There are no two ways about it, the Miami Dolphins suffered an embarrassing loss to the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday 27-24. Despite holding a 17-point lead in the second quarter to a substandard team (then again, who are the Dolphins calling substandard?), they still found a way to blow it.
Heed coach Mike McDaniel said it was due to “preparation and execution” after the game, said “we thought we were prepared for this, and clearly we weren’t.”
“If you can’t get it right during the game, they will continue to do the least risky thing,” McDaniel said. “It’s not how you win football games in this league. We have to figure that out immediately. I’ll start on the plane…We need guys playing on the same page. You don’t give up that many line of scrimmage yards unless you’re uncoordinated in certain ways.”
That sounds like a not-so-thinly-veiled shot at defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Anthony Weaver’s unit gave up a 200-yard rusher
You never want to give up a 100-yard rusher to an opposing team, even if it’s their starting running back. How about giving up 206 yards and a touchdown to a team’s backup running back?
That’s what happened on Sunday with Panthers‘ tailback Rico Dowdle. With Chuba Hubbard nursing a calf injury, Dowdle went off and the Dolphins had no clue how to stop him.
“There’s no if, ands, or buts about it. I need to make sure that guys don’t fray or try to handle it themselves,” said McDaniel. “We collectively need to build a wall, and if that means play calls need to change for that to occur, then play calls need to change.”
“This can’t continue to go on like this, and it has already gone on too long.”
It’s always been thought that Weaver would be the one to take over as head coach if/when McDaniel gets fired midseason. Maybe McDaniel will relieve Weaver of his duties before McDaniel gets relieved of his.
Carolina averaged insane amount of yards per rush on Anthony Weaver’s defense
Dowdle was the main culprit for the Panthers Sunday in their win, which dropped the Dolphins to 1-4 on the season and officially places their 2025 season on life support. But, the Panthers team as a whole racked up 239 rushing yards total on 32 carries.
That’s 7.5 yards per carry. Seriously, why would you ever even throw the ball at that rate?
And while it’s one thing for McDaniel to point the finger at Weaver and his defense for this loss, he might want to look in the mirror. With 1:10 left in the fourth quarter, McDaniel made quite the head-scratching defense.
Down by three points with all three timeouts and facing fourth down, McDaniel decided to punt and put the game in Weaver’s hands. That’s great that you have so much confidence in your defense, but that makes no sense, especially since the Panthers absolutely had their way with your team in the second half. That decision alone could make owner Stephen Ross question your employment.
Right now, it wouldn’t be advisable for anyone on the Dolphins‘ coaching staff to be buying real estate in South Beach.
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