Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked to comment about the recent performance of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa following the weak offensive finish to the season.
Miami’s offense averaged just a little over 13 points in their final three games, including Saturday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs where they only put up seven. Tagovailoa was significantly outplayed by the three quarterbacks he faced in the final three weeks of the season.
“I think everyone has to get better, because if you’re not getting better, staying the same is getting worse,” said McDaniel. “It’d be a far cry from just placing blame on one player. I know that (Tua) made some good plays tonight, I know there’s some plays that he’d want to have back.”
McDaniel also noted there were plays called that he wants back. This is consistent with the approach McDaniel has taken the entire year of teamwide accountability, starting with himself. The coach has often spoken highly of Tagovailoa, who made great progress in his fourth season.
Miami’s offense was stagnant the entire game. They converted just one third down out of 12 attempts. The ground game failed to gain momentum, as running backs Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane combined for just 42 yards. The only highlight-worthy play for the offense was a 53-yard touchdown pass from Tagovailoa to receiver Tyreek Hill.
Hill caught four additional passes to his touchdown, which only combined for nine more yards. The weather clearly had an impact on Tagovailoa’s ability to throw downfield, thus the passing game consisted mostly of short passes and screens. The Chiefs’ defense was quick to stomp out these screens and not let the Dolphins gain consistent yards after catch.
“We’ve all learned to have high expectations for that unit (the offense),” McDaniel added. “Seven points isn’t good enough. We’ll have to live with that and learn from that as we try to take another step.”
There are a lot of positive things that happened for Tagovailoa this season. He led the league in passing yards while playing in all 17 games, and he’s developed a chemistry with Hill. Both players were in the MVP discussion during the regular season.
If McDaniel’s offense can make improvements on what was, at times, being compared to historically great offenses, they’ll come into 2024 ready to prove themselves as true contenders once again. One bad game in one of the coldest games in NFL history shouldn’t be career-defining for any Dolphins, especially Tagovailoa.
