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Dolphins’ McDaniel Plays It Safe on Fourth Downs, Falls to 25th in NFL Risk-Taking

Head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins looks on during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium

Mike McDaniel changed his game plan dramatically in 2024. The Miami coach attempted only 13 fourth-down conversions out of 101 opportunities this season. In the past, he was very aggressive. The Dolphins were 9th amongst NFL teams in fourth-down attempts in 2023. This year, McDaniel was near the bottom - ranked 25th.

However, when the Dolphins did take chances, they performed better. Their success rate jumped to 48.4%, up from their previous 44%.

During a few games this year, McDaniel opted for the conservative field goal, but was unsuccessful. 

  • In Week 3 against Seattle: Missing a 57-yard attempt against Seattle handed over great field position, letting the opponent score quickly. That field position swap proved costly. Dolphins lost 3 - 24.
  • In Week 7 against Indianapolis: Behind by three, McDaniel opted for a long field goal instead of going for a short fourth-down play. The kick missed, costing them their chance to even the score. Dolphins lost 10 -16.

The Dolphins came out aggressively at the start of the season, going for it on fourth-and-8 from the 42 against Jacksonville. But they got more cautious as time went on - like choosing a 54-yard kick over trying fourth-and-6 against San Francisco.

They didn't always play it safe though. Against Houston, after a penalty pushed them back, McDaniel skipped the field goal and went bold. His daring fourth-and-7 call resulted in a touchdown. Though the Dolphins would lose the game 12 - 20.

The stats paint a clear picture. From an aggressive 1.18 rating and 14 attempts in 2023, McDaniel's current style shows he's become much more cautious.