our head coach.

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

So sensitive and in touch with his feelings! A little over the top emotional for me.

If you look at the difference between Campbell and McDaniel in the videos in that post, as well as other footage we've seen of them, in my opinion it becomes clear that Campbell's personality would most likely inspire a "win or die trying" attitude in his players, whereas McDaniel's personality would most likely inspire a "let's all laugh and have fun and games" attitude in his.

In the rugged game of pro football that's of tremendous importance. If we were running a Broadway play or a comedy show it might be different.

The general public is by and large seeing this, hence the nature of the comments to the Facebook post I posted above.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

That’s exactly what Dan Campbell is doing with Michael Egnew in the video above, as well as what Jimmy Johnson is doing in the video posted earlier, but they’re doing it with a far different demeanor and personality than I’ve ever seen from McDaniel. And if “a team takes on the personality of its coach” as they say, that’s paramount.

At any rate, all these clarifications will likely do in the minds of anybody opposed to these points is make me appear biased against McDaniel. Such is the nature of message boards.

Just because his methods haven’t been tried before does not mean they won’t work, I understand your points and agree with some in theory, but when someone like McDaniel is bringing a completely different approach I don’t think having so much conviction is the way to judge against, I think we need to allow him enough time to either hang himself or show us it can and will work

So far it’s had its ups and downs but three years shoukd be enough to really form the opinion

"djphinfan wrote:

Just because his methods haven’t been tried before does not mean they won’t work, I understand your points and agree with some in theory, but when someone like McDaniel is bringing a completely different approach I don’t think having so much conviction is the way to judge against, I think we need to allow him enough time to either hang himself or show us it can and will work

So far it’s had its ups and downs but three years shoukd be enough to really form the opinion

I don't think McDaniel should be fired on the basis of what he's done already. My concern is that what I'm seeing from him that in my opinion functions as a ball and chain on the team is due to his personality, which is something that's extremely unlikely to change at his age. So, give him another year as you said, but I certainly wouldn't put any money on its being different.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

I don't think McDaniel should be fired on the basis of what he's done already. My concern is that what I'm seeing from him that in my opinion functions as a ball and chain on the team is due to his personality, which is something that's extremely unlikely to change at his age. So, give him another year as you said, but I certainly wouldn't put any money on its being different.

fair enough..I don't think either side has won the argument, but year 3 should be telling.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

If you look at the difference between Campbell and McDaniel in the videos in that post, as well as other footage we've seen of them, in my opinion it becomes clear that Campbell's personality would most likely inspire a "win or die trying" attitude in his players, whereas McDaniel's personality would most likely inspire a "let's all laugh and have fun and games" attitude in his.

In the rugged game of pro football that's of tremendous importance. If we were running a Broadway play or a comedy show it might be different.

The general public is by and large seeing this, hence the nature of the comments to the Facebook post I posted above.

Some posters on Facebook agree. Than it must be true. Keep beating that dead horse.

"Finatik wrote:

Some posters on Facebook agree. Than it must be true. Keep beating that dead horse.

I think I would have enjoyed playing for either of them. Would have loved to keep Campbell and was hoping he would be kept. Love McD and hoping he can make more improvements in year 3/

"Finatik wrote:

Some posters on Facebook agree. Than it must be true. Keep beating that dead horse.

On the contrary, you’re beating a dead horse, responding to my posts with the same opposition you’ve already voiced numerous times. I might be making the same point consistently, but unlike you I’m providing information that hasn’t been previously provided in support of it.

"danmarino wrote:

I don't think you're biased against McD (at least not yet lol) I think you and I have a differing opinion on what it takes to lead men and how to do it.

When I was in the Marine Corps, we had a Gunny that was about 5'9" and 150lbs soaking wet. He wore "BCG's" (Birth Control Glasses/Goggles..ie Marine Corps issued glasses), had kind of a high pitched voice, and wasn't overly aggressive. I wouldn't call him meek, but he wasn't overly masculine. In fact, when I first got to the unit I thought he was gay (and before I get all of the cries about how gay men can be masculine etc etc...I know, I know, I just though he was a gay dude and this was before you could be out in the military). He would "smoke and joke" with all of his Marines. I was there for about a week and I made a comment to a Sgt who had been with the unit for awhile that "it must be nice to have a Gunny so easy going because my last Gunny was a pr!ck". He laughed and said, "just wait".

Anyhow, he ended up being one of the most hardcore Marines I would ever meet. And he was without a doubt, the best leader of men I ever served with. I love that guy. He was on the Marine Corps boxing team. Perfect PFT every time. And if you f^cked up once, he'd take you aside and explain that Marines don't behave that way and that he expected more out of you and so did the rest of the unit.

