Mike McDaniel offers an all-too-familiar explanation for the Dolphins’ critical failed fourth-down attempt versus Ravens and it’s an indictment on everyone
It feels like Groundhog Day in Miami.
Woof. So much for the Miami Dolphins creating some positive momentum from their Week 8 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. Miami found plenty of momentum moving the ball around in the first half on Thursday night. But points? Those proved to be hard to come by. The Baltimore Ravens held the Dolphins out of the end zone and to just six total points — thanks in large part to a failed fourth-down attempt in the final two minutes of the first half that had Miami knocking on the door to potentially tie the game.
They got no points as a fade to running back De’Von Achane in the slot fell harmlessly incomplete while being covered by Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton. You know — one of the best defensive players in football. If the decision made you mad, just wait until you hear Mike McDaniel’s explanation for why it failed. It’s one we’ve heard plenty.
Mike McDaniel attempts to explain Miami’s poor execution amid missed points before halftime
“We had a concept that we felt pretty good about and our primary didn’t quite go in an area that we expected it to. It was kind of a miscommunication, so to speak, and then we had an eligible right inside to make a conversion. So basically there was a multitude of failures in a critical situation on that one and I was super confident that that wouldn’t be the case, otherwise I wouldn’t have taken that risk. But a failure to execute a look that I think we can resulted in no points, and that’s a gigantic momentum swing.”
— Mike McDaniel on the failed fourth down attempt in the final two minutes of the first half
The miscommunications are a crippling staple of the Dolphins offense at this stage of the game. Miami is in their fourth year of running the same offense. Tua Tagovailoa and three of his five eligibles on the play (Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, and Achane) have had multiple years in the system together. Waddle and Washington were in a tight stack to the left and Tagovailoa never gave consideration to that side of the field. Upon the snap, his eyes immediately went to his right.
One of the other eligibles, tight end Greg Dulcich, has been with the team for two months. He ran a hitch on the perimeter on the play and was not a factor in the progression. That leaves wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine as the lone first year player to be involved in the progression. It’s unclear where the miscommunication lies.
Dolphins offensive performance in Week 9 versus Ravens
- 6 points (shoutout in the second half)
- 3 turnovers
- 0/3 in trips to the red zone
- 1 missed field goal
What is clear is that these kinds of self-inflicted wounds and unforced errors are a weekly affair. And they’re exhausting. Just like the Dolphins were mired with personnel issues in Week 2 against New England that killed a game-winning drive. Just like the operational issues against Cleveland saw Jaylen Waddle pull up to run a hook route while Tagovailoa took a shot deep down the field in a 31-6 loss to the Browns.
The same issues are present in the earlier years of this system, perhaps none more visible than a 21-14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany in 2023. That game ended after Tagovailoa took a shot downfield for receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. — who misread the pre-snap signal, causing a miscommunication with Tagovailoa despite being wide open for a potential game-tying score in the final moments of the game.
Another big opportunity for the Dolphins’ offense was foiled by a self-inflicted miscommunication. It’s a tiresome, but unfortunately unsurprising trend. Whether the scheme is too complex, the players aren’t seeing the rep the same way, or both. The fact that it’s happening in the fourth year in the system? Deflating, to say the least. And it’s now bit the Dolphins again just before the half of their most recent defeat.
Miami Dolphins News
The Dolphins’ trade deadline plans could hinge on Thursday night — here are three teams that should be on speed dial
With a loss, it may be time to face the music.
