MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t hold back when speaking to reporters Wednesday, calling his team’s Week 1 loss to the Indianapolis Colts “embarrassing” and stressing accountability as his team deals with key injuries and inconsistent play.
McDaniel said guard James Daniels will miss “four weeks-ish” after he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with a pectoral injury.
McDaniel said he is also preparing as if Larry Borom will step in for Austin Jackson at right tackle. Jackson is currently nursing a toe injury, and no timetable has been set for his return.
He said the team’s struggles were evident on film.
“It was a frustrating process. Maddening for the things we were doing or weren’t doing when watching the tape,” he said. “It was a very consistent theme instead of pointing the loss at a specific unit.”
The coach emphasized the need for teaching and accountability.
“Initially, as a coach and a leader I have to teach. It’s about intent. You’re taking down everyone when you aren’t on your responsibilities,” McDaniel said. “A lot of guys have confidence on how hard we work and then it doesn’t show on Sunday.”
“No one cares about any of our problems,” he added. “We need to execute the techniques and fundamentals. We are trying to work on the things that we failed on and the only way to go is up.”
Colts cornerback Xavien Howard, who was released by the Dolphins in 2024, was blunt in his evaluation of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when speaking to reporters after the game.
“We knew the guy, he gets the ball out pretty quick,” Howard told ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “And once we take away his first read, I feel like it’s panic mode after that. And it showed yesterday. We took away his first read and he was trying to get rid of the ball real quick.”
McDaniel acknowledged Tagovailoa’s struggles but said the responsibility doesn’t fall solely on the quarterback.
“I saw quarterback play that was less than to be desired, which Tua (Tagovailoa) absolutely knows,” he said.
“My biggest thing is making the same mistake twice and he’s comfortable with that in terms that he and everybody else needs to play collectively. On the plays he threw an interception, I could’ve called a run play. We need to hold each other accountable,” McDaniel added.
A concern for Miami is that since 2020, Tagovailoa has recorded seven games with three or more turnovers — the second-most in the NFL during that span. Only Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence has more, with eight.
McDaniel said the team is still uncertain about the availability of tight end Darren Waller.
He also explained why rookie running back Ollie Gordon II did not record a first-half carry, pointing to the game situation.
“It was good Gordon got to learn some things as he grows his game moving forward,” McDaniel said.
Despite the performance issues, McDaniel said players stayed together on the sidelines and remained focused.
“It felt that guys were motivated. My assessment of it was that there were players that were trying to make plays but were going against the fact that other players were relying on them,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said they were surprised by what they saw from an effort/Fire perspective because they felt guys were very committed heading into the game
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“The only positive in the game, not a real win, but was that we didn’t fray and didn’t splinter on the sidelines. There were players that were making sure that we stayed locked in,” he added.
For McDaniel, the message is simple.
“You have one choice,” he said. “You can find a finger and point or you can hold yourself accountable.”
The Dolphins will now look to get in the win column when they host the New England Patriots on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Watch McDaniel’s full press conference here:
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