Dolphins Coach Mike McDaniel Poised to Unleash Aggressive Playbook with Tua Tagovailoa’s Return

The Miami Dolphins are eager to see Tua Tagovailoa return to the lineup, and his presence could lead to a bold makeover of head coach Mike McDaniel’s playbook.

With Tua back, expect a surge in the Dolphins’ offensive efficiency, as his precision and quick decision-making can unlock facets of the game that have been missing since his last stint.

Tagovailoa’s presence is a game-changer, and it could resurrect the aggressive playcalling style of McDaniel, leading to more gutsy fourth-down calls and an increased willingness to pass in short-yardage situations.

When McDaniel had to juggle between Skylar Thompson, Tyler Huntley, and Tim Boyle in Tua’s absence, his playcalling had to become more conservative, but with Tua back, the Dolphins are likely to go for it on fourth down.

The game against the Colts is a prime example, where Miami opted for a 54-yard field goal instead of pushing for a first down, but with Tua in the mix, McDaniel may take the gamble for that extra yard.

It’s not just about fourth downs, as Tua’s return could also lead to more aggressive playcalling in short-yardage situations, where the Dolphins have struggled since their early success.

Last season, the Dolphins balanced between passing and running in these scenarios, and Tua’s return might coax McDaniel to mix things up again, keeping defenses on their toes.

The numbers don’t lie, as last season, Miami was evenly split between calls for passes and runs on third-and-1 situations, and actually leaned towards passing more on fourth-and-1.

Though the conversion rates were far from stellar, the strategy instilled a sense of unpredictability that could very well return with Tua’s influence.

What sets Tua apart is his ability to instill that fear of the pass even on short-yardage downs, making defenses play honestly when he’s in the backfield.

The Colts learned this lesson earlier this year when Miami performed well in short-yardage scenarios with Tua healthy, and his return may refine the Dolphins’ offensive prowess through his skills alone.

Tua’s return could also mean the return of a riskier, and potentially rewarding, approach from McDaniel, which bodes well for Miami fans as the Dolphins aim to bring back the kind of aggressive competitiveness that can turn tight games in their favor.