So it seems the season is over and after two years we’re still a .500 team now I’m not saying I would, but would you or Ross be tempted to make a change since someone’s available now?
You do know he got fired, right? His style of coaching many players didn't want to play for anymore, and I am sure Belichick doesn't want another Mac Jones on his hands.
Regardless of how we feel about him, it is almost guaranteed that there is a handshake agreement not to go to an East team. IMO the one scenario where McDaniel might be in trouble is if Jim Harbaugh tells Steven Ross he is gone from UM and gives him the chance to match a Chargers offer or something. Even this would be extremely unlikely. As much as the ending of this season was tough, a new coach taking a team to the playoffs his first two years is not nothing. He will need to show improvement in year three, notably in the late season.
LOL. It's gonna be a wild few months around here. If this is an indication of what I can expect as debate fodder, I'll check back in after a few weeks.
Really, did the jury sleep through bradys run in tampa and NE eating **** for 4 years? Someone tell said jury
Let’s add some fire to this! what if Bill and Saban decided to join up in some fashion and coach together for their final years? Not sure how that would even work but imagine the combined knowledge and schemes those two would bring together!! They are good friends also and both left their jobs at the same time within days! I smell Smoke!!!!
Throw in Pete Carrol and they can work one week, take two weeks off. What a schedule! For the record, the only thing close to reality is that Ross would throw everyone overboard for Harbaugh (after begging him to stay at Michigan).
God no. You want an offensive mind. That's what wins in the league. McDaniel is him. He just needs QB that doesn't limit him.
DeMeco Ryans is challenging that lol. I will say, if McDaniel wants to move on from Tua that would be a supportable decision. Otherwise, most of what fans are suggesting is just change for the sake of change. Part of it is that we don't have access to the players and coaches the way they themselves have. The things they say in public are just window dressing and not always reflective of reality. If players have soured on Tua and coaches know it then they should explore a change. If players are still sold on the team and looking to run it back and think they can be better next season, then it's about focusing on that. Ultimately, we don't know for sure. I think we just have to trust that Grier and McDaniel want to win as much or more than we do and will make the best choice to do that, be it Tua or not. If Tyreek, Waddle, Achane, Mostert, Ingold or anyone - even defense- is saying things, it's their job to listen and get it fixed.
I don't think it's change for the sake of change. I think it's wanting change because they know this current roster and the QB leading it can only take you so far. A LOT broke right for this team on offense, and it was still a complete failure when it mattered. I think Grier wants to keep his job more than he wants to win. So let's say moving on from Tua is the best thing for this team. Do you think Grier would admit the failure in drafting him, admit Flores was right, and admit he completely F'd up the rebuild? Hell no. That would be the end of his career as a GM. I expect Grier to do what is in the best interest of Chris Grier. That IMO is going to be the opposite of winning. Only Ross can save us, and unfortunately he's too old for another rebuild. Options and outlook are pretty grim. I'd say best option is to trade Tua and sign Cousins, but that would take some balls that I don't think Grier has. That would put his job on the line.
In the position we are in, it is change for the sake of change. Cousins is change for the sake of change. Fields is change for the sake of change. A late first round pick or less is change for the sake of change. None of these options are clear upgrades and could in fact be downgrades. There is no Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers waiting, and even Rogers shows us change is not without risk. You say a lot broke right, but I could easily argue the opposite. That's why I'll leave the Tua question to McDaniel and Grier. Admitting Tua is not the guy would not end them (though admitting that AND failing on a replacement would). They want to win as much as us, their jobs depend on it. So If they are good running it back, then so be it. If they replace him, so be it. But I'm not going berserk demanding we bring in someone else either. I'm not going to automatically dismiss our 2024 chances simply because Tua is still the QB. I'm unsettled, but I'm also not convinced things are incapable of improving either.
I would disagree. I think Cousins is a solid upgrade to Tua. Tua stayed healthy a full season, when he never does. That in itself is MASSIVE break right considering the backup QBs. Hill put up a monster healthy year. Mostert had a healthy monster season when he never does. Achane got injured but flashed greatness, and was one of the few hits in the draft. Waddle put up another great season while missing minimal time. I'd like to hear the opposite of a lot didn't break right on offense. Kind of more minor things. I would again disagree. I think moving on from Tua would end Grier's career. I don't think it would end McDaniel since he wasn't responsible for Tua, but just responsible for propping him up which he did in amazing fashion. McDaniel doesn't make the decision on Tua. His boss does.
