Dolphins O.C. ready for a breakthrough
New coordinator wants an up-tempo offense, with some no-huddle.
After two choppy seasons, Dowell Loggains lays out five specific ideas for what he plans to do this coming season.
DAVIE — The Dolphins’ offense has been one of the worst in the NFL the past two seasons, which is maddening for coach Adam Gase since that’s his specialty.
After two choppy seasons and a significant reworking of the roster, he’s looking for a breakthrough this year. As part of that effort, he opted to bring in former colleague Dowell Loggains as offensive coordinator to help get this right.
Loggains had been the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator the past two seasons and was the Bears quarterbacks coach in 2015 when Gase was their offensive coordinator before coming to Miami. Loggains spoke to the media Saturday morning for the first time since Gase hired him in January, and here are five notes about what he intends to do here:
1. His job is to coach Monday through Saturday.
Loggains was a curious hire because he’s got experience as an offensive coordinator, yet he comes into a situation where Gase calls the plays. He’s fine with that. Loggains sees his role as a deputy who helps Gase through “the process of getting to game day.” He said they have a common offensive philosophy and a great work-
ing relationship.
2. He wants to run no-huddle, up-tempo off ense.
Gase has talked about it since he arrived here, but Loggains is determined to fifinally get this team running a fastpaced offense that includes some no-huddle. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s return is essential to that plan, but it also helps Loggains believes he has fast, smart, well-conditioned skill players such as Albert Wilson, Kenny Stills and Kenyan Drake.
3. He likes the player leadership on off ense.
The Dolphins already had Stills as a perfect exam- pleofh ow they want players to approach practice, and they’ ve kept Tan nehill completely involved in everything they do despite him being out the last year-plus with a knee injury. They also brought in former Patriots receiver Danny Amendola, a 10th-year veteran, and Loggains has already noticed younger receivers trying to mimic some of the small things he does.
4. He sees a wealth of speed, which is exciting.
Not only has the Dolphins’ off ense struggled, it’s been uninteresting. Log gains doesn’t see why that should be the case this year with weapons such as DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Kalen Ballage, Stills, Drake and Wilson. “The thing that showed up was speed,” he said of his initial assessment of the skill players. He also thinks he has a quarterback in Tannehill who is capable of maximizing those pieces.
5. New left guard Josh Sitton is running the offensive line.
Loggains coached Sitton for two years in Chicago and loves him. “He’s surly, he speaks his mind and he’s really intelligent,” he said. He’s the new leader of the line, replacing former center Mike Pouncey. Loggains is energized by seeing talented young linemen Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James learning from Sitton already in the short time he’s been here.