dolphins currently have and covet.

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

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Josh Boyer observes practice

Dolphins opt to retain Josh Boyer as defensive coordinator

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The Miami Dolphins revealed on Friday that defensive coordinator Josh Boyer would be retained for the position. This report comes shortly after the news broke that secondary coach Gerald Alexander would not be staying on the staff.

The decision to retain Boyer comes from a place of desiring continuity. Boyer was handpicked by Brian Flores in 2020 to run his defense after being on his staff as the defensive pass game coordinator & cornerbacks coach in 2019. By keeping Boyer, head coach Mike McDaniel hopes to keep the same level of defense that gave him fits in San Francisco.

“What I saw was a defense that I didn’t want to go against.” McDaniel said during his introductory press conference on Thursday. “What I saw was a collective group of people that I could, from the tape, I knew they loved football and that is such a key component that people undervalue because there’s so many dollars, there’s a lot of fame out there for players, but the teams that win, the people love football and you can feel it and it’s visceral.

“To win (seven) consecutive games, I think it was, (near the) end the season, you could see players playing hard. You could see a defense that again, I’m glad is our defense.”

There is some controversy surrounding the decision. Rumors are swirling that the defense’s sudden turnaround is because of Brian Flores taking over the play calling. However, many Dolphins players attributed the defense’s success to Josh Boyer, if only in part.

“I’ll say giving the offenses different looks.” DE Emmanuel Ogbah said when asked what Boyer had done to fix the defense. “That attributes to practice, just giving our offense different looks just to see how they react to it. Coach Boyer, he’s done a great job disguising plays, all-out blitzes. We kind of went back to our old thing but I’m glad he’s switching it up and giving offenses different looks, confusing them.”

The endorsement by Ogbah speaks volumes. He was asked for specifics into what Boyer contributed to the defense and that was his answer. What’s more, it heavily implies Boyer was still calling plays. For Boyer to give opposing teams different looks, he has to call the play in the first place.

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McDaniel further explained the decision during his interview with WQAM on Friday morning, when the news first broke Josh Boyer was staying.

“Here’s another simple formula.” He said. “I feel like if you’ve coached offense your whole career, one litmus test is if you are deciding what defense you play, how awesome would it be if you didn’t want to play that defense? For it to be the defense you have? And the defense was miserable. They crushed us in 2020.

“And I believe in their style. I think versatility is paramount. You say aggressive? I think every play is aggressive, I think when you’re playing a four-man rush, it’s aggressive. I think you do things that give your players an advantage and you keep offenses off balance. So our style of football is going to be aggressive but we might be rushing four, we might be rushing six. It’s the way we play, our fundamentals, how we attack blocks, the way we use our hands, the way we come off the ball, the way we tackle, the way we strike, the way we go after the ball. The list is long. But it’s an aggressive mentality that I really enjoy. And I enjoy the philosophy of the defense and case in point I don’t want to go against it. So why don’t you join us?”

With Boyer as the defensive coordinator in 2021, Miami’s defense was ranked 14th in rushing and 16th against the pass. Obviously, the numbers would have been better if not for the 7-game losing streak after Week 1.

The real reason behind the defense’s drastic drop off may never be known. However, if most of the personnel can stay the same, then at least there is a template to follow. Obviously, some players will leave. But the young core is now firmly in place. The very last quote from Boyer before the season ended offered insight into how he views the game of football.

“The reason I love football so much is because it really kind of relates or correlates to life.” Boyer said on Jan. 4. “Sometimes you get knocked down and all of us have experienced loss or tragedy, and sometimes you have to push forward and put your foot in front of the other for others. That’s why I like football because when you sign up for that, you’re a part of something that’s greater than yourself. We’ve got a lot of good guys, a lot of mentally and physically tough guys in our locker room. We’re excited about the challenge this week, for sure.”

The quote may have been before the Patriots game, but it still stands today. Miami’s players on defense are going to push hard to be successful. True, Brian Flores is gone now. But he would not have picked Boyer or let him continue his job from 2020 if he thought him incapable. Flores fired offensive coaches on a whim. It’s unlikely he would tolerate failure from his defensive coaches if he felt expectations weren’t being met.

Josh Boyer deserves at least one chance to prove he can be a good defensive coordinator. If the defense doesn’t play up to par, then McDaniel will have a new set of options to choose from in 2023. For now, give Boyer the benefit of the doubt and keep the scheme intact.

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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Dolphins hire Jon Embree to assist Mike McDaniel

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Jon Embree has been hired as the tight ends coach and assistant head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

 

 

This past Sunday, the Miami Dolphins hired 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as their new Head Coach. 

 

Embree follows Mike McDaniel to South Florida to coach a TE group consisting of rookie 3rd round pick Hunter Long and Adam Shaheen

 

 

Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe are Free Agents, unless Miami retains one or both of them. 

 

Embree first made his mark on the NFL in 2006 as a Tight End coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. There he coached Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez who led the league in 20007 and 2008 in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. 

 

He then joined the formerly known Washington Redskins in 2010 where TE Chris Cooley ranked 2nd in TE receptions. He also helped Jordan Cameron reach the Pro Bowl in 2013 as Cameron ranked 2nd in receiving yards (917). 

 

In 2016 with Tampa Bay, Embree helped TE Cameron Brate establish career highs in in receptions (57) yards (660) and touchdowns (8) which tied most in the NFL among tight ends. 

 

 

From 2017-2021, George Kittle was developed under Embree who helped him earn All-Pro honors, 49ers franchise records for tight ends, PFWA All-NFL and All-NFC and was selected as a starter in the Pro Bowl multiple times. 

