Mike McDaniel Has Finally Woken Up But Is It Too Little Too Late?

Mike McDaniel Has Finally Woken Up But Is It Too Little Too Late?

For the first time in what feels like two seasons, Mike McDaniel has finally adjusted his approach. He’s coaching like a man who no longer fully trusts Tua Tagovailoa and the passing game — and honestly, that’s exactly what the Miami Dolphins needed last year and certainly what they need right now. Outside of Tua’s excellent 2023 run, the reality is that he’s primarily been a game manager in his career. That isn’t inherently a bad thing, but McDaniel’s refusal to accept it has held this team back.

Whether McDaniel was too invested in proving Tua “has it,” or simply fell in love with funneling the offense through Tyreek Hill every week, the result was the same: a one-dimensional attack that crumbled against better defenses. Tua is not the quarterback who can carry a team week in and week out — especially not the version we’re getting this season. Maybe it’s the cumulative effect of injuries. Maybe it’s a deterioration in mechanics. Maybe it’s confidence slipping at the worst possible time. Realistically, it’s probably a mix of all three. Who really knows? But it’s obvious to everyone — and especially to opposing defenses.

And yet, something has changed. McDaniel has begun leaning heavily into the run game and using more play action, forcing defenses to respect Miami’s speed on the ground while minimizing how often Tua has to drop back and diagnose everything perfectly. Whatever sparked the shift — desperation, clarity, or finally swallowing his pride — it’s working. And if the Dolphins manage to sneak into a Wild Card spot, this is the exact formula that can win playoff football.

But let’s not pretend everything is fixed. The Dolphins came dangerously close to losing to both the Commanders and Saints, two teams they should have handled comfortably. Each game included questionable decisions from McDaniel, a reminder that while he’s evolving, he’s not immune to mistakes. But can Miami count on that luck continuing over the final four regular-season games?

That uncertainty becomes even more pressing this week, as the Dolphins prepare for a Steelers defense that is almost guaranteed to sell out to stop the run. If Pittsburgh succeeds, can McDaniel engineer enough competence from the passing game to keep Miami from becoming painfully predictable? That remains a huge question mark.

And then there’s the prime-time factor. As mentioned before, McDaniel has had some very painful calls and miscalls. Will this be amplified under the prime-time lights? And could it spread to the rest of the team? Or will they lock in and play the winning football we’ve seen during their current streak?

Winning a late-season road game against a playoff-caliber opponent does more than improve the standings — it sends a message. To Stephen Ross. To the fanbase. To anyone wondering if this is still the “same old Dolphins.” If McDaniel’s new approach holds up under those lights, it may finally signal that Miami is turning a corner.