Miami’s head coach is overmatched, its GM has built a soft roster, and ownership keeps selling false hope
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) — The Miami Dolphins didn’t just get embarrassed in their season opener. They exposed themselves as a franchise without direction, discipline, or leadership.
The 33–8 humiliation against the Indianapolis Colts wasn’t just Mike McDaniel’s failure — though his fingerprints were all over it. It was a complete indictment of the organization, from the head coach to general manager Chris Grier to owner Stephen Ross.
Let’s start with McDaniel, the so-called offensive innovator. His system looked stale. Tua Tagovailoa threw two interceptions, lost a fumble, and produced just 114 passing yards before being benched. The offense managed 211 yards total while the Colts piled up 418. Aside from De’Von Achane’s late touchdown, Miami’s attack was lifeless, predictable, and uninspired. McDaniel admitted afterward, “That formula is for failure.” He was right — because he authored it.
The defense, hyped as improved, was shredded. Daniel Jones — making his Colts debut — completed 22 of 29 passes for 272 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Miami’s defense couldn’t cover, couldn’t tackle, and couldn’t pressure. It folded like a paper wall.
But this isn’t only about coaching. This roster, constructed by Grier, remains fatally flawed. Years of questionable draft picks and uneven free-agent signings have left the Dolphins top-heavy, thin on depth, and soft in the trenches. That reality was laid bare when guard James Daniels and cornerback Storm Duck exited with injuries, exposing a lack of reliable backups.
And then there’s Ross. For more than a decade, the Dolphins’ owner has peddled empty promises while presiding over one of the league’s most mediocre franchises. He’s chased quick fixes, leaned into hype, and enabled executives and coaches who talk big but produce little. Sunday was just the latest chapter in a saga of failure at the top.
Here’s the reality Dolphins fans are sick of: this isn’t a contender. It’s an organization built on illusions. McDaniel is a likable personality, but he’s not a leader of men. Grier has survived years of underachievement without accountability. Ross has written checks, but he hasn’t written a winning culture.
So where does that leave Miami? At a crossroads — again. The Dolphins can dismiss Sunday as “just Week 1,” but that’s denial. This was not a fluke. It was the truth laid bare: the coach can’t prepare them, the GM hasn’t built them, and the owner won’t demand better.
The fix isn’t complicated. It’s overdue. McDaniel isn’t the answer. Grier has had his chance. And Ross needs to decide if he cares about winning or just selling tickets.
Because if Sunday’s embarrassment is any indication, the Dolphins aren’t heading anywhere but backward. And until the franchise cleans house at every level, Miami will remain what it has been for years — all talk, no results.
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