Tag: durham smythe

Mike McDaniel on benched veterans: ‘You’re entitled to nothing’

“The best players have to play and that’s my job to follow through with that.”

The Miami Dolphins haven’t been shy about mixing up their lineup amid a rough start to the 2024 season.

Running back Raheem Mostert has just three carries in the last two weeks, tight end Durham Smythe is averaging one target per game after finishing third on the team in targets last year, and David Long Jr. was waived just two months after he was named a defensive team captain.

“I think it’s been the same pattern each and every season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday afternoon. “One thing that I’m very upfront with with the players, the second they get in the building, the second we start talking projected lineups or positions within a position group, I think it’s important people know you’re entitled to nothing in this world.

“Playing time is solved by players on the field and the best players have to play and that’s my job to follow through with that. I don’t look at someone lost something, I look at who earned the opportunities.”

Among the beneficiaries of that philosophy are De’Von Achane, who already has 168 touches this season after finishing his rookie year with 130. and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who has stepped into the starting lineup in the last three weeks.

“It’s something that I think is important to players, in general, is — not only for themselves — but teammates want the teammate next to them that best deserves that situation,” McDaniel said. “Quite frankly, everyone that roots for the Dolphins is counting on me to make the hard decisions, regardless of what the ifs, ands, or buts, you have to do what’s the best for the team.”

More recently, the Dolphins turned to undrafted rookie Storm Duck to play extensively against the Las Vegas Raiders with Kendall Fuller out of action rather than relying on 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith.

“Tomorrow if Cam Smith completely outplays Storm Duck and we feel comfortable with what we’re doing, he’ll absolutely play over Storm Duck,” McDaniel said. “Everybody’s very aware of that. I think it’s very important to get the most out of people that they realize that it’s about what they’re doing in unison with what they’ve done. They get to dictate the terms at the present and moving forward.”

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Dolphins restructure four contracts to become cap compliant

Dolphins create a ton of cap space by restructuring four contracts given out in the last two seasons.

The Miami Dolphins have been quite active in recent days, as they try to get cap-compliant by the start of the new league year, and they continued that trend on Monday.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins have restructured the contracts of cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Zach Sieler, Alec Ingold and Durham Smythe, freeing up roughly $28.78 million in cap space.

Prior to the agreed signing of linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. on Monday evening, Miami was roughly $25 million over the salary cap, according to Over the Cap. So, they should be compliant now, but they’ll need to make more moves if they want to sign any free agents.

Ramsey, 29, was traded to the Dolphins last offseason, and the two sides immediately agreed to an adjusted contract. The cornerback missed a good portion of the 2023 season due to a meniscus injury that he suffered in just his second training camp session, but he came back looking as sharp as ever.

Sieler, 28, signed an extension last offseason and repaid Miami by putting up his best season to date, which included playing in every game for the fourth straight season and recording 10 sacks.

Ingold, 27, also received an extension last August before making the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career and helping the Dolphins have one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL.

Smythe, 28, received a new two-year contract in 2022 and was asked to be the team’s top tight end in 2023 for the first time. He had his best season statistically (35 receptions for 366 yards were both career highs), but he failed to find the end zone.

Grading the Dolphins tight ends after their 2023 season

A look at Miami’s tight ends, and the year they had in 2023.

The Miami Dolphins finished their 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and made the postseason for the second time in as many years under head coach Mike McDaniel. Unfortunately, it came to an end with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.

While other teams are in the midst of their playoff run, it’s time to do some reflecting on the team in South Florida.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be reviewing and evaluating different positions for the Dolphins in 2023. Today, we’ll look at the tight ends.

Dolphins 2023 regular season awards: From MVP to most improved

Handing out some hardware for the Dolphins regular season performances

Now that the 2023 NFL regular season has concluded, and the playoffs are just days away it’s a good time to reflect on this year’s class of Miami Dolphins. What better way to go through a regular season yearbook than handing out superlatives?

In a regular season that saw numerous team records fall and several breakout performances both by veterans and young players, this team is arguably its most talented in decades. Regardless of all the injuries and adversity, the 2023 rollercoaster of a campaign is still going, as there is a Saturday night playoff matchup at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round of the postseason.

Before getting to that matchup, we can look back on some of the outstanding individual performances from Dolphins this season.

Dolphins have no tight ends in PFF’s top-15 rankings for 2023

It’s not surprising, but some of the names that did make it are.

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With the NFL regular season still months away, all 32 teams, including the Miami Dolphins, are in the midst of their offseason training programs with organized team activities going on this week.

As players are trying to earn opportunities when the season does eventually arrive, outlets are comparing them to their counterparts and trying to determine who’s better.

Pro Football Focus’ John Kosko recently produced his list of the top 15 tight ends in the NFL, and the Dolphins didn’t have any representation.

