McDaniel Wednesday Media Availability and Five Things Heading into Week 17

your pulse if what is up? Dolphins And welcome to the Drivetime podcast, part of the Miami Dolphins podcast Network covering your team, your Miami Dolphins. How's it going? Everybody? I am your host, Travis Wingfield, and on today's show will plug into Mike McDaniel's Wednesday media availability and hear all the pertinent information heading into this week seventeen critical

game in Foxborough. And we'll also get to the five things I think heading in to week number seventeen from the Baptist Health Studios inside the Baptist Health Training Complex. This is the Drive Time, so we heard from head coach Mike McDaniel, just moments ago. And of course we'll talk a lot about quarterback to a tongue of voloa. He was first asked as to in the building will he be ruled out for Sunday. Here's head coach Mike

McDaniel in regards to to it's very UM. I've been advised by UM medical professionals that it's critical that that uh to a worries only about um the day that he's currently in and nothing else. Um. He he is in the building, UM, but beyond that, UM, it's uh, as medical profession will tell you UM. And he added UH pressure and he added UM sort of h anything beyond that day does not behoove UM the process at all.

So I'll take that very serious and and UM worry about his um health forced and foremost and take the advice of UH the medical professionals. Coach did confirm Forest that too, did in fact suffer a concussion in the game against the Packers. He next was asked will Teddy Bridgewater to be the starter for the game on Sunday. A couple of times pressing coach of this question. Here's

his answer about Sunday starter. UM, you know, the the the whole idea of taking day to day is kind of rough on coaches who have to plan for you know, a bunch of people. So, UM, the the approach that I'm unequivocally taken UM today. You know, I was on the phone, I met with him yesterday. I met with Teddy yesterday. I was UM, you know, exchanging ideas and and talking through some stuff all the way until like

ten fifteen last night. UM there was his bedtime, UM, and so UM moving forward today and you know the whole team's approaches. UH, Teddy Bridgewater is the starter. UM. This is why you know we uh, I thought it so vital to to go um uh after him in free agency. This is why he's done such a diligent job during the course of the season, UM with his own uh injuries and and such, to be prepared for this opportunity. And I know the team's UM very excited, feel very fortunate to have him and UM him to

get his opportunity that he's totally prepared for. Coach next was asked if he can see if four see a scenario where he would add an extra layer of caution once to clear the concussion protocol. Here's which on that you know again, I think for me to speak totally outside the lines of you know stuff that's for medical professionals and to himself, I think that's in the layer of pressure either way. UM, I don't pretend to know, um what that feels like. Uh too adhere to somebody

else's expectations in some way, shape or form. I'm just worried about his health on a day to day basis, and that we'll take that step, whatever step that is next, whenever that next step is. But beyond that, I would feel responsible to go go even think about if or what or whatever that's that's a that's taking a lot

of non expertise in my own hands. This next response is my favorite response from coach in this press conference, maybe since he got here, because I feel the same way he felt in the beginning about the way the question was posed. Do you need to hear there's no long term risk before you put him back out there again? Yeah? UM, this is a human being that I'm very very much

like all all players. UM. I I'll do what the um the medical experts advised me to do, and I'm quite certain they're not going to advise me UM in

the wrong direction. What it has to do with his his health and in regards to that, but that's again something that I'm not even going to I'm not I'm not gonna go and direct conflict with what the doctors have told me to do, which is just to worry about one day at a time and not project any sort of absolute to you know, have him get get information second hand of whatever thing that this is just a day at to time process that his health is

the first, foremost and only priority. Next, coach is asked, were you able to pinpoint when the cussion? Concussion occurred the day after the game some Monday, there was some you know, upon reviewing the film, we we had some questions. UM, kind of feel like, you know, we had an idea, um that there's hey, did something happen to this portion

of the game. Question him. Um, once we got really uh, you know, we continue to question him, and once we got some information back, we're like, you need to go see the see the doctor, so to say, with that absolute certain t um the you know that it was this that or otherwise. It was just there was some things, um that caused us to really proud and um, as a result, we felt like he needed to see UM medical professionals. Yeah, I think those uh that fourth quarter

performance makes a lot more sense now. Next, coach was asked what caused you to prod after that tape review with two or before two? I got here? I should say Coach did later clarify that it was on the tape, not with two. A reviewing to his game tape was when he realized there were some inconsistencies there. What caused

