At the beginning of Hard Knocks, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel got fired up.
Mike McDaniel, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, is unafraid of the cameras and bright lights that will be following his team during the 2023 season.
McDaniel stood in front of his players and staff in the opening episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks: In Season with the Miami Dolphins to highlight their journey together from April 17 to the midway point of the season.
McDaniel stated, Hard Knocks begins today, and I’m honestly certain I’m fired up about it. Many people are burdened with it. Large salaries, all right, put a strain on you in this room.
But I won’t do this job, and I won’t be honest with you guys. I will not change. I will not change. We have a trip where we labor too hard.
This entire season will be documented by our team. Fantastic. I’m not going to f——. Right, so you guys don’t have to. We are going to become strange, so f— it.
Who gives a damn? I can’t wait to share more information about this team with you. The adventure we’ve been on together since this season’s opening day, April 17,. I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve created together every single day.
I f—— adore our team’s current position. I adore our journey there. Our combined time together is 127 days.
Alright, so you’ve been blindfolded for 12 games out of 78 practices. We are only guaranteed eight games, 24 practices, and 47 days with this team.
If you don’t bring it every time we go out together, then shame on you. Guys, this s— is as sacred as f——. That was the trip. Not even the best portion has been reached yet. Today’s f—— is the finest part.
Throughout his remarks, McDaniel enthusiastically discussed the culture the Dolphins have been fostering since April. He gave a thorough rundown of all the experiences the team has had.
The number of days Miami has left for workouts and games together was projected on a screen above the second-year coach.
However, as he pointed out, those are merely the assurances of the regular season. Miami is focused on achieving more.
McDaniel guided the 2022 Dolphins to a 9-8 record and a postseason spot in his debut season as head coach.
Thanks to Tyreek Hill’s potentially historic season—he’s on pace to become the first receiver in league history to reach 2,000 yards—and Tua Tagovailoa’s dark horse MVP candidacy, Miami has jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the AFC East this season.
The Dolphins’ Week 3 thrashing of the Denver Broncos was among the pyrotechnics thus far. With 70 points, they tied the 1950 Los Angeles Rams for the second-highest point total in an NFL regular-season game.
With 72 points, only the Washington team from 1966 scored more. McDaniel declared following the game that he was OK with his choice to forego trying to break the record.
His blistering Dolphins offense leads the NFL in points per game, total yards per game, and passing yards per game, so there will be plenty more scoring opportunities to come.
With seven games remaining on Miami’s schedule that are assured (the eighth game from McDaniel’s speech happened on Sunday with a victory over the Raiders), NFL fans will have ample documentation of McDaniel’s 2023 Dolphins thanks to Hard Knocks’ in-season coverage.
