When a team stumbles this badly, the spotlight rarely misses the head coach. With the Miami Dolphins‘ current performance, it’s burning bright on Mike McDaniel. After losing to the Buffalo Bills in week 3, the Dolphins are now 0-3. This has been the worst start for McDaniel since coming to Miami in 2022. Though he appears to be safe for now, the week 4 clash against the New York Jets can make a difference. Experts have been blunt and vocal, expressing their take on McDaniel’s future with the team.
“I’m not one that’s quick to fire a coach, but I do feel like if you don’t win this game at home in your backyard against a New York Jets team with Aaron Glenn at the helm and a young quarterback who’s getting better, but a divisional game where you’re favored, I do think it might be time to just clean house,” Danny Kanell said on CBS sports when asked what he sees so far with the struggling Miami team. “If the Dolphins come up short here, they might do something drastic to sort of wake up a locker room.” he further said.
Earlier, ESPN’s Peter Schrager also argued that the week 4 loss to the Jets at home will be too much to get over. “Monday Night Football, Jets versus Dolphins in Miami,” Schrager said. “If you get blown out tonight, it’s not good, and there will be people calling for McDaniel’s head. If you lose to the Jets in Week 4 and start the season off 0-4 and losing on national TV two weeks in a row… that’s when we really start talking about this.”
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Though in his first three seasons, McDaniel had immense success. The Dolphins made two straight playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023 after a six-year drought. This might be the reason why the Dolphins owner, Stephen Ross, intends to stay “patient” with McDaniel. Ross appears to like McDaniel, believes in his coaching style, and also gave him a contract extension less than 13 months ago. But the McDaniel regime is experiencing a declining curve since the end of last season, after a disappointing campaign. And the HC will have to find solutions quickly ahead of a crucial game against the Jets.
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It’s Offense vs Defense
The Monday Night Football is expected to deliver a high-stakes clash when the Dolphins host the Jets. This is also a juicy matchup as both teams are yet to open their season with a win. After a 0-3 record for both teams, the Jets fans are relying upon their home-field advantage at MetLife Stadium to pull off the first win of the season.
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Despite having talented players, the Jets started the season with a rough patch. Their offense has struggled in both passing and running, making the QB duties crucial for rookie Justin Fields. But defense is a strong asset for them. With weapons like Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosely, the team might be able to pressure Tua Tagovailoa and create turnovers. The Dolphins, having one of the quickest offenses in the season with dynamic receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, are key to limiting the Jets’ play.
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Apart from the players, it is McDaniel who will also be under heavy scrutiny, especially before the Dolphins’ fans who are deprived of their first season win. After a tough loss to the Bills, Miami had a lot of time to work on the takeaways. He is expected to debut tight end Darren Waller. “It’s probably more situational,” McDaniel said. “I wouldn’t go to all these lengths, have all this buildup and then throw him out there for 60 (snaps) or something. I kind of have an idea, roughly, what it is, but we’ll see if that idea plays through the practice week.”
If McDaniel has a situational plan for Waller, the Jets have to think of some way to contain the 6-foot-6 tight end from the red zone.