If you f^cked up twice...it was over. You were done. He was the definition of Jekyll and Hyde at that point. But only one on one. I mean, sure, he'd lambast us all as a unit if we were goofing around, but nothing like he'd do with a Marine one on one.

In summary, if you met him at a party you'd never guess that he was a Marine or that he could most likely kick the sh!t out of anyone in the room.

This 1000 times. You were in the Corps, I was in the Army and in my 20 year career I encountered all types of leaders. Some good, some bad. Sadly, the bad far outweighed the good.

Authoritarians, who screamed and yelled all of the time…their solders never learned. They were too freaking scared to ever ask any questions. They did only what they were told and when they didn’t execute “this task” or “that task”… something they would have done if they had been taught were scolded and CAPED for failing to execute said task.

Participatives, those leaders had difficult times making a command decision, always getting undermined by their soldiers because said soldiers always had input in what, how and why.

I was was neither of those. I was participative in so much as a tool in assessing my soldiers’ knowledge. I never asked them questions I didn’t already know the answers to and I would use those opportunities as teaching moments. I didn’t want my soldiers to just know “what”, I wanted them to know WHY…why this was important, why that was vital. It instilled purpose and self motivation as they understood their actions, or inactions affected others.

I never faulted a soldier for making mistakes. They’re human, they’re GOING to make mistakes. I faulted them for making the SAME mistakes repeatedly. That’s when the authoritarian in me came out in me. R Lee Ermy from Full Metal Jacket had nothing on me.

Training a soldier to be a professional competent soldier who can think on his feet and adapt to an ever changing combat environment is a career long endeavor.

Coaching players to be professional competent football players who can think on their feet and adapt to an ever changing environment on the gridiron is also a career long endeavor.

McDaniel is a teaching coach. He makes his players better by not just teaching them what he wants done, but to be adaptable and recognize what is happening on the field. I guarantee he lights into players that make repeated mistakes. Just because we don’t see that on the sidelines doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

In addition, if the head coach has to be the screaming yelling idiot, then the coaching staff is failing. The head coach is the Father of the team. He’s the voice of reason and strength for the team. If daddy has to yell, it’s already beyond bad.

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

This 1000 times. You were in the Corps, I was in the Army and in my 20 year career I encountered all types of leaders. Some good, some bad. Sadly, the bad far outweighed the good.

Authoritarians, who screamed and yelled all of the time…their solders never learned. They were too freaking scared to ever ask any questions. They did only what they were told and when they didn’t execute “this task” or “that task”… something they would have done if they had been taught were scolded and CAPED for failing to execute said task.

Participatives, those leaders had difficult times making a command decision, always getting undermined by their soldiers because said soldiers always had input in what, how and why.

I was was neither of those. I was participative in so much as a tool in assessing my soldiers’ knowledge. I never asked them questions I didn’t already know the answers to and I would use those opportunities as teaching moments. I didn’t want my soldiers to just know “what”, I wanted them to know WHY…why this was important, why that was vital. It instilled purpose and self motivation as they understood their actions, or inactions affected others.

I never faulted a soldier for making mistakes. They’re human, they’re GOING to make mistakes. I faulted them for making the SAME mistakes repeatedly. That’s when the authoritarian in me came out in me. R Lee Ermy from Full Metal Jacket had nothing on me.

Training a soldier to be a professional competent soldier who can think on his feet and adapt to an ever changing combat environment is a career long endeavor.

Coaching players to be professional competent football players who can think on their feet and adapt to an ever changing environment on the gridiron is also a career long endeavor.

McDaniel is a teaching coach. He makes his players better by not just teaching them what he wants done, but to be adaptable and recognize what is happening on the field. I guarantee he lights into players that make repeated mistakes. Just because we don’t see that on the sidelines doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

In addition, if the head coach has to be the screaming yelling idiot, then the coaching staff is failing. The head coach is the Father of the team. He’s the voice of reason and strength for the team. If daddy has to yell, it’s already beyond bad.

Proposing that the only alternative to McDaniel is “yelling and screaming” is a false dichotomy.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

Proposing that the only alternative to McDaniel is “yelling and screaming” is a false dichotomy.

The vast majority of your posts indicate just that!!! Not just that, but you being a “mean girl” and belittling his appearance calling him a goofball.

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

The vast majority of your posts indicate just that!!! Not just that, but you being a “mean girl” and belittling his appearance calling him a goofball.