 

 

Embree has played in college and been in the NFL for 12 years and brings an experienced mind in the offensive room and help develop talented tight ends in Miami.

 

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Miami Dolphins hire 49ers coach Mike McDaniel to be new head coach

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In spite of the recent controversy, the Miami Dolphins are moving forward with their plans. Now, former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel will be the new head coach for the Dolphins. The hope is that he will be able to install the same run-game concepts he did with San Francisco and revolutionize Miami’s offense.

McDaniel beat out Cowboys OC Kellen Moore for the job after his second interview with the team on Friday. The 38-year old McDaniel has 15 years of NFL coaching experience, and has worked under both Mike and Kyle Shanahan in his coaching career. He also worked under other respected names such as Gary Kubiak (2006) and Dan Quinn (2015). While this will be his first time as a head coach in the NFL, McDaniel is well-traveled and has gained respect around the league for his football acumen.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan recently came out with high praise for McDaniel. Although there was a comment regarding McDaniel’s dry sense of humor, Shanahan made it clear that McDaniel is extremely intelligent.

“He’s an acquired taste and you guys are getting it.” Shanahan said on Jan. 19. “So Mike’s a good dude, he’s really good at what he does and he’s himself. He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve been around and he’s been huge to our team and huge for me throughout my entire career.”

Back in 2019, Shanahan actually blocked McDaniel from being interviewed by other teams. At the time, he was the 49ers run-game coordinator. Several teams wanted to see if they could hire McDaniel as their offensive coordinator. Shanahan refused to let him go, as he deemed him too valuable to let escape.

In 2020, fullback Kyle Juszczyk explained just how much work both McDaniel and Mike LaFleur (now the OC for the New York Jets) did for Shanahan and the 49ers.

“They have been extremely involved. Both of them could run their offense right now — probably could have years ago. Right now, LaFleur and McDaniel have been pre-recording videos for us to watch on all our pass concepts, our run game. They’ve done a lot of them — I’m talking 30 15-minute videos, where they’re in their living rooms in front of a projector going over how we install everything. Really just installing the offense for Kyle.

“And then we go into these offensive skill meetings, and Kyle elaborates on what they already have installed. I truly believe both of them are so capable and ready to run their own offenses. It’s going to be a bummer for us when we lose one of them. They’re going to be really hard to replace, because they’re so valuable and important to this offense and contribute so much to what we do as a team.”

Shanahan echoed those same sentiments on Jan. 19. McDaniel is heavily credited for the evolution of the 49ers run game.

“Mike does a ton of it. We all do it in here, but we all have our separate areas that we work on.” Shanahan said. “Then we try to bring it together and patch it all together to make an offense as a whole. And then we distribute it to all our position coaches, so Mike gets as much credit as anyone in this building. [Offensive line coach] Chris Foerster gets a lot of credit, our O-Line, all the assistants, all the guys who draw it, the position coaches, but Mike’s in charge of that. And Mike’s been unbelievable, not just here, he did the same thing for me in Atlanta, Cleveland and was a big part in Washington too.”

Already, pending free agents are making it known they would love to play for McDaniel. Running back Matt Breida, who spent a year with the Dolphins in 2020, was excited about the idea of a reunion.

“It was awesome to play for him,” Breida said per the Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad. “He was on the phone with me the entire draft. They wanted me on the team. He wanted me on the team. He’s a players’ coach. Guys relate to him … He understands formations and motions, we had a lot of formations but ran the same runs out of them. He just looks at things differently.”

In that same article by Joe Schad, former NFL WR Andrew Hawkins also came out in support of McDaniel. Hawkins played under McDaniel in 2014 when he was the Browns’ wide receivers coach, and he had the best season of his career by far. Unquestionably, McDaniel’s intelligence stands out to everyone he works with.

“He’s truly a football savant,” said Hawkins. “And I know there are a lot of brilliant minds in football. His approach is very, very unique and it’s why he’s able to exploit the norms. A lot of players swear by him. He has a very unique ability of identifying talent. And also knowing exactly how to get the most of out of a certain skill set. Players swear by him because players have had career years with him.

 

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“When I got with Mike, his whole philosophy turned everything I thought I knew upside down. How you get off the line of scrimmage and here are the options. Here are the two techniques every DB uses. And if you do this he takes all the thinking out of it. How you approach catching the football. How to approach running after the catch. I was very, very skeptical. But we did it his way and it worked. The way be broke down and explained strategies, it felt very Mr. Miyagi-like. You’re doing this and that and this and that and then one day it all ties together.”

In contrast to his offensive predecessor Adam Gase, McDaniel isn’t expected to be a “QB guru.” His job is not to fix quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. He will likely be looking at the big picture, creating an offensive scheme that will maximize the available talent across the board. In turn, that will help Tagovailoa to shine brighter. One thing Tagovailoa doesn’t have that his fellow 2020 draftees do, is a running game. Since that is McDaniel’s specialty, that stands to change.

Make no mistake, McDaniel has a lot of work to do. The Miami Dolphins are in dire need of something positive to shake off the dark cloud looming over the franchise. Hopefully, McDaniel can show that his intelligence and creativity were not merely side-effects of working with the Shanahan family. Obviously, the fact he has no head coaching experience is a concern for many fans.

Nevertheless, McDaniel comes highly recommended, and what he brings to the table is just what the Dolphins are missing. With this in mind, the future seems much brighter than it did just days earlier. Now, McDaniel needs to assemble a coaching staff. Hopefully, his choices will make things continue to look up from here.

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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