MIAMI GARDENS — Mike McDaniel is the head coach and the offensive play-caller for the Miami Dolphins and that is not changing, so let's start there.

"Mike's the play caller, that's never gonna change, obviously," said new Dolphins senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik . "I mean, he's one of the best in the NFL, he's one of, if not the best, in the NFL at it."

This is a good time to quote Bobby Slowik - during offseason workouts - because there are a lot of offensive coaches with a lot of titles in South Florida.

And we all know it's important for each chef to know and buy into his role.

"At the end of the day how do we make sure everyone has clear defined roles while also being able to help each other in what they're doing to help players go play and us go win games?" Slowik said before OTA's.

Every NFL team and coaching staff talks about the importance of collaboration and communication and team work. But in the end, too many voices can get messy.

That is not to suggest this one will.

Miami Dolphins have many offensive coach voices

We could also mention that tight ends coach Jon Embree is also assistant head coach. And running backs coach Eric Studesville is also associate head coach.

McDaniel, Smith, Slowik, Bevell and Studesville have all been offensive coordinators.

Titles are not that important; until they kind of are.

Studesville is a well-regarded running backs coach. His tenure as co-offensive coordinator with departed George Godsey, under Brian Flores in 2021, did not go so well.

At one point, quarterbacks coach Charlie Frye was injected into the play-calling process. Flores was nebulous about who was doing what and who called what.

It was a big mess and big failure on Flores' part.

Again, this is not to suggest Miami's 2025 offensive coaching staff is set up to fail.

Dolphins must avoid any lack of clarity in offensive structure

These guys know each other, many have worked together before and there seems to be a level of trust.

In game-planning, coaches see everyone having input on what they see and what they think might work.

"There's probably gonna be some adjustments as we go through this entire process," Slowik said. "But I would say as a starting point for Mike, really everyone has a voice as far as game planning and what gets put into the plan and then on game day like if he needs some suggestions or he's just asking for, 'Hey what do you guys thin? What way do I want to go? This way or that way?' Like it's really always been in a fairly open forum. So if I'm presented with the opportunity where I have to answer that I absolutely will; if not, I'll just make sure everybody's moving forward together."

Let's talk about game day.

Can Bobby Slowik help Mike McDaniel's play-calling speed?

There have been times where McDaniel, who is extremely cerebral, has been slow to get a play call into huddle.

It was interesting that Slowik referenced speed. If he can help McDaniel get calls in a bit faster at times, that could be a sneaky big under-the-radar impact.

"There's a lot to balance when you're a head coach and you're also a play caller," Slowik said. "So just helping that process out, speeding that process up."

Slowik suggested he has already bonded with Frank Smith and Darrell Bevell.

Smith and Bevell are generally easy-going guys, so that should help.

The Dolphins were 6th and 1st in the NFL in offense yards in McDaniel's first two seasons and only 18th last year.

A big part of that was Tua Tagovailoa missed six games with injury.

But even when Tua has been healthy, Miami needs some better solutions for things like two-deep safety beaters and short-yardage winners.

Slowik, was was let go by the Texans after two years as offensive coordinator, brings fresh eyes to the group. And it is an open-minded group.

"Wherever help is needed is kind of where I'll go," Slowik said, adding, "Whatever needs to get done to win a game."

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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post . You can reach him at and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe . Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter . Help support our work by subscribing today .