Find a single post of mine in which I’ve proposed that the only alternative to McDaniel is “yelling and screaming.” Find another one in which I’ve belittled his appearance. Are you sure you’re reading accurately here?

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

This 1000 times. You were in the Corps, I was in the Army and in my 20 year career I encountered all types of leaders. Some good, some bad. Sadly, the bad far outweighed the good.

Authoritarians, who screamed and yelled all of the time…their solders never learned. They were too freaking scared to ever ask any questions. They did only what they were told and when they didn’t execute “this task” or “that task”… something they would have done if they had been taught were scolded and CAPED for failing to execute said task.

Participatives, those leaders had difficult times making a command decision, always getting undermined by their soldiers because said soldiers always had input in what, how and why.

I was was neither of those. I was participative in so much as a tool in assessing my soldiers’ knowledge. I never asked them questions I didn’t already know the answers to and I would use those opportunities as teaching moments. I didn’t want my soldiers to just know “what”, I wanted them to know WHY…why this was important, why that was vital. It instilled purpose and self motivation as they understood their actions, or inactions affected others.

I never faulted a soldier for making mistakes. They’re human, they’re GOING to make mistakes. I faulted them for making the SAME mistakes repeatedly. That’s when the authoritarian in me came out in me. R Lee Ermy from Full Metal Jacket had nothing on me.

Training a soldier to be a professional competent soldier who can think on his feet and adapt to an ever changing combat environment is a career long endeavor.

Coaching players to be professional competent football players who can think on their feet and adapt to an ever changing environment on the gridiron is also a career long endeavor.

McDaniel is a teaching coach. He makes his players better by not just teaching them what he wants done, but to be adaptable and recognize what is happening on the field. I guarantee he lights into players that make repeated mistakes. Just because we don’t see that on the sidelines doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.

In addition, if the head coach has to be the screaming yelling idiot, then the coaching staff is failing. The head coach is the Father of the team. He’s the voice of reason and strength for the team. If daddy has to yell, it’s already beyond bad.

He said as much when talking about how if a player messes up (used the QB getting their helmet knocked off) he wasn’t afraid to hold them accountable and ensure that they realize how important their job was and that others are depending on them.

In the video of Campbell that Crash posted I didn’t see anything that McD doesn’t do. Maybe it’s just that Campbell is a big guy and McD is not and it seems different?
I went into the Marines in 1994 and got out in 2003. I noticed a change in my Marines and adapted my teaching/instruction techniques based not only on the current culture, but the different personalities. Being rigid and inflexible will get a portion of men to listen, but not close to all. Watching Campbell makes me believe that he’s far more similar to McD than different.

"djphinfan wrote:

Just because his methods haven’t been tried before does not mean they won’t work, I understand your points and agree with some in theory, but when someone like McDaniel is bringing a completely different approach I don’t think having so much conviction is the way to judge against, I think we need to allow him enough time to either hang himself or show us it can and will work

So far it’s had its ups and downs but three years shoukd be enough to really form the opinion

I think there’s been plenty of coaches with a demeanor and personality similar to McD. The biggest part of that being he cares about his players. I’ve seen one consistent when I hear former and current players talk about McD. And that’s he is “real”. Players want conviction and someone that believes he’s doing what’s best for the player and team. Dick Vermeil and Sean McVay remind me of McD’s coaching style. Hell, Rex Ryan donned a wig for the press once. I think he was closer to McD than Belichick is, for example.

"danmarino wrote:

I think there’s been plenty of coaches with a demeanor and personality similar to McD. The biggest part of that being he cares about his players. I’ve seen one consistent when I hear former and current players talk about McD. And that’s he is “real”. Players want conviction and someone that believes he’s doing what’s best for the player and team. Dick Vermeil and Sean McVay remind me of McD’s coaching style. Hell, Rex Ryan donned a wig for the press once. I think he was closer to McD than Belichick is, for example.

Hmm yeah I don’t see those comparisons along with McDaniel bud

He’s one of a kind I think, I agree he cares about his players I just don’t know yet how I feel with his style of coaching, just not sure it’s gonna work, but hopeful

If you watch the last episode, besides our Qb being a complete fat ass, ( another topic) the players really were loose and care free, it just didn’t feel right after the collapse of the division and losing at home again just a few days earlier

The jokes and horse play are getting g a little old to me, not giving up like I did early like Philbin and Gase

"djphinfan wrote:

Hmm yeah I don’t see those comparisons along with McDaniel bud

He’s one of a kind I think, I agree he cares about his players I just don’t know yet how I feel with his style of coaching, just not sure it’s gonna work, but hopeful

If you watch the last episode, besides our Qb being a complete fat ***, ( another topic) the players really were loose and care free, it just didn’t feel right after the collapse of the division and losing at home again just a few days earlier

The jokes and horse play are getting g a little old to me, not giving up like I did early like Philbin and Gase

McD is definitely one of a kind, my point is there’s been a lot of coaches that like to have fun, joke around, etc.