you to prod? Here's Coach on that this specifically had to do with consistencies of things that I studied daily, that UM on tape UM, which which UM provokes some uh you know, direct questioning UM with a high degree of concern. If the earlier one wasn't my favorite answer from Coach McDaniel, this one was what's it like for you personally someone you're so close with to see him go through this terrible Yeah? I wanted to leave that pregnant pause and there for you guys, because we never

heard coach give a one word answer before. I think people expected him to give you more, but that's what else do you need? Next, he was asked about Teddy Bridgewater. Here's Coach on Teddy and moving forward, the you know the the season, as the journey has gone for the team has given us some definitely UM moments of adversity and turmoil. One of the you know, our our whole team was very excited UM for Teddy. The Jets weak and you know, first play the game, we all know

what happened. So I think with regard to UM, in professional football at the quarterback position, UM, you know, there's two ways you can go with it as a starter for UM a game when you have the entire week to prepare. UH. One way, the pressure gets to you and UM, you know sometimes it makes you worse. UM. That's not Teddy. Teddy UH thrives on on those moments

and and really was UM. You know, I don't think we've I know the team is seen exactly you know what what he was prepared to do that particular game when when given the entire week to to UM prep And I think that it is a UM big deal for UH. You know guys that that enjoy the moment, enjoy the camaraderie, enjoy the leadership, enjoy everything about UM being a starting UM quarterback. And and he's UM. I'm happy for him to get the opportunity to fully prepare um uh for for a game that the team, the

team needs, that needs him for. So UM, we're very fortunate to have him and excited for his opportunity. Let's finish up here. When coach was asked, how does the team stay focused when something like this was going on? Obviously one of your brothers is down in an injury that is nothing to be you know, scoffed at or even you know, as as coaches mentioned, just advising to listen to the medical professionals. How the team stay focused with an injury that you know is not your run

of the mill typical injury. It's hard to you're talking about the opinions of you know, and it's higher locker room is a lot of people. I think overall, UM, there's so much investment within this this season. We've you know that they chose to have the ambition, UM, the drive, and they they it was because of them all their collective work that we were able to um be in a fortunate situation of uh, you know, having seven wins at the bye. UM it's there's way too much investment

for UH. And then you know, going through a month of December where you know, the only silver lining is there. There was no no short change of investment by that the whole team. UM. And if if you're going to lose for straight you wanted to be in uh in in those type of terms that you're going all in and then UM trying to learn from each and every game, UM without blinking. Much much easier said than done. UM. So one of the reasons, UM, you know that it

it's so difficult as the the emotional investment. I think these guys um because of that, UM have a team that's playing against them. Uh. Everything that we've set out to do is right in front of us. And I can tell you one thing, the New England Patriots don't care about our feelings. They're very aware about that. So UM they I see a very focused and determined group that recognizes the opportunity within the adversity. Well, there you go,

different press conference that we're used to. I think for Dolphins fans, how do you how do you? Seasons tend to always invent new ways to to head in this direction. But there's a couple of games left, so hopefully Miami can put this behind them and move forward and find a way to find a victory on Sunday, because the lead doesn't stop. The games don't stop. You still play the games, even though you know, we feel terrible for

for the guy. And as you heard head coach Mike mcdealosy there, if you want to watch this press conference this entirety, go ahead and check out the team YouTube channel. Let's go ahead and take our first break and come back on the other side, And wanna get to the five things I think heading into week seventeen. That's next Drive Time Podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation, segment number two here on a Wednesday

edition of the Drive Time Podcast. So we're gonna kick this thing off here with the five things that I think. I just thought McDaniels press conference on this day was more important to put in the front of the show. So there you have it. But the first thing I want to talk about is the value of two a tongue of Byloa and Teddy for the hometown. There was this whole debate last week, and it was a dumb one,

as football debates on social media tend to be. That the drop off from Jalen Hurts to Gardner Minshew was minuscule and I'm a huge menshoe guy, obviously go Coog's baby, but I'm also not dumb, well not when it comes to football. I think most other stuff, sure, like math nine times five is flaven d five. But the value that hurts adds in a loaded offense isn't really tangible, or is it? Because the Eagles did score thirty four points and I lost the Cowboys, and that will empower

