MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins mentor Mike McDaniel sights adversity as an possibility.
His leading two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, are in the concussion protocol. The Dolphins have dropped two straight after setting up 3-. And Miami will start off a rookie quarterback Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings (4-1).
McDaniel, in his initial head coaching job, explained there’s no time to really feel sorry for himself.
“Being in the Nationwide Football League, whether or not you’re a coach or a player, is difficult,” he explained. “All points that are worth achieving are challenging. I think I would sense guilt and sense as nevertheless I was shortchanging the Dolphins and the group if I was spending any time thinking about how hard it is.”
Overcoming adversity, for improved or worse, is what the Dolphins will have to have to do on Sunday against the NFC-North leading Vikings, who under new coach Kevin O’Connell are off to their best start off considering that they went 5- in 2016.
With Skylar Thompson at quarterback, the Dolphins will hope to develop on very last week’s finest speeding output of the 12 months and suitable their difficulties in defending the pass.
That will not be quick from Professional Bowl receiver Justin Jefferson.
By way of five weeks, Jefferson qualified prospects the NFL in receiving yards with 547 and is next in receptions with 40. He has eight catches of at the very least 20 yards.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been regular, and O’Connell explained the Vikings’ offense has been regular simply because opponents can not be certain if they need to have to fret about Jefferson or a managing activity led by Dalvin Cook dinner.
“I assume we have been in a position to set up some foundations in our operate recreation that’s permitted us to have some items off of all those points to use force to the defense,” O’Connell said. “You’re seeing Kirk type of management a whole lot at the line of scrimmage, get to our full offense at the line of scrimmage and which is seriously what we want to be.”
COMING Dwelling
Cook will enjoy in his indigenous Miami for the first time in his NFL profession, with kin and friends setting up to be at Tough Rock Stadium. Cook played there a few situations for Miami Central Substantial College when massive game titles dictated a shift to a bigger venue. He played from Miami in college at Florida Point out and in no way dropped to the Hurricanes.
“It’s usually fantastic receiving back into some heat climate. Minnesota is on us appropriate now, as you can inform by the way I’m dressed,” Cook dinner reported Wednesday, wearing a hooded sweatshirt beneath his purple exercise jersey and a black stocking cap on his head. “It’s heading to be a fantastic Sunday. Go down there, perform some superior soccer, get a gain and get out of there.”
JUST KICKING IT
Minnesota’s Greg Joseph was the NFC Distinctive Groups Participant of the Week just after likely 5 for 5 on area objectives against New Orleans in London on Oct. 2, although he missed an more point. Sandwiched all around that efficiency has been a pair of missed discipline targets versus Detroit on Sept. 25 and from Chicago last Sunday.
Individuals unsuccessful attempts came from 56 yards (huge suitable), 56 (large appropriate), 53 (wide suitable) and 51 (blocked). O’Connell mentioned he could “do a improved occupation of it’s possible enjoying the discipline posture sport at times” to continue to keep Joseph from getting to check out lessen-percentage kicks.
“My confidence in Greg will not waiver. I expect him, when he goes out there, to make those people kicks. And I’m heading to proceed to give him options,” O’Connell reported. “Because you just never know when individuals 3 points can be a variance-maker, like it was in London for us, or at other periods during the time. We’d adore to give him some more chip-shot sort of field ambitions.”
ROOKIE REPS
McDaniel admitted just after very last week’s reduction that Thompson’s debut was rough. He finished 19 of 33 passes for 166 yards devoid of a landing, with an interception and a missing fumble.
McDaniel reported some of Thompson’s struggles ended up about footwork or timing, a pure end result of his very first frequent-time motion.
Thompson also didn’t have the advantage of a veteran quarterback on the sideline to help mentor him by the sport because both equally Bridgewater and Tagovailoa have been out. Bridgewater was injured on the Dolphins’ initial offensive snap.
If Bridgewater clears the concussion protocol, he is expected to be lively on Sunday and provide as Thompson’s backup.
“It might be just one term, it may well be a pat on the back,” McDaniel stated. “That teammate support is a extremely immensely massive matter for a player like that.”
Thompson and his teammates are certain Sunday’s game will be improved.
“For me to have a 7 days to establish that, build self-confidence with the men,” Thompson explained, “and establish that trust and timing is going to be truly, definitely important.”
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