McDaniel moves on from NFL discipline
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel decided not to have any discussion with his team about the NFL’s discipline of the Dolphins for tampering with Tom Brady and
Sean Payton.
“You can say a lot by saying a lot or not saying anything at all,” McDaniel said Friday. “Players are owed complete and utter focus on that. There is power in not giving legs to something that doesn’t affect those 2022 players.
“I wouldn’t to do them a disservice by not giving 100 percent on things that are important to them.”
Asked about the team’s tampering with Brady before his arrival and how it might affect
Tua Tagovailoa,
McDaniel said “Tua speaks to me about how confident he is. I know his teammates are very confident in what he’s developing. I wouldn’t see anything from Tua that would suggest he’s affected in the slightest by things he can’t control.”
DEPTH ISSUE
The Dolphins have considerable depth at running back, receiver and tight end, and some players aren’t going to get the touches they deserve.
In deciding what players to re-sign or acquire, did McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier discuss the issue of who would or would not be likely to make waves if they didn’t get the number of snaps or touches they want?
Not particularly, according to McDaniel.
“Competitors by nature compete,” he said. “They have a yearn to have the ball. I try not to have preconceived notions about how players are going to respond. How things can snowball, some days you won’t have any ops. Some days you will. It’s not a matter of trying to avoid that. It’s setting the vision of what good football takes. There’s never a team that hurts because of too much competition.”
Adam Shaheen, Mike Gesicki, Preston Williams and Lynn Bowden Jr. haven’t received a lot of touches in training camp.
Williams complained on social media and during a media session, asserting that he hasn’t received the opportunities he deserves. He said Tuesday that he hasn’t asked for a trade but
would discuss the situation with his agent.
The playing time issue becomes a question at tight end, because the 49ers — with McDaniel on staff — used two tight end sets just 10 percent of the time last season. So the number of snaps for Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Hunter Long and Shaheen (if he makes the team) could drop.
Is McDaniel OK with players expressing disappointment on social media?
“One thing I talk to the team about is I see better than I hear,” he said.
THIS AND THAT
McDaniel said some starters will play in the preseason opener on Aug. 13 at Tampa Bay and some will not.
He said “there is concern” about cornerback Byron Jones continuing
to progress from his return from lower leg surgery but not any concern about his availability about the regular season.
“We’re confident how he’s rehabbing; if he has a setback, then there would be concern,” McDaniel said.
On the release of Adam Butler, who was a key backup last season but was cut this week after failing a physical: “Certain things within the injury forced the hand with that direction. We are very confident in a lot of the young players that we’re developing and very confident in that room in general.”
Depth behind starter Raekwon Davis is obviously not as strong without Butler. Besides Davis, John Jenkins, Benito Jones and rookie Ben Stille also can play nose tackle.
McDaniel said he’s fascinated by the battle between Tagovailoa and safety Jevon Holland.
“That’s an odd thing to say in regard to a safety and quarterback,” McDaniel said. “Jevon plays all over the place, he communicates the defense. He’s athletic and has a lot of skills.”
On new center Connor Williams’ occasional snapping issues: “I would be concerned if he didn’t work at it. I’m very confident in how far he’s come.”
He said center Michael Deiter (foot) is feeling better; he has been out since the start of Day 2 of training camp.
McDaniel expects Deiter back sooner than later, perhaps “sometimes this week. We’re trying to be pragmatic.”
In the meantime, “there’s been some great snaps for a couple other players because of his injury. Really challenged guys to take advantage of opportunities.”
Cole Banwart and
Adam Pankey are among those players taking snaps at center, per the team.
ROSTER MOVE
The Dolphins signed punter Sterling Hofrichter, an Atlanta seventh-round pick out of Syracuse in 2020, and waived former FIU punter Tommy Heatherly. The new punter, who has spent time with Atlanta and Tampa Bay but hasn’t played an NFL snap, will compete with veteran Thomas