Why Mike McDaniel retains religion in Dolphins regardless of defensive overhaul

MIAMI — Do not speak to Mike McDaniel about expectations.

Or a minimum of, do not anticipate him to care.

The Miami Dolphins’ third-year coach has led his workforce to the playoffs in every of his first two seasons however has but to seize the franchise’s first postseason win since 2000. After paying large for star expertise akin to huge receiver Tyreek Hill, defensive finish Bradley Chubb, offensive deal with Terron Armstead and defensive again Jalen Ramsey over the previous two seasons, the invoice got here due this offseason as a number of Miami free brokers signed elsewhere.

Starters akin to defensive deal with Christian Wilkins and guard Robert Hunt signed huge contracts with the Las Vegas Raiders and Carolina Panthers, respectively, whereas key rotational gamers in linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, defensive deal with Raekwon Davis and security Brandon Jones signed with the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, respectively. Miami additionally launched veterans in linebacker Jerome Baker, defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah and cornerback Xavien Howard, leaving final season’s Tenth-ranked protection in want of restructuring.

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The Dolphins have performed that via the primary couple weeks of free company. However till they take the sector, it’s tough to inform whether or not they’re higher off after parting methods with so many gamers.

Because of the losses, there’s a perception that the 2024 season shall be a reset yr. However McDaniel says the expectations for the Dolphins shall be as excessive as ever.

“I can let you know one factor: Each single participant that was on the workforce final yr and the yr earlier than, and each single participant that we have added this offseason, and each single coach that we have added this offseason, their expectations are to assist fulfill targets unaccomplished,” McDaniel stated on the NFL’s annual assembly this week. “There’s been zero time spent pondering something much less daring or much less aggressive than the way in which we strategy each season.”

The Dolphins’ transition first started in February, once they mutually parted methods with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio after one season and employed former Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach/line of defense coach Anthony Weaver.

However extra modifications had been mandatory, contemplating Miami was roughly $50 million over the wage cap previous to free company. Baker began 82 video games for the Dolphins since 2018 and was productive all through his six-year profession with the workforce. Ogbah’s manufacturing over the previous two seasons did not match the $65 million contract he signed in 2022, however he put collectively consecutive 9-sack seasons in his first two years in Miami.

Shifting on from them saved roughly $25 million in opposition to the 2024 wage cap, and shifting on from Howard represents one other $18 million in financial savings as soon as his post-June 1 launch hits the books.

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However their launch — together with the departures of Wilkins, Van Ginkel, Davis and Jones — left holes at each stage of the protection. Including linebacker Jordyn Brooks, cornerback Kendall Fuller, security Jordan Poyer and outdoors linebacker Shaquil Barrett will not seize headlines however nonetheless provides the Dolphins the chance to be aggressive on that aspect of the ball.

“I feel the workforce itself is loaded with expertise, however that solely goes to date,” stated linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., one other offseason signing. “I feel I have been part of some gifted groups in Cleveland and Indy, and we simply have not been in a position to put all of it collectively. I feel that is the story of soccer, proper? Can you place all of it collectively?”

Regardless of the notable losses, the Dolphins’ protection nonetheless options Ramsey, Chubb, pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips, security Jevon Holland and deal with Zach Sieler.

With that core, Miami expects to carry out at a excessive stage in 2024.

McDaniel made that a lot clear.

“The extra folks decrease their expectations, it is form of inaccurate or irrelevant, however I do know that beginning April 15, guys are very, very hungry to ship on what they know,” he stated, “which is a chance to be on a workforce that has the power to develop from what we have discovered final yr and what we went via, and have zero thought as to down, rebuilding, no matter these phrases are. That makes zero sense to me.

“Followers are going to pay to attempt to watch us play soccer and folks do not go to video games to observe folks lose. Individuals’s careers — this shall be a very powerful yr of each single participant’s profession as a result of it is the one one which exists. We have talked about that earlier than.”