the take that hurts. His weapons are carrying him great offensive line, blah blah blah blah. If you can't see it for yourself on the tape, and I don't know what to tell you. I guess I'm just exhausted by the discourse. I think I'm just exhausted by social media. I saw the other night someone tweeted that they had just wanted to go back to enjoying the sport, opposed to argue with strangers about Tua and Justin Herbert on Twitter. That's kind of how I feel. Did anyone else avoid

social media all weeks so far? I just couldn't do it. But I do find coming here on the podcast, where you know, I guess it's just myself. So an echo chamber is a little cathartic by having, you know, a more in my opinion, level headed discussion that's not based on firing everybody and replacing everybody after one performance you didn't like, or for performances for that matter. And I guess I get the type of fandom at a certain age. I was that way as a teen in my early

twenties as well. Now, well, I think that having a mortgage and daycare bills makes your perspective a little more realistic. I don't know, maybe that's just me, but anyway, what I came here to say was this, three passes have turned some people's opinion on the quarterback, and man, I

just can't like I'm laughing while writing this. What I think is really funny is it's the same like faction of people, right, the people that gobble up social media engagement for hanging on the kid like cool, you are literally re enacting the plot of Children of the Corn. Hope that's fulfilling and not to mention, like, what is it for for a non assume created account? What do

you Twitter likes get you? I get from Cowherd's perspective because it generates buzz around his show and it will make his producers happy he has an agenda, and that's totally fine. Otherwise why but again, in any way, it's my go to phrase here. All of those takes are from the same company, right, the people that were convinced and tried to convince you that to A could not play in this league, that he was going to look

like what Zach Wilson looked like this season. That is what you built up to it to be the entire summer, the next Tim Tebow in terms of his NFL production and longevity. But then he went on a run where he played some of the best football in the entire NFL this year, regardless of position, and guess what, he's still the league's top rated passer. So you can pound your chest and say that one quarter of football or a bad month justifies your take, but we all know

it's not. He's already outperformed what you said his limitations were, so with all sincerity, like, get all the way the f out of here with that noise. I'm tired of it. He's still a highly highly guild pastor who sees things others don't. He still has tremendous accuracy. Go back and watch the long Waddle touchdown again. Go watch the third and fourteen conversion to Sherfield. Those things just happened three days ago. He's still again the league leader in passer rating.

You wanted a list of quarterbacks who have led the NFL in passer rating going back to two thousand one, last twenty years, Rogers, Rogers, Tannehill, and I don't want to hear about Tannehill not being a good quarterback. He's been a very good quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. That's it. End of story. Breeze, Alex Smith, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, Tony Romo. Here's our one outlier, the only outlier. Nick Foles, Rogers, Rogers,

Brady Brees, Rivers, Brady Manning, Manning, Manning, mc near, Pennington Warner. Also, if to maintains the league leading passer rating at age, he'll be the youngest quarterback to lead the NFL in passer rating. Do I need to tell you who? That was the same guy that lost five games in a ru and real quick to put a bow on the US when the Eagles went from Hurts to Minshew. The line changed by four points. When the Jets announced that Mike White was returning. The line against the Seahawks changed

by four points. And that's not as much of a White Mike White thing as it is a Zach Wilson literally cannot do it at this level thing. Guess how much it's changed since the news about to entering concussion protocol for Dolphins and pads. Five points. So I think that should tell you all you need to know. And frankly, I thought we learned that back in weeks four through six. What life without two? It looked like maybe that didn't happen, and I just dreamt it. I don't know, Don't get

me wrong. I'm just I'm as angry at the Dolphins as you are. And we'll get to that later and a later thing, I think. But man, this victual is pointed at the wrong dude. He's a great player who's played great this year, and I'm just tired of it. Now. We have to go win a football game, regardless of who plays quarterback on Sunday. Stop the bleeding. Man. We're gonna finish this with a message to the fans who were just absolutely grieving this team right now, you know,

ahead of a huge game. But man, go gonna win and we can start to heal and maybe even end the season with the positive note. And how cool would it be for Teddy if it is Teddy on Sunday for his one win as a Dolphins quarterback to be the one that propels his hometown team back into the playoffs. I'm here for that thing. Number two running game Europe. Look, as long as we have Tyreek and Jalen, I'm always for throwing the football. I think excusing those guys from

the game plan entirely is a terrible idea. Just look at how they can change a game in a blink, for instance. And now both are well on track. Tyrek has already done it. To surpass Mark Clayton's total waddle needs just one d and twenty nine yards and two games. That's sixty four and a half yards per game, and he's averaging eighty four per game heading into the week. So as long as he's just close to his average production, he'll approach fourteen hundred yards now. And we'll do this

more in depth tomorrow on the Preview podcast. But the Dolphins and Patriots have played the same game the last five times out. Average NFL games feature ten and a half possessions per game ten to eleven in that range. Sometimes you get a lot more, sometimes you get a handful less. And if we're talking Dolphins and Patriots this decade,

you always get a handful less. Total possessions by game, removing kneel down possessions at the end of the game Opener sixteen possessions, rematch sixteen possessions, Opener sixteen possessions one in Miami seventeen possessions two, Opener fifteen possessions, and that

includes a to play fumble touchdown drive. So literally sixteen possessions per game, eight possessions per team, two and a half less than the average, and that means we've gotta be efficient, got to score in the red zone, and you gotta win the turnover battle, and we gotta run the football. And those last five games because the Patriots, these are the rushing totals eighty seven yards back in two thousand twenty season opener. That was a loss, just

three point two yards per carry. Not a good rushing day. Game two hundred and fifty yards six yards per carry. Obviously a win one the first game seventy four yards three point two yards per average. They won that game, but it basically was saved by a miracle defensive stop and a forced fumble at the end of the game. The rematch that year a hundred and ninety five yards for the Dolphins the ground, averaging four point five a rip,

and that's a victory. Earlier this year just three point six yards per rush, but seventy eight on the ground in a victory. When your quarterback is not part of the equation, which he might not be in this one is going to be more important. So that's why you got a round the football number three. Playing coverage over blitzing. I think we might be discovering a pretty effective defensive approach. At minimum. It's another way to really keep your variety,

keep offenses guessing and constantly changing looks. That's what you have to do at this level, right The quarterbacks are just too good to run the same thing over and over again. But there's one area that has really yielded some nice results recently, particularly on Sunday. It's obviously a team effort, but it's also a nice knowledge of some of the guys up front that are constantly creating pressures from this situation that's rushing for or fewer against the Packers.

Rogers had a passer rating over a hundred and eleven against blitzes, but against non blitzes for fewer rushers seven for fift team with fifty eight yards three point nine yards per pass and a pick, that's a twenty nine point three passer rating. Is also a sack in there by the way, and the interception came on a pressure from a non blitz situation. In total, four man rushes produced pressure seven times, and on those seven Rogers didn't complete a pass and he did have a scrambled first down,

but he was over three with the pick. Now, Mac Jones will not be mistaken for you know, Josh Allen or Aaron Rodgers from a mobility standpoint, But I think his very best trade is his pocket management, stepping around pressure and finding a new lane to operate from and delivering the ball accurately. So a good mix helps, for sure. But when Mac was when Matt has a quick answer, that's when he's as best. And we're getting into the

preview here a little bit. All dial it back. In fact, we'll go ahead and just use that for a teaser for the three the Thursday show. But to put a bow on it, I think we really need both on Sunday, our best blitz package and our best effort on non blitz is we might need the defense to go on the road and win us a game. Here. This Pat's offense has not been good this year. That quarterback has not played well. Please guys step it up for us.

We need you. Let's go ahead and take break number two and come back on the other side and finish up real quickly with things I think number four and five. That's next Draftime podcast, your host Travis Wingfield, brought to you by Auto Nation. Wednesday, the weird bridge between Christmas and New Year's Day is here. We're talking all things Miami Dolphins. Five Big picture items number four. Here are the scenarios, and I keep thinking a lot about this.

The different ways for us to still make it in. Currently the favorite for the seven seed given our one game advantage and then playing the two teams that could threaten to get in has its pros, but it also has its cons because they can beat you and double dip with wins and giving you a loss. But here are the routes in you win both games you're in and that's it. Nothing else matters. Beat New England, Jets, lose to Seahawks, You're in Week eight team doesn't even matter.

You can't even improve your standing at that point. Most likely lose to New England and the Jets Seahawks game becomes irrelevant. But then beat the Jets in Week eighteen and get the Bills a win over New England. That's been a tough game for the Patriots in recent years, but that's the position you put yourself in if you lost five straight games. That's how it goes. We'll see. I think the Chiefs will beat the Broncos handily, which keeps that race for the one seed alive, which is

what we need if we don't win on Sunday. My honest expectation, and I'm sorry to dropped his hammer on you. This team has made me wrong a lot in the last month, so maybe that trend will continue, but I think this is gonna happen this way. Patriots went on Sunday, Jets and Seahawk doesn't matter. We beat the Judgs in Week eighteen, and then the Bills demonstrate some showmanship by letting the Pats win that finale so they can get

in over us. Because I got Buffalo beatting Cincinnati, and that would put Buffalo one win away from clinching the top seed, and maybe the Chiefs will back it down and their week eat Week eight teen game once they see Buffalo with the lead or the fact that they can't overtake them. So you could get some showmanship and some gamemanship by letting the Patriots win that finale so that when the Bills get the two seed, if that happens, that they would then play the Patriots in the wild

card round of the playoffs. And I hope that doesn't happen. We just can't have Buffalo locked into the two seeds, So you kind of want to see them win against the Bengals and then just see what happens from there. And the Chiefs have to win as well, because I think if you go into Week eight teen knowing they're the two seed and knowing that their performance impacts their wild card opponent, well I think they'd rather play They'd

rather play the Patriots than us man. I sure. It sure feels like the only way the off season is going to be at all bearable is if we get in two. It comes back plays well in a wild card round upset. That's kind of what I'm clinging to here. Man, it's sad, but again, I'm prepared for the absolute worst and an entire off season of fraud talk and we told you so, and we The thing I think number

five is that it's different but the same. And if that happens, we've missed the playoffs and the freaking Patriots getting or even the Jets man time to walk out under the ocean. And with that, I wanted to address the fan base here for a moment. I want non Dolphins fans to turn the volume down so we can have a private moment here. And if you're new to the fan base, maybe you're Obama supporter who joined up with two and waddle. Maybe you're twelve years old and

you don't really know the real pain yet. Well, I guess if you're twelve, you probably have just a vague recollection of a playoff appearance. Frankly, I recall that twenty six team game in Pittsburgh very well. I remember the twenty two eight game against the Ravens very well. I convinced myself and both of those if we just punching that touchdown before the half in Pittsburgh, make it a one score game opposed to Matt Morris fumble. Maybe we

come back in that game. I convinced myself, Hey, if ted Gain clearly handles the end around against the Ravens, we probably win that game two in two thousand eight, two thousand nine, but two thou eight season. But man, when you tether yourself to something as closely as I have, as we have collectively, right, gosh, it hurts when it goes against you, and when it's something you don't have

any control over either. We're all a little bit insane for putting that much emotional stock into something out of our control entirely right, because I think about my monologue last year where I said, every time this team is about to bring you some joy and some hope, they seem to find a way to twist the knife even harder.

It's almost comical how predictable it's been the last twenty years, and we're not there yet in two But sure fills Graham at this moment, especially giving the quarterback news earlier in the week. Monday, I blazed through twelve stages of grief, probably about eight of those. After McDaniel informas on to a acceptance, I mentioned my expectation. What's gonna happen the final two weeks and anything more will be a nice surprise.

I know we all say we won't get this invested again, we won't put ourselves in a position to be let down again. But then I think back to the clock hitting triple zeros against Buffalo in Week three, or I think about two two waddle in Baltimore to win it. I think about going nanners in the first half against the Packers, or the first play against the Niners, or the touchdown to Tyreek that puts a head in Buffalo

better than sex, like better than that. And the converse of that is the despair that we all feel right now. Is the ride worth it right now? It's not. No, Will it ever be? I don't know, But man, this one hurts on a different level if it plays out the way it has the last few weeks. And I'm sorry to end the show on such a downer, but that's about the long and the short. But man, it's it's it's tough. Play with your kids. Man. That's the

top advice I can give you. All Right, our shortest show of the week, as we turn the page completely in preview the game tomorrow on the Drift Time podcast, and we'll have Taylor Kyle's on the Friday show to break this game down further, a very big one up in Gillette Stadium. Until then, there's gonna be my time. You all, please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcast. Leave us a rating, leave us a review. You can follow me on Twitter at Wingfield NFL. Follow

the team at Miami Dolphins. Check out the fish Tank podcast with Seth and Juice are weekly Twitter spaces show tonight at eight o'clock every Wednesday at eight o'clock. Also the international podcast on the network and the YouTube channel for media availabilities, Dolphins Today, Drive Time and fish Tank content as well. Last but not least, Miami Dolphins dot com. Until next time finds up Caroline Cameron Daddy It's coming home.