If Mike McDaniel runs the ball, the Miami Dolphins can beat the Patriots

If Mike McDaniel stops calling plays like he’s on Madden and actually runs the ball, then the Miami Dolphins have a great chance of beating the Patriots.

In the month of December, the Miami Dolphins went from 8-3 trying to clinch the division to 8-7 and clawing for a wildcard spot. The starting QB Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion, other Dolphins players suffered injuries and now Miami’s playoff hopes are on life support.

Or are they?

In my opinion, many games like the 49ers’ loss and the Bills’ loss could have been won, or at least kept to a closer margin if Mike McDaniel was not so stubborn with his playcalling. I get it, McDaniel’s play design can be brilliant with Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle at WR.

But balance is key, and Mike McDaniel is forcing passing plays in spots and situations where committing to running the football has way more benefits.

How much is Mike McDaniel neglecting the run game? I can show you better than I can explain.

Miami Dolphins – Run Game – by the numbers – 2022 Season:

• Att per game: 22.7 (32nd)
• Yds per game: 95.9 (27th)
• Rushing play %: 37.7% (28th)
• Yards per Carry: 4.3 (19th)

The Miami Dolphins are bottom 5 or dead last in every single category except yards per carry, 4.3 YPC ranks the Miami Dolphins 19th which is the low-end middle of the pack, but did you know that the Miami Dolphins had 5.8 YPC in their last 3 games? Ranks 3rd in the NFL.

However, during the last 3 games, the Dolphins are still bottom 5 in every other category I listed. This means efficiency is not the problem, persistence is.

For how good and cold-blooded Mike McDaniel can be at times while play calling, it honestly shocks me how easily he gives up on the run. It screams panic and desperation because he’s down on the scoreboard.

Mike McDaniel can beat the patriots if he commits to the run:

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa likely won’t be starting since he is in concussion protocol, QB Teddy Bridgewater has been reported to be taking all the first-team snaps this week. We can’t expect Teddy Bridgewater to come in guns blazing with Tyreek Hill & Jaylen Waddle.

This matchup requires a new strategy and that is because Bill Belichick will likely gameplan against how one-dimensional Mike McDaniel can be while play calling.

I’m familiar with how Bill Belichick likes to target his opponents, I am almost 95% certain that Belichick is going to dare McDaniel to run all game, knowing chances are McDaniel will probably give up on the run, panic, and then desperately call superhero passing plays for Teddy Bridgewater.

I expect Bill Belichick’s daring of the run to get flat-out disrespectful at times with an all-out empty box, will Mike McDaniel adjust? We’ll see. I think this game will tell us all a lot about Mike McDaniel.

We know the unorthodox play design, and in-game motion with the offense is fun and aesthetically pleasing to the eye of a scarred Dolphins fan, but McDaniel has to show he can be just as good with situations where the “boring” fundamentals have to be executed.

How do you think the Miami Dolphins game vs the Patriots will unfold?

Follow me on Twitter @3rdnJuan for more Miami Dolphins content