Dolphins’ McDaniel sizes up Quinn Ewers, other topics as Miami moves to 7-9
Mike McDaniel initially drew some eye rolls when he announced, two weeks ago, that then-No. 3 quarterback Quinn Ewers gives the Dolphins the best chance to win.
At least Sunday, the coach was validated, as Ewers threw two touchdowns, with no interceptions, and posted a 118 passer rating in a 20-17 win against Tampa Bay. He won his first NFL game in his second professional start.
So is this what McDaniel meant when he said Ewers would give the team the best chance to win?
“There were multiple contributing factors to this win, but yeah, he showed some [thing],” McDaniel answered Sunday. “You have an idea, feeling that a game isn’t too big for a player based on your experience day in, day out with a player. It’s awesome in this profession when you believe in people and they take advantage of the opportunity. Quinn played a very good game. What we asked him to do was be responsible but aggressive with the football.
“The first touchdown to Theo Wease [a 63-yard catch and run] was a reaction to the concepts based on the defense. That’s what he exhibits -- a very good feel vision. His quick release and arm angle with the football are very helpful. You also saw there’s an inspired team behind him.”
Wease mentioned that Ewers has the most “swag” on the team.
McDaniel said that personality is “very authentic. He’s passionate about football. Don’t let the Texas twang in his speech fool you. He’s very, very smart. He’s on it. He’s very comfortable playing the position. He sees the field, he’s aggressive. He’s not scared.”
Asked about qualities that he looks for in a franchise quarterback and how to find one, McDaniel said Ewers will start next weekend at New England and noted “there are a lot of ways to find a franchise quarterback. One is playing games and seeing what a guy can do.... If you don’t feel great about that position, the team isn’t.”
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ Linebacker Chop Robinson left the game with a head injury and is in concussion protocol.
▪ He said he “did some things different” in practice to try to fix the third quarter issues. Miami was outscored 3-0 in the third quarter and ended the quarter deep in Tampa Bay territory. Entering the game, Miami had been outscored 113-27 in the third quarter this season.
▪ He said the run defense, which held Tampa Bay to 53 yards and 3.3 per carry, “was tremendous... We were much more emotionally disciplined this game. I was very proud of that effort. Its speaks to the guys we have in that front seven. They didn’t pass the buck [and took] accountability.”
▪ Linebacker Bradley Chubb, who had two sacks, “has shown what an elite human being he is on top of his playing ability,” McDaniel said.
Chubb, who now has 8.5 sacks, is the Dolphins’ nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award.
Here’s my column with a 10-step plan for Dolphins owner Stephen Ross.
This story was originally published December 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM.
