Raiders Opponent HC Spotlight: Mike McDaniel
The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to win a third straight game as they travel to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to take on the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins have been one of the best teams in the AFC this season, having the highest-scoring offense in the league with 31.7 points per game and a league-leading 435.3 yards per game.
The Dolphins’ offense is loaded with talent, with elite speed at wide receiver and running back. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is playing the best football of his career.
All of these pieces have worked together because of the Dolphins’ Coach Mike McDaniel, who is in his second season with the Dolphins after spending five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers.
McDaniel is one of the most innovative coaches in the league, running a system that puts his players in favorable positions in the running game and designing route concepts that allow his receivers to operate in space and utilize their speed.
McDaniel is from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, spending time with him in Washington and with the Atlanta Falcons before joining him in San Francisco as the running game coordinator, and then the offensive coordinator. The 49ers always had efficient running games under his tutelage.
As a head coach, McDaniel has a 15-11 record with a postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins are 6-3 this season, with a 6-0 record against teams under .500 and 0-3 against teams .500 or better.
Mike McDaniel has led an explosive Miami Dolphins offense in 2023.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Scheme-wise, McDaniel runs a wide zone run offense, a Shanahan staple. He also runs a West Coast passing attack, which heavily incorporates short routes and quick slants, allowing players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to win match-ups with their speed.
McDaniel’s defensive coordinator is Vic Fangio, one of the most respected defensive minds in the league, who runs a 3-4 base defense with two high safeties. They have the 12th-ranked defense in the league, but have allowed 25 points per game.
The Raiders’ defense has been playing at a high level this season, but now they face what could be the league’s best offense led by McDaniel. Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham and his unit will have to be at their best if they want to beat the high-powered Dolphins.
The Silver and Black will head out on the road to South Beach to take on the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1:00 p.m. EST/10:00 a.m. PST.
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