NFL: Mike McDaniel/Brian Daboll Prove The Right Coach Matters

In today’s NFL, there are plenty of bad teams struggling to turn their franchise around. Two teams who are on the cusp of something great are the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Both teams have enjoyed a better-than-average start to their season and have exceeded expectations. Coincidentally, both are being coached by first-time head coaches Mike McDaniel and Brian Daboll respectively. The season is still young but both coaches are being praised for the quick turnaround in production on their team. Franchises that are still struggling should be taking notes, hiring the right coach matters.

First, let’s look at the Miami Dolphins. The ‘Fins were the punching bag of the NFL for the better part of two decades. The franchise had become a circus, and at times it still is. However, there’s a lot to be said of Mike McDaniel’s impact and what the rest of the NFL can learn. The biggest takeaway is the relationship between the coach and the quarterback. Former Dolphins HC Brian Flores is said to have had a rocky relationship with QB Tua Tagovailoa and the production on the field showed it. McDaniel is however 100% behind his QB and has given him the tools to succeed.

Applause goes to the front office for getting weapons like Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill to be explosive playmakers, but what McDaniel has done to elevate the offense to play to Tua Tagovailoa’s strengths is unmatched. Not only do you have a coach who has the knowledge, but also brings out the best in his guys by playing to their strengths not criticizing their weaknesses to no end. Too many coaches try to mold players into their system and never adapt to their strengths. So far in Miami, McDaniel had Tua playing lights out before injury. If he can get his young QB back healthy again, this team has no limits.

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The same can be said of Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Daboll was a hot ticket around the NFL this offseason after his work in progressing QB Josh Allen in Buffalo. The Bills QB was struggling to get to the next level. The same applause goes to the front office for bringing in a guy like Stephon Diggs, but again, Daboll unlocked Allen’s potential by playing to the QB’s strengths.

But he’s no longer with the Bills so his success can’t be praised there. He’s with the New York Giants who have had a rocky go at it before Daboll’s tenure. The fans and a few analysts had written QB Daniel Jones off before the season, now the Giants are 4-1 and being praised for the turnaround. While Jones might not be the reason for the turnaround, the pressure has been taken off him with an offense that plays to it’s strengths.

What are those strengths? Saquon Barkley is already off to a pretty aggressive start. In 5 games he’s rushed for 533 yards and is on pace for 1800+ yards this season. When you have a struggling quarterback, take the ball out of his hand. The QB is the field general, but this Giants organization has run Jones through the wringer. Daboll creating a run-first offense with an aggressive defense limits quarterback pressure. By lifting the weight off his shoulders, Jones can now rebuild his confidence as a passer and not have to overthink his mistakes.

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The real shining example goes to show just how much a change of pace offense benefits Daniel Jones as well. The second leading rusher for the Giants is their QB with 230 rush yards. Something Daboll brought out of Josh Allen was knowing when to eat it on broken plays and just gain yards. Get yards, limit mistakes, rely on your teammates to pick you up, that’s the Daboll model and it’s working.

The rest of the NFL needs to catch up to the new wave of NFL coaches. These old-school guys who play it safe, stick to what they know, and shoehorn in their old ways are on their way out. The new era is smart coaches who can adjust on the fly and bring out the best in their guys. So far McDaniel and Daboll are showing they can do it. Will the rest of the NFL catch on?