Exactly this, Flores was right and he knew early on Tua wasn't the guy and was the wrong pick. Grier will never admit he was wrong and will continue to force him down our throats.
Cousins is a 35 year old coming off an Achilles tear that is 1-4 in the playoffs. He's a good fantasy QB but I've not seen anything to suggest he will be a clear upgrade. Waddle was injured a good amount of the season - if not out then hobbled. Our OL was decimated to an almost comical degree. Did we have a single game with our preferred 5? We had no good catching TE, no WR outside Hill and Waddle offered anything. Achane spent a large amount of the season hurt, Mostert spent our stretch run hurt. Tua being healthy was really the one "break" we had and you want to bring in an old guy coming off a blown Achilles because he put up comparable stats with weapons just as good. That's what I mean by change for the sake of it. Kirk hasn't sniffed a Super Bowl. If the Grier and McDaniel decide he IS what we need, then OK. I'll take their advanced understanding. And I have 0 doubt that Ross wouldn't OK a move - he likes Grier and will give him that last shot. But we aren't replacing Zack Wilson or Ridder or an obvious bum. Tua isn't bad like them or old and washed like a Matt Ryan. He needs to elevate in big games. I'll let our staff determine if they think it's there or not.
I don't understand the bit about being a .500 team. McDaniel is 20-14 and made the playoffs in each of his first two seasons. That's the best 2-year record of any Dolphins coach in the past 20 years, and the only time they've made the playoffs in back to back seasons. If any other NFL team hired a young coach who, without question, put up the best two years the team has had in two decades, would the fans be suggesting he be fired?
Cousins has better numbers than Tua both in career and in the playoffs. Had a higher rating last season, and was very good in his last playoof appearance. Waddle still started 14+ games and had 1000 yards. OL still played well with guys out. The offense isn't about catching TEs, the offense is about speed with WRs and RBs. Mostert started the most games in his career, led the league in TDs, and had over 1k in rushing yards. Yeah, that's the best case scenario there for him. You aren't squeezing anymore juice out of that orange. He can't elevate. "Dolphins had 71 possessions in their 7 games against playoff teams this season (including tonight). They scored 12 touchdowns in those 71 possessions, with 10 turnovers." It's not McDaniel's decision to make so it's moot. Grier is the one who makes the roster decisions, and his roster decisions are going to be made based on how he can continue to stay in power. Not what's best for the team.
McDaniel isn't going to get fired and Tua isn't going to get replaced. We'll have to suffer through a few more years of mediocrity before things settle back down to sucking again, by which time we'll have passed on several likely QBs and coaches and we'll start the churn again.
Well let's get ahead of this, who do we need to watch in Middle School next year? We gotta start scouting
I haven't had a chance to watch the game yet. That being prefaced, I'm hoping that this is part of the "learning how to win" that so many talk about. With it being Tua's 1st actual playoff game, ok but McD had a chance last year, albeit with a backup QB. A saw about 4 plays so far and the ones I saw I was bewildered at the play calls. It's like he put in an offense and never adjusted as the league got used to what they were doing. Again, I haven't seen the game yet and plan on taping it when it airs next to watch it without commercials and commentary.
Stop watching now nothing good is learned. It will drive you crazy these short passes that are short, and forget about ok this is an obvious ruling situation he will go for 30 yards and than punt!!
I was answering the point posed in the original post, which would have required firing him. I don't want him fired, but I think he should be given a deadline. Unless the team wins a playoff game in the next two seasons, he should be gone.
That’s probably an unspoken agreement everywhere for a new coach. I think McDaniel has shown us enough to have confidence in him. He’s never even been an Off Coordinator anywhere let alone a HC. Like any new job, if someone is driven and I can only assume he is based on his journey here, he will develop skillsets and get better. For me the biggest issue has always been Grier. He misses on way too many draft picks for us to be successful long term.