I’ve seen plenty of the players after a loss and see them as dejected, upset, angry. Not all, Tyreek seems to take this as more of a business than most on this team, and after the KC loss his words were “there’s more to life than this”. Now, he’s proven that he tries hard, practices hard, and is competitive, but that’s what he said. I’m don’t think any of us know how McD talks to a player or the team in private. However, by all accounts his players love him and want to work hard for him. And that’s what matters.
I’ll go back to the military for a minute. Every Thursday in the barracks we had “field day”. That’s when we clean the barracks better than a hospital OR. And it better be cleaner than an OR or your next month of life is over.
Anyhow, the platoon Sgt was typically in charge. As a young Marine we had ones that were complete dick heads and others that liked to have fun. With both we were able to get the barracks spotless. However, it was much better with the Sgt that liked to pass out beer and crank music while we cleaned. With the dick heads we’d clean, but b!tch and do so as not to get into trouble. With the cool ones we’d cleaner because we knew that HE would get in trouble and didn’t want that to happen.

"danmarino wrote:

McD is definitely one of a kind, my point is there’s been a lot of coaches that like to have fun, joke around, etc.

I’ve seen plenty of the players after a loss and see them as dejected, upset, angry. Not all, Tyreek seems to take this as more of a business than most on this team, and after the KC loss his words were “there’s more to life than this”. Now, he’s proven that he tries hard, practices hard, and is competitive, but that’s what he said. I’m don’t think any of us know how McD talks to a player or the team in private. However, by all accounts his players love him and want to work hard for him. And that’s what matters.
I’ll go back to the military for a minute. Every Thursday in the barracks we had “field day”. That’s when we clean the barracks better than a hospital OR. And it better be cleaner than an OR or your next month of life is over.
Anyhow, the platoon Sgt was typically in charge. As a young Marine we had ones that were complete dick heads and others that liked to have fun. With both we were able to get the barracks spotless. However, it was much better with the Sgt that liked to pass out beer and crank music while we cleaned. With the dick heads we’d clean, but b!tch and do so as not to get into trouble. With the cool ones we’d cleaner because we knew that HE would get in trouble and didn’t want that to happen.

I hope you’re right bud..

I see a lot of horseplay and cussing and a lot of talking without people listening intently..

I honestly really like McDaniel. My concern is that he doesn't have enough fire to command the players, and it's never more than he's their cool uncle.

I'm not saying that is the case, but the proof so far seems to indicate there is something lacking in the team culture regarding getting serious.

I've been watching a ton of Kobe and Jordan interviews. These men, and men like them, they aren't playing a game. They are deadly serious about being the best. There is a seriousness lacking in this team.

Took me a minute to digest this thread. I think the problem is communication is getting confused with leadership. McD Communicates in his lazy kinda slow dry humor cracking jokes and taking some of the piss out of the room. That's not at all how he LEADS. Goofballs who aren't "serious" don't put together 700 play tape sessions to show their young QB, and the rest of the organization, what a great QB he CAN be. Do you want to be that Mr Millionaire football player?, great, here's how I CAN HELP YOU get there. Let's go to work.

All that aside, he took a broken team to the playoffs in his first two yrs. He has been a good game manager, got to get better but not bad for a Rookie HC. We were basically 3 minutes away from a 2nd seed and played the last game with the cast of the Replacements on Defense.

Front office has some work to do but I don't doubt for a second Coach is going to be back and on a mission next year

McD hardly inherited a "broken" team. In spite of his faults Flores built a team that posted back to back winning seasons for the first time since God was a boy. McD inherited a team already well on it's way.

That team won three road playoff games in a row as a wildcard before winning the Super Bowl. What you see there is a gruff and masculine head coach who extolls the resiliency of the team and then turns it over to player leaders whose demeanor follows suit.

Now compare that to this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id=7n_0TgaiT2s;t=3

"Puka-head wrote:

Took me a minute to digest this thread. I think the problem is communication is getting confused with leadership. McD Communicates in his lazy kinda slow dry humor cracking jokes and taking some of the piss out of the room. That's not at all how he LEADS. Goofballs who aren't "serious" don't put together 700 play tape sessions to show their young QB, and the rest of the organization, what a great QB he CAN be. Do you want to be that Mr Millionaire football player?, great, here's how I CAN HELP YOU get there. Let's go to work.

