BOSTON — Mike McDaniel is a paradigm shifter. To say the least.
McDaniel is within the midst of prepping for his debut as an NFL head coach, as his Miami Dolphins will host the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Miami Gardens. On the opposing sideline will likely be Invoice Belichick, the precise reverse of McDaniel in myriad methods. Essentially the most vital distinction is available in the best way of expertise, as this will likely be Belichick’s 434th recreation as an NFL head coach.
But if McDaniel is stressing out in regards to the largest week of his skilled life, he positive does not look like it. In reality … the 39-year-old appears … downright goofy. Which is kind of how he is been since getting the job in February.
McDaniel spoke to the media in Miami on Monday, and he was requested in regards to the problem of going through Belichick in his first NFL recreation. The response was … goofy.
“Yeah, I imply, can there be a bigger disparity in profession win-loss complete?” McDaniel mentioned of Belichick, who’s gained 290 regular-season video games plus 31 playoff video games as a head coach. “No, it could be a much bigger deal I believe if Coach Belichick and I had been on the sector, possibly doing like an Oklahoma drill. However I do not foresee that occuring. I do not assume the followers would actually pay for that.”
(Cheap minds might disagree on that final level.)
“We do our greatest,” McDaniel continued. “I do know one factor that coaches within the Nationwide Soccer League — particularly skilled NFL head coaches, particularly arguably one of the best coach of all time, Invoice Belichick, he’ll be ready. So you already know that as a head coach, you higher put together your group and go away no stone unturned. In any other case, you may find yourself sort of teaching with remorse after the actual fact. Fortunately, the schedule got here out a very long time in the past, so I digested that and knew what Week 1 was. And fortuitously it is the Miami Dolphins versus the New England Patriots, not a one-on-one square-off between head coaches.”
On the finish of his press convention, McDaniel was requested for his opinion on how useful will probably be for the Patriots to be practising within the Florida warmth for 3 days main as much as Sunday’s recreation.
And after giving a honest response, McDaniel guided his reply to a special place. That place was — you guessed it — fairly goofy.
“I really feel very fortunate — virtually overly fortunate — that I get to work on my tan on a regular basis,” McDaniel mentioned. “I am positive there’s a number of gamers and coaches for the Patriots that’ll be excited to bronze up a bit of bit earlier than the TV common season begins. So I do know that, for a truth, that should you do not put sunscreen on, you’ll get bronzed. So, factually, they higher SPF up.”
Anybody who’s ever witnessed a press convention from Invoice Belichick — or most NFL head coaches, actually — is aware of that the subject of bronzing does not typically come up from the person behind the rostrum in the course of the week of an NFL recreation. However maybe McDaniel’s deal with bronzing is merely a by-product of arising below Mike Shanahan. There is a man who was by no means afraid of the solar’s rays, that is for positive.
In fact, McDaniel’s goofy demeanor is nothing new.
And in contrast to previous years, it does not imply that Belichick’s group will waltz into his stadium and win by way of blowout. Had this been a recreation going down in the course of the dynastic years, then absolutely we might all be chuckling on the wacky, inexperienced coach who did not know what he had coming.
But there’s loads of purpose to love the Dolphins this Sunday. McDaniel’s working video games in San Francisco below Kyle Shanahan had been a few of the finest within the league, there’s continuity on protection below Josh Boyer, and Belichick’s groups have just about at all times struggled in Miami, going 9-13 since 2000 and 1-4 since 2017. Throw within the uncertainty of the Matt Patricia-led Patriots offense — plus some potential damage issues on the offensive sort out spot — and the arrow is actually pointing within the Dolphins’ course.
McDaniel can also be conscious about how many people see him … and he is OK with that.
Talking with The MMQB’s Albert Breer this summer season, McDaniel mentioned he was once bothered when folks did not view him as a head coach sort due to his character, however he has since discovered to reside with it.
“It did early in my profession. I attempt to empathize. And I acquired snug with the considered like, OK, am I going to be mad at folks for not anticipating uncharted territory? Persons are taking part in percentages,” McDaniel advised Breer. “I am not mad at folks for not being visionaries. They are going within the summary. At first, possibly it bothered me. However then it is like, I perceive. I’ve not spent any time being indignant at folks. What number of occasions have I heard the entire, ‘Can he lead males?’ I assume we’ll see.”
If the Dolphins do beat the Patriots to offer McDaniel his first profession win, in a recreation towards a legend like Invoice Belichick no much less? There’ll absolutely be some goofiness at that podium late Sunday afternoon.
