Mike Vrabel is the Patriots head coach. Aaron Glenn coaches the Jets. Two tough head coaches just joined our division, while no-socks Yale grad Mike McDaniel remains our coach.

You remember Mike McDaniel, right? The head coach who said he won’t tolerate players quitting in the middle of a game “anymore.” Meaning that it was fully tolerated during his first three years?

By adding two strong head coaches to our division, I feel the Dolphins got weaker. Maybe Mike McDaniel can challenge that statement, but he is only 4-15 when tossing the red flag to make challenges, worst in the NFL, so I’d probably win.

Even when the Dolphins do something beneficial, it still frustrates me. Special Teams coach Danny Crossman has been fired. Good news. Good riddance. Our special teams have lacked preparation (and productivity/execution) for years under Crossman. Crossman’s departure is excellent, so then why my frustration?

Because it took Mike McDaniel too many years to fire him. Acceptance of mediocrity (or accepting failure like Skylar Thompson) is commonplace for the Dolphins. McDaniel has hired 3 different defensive coordinators in the last 3 years, but kept Crossman through all of that. Ridiculous.

I was especially disappointed this past 2024 season. With the new kickoff rules, I thought we would have a chance to be innovative. Surely the tandem of McDaniel/Crossman would find some gadget trickery to try with all of our speedsters, right? Nope. Standard kickoff returns all year long. No fake punts. No Fake field goals. Nada.

6 Comments

  1. Yeah, I would say the overall mood of the fans in the Miami area is “unenthusiastic.” I think the fans are beyond ready for a change in management as they are now revolting against Grier with airplane banners and, most likely, McDaniel too. I would say he’s lost the locker room and the so-called “leaders” aren’t motivated either. We saw a case of that with Tyreek pulling himself out of the Jets game. Doing it against a division rival with the playoffs on the line is not a good look. Even though he appears to be back on board. I think the Chiefs were wise to send Tyreek to Miami knowing Grier and the Dolphins were dumb enough to take him. They knew he was going to be a problem, Grier didn’t see it. So, here we are. Next season we’ll finish around 7-10. Maybe then we’ll see some real change in Miami?

    1. Author

      Yes, it’s hard to win over the locker room by being a nice, funny guy without any semblance of being a disciplinarian. Zero experience playing in the NFL. And, just looking at McDaniel, zero physical toughness. Seriously, if a 98-lb nerd goes into the defensive tackles’ meeting room to preach about toughness and aggression, is anyone going to listen to him? I’m not saying that every single head coach has to be a muscleman…there are ways to make up for that by proving yourself as a productive coach. Coming up a with a quick-strike long-bomb offensive scheme that worked well for a handful of games was nice, but it dies out very quickly and we’re back to mediocre.

  2. Grier has done a great job of putting together a roster on paper should be a playoff team. And he’s right if Tua doesn’t miss games the Dolphins are in the playoffs. But even if we get in the playoffs we don’t win a game against a division winner. For that Grier has to go! For every good pick/signing he makes a disastrous one to balance. The same genius who picked Chop Robinson drafed Igbo, upgraded to Jordyn Brooks, but let Van Gink go. Feels like we are unable to take the next step because Grier is constantly stopping us from moving out of mediocrity.

    McD is on a short leash, it seems like he lost the locker room. Really how is he expected now to turn and become a disciplinarian when he has been the friendliest coach ever! But still McD has never outcoached anyone except for himself. Really I don’t see how he makes the team better.

  3. I honestly believe the fans in Miami are going to put the owner and management on the proverbial “hot seat” this coming season. Local talk radio has been speaking negatively about, Ross, Grier, McD, Tua, and others. The fans down here, who are usually patient and positive are really starting to question the team and the decisions made by management. The climate is very different here now.

  4. Why we didn’t pick up Darren Rizzi for Special Teams Coach? Bad blood I guess.

    1. Author

      Rizzi might not have been the best tachtician, but man was he enthusiastic. AND…he got in your face if you messed up.

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