The Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers aren’t going to play each other in the 2023 regular season, but Mike McDaniel’s squad has caught the attention of 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan anyway.
The Dolphins have been using pre-snap motions to their advantage all season, often involving wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Shanahan was recently asked about the strategy and took a jab — even if a playful one — at the concept.
Kyle Shanahan has seen Mike McDaniel’s unique pre-snap motion take the league by storm with Tyreek Hill.
His name for it?
“Cheat motion. Because it’s cheating.” 😂 pic.twitter.com/zBDag03pOn
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 28, 2023
Shanahan and McDaniel worked together in San Francisco, so there’s likely nothing but respect between the two of them.
Ahead of Thursday Night Football, the Dolphins had been using pre-snap motions or shifts more than any other team in the NFL this season, according to PFF. And whether it’s a direct product of the strategy or not, Miami’s offense has been virtually unstoppable.
After scoring 36 points in Week 1 and 24 points in Week 2, the Dolphins exploded in Week 3, dropping 70 points on the Denver Broncos in a historic win.
McDaniel, often seen as one of the top offensive minds in football, has his offense firing on all cylinders through three weeks of the season, and the Dolphins have a 3-0 record to show for it. They’ll look to move to 4-0 on Sunday during a big meeting against the Buffalo Bills.
Hill has had a big season so far, and his connection with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is looking as strong as ever. The wide receiver has caught 25 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns through three games, putting him on pace to finish the season with well over 2,000 receiving yards (a stated goal of his).
Some fans may have reservations about buying too much stock in the 3-0 Dolphins simply because they regressed after a 3-0 start last season, but a consensus seems to be forming around the football world that Miami is one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
Health permitting, the Dolphins are in good shape to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season, and they can take another step toward that goal on Sunday against Buffalo. Perhaps McDaniel will pull another trick out of his sleeve that catches the attention of some more folks around the league.