All that aside, he took a broken team to the playoffs in his first two yrs. He has been a good game manager, got to get better but not bad for a Rookie HC. We were basically 3 minutes away from a 2nd seed and played the last game with the cast of the Replacements on Defense.

Front office has some work to do but I don't doubt for a second Coach is going to be back and on a mission next year

No that is indeed how he leads. Whatever you do with your team is how you lead. You are the head coach and in the ultimate leadership position on the team. Whatever you do in that capacity constitutes how you lead. And what's more, the team takes on the personality of its coach, and so if "lazy kinda slow dry humor cracking jokes" is your personality, prepare to have that be your team's personality as well. "Lazy...slow...humor...jokes" -- those aren't adjectives readily associated with winning in the NFL.

"resnor wrote:

My concern is that he doesn't have enough fire to command the players, and it's never more than he's their cool uncle.

That's exactly the concern. And it's less about whether he can command the whole team and more about whether he can inspire leaders among the players to lead in a way that's consistent with winning in the NFL, like the way you see Joey Porter and Jerome Bettis doing above. If McDaniel is instead inspiring players like Wilkins and Hill to be silly and orchestrate end zone celebrations, the Dolphins stand to get beaten handily by teams that are functioning like the Steelers did in the video above, and that's certainly what happened in 2023-2024 when the Dolphins played the good teams on their schedule.

All of this fits together very neatly and is easily understood if you have the correct frame of reference.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

No that is indeed how he leads. Whatever you do with your team is how you lead. You are the head coach and in the ultimate leadership position on the team. Whatever you do in that capacity constitutes how you lead. And what's more, the team takes on the personality of its coach, and so if "lazy kinda slow dry humor cracking jokes" is your personality, prepare to have that be your team's personality as well. "Lazy...slow...humor...jokes" -- those aren't adjectives readily associated with winning in the NFL.

Serious question. Have you ever been in a leadership position? Many examples have been provided to you of successful leadership that didn’t have anything at all to do with being rough tough SOB.
Another angle to consider. How do YOU like to be LED?
I’ve been told I’m a scary looking dude. Be easy for me to get people to do thing’s because they’re afraid. I have never led that way. It doesn’t work for long. I’ve led teams of two to a hundred, multi million dollar businesses to fishing boats. My job as a leader was always pretty simple to me. Set our goals, identify the right people to help us get there then empower them to be successful and remove obstacles to their success. People need to know WHY they do things. Because I told you to isn’t enough. I started every meeting with a joke and finished with praising accomplishments. Did I fire people? Yep. Did I counsel them and hold them accountable? Absolutely. Did I ever need to yell at anyone in order to get them to do their job. Nope.
Times have changed. Compassionate leadership is cool. And effective.

"Crash Jensen wrote:

That's exactly the concern. And it's less about whether he can command the whole team and more about whether he can inspire leaders among the players to lead in a way that's consistent with winning in the NFL, like the way you see Joey Porter and Jerome Bettis doing above. If McDaniel is instead inspiring players like Wilkins and Hill to be silly and orchestrate end zone celebrations, the Dolphins stand to get beaten handily by teams that are functioning like the Steelers did in the video above, and that's certainly what happened in 2023-2024 when the Dolphins played the good teams on their schedule.

All of this fits together very neatly and is easily understood if you have the correct frame of reference.

Wilkins acted the same way with Flores. I guess he doesn’t “reflect his coach”?

The 1985 Bears, many other NFL teams, and players disagree.

I think we’re beating a dead horse at this point, but there’s just no reason to believe that end zone celebrations are harmful to team morale, attitude, or play.

And the notion that players reflect their coach, in regard to their own innate personalities and attitudes, is also lacking in any proof.

Good coaches teach and motivate. Both things have more than one way of getting done. Great coaches adjust their teaching style to individuals and are malleable. Some players need sternness while others need patience. Some players needed to be less aggressive and others need more. With the latter mostly being due to lack of confidence. Tua lacked that. McD built him back up. Telling Tyreek he can’t do a back flip after a TD isn’t going to turn out well.

Have you ever seen that part of Moneyball where the As are losing all the time and Brandon Beab walks by the locker room. He hears music playing and Giambi is dancing on the table. He come in throws the radio and everyone shut up. It’s totally quiet. “That’s what losing sounds like”.

I think that’s what some are saying. They also want this lost season to hurt them as much as it hurt us. And it just doesn't seem like they are really feeling our pain to the degree we are.