Detroit Lions Podcast: Lions Contact Mike McDaniel for OC
OC Search Turns to Mike McDaniel
The Detroit Lions fired John Morton. The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel. Credible reports say the Lions contacted McDaniel about the offensive coordinator vacancy. The outreach reads like due diligence. He is a viable candidate with an inventive mind and a track record. The question is fit.
Practice Tape and Scheme Mismatch
Joint practices this summer left scars. McDaniel hardly engaged with players. Aloof and off putting came up around that field. Detroit just moved on from an OC players did not feel connected to. A repeat would be costly.
The Dolphins offense landed bottom 10 in scoring and yards in each of the past two years and trended the wrong way. The usage did not match the roster. Tua was asked to throw short to the speediest wide receiving group in the game. The offensive line was asked to hold longer on routes he was not going to throw. That is a disconnect between talent and scheme.
In the red zone the tells were obvious. You could read the call from the formation. That predictability helped stall drives. It mirrors a Detroit sore spot from this season.
Detroit Context: Adapt or Fail
Detroit at times called plays like Sam Laporta and Frank Rigg now were available. They were not. Results suffered. Miami’s issues looked similar. In those joint sessions the Lions defense beat the living hell out of Miami, especially the first day. Detroit knew what was coming. Think Tecmo Super Bowl when you pick the play and blow it up. Miami did not adjust. Players did not show fight. McDaniel stood and took it. That picture matters when you weigh scheme flexibility and sideline communication inside this NFL building.
Alternatives and a Blough Path
There is a workable path if Detroit believes in McDaniel’s concepts. Install him as OC and make David Blough the passing game coordinator. Let Blough learn the system for a year or two. Groom him. It is plausible.
McDaniel has worked with dynamic offensive weapons. Devon A. Sheen compares to a smaller Jamir Gibbs. Jalen Waddle and Tyreek Hill thrived in space. Translating that speed and spacing to Detroit could hit, if the calls match the personnel and situation.
Tua is not the answer for Detroit over Jared Goff. That is clear here. Todd Monken remains out there, technically still employed by the Baltimore Ravens. He is interesting and has had success in a variety of spots. The Lions need adaptability, clarity, and player connection. That should drive the hire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i89gfyp3uvU
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