NFL teams near the bottom of the standings are racing to hire the next offensive genius as their head coach. Each year, successful offensive coordinators are plucked from their current spots for a promotion.
While current Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady has made some frustrating decisions this season, he's still set to be one of the top candidates when the offseason comes around. The Bills have to start preparing for life without their play-caller.
If Brady finds a new home next year, current Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel could be the perfect replacement for him.
Mike McDaniel could be Bills' perfect Joe Brady replacement
The Dolphins are crumbling this season, sitting at 1-6 after Week 7. If their losing ways continue, it's hard to imagine McDaniel keeping his job. While he's proven his ability as an effective play-caller, owners in the NFL are quick to let go of coaches who can't produce wins. The young head coach could be on the lookout for a new job soon, and the Bills might be his best destination.
This move would send the AFC East into complete chaos. Miami's genius head coach leaving to call plays for the team that has reigned atop the division for years would certainly attract plenty of headlines, but it might just be the right move.
In Miami, McDaniel has built his offense around the strengths — and limitations — of his quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Their scheme is based on quickly getting the ball to speedy playmakers on the perimeter and letting them produce explosive plays. It was effective early in McDaniel's tenure, but opposing defenses have largely figured out how to put a stop to it. Without a versatile quarterback, the coach doesn't have many adjustments available to him.
Still, he's shown that he's one of the most creative play-callers in the sport. He's pioneered the use of heavy pre-snap motion that teams across the league now implement, and his shifts and formations put his offense in positions to succeed.
While Josh Allen couldn't be more different than Tagovailoa, McDaniel's creativity could still translate to the Bills' roster. With a mobile quarterback who is able to throw the ball to any spot on the field, the coach would be able to fully open up his playbook. Together, the pair could build one of the most dangerous offenses in recent NFL history.
It takes quite a bit of projection to see McDaniel with the Bills, but it could be the perfect pairing.