MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins have gone from second in points in 2023 to last in 2024.
There are a ton of reasons why. Certainly, losing your starting quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) seven quarters into the season is a big one.
But Mike McDaniel’s play-calling isn’t beyond reproach. So while it’s certainly too early for him to give up offensive coordinator duties, particularly with another quarterback change likely this week, it’s something to keep in mind if things don’t get better.
Will Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Make a Change?
McDaniel — who left open to the Dolphins playing his fourth quarterback (Snoop Huntley) in as many weeks Monday against the Tennessee Titans — certainly will.
Mike McDaniel makes clear all options at QB are on the table in Week 4 pic.twitter.com/9OQs5RHIX0
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 24, 2024
Here’s McDaniel’s answer in full when asked Tuesday about potentially giving up offensive play-calling:
“I think I’m a veteran enough to the National Football League that I expect to field those types of questions randomly when your production isn’t near what anyone wants.
“So I think it’s important as a head coach and leader to take accountability for all decisions made and then as well as like, you know, what if we had numerous touchdowns that were terribly timed play calls that players just made right?
“I don’t just make that assessment. I think it’d be incredibly irresponsible if I just went with the results. So, you know, I think every time that I call plays, I’m de facto, you know, doing so in the light that I think it’s the best for the team.
“The game is not about me. That’s first and foremost. The cost of the television packages to watch the games would be a lot less if people were trying to watch me.
“Inherently, I take the responsibility super-serious and every time that I’m calling the game, it’s based upon doing the best for the team. I wouldn’t hesitate to change that procedure because it is my call. I would change it in a heartbeat if I thought somebody else gave the team a better chance to win.
“So ultimately, you just have to be fully accountable for every decision you make, knowing that the results could be anyway. And I’m fully accepting of that.”
So who would take over those duties if McDaniel gave them up? There are really only two possibilities.
Frank Smith, who is the official offensive coordinator but hasn’t called plays since he was the OC at Butler in 2009.
The other is quarterbacks/passing game coordinator Darrell Bevell, who, since 2006, has served as the offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
