As the Miami Dolphins‘ offense faltered throughout Monday night’s game, the frustration in the stands was unmistakable, with boos growing louder as the team struggled to make any meaningful progress. Fans didn’t hold back their discontent as the offense failed to find its rhythm.
When coach Mike McDaniel addressed the situation on Tuesday, he took a level-headed approach, noting that the same passion that brings fans to the stadium and has them spending their hard-earned money is the same force that causes them to voice their anger when the team underperforms.
“I guess it didn’t hit me with surprise,” McDaniel said. “I think people invest and have to go and believe in a team that has – bottom-line – the droughts that this organization has incurred. I don’t take that lightly.
“So I would be dishonest if I told you that I didn’t expect that. The worst part about all of that is you have people that I can relate where weeks are ruined with losses, and the worst part about it is you don’t have any control.
“So that’s not a fun place to be in. I know sporting events where I’m rooting for a team and I’m not coaching in it, I get much more angry when there’s failure than when I’m coaching and I can actually problem-solve something. It’s to be expected. This is the big leagues.
“To feel entitled to blind support, that’s not my cup to tea. I think you have to go to work, problem-solve and try to fix things as best you canm and I don’t think we’re necessarily owed anything, I think people believe when you give them reason to believe and if people jump off the bandwagon – I’m not really villainizing the people who are jumping off the bandwagon. It’s more we gave them reason to.
“So that’s to be expected. I don’t think people pay what they pay to go to Hard Rock Stadium to watch us lose, so whatever results incurred by our game day failure, we deserve.”
Why are the Dolphins fans frustrated?
But there was likely more to the frustration than just what was unfolding on the field. Fans weren’t just upset about the lack of offensive execution; they were dismayed by the lack of a seasoned, game-ready backup quarterback prepared to step in when Tua Tagovailoa suffered another concussion.
The Dolphins did start Pro Bowl quarterback Tyler Huntley, but his late addition to the team left him without the time needed to fully learn and execute the offense. Before bringing Huntley in, Miami entered their offseason program with Skylar Thompson and Mike White, missing the chance to sign a more experienced backup.
The Dolphins passed over several potential candidates, such as Gardner Minshew, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston, Tyrod Taylor, Joe Flacco, or Mason Rudolph-players who could have stepped up and provided the necessary stability if Tagovailoa went down.
Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle didn’t turn out to be viable options for the team, and Huntley-while promising-simply arrived too late to truly understand and master Miami’s complex playbook.
