The Miami Dolphins threatened to dig their way out of a 24-point hole on Thanksgiving when they scored a third quarter touchdown, got a two-point a conversion, a defensive stop, and put together another drive deep into Green Bay Packers territory.
But that window of opportunity slammed shut when the Dolphins couldn’t get into the end zone on three straight plays from the Packers’ 1-yard line. The nail in the coffin was a disastrous fourth down play call with both Tyreek Hill and Jonnu Smith watching from the sideline.
“As a teammate, you understand personnel and certain things that coaches are looking for, but as an individual, as a competitor, it sucks because at the end of the day if we don’t score there, I’m going to feel some kind of way,” Hill told reporters Friday.
“I understand what the coaches are exactly trying to do, so it is what it is. We all have to learn from it as a group, not just the coaches but also as players and we’ve just got to take our wins and losses. … I did have a conversation with coach. It kind of helped me understand their point of view and exactly what they’re trying to do, so I understand it. Everything is about scheme. These guys do this certain coverage in this area, these guys – we’re looking for this type of scenario in this situation. So just in that scenario, I wasn’t a part of it so it is what it is.”
While Hill is taking the coaches’ odd personnel decision in stride, McDaniel told reporters it’s a call he’d “absolutely like to have back.” The main target on the play, Alec Ingold, tripped over his teammate and none of the other eligible receivers — Jaylen Waddle, Durham Smythe, De’Von Achane, and Julian Hill — came close to getting open before the Packers pass rush enveloped Tua Tagovailoa.