Here was his list:

  • Travis Kelce
  • Mark Andrews
  • George Kittle
  • Dallas Goedert
  • T.J. Hockenson
  • Pat Freiermuth
  • Kyle Pitts
  • Dalton Schultz
  • Taysom Hill
  • David Njoku
  • Darren Waller
  • Dawson Knox
  • Chigoziem Okonkwo
  • Evan Engram
  • Gerald Everett

It’s not surprising that Miami didn’t have a tight end on the list, as it’s one of the weaker positions on their roster currently. Durham Smythe tops the depth chart, and while he technically led the team’s tight end room in snaps last season, it was pretty obvious that Mike Gesicki was the top guy.

This offseason, Gesicki (interestingly left off the list) moved on, signing with the New England Patriots. The Dolphins also traded Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams, cut Cethan Carter and decided not to re-sign Adam Shaheen.

Instead, joining Smythe and 2022 undrafted free agent Tanner Conner in the room are two veterans (Eric Saubert and Tyler Kroft) and two rookies (Elijah Higgin and Julian Hill).

If any of them were to rise up and make this list next year, it would probably be Smythe, and that’s not out of the question considering Taysom Hill’s appearance so high on this list.

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Durham Smythe jokingly takes issue with Mike Gesicki signing with Patriots

He’s the enemy now in Smythe’s eyes.

For the last four seasons, Miami Dolphins tight ends Durham Smythe and Mike Gesicki were nearly inseparable. Whether it was hanging out together at the facility or vacationing together during the offseason, the pair became great friends.

This offseason, as Gesicki free agency and Smythe was under contract, it was a foregone conclusion that the duo would be split up. The former ended up signing with an AFC East rival, as the New England Patriots gave him a one-year deal.

Smythe, while understanding that Gesicki had to take the deal, joked that he takes issue with the decision.

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“He had 31 other choices and he chose the one to spite me the most,” Smythe told the media on Tuesday (transcribed by Barry Jackson). “Good for him. We’ll see him twice a year.”

The former Nittany Lion now joining the Patriots adds an extra layer to a rivalry that has been mostly one-sided in recent years. If Smythe or Gesicki find themselves in the end zone during either of their meetings in 2023 will certainly lead to some extra celebrating.

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Dolphins sign TE Durham Smythe to a contract extension

The deal includes a raise in 2023.

The Miami Dolphins went into this offseason with questions at tight end, as they released Cethan Carter and the pair of Mike Gesicki and Adam Shaheen were set to be free agents.

One player they didn’t have to worry about for 2023 was Durham Smythe, as he was already under contract. However, Miami has still made him a priority, as the team announced that they’ve signed the former Fighting Irish to a two-year extension.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissrro, the deal is for $7.75 million with $5.5 million fully guaranteed. It includes a raise to $4.5 million for 2023, and the new total max value of his deal is  $8.75 million.

The Dolphins are still lacking a top tight end on their roster, but as evidenced last year, Smythe plays a valuable role in Mike McDaniel’s offense.

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Grading the Dolphins tight ends after their 2022 season

Not the best year from the room.

The Miami Dolphins have completed their 2022 campaign after losing to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round.

While head coach Mike McDaniel, general manager Chris Grier and company are looking forward to the 2023 season, this is a great time for us to reflect on the season hat was for the aqua and orange.

We’ll be going through different positions and reviewing how they played in 2022. After starting with the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, we’ll take a look at the guys lining up next to the tackles and in the slot. These are our grades for the Dolphins’ tight ends.

Bills survive scare from Dolphins, advance to AFC divisional round

Survive and advance for Buffalo.

It seemed like the Buffalo Bills had things on easy mode Sunday when they jumped out to an early 17-0 lead against the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wild Card match-up.  Although the day would end successfully for Buffalo, it wouldn’t come without plenty of drama along the way.

Miami, playing with backup quarterback Skylar Thompson, scored 17-straight points to tie the game up shortly before halftime.  Buffalo was able to answer with a field goal late in the half to take a 20-17 lead to break.

A turnover for a touchdown gave Miami a 24-20 advantage early in the second half but Buffalo’s defense tightened and just as importantly, the Bills didn’t turn the ball over the rest of the way, after doing so four times to that point.

As a result the Bills survived as a 34-31 winner, despite entering the game as a nearly two-touchdown favorite.  With the win the Bills advance to the divisional playoffs next weekend as the AFC’s second seed while Miami heads home with a 9-9 overall record this season.

The loss means the end of the road for the 2022 season for former Notre Dame standouts Liam Eichenberg and Durham Smythe while no former Golden Domers advanced with the Bills.

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Every Notre Dame player currently on an NFL training camp roster

Lots of former Irish talent in the NFL

Part of being an alumnus of a supremely successful collegiate football is seeing them getting an opportunity at the next level. For Notre Dame, the list of former players getting their shot in the NFL is large, very large. Find out below every former Irish star (in alphabetical order) and which NFL team they are with in training camp.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen