Despite digesting a disappointing 31-10 loss against the Buffalo Bills in the recent match, the Dallas Cowboys are sitting atop the NFC East with a 10-4 mark. Keeping aside the recent loss, the team showcased a promising performance throughout the season. On the offensive side, quarterback Dak Prescott has shown an MVP-level performance, while on the defensive side, linebacker Micah Parsons did his part the best.
To keep up their leading spot in the division, the Cowboys are going to face off against the Miami Dolphins in their upcoming match. Prior to the high-stakes game, Micah had heavy praise for the Dolphins age-defying head coach, Mike McDaniel.
Micah Parsons hails Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel
Micah Parsons doesn’t shy away from giving proper credit to the player who actually deserves it, as exemplified by his move of endorsing the Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill for the MVP title this year. But beyond his admiration for Hill, he was generous in acknowledging the coaching prowess of Mike McDaniel as well.
The LB linked the Dolphins HC to the San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan when it comes to schematics and maximizing player potential, saying, “He’s obviously up there with Kyle Shanahan when it comes to scheme and getting his best guys in open space… I think he’s just a terrific [Offensive Coordinator].”
This acknowledgement from Parsons comes following McDaniel’s earlier statements lauding the Cowboys star. The Dolphins star hailed Parsons as one of the NFL’s elite players across all positions.
He emphasized Parsons’ distinctiveness not only in skill but also in his deep-rooted passion for the game. He commended not just the LB’s physical attributes but also his love for the game by attributing his multifaceted gameplay to a genuine passion for football.
“He is one of the best players in the National Football League at any position. And it’s — yeah, I don’t think it’s really debatable..This dude is different. And the orchestration that he has with his teammates, the stuff that coach [Dan] Quinn does with the multiplicity of his alignments, and you can tell that not only is he unique in skillset, but you don’t play all the way across the line, and in the stack, and do all the thing that he does without having a true love for the game”, he said via SI.com.
Micah Parsons has already recorded 12.5 sacks in the 2023 NFL season. He is now aiming to become a first-team All-Pro selection for the third time in his career in three NFL seasons.
Dolphins performance under HC Mike McDaniel
Mike McDaniel stepped into the role of the 11th head coach in the Dolphins’ history in 2022. His journey to the helm of the team wasn’t just about assuming the position; it was about transforming the team’s performance and leaving an indelible mark on the franchise.
In his debut season, the HC made an immediate impact by becoming the fifth coach in the Dolphins’ history to steer the team to the playoffs in his inaugural season. He also became only the sixth coach to achieve a winning record of 9-8 in his maiden year at the helm.
The offensive transformation of the Dolphins under former Denver Broncos ballboy guidance was nothing short of remarkable. Tasked as the offensive play-caller, he showcased a resurgent offense by pushing them into the top 10 for the first time in nearly three decades. The franchise averaged an impressive 364.5 yards per game and ranked sixth in the league.
Defensively, Mike McDaniel’s influence was equally impactful. The team’s defense flourished under his guidance, especially in run defense, where they secured an impressive fourth-place ranking by limiting opponents to a mere 103.0 rushing yards per game.
The HC even led the Dolphins to their historic 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in Week 3 of the 2023 season. It marked the first time a franchise scored 70 or more points in the Super Bowl era. The Dolphins also managed to record an NFL-record 726 offensive yards under him, the first to record 700 or more yards since 1951.
How far will Mike McDaniel take the Dolphins this season? Make sure to tell us in the comments section.
