Mike McDaniel – December 29, 2023
Download PDF version
Friday, December 29, 2023
Head Coach Mike McDaniel
(Is QB Tua Tagovailoa playing Sunday?) – “Yes.”
(Are WR Jaylen Waddle and OL Rob Hunt out Sunday?) – “Waddle will be out and we’re going to work some more Rob Hunt today to see where he’s at.”
(How much activity has OL Rob Hunt gotten in team portions, if anything?) – “He got a little work yesterday and the day before, so that was kind of where we were at. You can kind of control things when it’s not in a team environment more. There’s a little more risk when you get into the team environment, so then you wait until you feel comfortable doing that. We haven’t had any setbacks, so it was a good risk and we’ll see what is in store for today.”
(How did QB Tua Tagovailoa sustain the thumb injury?) – “A high-stakes, left-handed thumb war with me. (laughter) Bad decision. I really haven’t been worried about it at all just because he sustained it – I didn’t know about it during the game. When I found out about it the day after the game, he let me know what play it was. It was in the first quarter and he played the entire game without saying anything and has just been getting treatment on it. It was off an opposing player’s helmet in the first quarter. He was spinning it through the fourth.”
(And how about QB Tua Tagovailoa’s quad? What’s the status of that?) – “He feels real good about the quad. He’s been very intentional and deliberate during the week to make sure it wouldn’t be an issue at all. When he puts his mind to something – it was encouraging.”
(Just to get some clarity on S Jevon Holland, I know he’s practiced or participated, more this week. Is he closer to being back in the lineup or at least dressed for game day?) – “I’m optimistic about Jevon. The biggest thing is him not having any setbacks today, and so we’ll see how he handles that, or his body, I should say. Like I’ve been talking about from the onset, the deliberate nature of him, you just really, really have to be careful to not make yourself vulnerable to setbacks with him because he’s all gas and no brake, really. I’m encouraged by him and we’ll see what today has to offer.”
(RB Raheem Mostert and RB De’Von Achane?) – “Raheem is probably a guy that I’m least worried about in life in terms of, I just know him so well and his prerequisite toughness. He’ll get a little work today. He’s had a good week. And then De’Von, no issues with him. It’s been a good week for him too.”
(Where is WR Robbie Chosen in the concussion protocol?) – “Where DeShon (Elliott) was last week. The final stages of clearance will happen today and I’m optimistic that will be the case.”
(I’ll pivot off of the injuries and go towards a psychological question. So you guys come off a big win last week over the Cowboys, the first win over a winning team, all that stuff. The Ravens get a big win over a team that is favored in that game. What’s the approach for managing the emotions coming off of such an emotional high, going into another big game? How do you approach getting the guy’s minds back to that exact same place as they were ahead of the Cowboys game?) – “Each week is independent of itself. This one was really easy, just because you know the challenge. You know you have a high regard for the team you’re playing. The opportunity to play the NFL’s best is just that for us. We’re excited about that opportunity because as competitors, that’s what we want to do. We want to go against the best and put our best foot forward and see how it plays out. I think that is definitely a legitimate question. There’s different types of scenarios and a lot of times after a big win, you feel as though you have to manage the emotions because we have another big game in front of us. This one was not that way. There was a lot of excitement about the win, but once Wednesday started, the Dallas game could have been two or three months previous for all the players’ concerns. They have been locked in at the task at hand.”
(I ask this question against the backdrop of your growth as a second-year head coach. Could you guys have had the same success in the run game last year as you’ve had this year if you’d have called more rushing plays? I think you guys were 29th in rushing attempts last year and I think you’re 12th or 13th this year.) – “I hope not or I should have called more running plays. (laughter) I think last year was its own entity. I think this year, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re better upfront at really everything we do, just with a more concrete understanding, more reps of what we’re really trying to accomplish. The one thing I can say is … if you put this year’s team, the same number of attempts against last year’s opponents, we’re without a doubt better at doing our jobs, which speaks to not only the deliberate nature of how it’s being coached, but the players I think have such an understanding and buy-in to what we’re trying to do that they’re able to execute responsibilities beyond just what we’re asking for. They’re taking stuff to another level. You have to be that way. This last game was a great example, to have success running the football when everyone knows you’re running it at the end of the game. That’s a great litmus test for where you’re at. That’s a tough thing to do and this group here doesn’t blink at any adverse situations. They were happy to rise to the challenge and they sure did.”
(How fair is it to say you’re coming for Dan Marino’s records considering how much the game has changed? They didn’t throw it as much.) – “So there’s a backstory to that that’s long. (laughter) I drive to work on Dan Marino Boulevard every day. From the onset, when I first saw him in the building, I’m like, ‘you’re Dan Marino.’ And he’s like, ‘would you be okay if I sat in the meeting?’ I’m like, ‘What? Yes. I’m just honored that you’d actually be interested.’ But he’s around in the quarterback meetings a lot, in our staff meetings and in those, over the course of time, you throw a jab out here or there and every time you throw a jab out, he says, ‘I’ve been waiting for someone.’ He’s the biggest Dolphins fan and he wants every success that Tua and the guys can have and so when he was coming to the coin toss, I think there were some records up there, so literally I said that to make Dan laugh. That was the only reason, because we talk about breaking records and he’s like, ‘finally.’ And on top of that, what you just alluded to is 100 percent the case. Like 5,000 yards in 1984 is pretty much the equivalent of 6,500, I would say, now. That record stood for 27 years or something like that. So there’s a reason is stood for that long and it’s a mind-blowing number. I remember as a kid just being so involved in stats and I was a huge John Elway fan and he wasn’t sniffing 5,000. So yeah, you’re exactly right. That’s like inflation. You have to account for inflation so it would be about 6,500 to break his record I think.”
