MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins are a mess right now. They enter Sunday’s game at Cleveland as an interesting mixture of well-intentioned jocularity, obstinate optimism and predictable frustration.
There’s still a dark cloud hanging over the locker room due to the team’s disappointing 1-5 start, unfounded trade rumors, questions about coach Mike McDaniel’s future, and a recent blunder by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
But every now and then, rays of hope surface. Thursday and Friday were two of those days.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver should have been accompanied to his weekly media session on Thursday by a drummer and a rimshot. At the very least Weaver needed the comedic timing to say, “Too soon?” after he delivered a good-natured jab at Tagovailoa’s expense.
Here’s the backdrop: A reporter, after noticing Weaver seemed downtrodden, asked Weaver how he’s doing and whether he’s concerned that his defense’s poor showing would damage his reputation as a hot NFL head coach prospect.
Weaver, as usual, gave a thoughtful, passionate answer. He acknowledged being “a little edgy” but said he’s not concerned about his reputation and that his motivation is helping players and winning, not making money or becoming a head coach.
He said he’s trying to be a “lighthouse in the storm” for his players, that they must find a way to win games in the fourth quarter, and that “pressure reveals habits,” and “until we’ve had enough training where those mistakes don’t happen in critical situations.”
In summation, Weaver continued.
“Now what I can promise you is to a man everybody in this organization is committed to that,” he said.
Then he took a brief pause.
“I know I’ve had coaches-only meetings where coaches don’t show up,” he quipped.
And then he smiled and laughed.
“Just kidding,” Weaver said. “He’s our quarterback. I love him.”
Weaver was obviously referring to Tagovailoa’s ill-fated postgame news conference after last week’s 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, the one in which Tagovailoa blurted out that players were tardy to and/or skipping player-led film sessions. It created a national firestorm.
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Sometimes you must laugh to keep from crying. And sometimes giving someone playful grief is an indication life is getting back to normal.
The Dolphins, who have been good at maintaining a healthy outlook during the many ups and downs of the McDaniel era, are doing whatever the best they can to be positive despite their disheartening start to the season. It hasn’t been easy.
Their run defense is the worst in the NFL at 168.5 yards allowed per game. Tagovailoa has thrown 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 92.1 passer rating ranks 21st in the league. Special teams have allowed at least three game-changing plays (rough the punter, running into the punter, and a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown). Coaching hasn’t been any better than player performance.
The locker room has become an interesting mix of irritation and normality. A few players walk around with a constant scowl. Others spend lots of time relieving stress at the pop-a-shot basketball hoop that was brought in this year. Still others, mostly youngsters, carry on with a smile and an upbeat attitude. Approaches vary, and judging strictly by game results no approach seems to be right or wrong.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is optimistic about the team’s mood.
“I think it’s good,” he said Friday. “I think everybody came to work, ready to work, willing to work, learn from our mistakes. We watched the film and I think we had two good prep days. Eager to go out there and make plays.”
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Weather could be a factor Sunday at Cleveland. The forecast calls for rain and windy conditions. That won’t catch tight end Darren Waller off guard.
“The only game I played in Cleveland in my career was the COVID-19 year, it was hailing,” he said. “It felt like broken glass was coming from the sky. It was windy as I don’t know what. I thought I saw a bird in the sky, it was a pizza box in the air, dead serious.”
The Dolphins will attempt to put weather concerns, trade rumors and other negatives behind them when they face the Browns. They’re trying to improve day by day, step by step, in hopes it leads to their desired outcome. That’s the approach that rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the first-round pick who is off to a slow start, is trying to enact.
“I wouldn’t say discouraged,” the normally upbeat Grant said about his six-game performance, a performance that has him ranked among the league’s worst defensive tackles. “I would say frustrated at knowing I can do better. But like I said, I’ve just got to keep chomping at the bit every day.”
