MIAMI GARDENS — Among changes for the Miami Dolphins offense to put together a potent performance in Sunday’s 34-10 win against the Atlanta Falcons was the move of offensive coordinator Frank Smith from the booth upstairs down to the sideline.
With his greater proximity to players during the game, Smith said Tuesday afternoon he got a text from injured tight end Darren Waller, whom he has coached since time together with the Raiders: “I guess they saw the real you.”
The decision came about as, during the week of practice, Smith’s voice was a key to the offense operating at a high level. So he and coach Mike McDaniel concluded he should stay on the sideline during the game and out of what he called the “fish bowl” upstairs.
“It’s fun, man. It was a lot of fun,” Smith said. “I haven’t been on the field in a couple years, and I’m glad I could help the football team win.”
The offensive coordinator added Tuesday he assumes the team will stick with the new protocol.
What is the real Smith that Waller alluded to?
“Well, it’s not slow and passive. I can tell you that,” Smith said. “It’s just like all players are looking for in the moment. They want clarity. Clear, concise, consistent communication. You’re seeing what they’re experiencing in real time, you live with it.
“I always felt my job as a position coach, I played the game with them. So every ounce of my energy was, I know the play, I’m in there with them, I’m experiencing with them, I’m able to help them with them, be able to help keys, everything that needs to occur.”
Another key change the offense made, aside from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa wearing a visor to protect his swollen eye, was giving Daniel Brunskill snaps in packages as a sixth offensive lineman, lining up at tight end.
Smith said the incorporation of Brunskill was “two-prong,” for the opponent and to create solutions to some offensive problems.
“A great thing about Dan, he is an on-it vet and he was really taken to what he needed to do to help his teammates,” Smith said. “It was awesome just to see his connectivity to the guys and just being able to help us win was really awesome.”
Chubb OK
The shoulder and foot injuries that surfaced on the Dolphins’ Monday injury report for outside linebacker Bradley Chubb shouldn’t keep him out of the lineup Thursday night.
“I’ll be good,” Chubb said. “It is just one of those things, you got a short week, things flare up from the game before, you just want to make sure you get on it and correct it.”
Chubb was estimated on the injury report as he wouldn’t have participated in a normal practice Monday, as the team didn’t go through drills after the Sunday game on the short week.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who hasn’t played in a month with a hamstring injury, is trending further toward making his return back home in South Florida on Thursday.
“Can’t wait to touch the grass with my guys,” Jackson told reporters in Baltimore. “It’s been a while.”
The Dolphins officially placed cornerback Storm Duck on injured reserve Tuesday after McDaniel said Monday his season was over due to the knee ailment suffered in Atlanta.
Miami now has an open spot on the active roster, which could go to rookie nickel cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. if he’s activated from IR Thursday in recovery from his hamstring injury.
The team placed Kendall Sheffield on the practice squad injured list while bringing back undrafted rookie cornerback Ethan Robinson, who was with the team during training camp, to fill the void on the practice squad.
Backup QB
Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers’ time as Tagovailoa’s top backup was short-lived.
After he was given the nod over veteran Zach Wilson for the Oct. 19 game against the Cleveland Browns, Wilson had the No. 2 role again last Sunday against the Falcons, and the Dolphins are now sticking with that until further notice.
“Until competition, as it continues, proves otherwise, for now, the best thing for our football team is for in-relief duty of a game or because of injury for Zach to come in and be the No. 2,” McDaniel said.
“That could change over time. I’m never going to turn my nose down to competition, but I feel comfortable with that. I’m not looking to change that until they show me it needs to be changed.”
McDaniel said both passers elevated their play as the job was in flux over recent weeks.
“The competition was very good during the week,” McDaniel said. “We were able to create a couple other scenarios where they could operate with the guys and, within that, Zach’s game and Quinn’s game kind of rose.”