(I wanted to ask about the fact that this unit, this defense, you’ve already got the franchise sack record with two games more to play and you’ve had some injuries in that group. How much is a testament to what you’re doing collectively on defense?) – “I’ve said this to the team numerous times, but the sacks, the quarterback hits, that is a defensive stat – team defense – because to be able to do that, of course, the people that are getting the numbers deserve them. They’re executing pass rush whether it’s just straight rush or there’s games or blitzes. All those things. They deserve all the credit they get, however, there’s a coverage aspect to it that I think speaks to the greater big picture of what the defense is doing on pass downs. What’s really happening is the inner play between coverage and pass rush is so tied together that guys are starting to feel how long they typically will have success – if they can hold up, you can be aggressive in coverage in certain different ways because realistically you know that there’s going to be a quarterback off the spot after a certain amount of time. I think as a defense, that’s a defensive stat that has to do just as much with the pass rush as the coverage. If there are blown coverages or leaky coverages, some of those hits or sacks can be avoided. So I think that really speaks to everyone. That’s what I’m really, really happy about with the Miami Dolphins team. Our team is a collection of people and a lot of people contributing, and when one guy goes down, another one steps in and rises to the challenge. The locker room that the players have built is really strong and guys are playing well with each other.”
(There was a moment in the Jets game where Solomon Thomas is down on a knee and you’re walking toward him. He’s a defensive player, you’re offensive. I know you were together in San Francisco, but can you tell me about that moment and maybe anything about your history with Solomon?) –– “I think people lose sight of, especially with pads, helmets, that this is a relationship game. I‘ve never shortchanged anybody that I’ve been able to be on a team with that there’s a certain bond there that never leaves. With a guy that I was there, he was our first draft pick in San Francico. Solomon Thomas is a great human being, great work ethic. When you have a relationship like that, a former teammate, there’s a part of that that never leaves you. If the relationship is right, both sides feel the same way. I was just trying to make sure he was okay. I don’t like seeing anybody get hurt on the football field.”
(I was watching the Browns last night, and was like, ‘wow, No Deshaun Watson, no Nick Chubb, no Jedrick Wills Jr., no Jack Conklin, and yet here they are fighting for one of the top seeds in the AFC. I was thinking about how even the Texas Rangers in baseball won a World Series without two Hall of Fame Pitchers, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. What lesson is there in that? Can almost any injury actually be overcome?) – “I think adversity is an opportunity, for one. For two, I think it speaks to where your attention lies. So if a group of people are so focused on doing their independent jobs for the collective goal and only worry about that, there’s kind of a mindset that things happen in football, or in sports as you related, and not focusing on, ‘oh, our guy’s hurt,’ and focusing on what my job is. Let the people that have to step up to replace that player worry about their game; I’m going to worry about mine. And collectively, the idea of minimizing internal distractions, I think is a life lesson for all people because it’s very, very easy to go into the world of worry. It’s one of the reasons I don’t spend – for example, how the offensive line has played out this yea – I don’t spend any time bitching or moaning about, ‘oh, this guy is hurt.’ It’s what’s the next thing? How do we adjust? What are some of the skill sets of their replacement? And move on. I think that’s what you’re seeing with the Cleveland Browns is a lot people were worried about what they didn’t have except them. And their focus, when your focus is on the opponent and not what you don’t have, really cool things can happen. Because they were put behind the eight ball with injuries, now the accomplishments are that much more satisfying. So, henceforth, adversity is an opportunity because now they have this cool moment of a galvanizing team experience that the reason why it’s so cool and so impactful is because they’ve overcome some things to do it. That’s kind of the name of the game in life and football, and they’re doing a tremendous job providing that example.”
(With WR Tyreek Hill and four other good receivers available Sunday, pending what WR Robbie Chosen’s status is, do you think there’s something more that can be called for WR Chase Claypool? Is he on top of the system? Is there something there you’d like to maybe extract?) – “There is. In practice, there’s been an uptick in involvement and particularly in this game. Really everyone understands what Waddle brings to our team and then understands that it’s an opportunity for playmakers to make plays in his absence. So yeah, there has been. Chase has done an unbelievable job defining to me who he truly is. Whatever narratives existed before, all he’s done here is chopped wood and gotten better and assimilated into a system that isn’t necessarily easy. And he’s done it with the intent of helping the team through selflessness. It’s been really cool to watch him define himself with his teammates and take advantage of whatever opportunity is given. He also had a couple really good plays on special teams last week. And yeah, I expect to see a little bit more of him too.”
