Dolphin hires Frank Smith from Chargers as strike coordinator – Orange County Register

The Miami Dolphins found their offensive coordinator under first-time head coach Mike McDaniel.

Los Angeles Chargers’ game operations coordinator and offensive team coach Frank Smith took the job on Monday, a federation source confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. News is first report by NFL Network.

Smith interviewed for the position on Saturday and is the third known candidate after other reports named Atlanta Falcons quarterback coach Charles London and receiving team coach Curtis Johnson. wide New Orleans Saints, who had had a decade earlier in a role similar to the Miami Hurricanes, as those up for the position of offensive coordinator.

McDaniel, who arrived in Miami after serving as offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, said during his introductory press conference with the Dolphins on Thursday that he plans to call plays, like coaching 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan did in San Francisco. Before becoming offensive coordinator in 2021, McDaniel served as a run game coordinator with the 49ers himself.

Smith had just completed his first season in that role for the Chargers and is largely credited for turning around a troubled line in 2020 before his arrival.

Smith also has a background in developing tight finishes. He was the final coach for the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders from 2018 to 2020, working with one of the best in the league at the position at Darren Waller. He held the same role with the Chicago Bears from 2015 to 2017. Smith’s first NFL job was under great New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, as assistant road coach. attacks between 2010 and 2014.

Smith, a Miami (Ohio) graduate, was a previous college coach, serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Butler from 2007 to 2009 and led the squad. in the 2006 season. He was a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 2004 and 2005.

While McDaniel doesn’t call offensive plays with the 49ers, it looks like he will go with a similar offensive coach/coordinator relationship he has had under Shanahan. McDaniel will be the first person invited to play after Shanahan did in San Francisco, and Smith will be instrumental in developing the offensive game plan.

Smith joins the offensive coordinator role after leading a team run game, similar to the transition McDaniel made ahead of the 2021 season. His background could help overcome two problems the main issue the Dolphins faced last year between developing the team’s running and offensive line, complementing rental report by Matt Applebaum from Boston University as offensive team coach.

With 38-year-old McDaniel as the youth head coach, some believe he could, for the first time, opt for a more veteran presence in one of the coordinator positions. Smith, 40, and defensive coordinator Josh Boyer, with whom McDaniel still takes over from the coaching staff before Brian Flores, 45.

McDaniel is building a young team of coaches, but he could also get older, more experienced voices from coach Jon Embree, whom he brought in from the 49ers, in support. coach Eric Studesville and special team coordinator Danny Crossman, who remains in Miami. Embree will also serve as assistant head coach while Studesville will hold the title of associate head coach.

Smith became offensive coordinator after Flores, last year, was accompanied by Studesville co-coordinators and George Godsey, who have been called main players for much of the 2021 season. Both also lead the way. their position groups when Godsey doubled as the tight finish coach. Godsey has since become the low-key coach of the Baltimore Ravens.

McDaniel has almost a full coaching staff but still has an annoying loophole for a defender kicking coach. Defensively, he has slots for a defender coach and outside full-back coach. Those roles were played by Gerald Alexander and Rob Leonard respectively under Flores.