Mike McDaniel fires a stern warning at a problem area of the Miami Dolphins
Well, at least the fans and media aren't worth laughing at this time around from those in a position of authority with the Miami Dolphins. Head coach Mike McDaniel – who's usually not one to issue strong public criticism about his players – was asked on Wednesday about the team's yards per carry total going […]
Well, at least the fans and media aren't worth laughing at this time around from those in a position of authority with the Miami Dolphins.
Head coach Mike McDaniel – who's usually not one to issue strong public criticism about his players – was asked on Wednesday about the team's yards per carry total going from one of the best last year to the worst this year, and he fired a clear shot across the bow at his offensive line.
"So, I go and look through schematically just as we were doing earlier in the season when we knew we had to get the run game going, when Tua (Tagovailoa) got hurt and we weren’t happy with the Tennessee game and et cetera, et cetera, you go schematics. It’s an easy formula of just holding people accountable and asking what are we coaching them, what are they saying, motivating guys to focus on certain details that you think are the most important, and then overall, we have to do our jobs better.
"But when your line of scrimmage is violated to the point you have some turnover football, that you have some hits on the quarterback and you’re not able to stay on the field as long as you want, you have to figure out a way to reestablish the line of scrimmage and that problem is not going anywhere until we solve it.
"I think it’s very convoluted; there’s a lot of variables when you just flatline say, ‘It’s the same guys, what’s the difference?’ I think you have to look at the independent plays where the failures are and what are the consistent failures. Last game I thought we weren’t nearly where we needed to be at the point of attack, how to engage blocks, our leverages and staying attached to players. I think we have pressing so that when we do have an advantage on the defense, we’re getting holding calls left and right – probably threefold to what we had last year. It’d be interesting if guys choose to have their hands inside and fit the blocks well so they are not getting called for holdings and those holdings don’t occur, what is our yards per carry then. I think that that has something to do with it as well. I think that you can be understated – we haven’t done a good enough job executing in the run game, I think, since Austin Jackson left, and that’s been a focus of ours because he’s a very good player at the point of attack, but we have other good players too and how do we get that consistent. I think, like anything in football, it’s a group effort and it starts with focusing on the right thing, not just the result but more of what does it look like and where are the failures at the point of attack.”
Violated is a pretty darned strong descriptor there. But then again, there's not much of a different way for him to spin the situation with his offensive line, to be fair. They've been nothing short of awful this season. Between subpar guard play and depth options not living up to their billing on the edges – particularly relevant given Terron Armstead's health struggles – Miami's group up front has been no small part of why the Dolphins sit at 6-8 with just 3 games left to play, including against San Francisco on Sunday afternoon.
How bad have the Dolphins been against the run? Miami is tied for second for the fewest yards per carry this season with 3.9, and they have the lowest 1st down run percentage in the league at 19.8%. Against physical teams, this front has folded.
But that should be no surprise, given the team let G Robert Hunt walk in free agency without finding a suitable replacement – really a suitable option at either guard spot. So when you have multiple spots on an offensive line who aren't quality starting material, the entire offense is going to suffer.
Chris Grier balked before at questions about his offensive line, telling reporters before the season they were more worried about it than he was. Well, no one is laughing now. That's an area that's going to have to be rebuilt over the offseason – if Grier is still in the building to make those decisions.
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