For the past four years, I’ve expected some linguistic entrepreneur to invent a Mike-McDaniel-to-English dictionary for his winding speeches.
But the past few dismal days have shown the Miami Dolphins coach can be direct and need no translating. On Sunday, he said his team wasn’t prepared for their 33-8 embarrassment in Indianapolis in a manner that was obvious but few coaches admit. He then called out a player by name for perhaps the first time in four years.
He also made the mistake Monday of saying: “I don’t see how it could be worse.’’
It got worse a few hours later.
Receiver Tyreek Hill’s wife spelled out eight alleged incidents of domestic violence against him in divorce papers, according to a TMZ report. She claims he, “violently attacked her, throwing her to the floor, twisting her intimate body parts, ripping her hair out …’’ She claims he got physical with her while she was pregnant.
Hill’s lawyers deny the allegations and say she is trying to get more money. The NFL will investigate. If true, Hill is gone. End of discussion.
This is just another problem in an organization full of problems. It suggests again how they invest in the wrong people — at least that’s what again played out in on the field in Sunday’s opener.
Let’s be clear: The football problems aren’t life-serious ones like domestic violence. They’re just football. There’s no blending those two issues. But what can be blended is the Dolphins’ decisions to invest in problems, and keep investing in them, and that turns to general manager Chris Grier and McDaniel at the top.
You can get dizzy going back and forth on whether Grier or McDaniel is more responsible for the state of this franchise. That’s for another day. It gets back to owner Steve Ross. It starts with Ross and his decisions really. But, again, another day.
This day is about underlining how it’s time for Grier and McDaniel to make their last stand, if one is to be made. Throw in their biggest investment of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, too. His job’s on the line with theirs, considering he still doesn’t look like he belongs in the $50 Million Quarterback Club.
No?
Then show it starting Sunday against a blah New England team. Show it the following Thursday against a great Buffalo team and across a full season in the manner this team needs.
Tua needs to show some winning ways. Grier and McDaniel need to show some of their decisions are working to help that. Like keeping Hill despite the constant on- and off-field problems. Like the biggest decision this offseason: The trade of cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith (plus $7 million) to Pittsburgh for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
That was to change a decayed culture (another problem). Ramsey isn’t missed inside the team. But on Sunday? Grier didn’t replace Ramsey or Smith with capable players. New York Giants refugee Daniel Jones looked like Peyton Manning throwing against the Dolphins secondary. Darren Waller was brought out of retirement to replace Smith. Waller can’t even practice, but Grier counted on him to start. Go figure.
Of course, Grier deferred on decisions to McDaniel. That’s his management style for whatever reason. McDaniel’s offense was special enough a couple of seasons ago that other teams borrowed his ideas.
But look at it now. It had 43 yards in the first half on Sunday. It was shut out until the final minutes. It still didn’t get the ball to speedsters Hill or Jaylen Waddle for anything notable. Hill hasn’t caught a pass more than 30 yards since last season’s opener (he did have two other catches for 30 yards last year).
“There were probably three different opportunities that the opportunity was taken away from him by his teammates’ lack of execution on their non-ball assignments,’’ McDaniel said of Hill’s lack of deep catches.
McDaniel didn’t name names there. But he did in calling out, “the utmost dependable player Zach Sieler in an attempt to get a sack at the final stage of the pass rush kind of voided his pass rushing lane.’’ That led to a big Colts play, he said.
The bigger question is Tagovailoa. He was a mistake machine Sunday, with two interceptions and a fumble. He has five interceptions and three fumbles in his past three games. Yet he disputed the idea his turnovers come, “in bunches.”
“I thought that was a wild comment, that I turn the ball over in bunches,’’ he said. “That’s crazy.”
While saying he has to be better, Tagovailoa also said he wanted to see who came in on the off day Tuesday to watch film. “I want to see how everyone goes about their process,’’ he said.
This team playing better starts with him. That should be the process. Sure, he’s owed a lot of money next season. But a new regime would eat that and move on rather invest in his seventh season if he doesn’t look better.
It’s early in the season, but not too early to wonder where this goes. Indianapolis was a disaster. These next games against New England and Buffalo have show that opener wasn’t who the Dolphins are.
The stakes are clear: Grier, McDaniel and Tagovailoa have their Dolphins careers on the line.
Sunday doesn’t mean the end of anything.
But that’s how ends can start.
