The Miami Dolphins are reportedly turning to a veteran NFL assistant to coordinate the passing game, and coach the team’s quarterbacks.
According to multiple reports, Darrell Bevell, who last served as the offensive coordinator and interim head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the front-runner to serve as Mike McDaniel’s passing-game coordinator, and quarterbacks coach.
Bevell’s career began as an offensive assistant in Green Bay, where he coached Brett Favre in the west coast offense McDaniel plans to install.
From there he’s served as the Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator from 2006-2010, where he again coached Favre. He then served as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator from 2011-17, the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator for 2019-2020 before ending the season as the Lions’ interim head coach when Matt Patricia was fired.
And this past season, he was the coordinator for Urban Meyer’s Jaguars team before taking over as interim coach when Meyer was fired.
In his two stints as an interim coach Bevell is 2-7, but he’s coached Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matt Stafford and Trevor Lawrence, and the hope is he could help quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s game get to the next level if hired in Miami.
The Dolphins have already hired former Los Angeles Chargers assistant Frank Smith to serve as the offensive coordinator, and he’ll likely responsible for leading the run game. Smith coached offensive linemen most of his career, and served as the Chargers’ run-game coordinator.
Bevell, who played quarterback at Wisconsin under Barry Alvarez in the early 1990′s, would likely focus on the passing game. Former NFL receiver Wes Welker was hired to coach the receivers, and Miami retained Eric Studesville to coach the tailbacks.
Considering he was instrumental in the selection of Wilson in Seattle, and his early development, it is possible that his quick-pass concepts, which are a staple of the west coast offense, could help Tagovailoa become more efficient.
However, Lawrence struggled for most of his rookie season, where he led the Jaguars to a 3-14 record as the team’s starter.
Lawrence completed 59 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,641 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Lawrence finished the season with a 71.9 passer rating, making him the 32nd-rated quarterback in the NFL, one spot ahead of New York Jets rookie Zach Wilson (69.7).
McDaniel has hired, or retained, most of his coaching staff but has a few more positions to fill before his first staff is complete.