How the Miami Dolphins will win the Super Bowl Next Year

McDaniel was hired for one reason, to bring the Dolphins offense to the 21st century.  Coach Flores went through 130 offensive coordinators (I know it’s not the actual count, but it felt that way) during his tenure.  Flores’ mandate was hard to figure out, he brought in coordinators that actually never had the position before and was hoping that they would magically learn and develop into a prime coordinators.  The only exception was Chan Gailey, but he was a different coordinator based on the quarterback that was on the field.

Regardless, McDaniel, first-take of his new coaching staff, already presents evidence that he can hire better than Flores.  The Miami Dolphins will look to establish a run game.  What! How crazy is that.  Instead of passing to set up the run, the Dolphins will flip the script and establish the run to set up play action and the passing game.  Add in the fact that the West Coast Offense is back in Miami, with zone blocking recognition, somewhere Bill Walsh is smiling.

One key thing that McDaniel will need to fix is the trenches.  The Miami Dolphins offensive line contains 1 first rounder, 2 second rounders, 1 third rounder, for any other team that is their future, for Miami it is painful.  McDaniel has hired Frank Smith (run game coordinator and offensive line coach for the Chargers) and then hired Matt Applebaum (offensive line coach from Boston College and ties to Shanahan coaching tree).  What do both of these individuals have in common – they have actual coaching experience.  What a concept.  McDaniel, Smith and Applebaum will look to understand if there is talent already on the roster or if they need to look to spend in free agency.

If the Dolphins need to spend in free agency, they have the ammunition to do so.  As of right now, Miami has the most cap space in the entire NFL at approximately 76 million.   If the Dolphins were to target Laken Tomlinson (Free Agent Guard from 49ers) and potentially draft Tyler Vrabel, Zion Johnson, or Alec Lindstrom (all Boston College prospect that could be available for Miami in the draft) their weakness would be a thing of the past.

Now that protection is set, Tua, the Dolphins franchise quarterback, could potentially start looking like a franchise Quarterback.  Tua isn’t a quarterback that will lead the Dolphins to the promised land by himself.  Tua requires a system, similar to Jimmy Garoppolo, that can showcase his skill set and allow him to control the game.

McDaniel’s evolution of his playbook will cater towards Tua and add in a running game that Miami hasn’t seen since Ricky and Ronnie that is exciting.  With the additions of his staff and the ammunition of rebuilding a line that could be 50% better (remember they were ranked last, in 2021) the offense could look to make a dramatic change, potentially a Super Bowl one.

The way the Miami Dolphins have positioned themselves, they are also able to think about adding playmakers to the outside.  The only downside is that they might have to overspend.  Tua isn’t a quarterback that will draw players into the Dolphins program.  Look at the 49ers model, they drafted their top two wide receivers.  Miami would be wise to move on from Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns and focus on adding a stretch player that can stay healthy to be paired with Devante Parker.   Christian Kirk and Michael Gallup are two players that the Miami Dolphins should hope to attract, as they possess the abilities to not only block downfield, but add an extra layer to McDaniel offense.

And let’s not forget, we haven’t even mentioned Jaylen Waddle continued emergence from his breakout rookie season.  How McDaniel will employ his skills set will be something that will energize this team.