The Miami Dolphins have become a caricature of themselves. In 2022, the Dolphins hired former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to take over as head coach. McDaniel brought with him innovation, swagger, and, most of all, a desire to build the fastest team in football. The first move Miami made with McDaniel at the helm was a blockbuster trade for Tyreek Hill. The Dolphins went on to draft speedsters like De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright. They replaced offensive linemen with leaner, quicker options. The Dolphins built a track squad and put them in helmets and shoulder pads. Well, it isn’t working. Nearly three years into the McDaniel era, Miami is without playoff success and in danger of missing the postseason entirely in 2024. Where did the Miami Dolphins’ struggles begin?
Playoff Struggles
In the Mike McDaniel era, the Dolphins are 0-2 in the postseason. Worrisome, sure, but that’s too small a sample size to truly be concerning. So, let’s look a little deeper. From 2022 to 2023, Miami is 3-10 against playoff teams. They simply can’t hold up in big games. They’re able to beat up on lesser opponents, but they consistently struggle when it comes time to face contenders. Their speed-first philosophy may be contributing to this issue. Playoff football is all about adjustments. When both teams are immensely talented, the side that can adjust to their opponent’s game plan quicker will typically win. The composition of the Dolphins’ roster has made them unable to adjust in those games. They’re a one-trick pony. Contain the outside run and limit explosive plays down the field, and you’ve got them beat. Because Miami lacks versatility and physicality in their roster, they only have one way that they can win. Put simply, that isn’t enough in the playoffs.
Injuries Derail the Season
Every team deals with injuries, but they seem to impact the Dolphins more than most. The Miami Dolphins’ struggles with injuries seem to derail each season. Tua Tagovailoa goes down, and the offense is completely incompetent. A couple of pass rushers miss time, and the defense goes into a tailspin. The roster seems to be so thin that the slightest crack can cause the whole structure to crumble. For an example of why this issue exists, let’s take a look at the 2024 draft. Heading into the draft, Miami’s lack of depth was a known problem. Tagovailoa had sustained concussions, the offensive line had lost key pieces, and the receiving core lacked a physical option over the middle of the field. Instead of addressing any of these issues, Miami drafted Jaylen Wright. Wright is an undersized, speedy running back who fits the same mold as De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert (backs already on Miami’s Roster). If the Dolphins had instead addressed their lack of depth at, say, the quarterback position, it may have saved their season.
The Path Forward
The Dolphins have already locked themselves into some aspects of their next few seasons. Tua Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension over the offseason. Assuming his concussion issues don’t lead to an early retirement, he will be Miami’s starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. Tagovailoa thrives in Mike McDaniel’s timing-based scheme, so it wouldn’t make sense for the Dolphins to move on from McDaniel, either. Miami is committed to both its coach and its quarterback, so corrections need to be made in other areas on the roster, specifically in the trenches. If the Miami Dolphins can fill in the offensive line with stable veterans and add quality depth on the defensive front, I would begin to consider them true contenders. If they instead continue down their current path, the current trend of falling short in the postseason is sure to persist.
Like the Al Davis Raiders who could never pass on taking the fastest guy available in the draft whether they could use him or not.