INDIANAPOLIS — Imagine being told two months ago that Vic Fangio, and not Danny Crossman, would be the Miami Dolphins’ coordinator no longer with the team in 2024.
It would have defied logic.
And it still doesn’t make a ton of sense, even now.
Why Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Didn’t Fire Danny Crossman
But Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel tried his best, speaking here on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The short answer? He thinks Crossman is more of a solution than the problem when it comes to a special teams unit that respected sports writer Rick Gosselin ranked 31st out of 32 teams in 2023.
“So many of the decisions that I have to make are very layered,” McDaniel said. “Although results are very, very important — and I think coach Crossman would agree with the statement that the results aren’t where we want them to be — so much of my job is determining the compounding variables and the ‘whys’ of things.
“And, you know, ultimately, I think that the bottom line is, picturing us moving forward and how to get that phase of the football team to find the improvement necessary for us to take steps in our game as a team, I determined that he was the appropriate guy to lead us to fix the things that haven’t been up to the standard.
“… I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to just point-blank say, ‘OK, the results aren’t there. You shouldn’t be either.’ You have to assess the ‘whys’ and come up with a game plan of how we’re going to improve that phase, which is very important to us moving forward. And which is why Danny is part of it.”
That answer seems to suggest that McDaniel believes the team’s special teams shortcomings were a reflection of players not doing what they were coached, not Crossman coaching them the wrong things.
So don’t be surprised if there are significant changes to the Dolphins’ kick team in 2024.
The team’s top six special teamers in terms of 2023 playing time — Justin Bethel, Duke Riley, Cameron Goode, Elijah Campbell, Channing Tindall, and Brandon Jones — may be all gone next year.
“You have a window into the true depth of someone’s coaching ability when you’re working alongside them every single day,” McDaniel said in Crossman’s defense. “And part of the process of factoring those things is how, ultimately, how is a coach able to communicate to a player to get him better? And although the results haven’t been there, what I’ve seen is players responding in the appropriate way to things that Danny has to offer.”
KEEP READING: Mike McDaniel Reveals Why Miami Dolphins Moved On From Vic Fangio
McDaniel added: “What has been established is the communicator, the leader, and the guy devoted to getting it right, Danny Crossman, felt like held the most merit to coach this unit moving forward. I think if players didn’t respond to him, it’d be a different conversation. But I think we’ll collectively work together to right something that we know that we can improve on. That’s very tangible and [I’m] excited to do that.”
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!