I must admit, I'm excited about McDaniel.

[Dave Gray]

I think it's maybe because he's kind of a lovable goofball in interviews.  It's just such a change of style in presentation from what we had with Flores.  He seemed kinda closed off.

I don't know that it will translate to wins, but the concept of someone coming in here with the goal of being more interesting offensively and kind of outgoing is fun, at least.

Which is surprising, because I was fully prepared to be a detached curmudgeon for the offseason.

[Dolfanalyst]

I think it's maybe because he's kind of a lovable goofball in interviews.  It's just such a change of style in presentation from what we had with Flores.  He seemed kinda closed off.

I don't know that it will translate to wins, but the concept of someone coming in here with the goal of being more interesting offensively and kind of outgoing is fun, at least.

Which is surprising, because I was fully prepared to be a detached curmudgeon for the offseason.

No telling how it will play out, but I'm concerned about the fact that virtually all of the greatest coaches in college and NFL football history haven't been silly or goofy or whatever you want to call McDaniel in terms of the demeanor we're seeing, but have instead been serious and stern disciplinarians.  When that's a trait that's seen in virtually all coaches in that category, I think you have to wonder what the absence of that trait (apparently) and in its stead sort of the opposite -- silliness or goofiness -- will mean in terms of one's ability to be a successful head coach in the NFL.

If I told you (hypothetically) that virtually every great QB in history had at least 9-inch hands, and QB X has 7-inch hands, what would you think about QB X's likelihood of being a great QB?

[Dave Gray]

I am not sure that there was a place for silly or goofy coaches in the past.  It's not like a bunch of silly, goofy coaches were failures in the 70s, because there probably were none.

I will say, though, that I think that people and attitudes change and having a super hard-ass, Mike Ditka type of guy used to work in the 80s, but won't work now.  These guys are too rich and have too much influence and there's too much out in the open to be disrespected by a superior.

We have 24 hour sports news, huge contracts, social media influence, free agency -- and the players themselves have more agency with their own careers.  What some of those old guys used to do would be considered (and has ended some careers by being) abuse.  So, just because it's not been the norm doesn't mean there isn't room for it.

[Spider-Dan]

I wouldn't consider Parcells or Vermeil to be serious, stern disciplinarians.  Dungy was pretty serious, but I wouldn't exactly call him a hardass.
I don't think your personality is necessarily correlated to your coaching ability.

[Dolfanalyst]

There's a first time for everything, but when I struggle to identify a single one of the greatest coaches in history with this kind of demeanor, and I have no struggle whatsoever in identifying a laundry list of the greatest coaches in history whose personality calling card was roughly the opposite of it, it's worrisome.

Muggsy Bogues was in the NBA at 5 foot 3, but he was one guy of tens of thousands.  Certainly we wouldn't say "height doesn't matter" with regard to professional basketball players simply because Muggsy Bogues existed.

[Dave Gray]

Muggsy Bogues was in the NBA at 5 foot 3, but he was one guy of tens of thousands.  Certainly we wouldn't say "height doesn't matter" with regard to professional basketball players simply because Muggsy Bogues existed.

The player comparisons aren't apt.  It's not a matter of physical ability.  If you wanted to tell me that it would be hard to coach if you blind or deaf or didn't have arms, fine -- but we're talking about temperment....not physical disadvantages.


I don't think coaches that were silly existed at all in the relatively short lifetime in the NFL with a small sample size.  There have only been 12 Dolphins head coaches prior to McDaniel.  How many of them would you consider silly lovable goofballs?  And their success has been 1 (maybe 2) out of 12.  ...so it's not like gruff coaches have a high percentage of greatness.

In terms of a stat, I don't think there's enough data to make any claim at all.

What other coaches in the NFL would you say fit McDaniel's type?

[Tenshot13]

McVay is the closest, but he's less goofy.

The player comparisons aren't apt.  It's not a matter of physical ability.  If you wanted to tell me that it would be hard to coach if you blind or deaf or didn't have arms, fine -- but we're talking about temperment....not physical disadvantages.


I don't think coaches that were silly existed at all in the relatively short lifetime in the NFL with a small sample size.  There have only been 12 Dolphins head coaches prior to McDaniel.  How many of them would you consider silly lovable goofballs?  And their success has been 1 (maybe 2) out of 12.  ...so it's not like gruff coaches have a high percentage of greatness.

In terms of a stat, I don't think there's enough data to make any claim at all.

What other coaches in the NFL would you say fit McDaniel's type?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

What other coaches in the NFL would you say fit McDaniel's type?

Rex Ryan is the only other goof-ball player-centric HC that comes to mind. 

[CF DolFan]

Can't look too far back in history because this is a different NFL. As Joe Rose says all the time ... Shula would not work in today's NFL. These guys are millennials so maybe it is time for a new style of coach. someone has to be the firs tone I guess.

[Dolfanalyst]

The player comparisons aren't apt.  It's not a matter of physical ability.  If you wanted to tell me that it would be hard to coach if you blind or deaf or didn't have arms, fine -- but we're talking about temperment....not physical disadvantages.


I don't think coaches that were silly existed at all in the relatively short lifetime in the NFL with a small sample size.  There have only been 12 Dolphins head coaches prior to McDaniel.  How many of them would you consider silly lovable goofballs?  And their success has been 1 (maybe 2) out of 12.  ...so it's not like gruff coaches have a high percentage of greatness.

In terms of a stat, I don't think there's enough data to make any claim at all.

What other coaches in the NFL would you say fit McDaniel's type?

The comment about Muggsy Bogues was about how exceptions to the rule don't make us redefine the rule.

With regard to coaches, if you can identify a trait that virtually all the greatest coaches in college and NFL history possess, then you can pretty much determine that trait is necessary for greatness in that capacity.  That doesn't mean it's sufficient, however -- Brian Flores isn't going to be great just because he's serious and stern.  But if something is necessary but not sufficient and you ain't got it, you won't be great.  Again it's like the hypothetical QB with 9-inch hands -- if that's necessary but not sufficient for greatness and you got 7-inch hands, you won't be great.

The issue as I see it, potentially, is that not only does McDaniel not seem to possess that characteristic endemic to great coaches historically, but also that it's "replaced" by its opposite -- silliness and goofiness.  If he were like Dick Vermeil for example, and not serious and stern, but also not silly and goofy, then at least you could identify a great coach his personality is similar to.  Even John Madden was highly intense and not a goofball in his coaching capacity.

[Dolfanalyst]

Rex Ryan is the only other goof-ball player-centric HC that comes to mind.

And I certainly wouldn't call Rex Ryan one of the greatest in history.

[CF DolFan]

I love this guy's moxie. The only knock I've heard on him isn't about if he can be a good coach but more is he ready to be a head coach. The Dolphins were the only one to take a chance on our new "unique" head coach. Hopefully he shines as much as they say. 

Tagovailoa is obviously a crucial piece of the puzzle for the Dolphins, but he’s not the only piece. Another one is wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who set a record for receptions by a rookie by catching 104 balls during the 2021 season.

During an appearance on The Dan LeBatard Show, McDaniel suggested that Waddle is going to continue to see the ball come his way often in the offense that the Dolphins will run in 2022.

“I talked with him [the day after being hired] and he understands his leadership role on this team,” McDaniel said, via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “The easiest way to get yards is to give it to a really talented player. I would start him in fantasy.”

[EDGECRUSHER]

^^^

He will utilize Waddle's speed more. Hard to take it to the house when you catch the ball 2 yards from scrimmage. Might see some more running plays for Waddle like they did with Deebo in San Fran, only end around stuff. Definitely not going to line up as a back.

[pondwater]

^^^

He will utilize Waddle's speed more. Hard to take it to the house when you catch the ball 2 yards from scrimmage. Might see some more running plays for Waddle like they did with Deebo in San Fran, only end around stuff. Definitely not going to line up as a back.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I think that McDaniel might be playing possum. Think about it, if he wants to stay one step ahead he needs to constantly evolve.

I think maybe in the first game or two Waddle will get a bunch of touches. But then I think the heavy focus will shift away from Waddle until the second half of the season. 

[ArtieChokePhin]

I have to admit, after watching the coaches news conferences,  I'm very impressed with McDaniel's attention to detail.   He takes the time to explain things to his players.    He will talk about why certain plays are being run in certain ways and how they will help the team on game day.   The fact that he saw the running game and O-Line blocking as deficient and brought in not one, but several assistants to help fix it is a big deal to me.