Mike McDaniel Reminisces On Past After Jason Pierre-Paul Signing
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
When Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was looking to replace former first-round draft pick Jaelan Phillips and add depth to his defensive front, the former Washington Redskins assistant coach looked to his past.
In fact, recently signed Jason Pierre-Paul is someone McDaniel remembers vividly from their shared time in the NFC East.
“I’ve seen tape on him the past few years and he’s someone I’m very familiar with,” McDaniel said Wednesday during his press conference. “He got his start in the division that I was in. When I was with Washington he was with the New York Giants. I reminisced on one of the most catastrophic run plays I’ve ever experienced that he was the point of attack on.”
While the 34-year-old Pierre-Paul may not be what he was during his time in New York, when he started 85 games and tallied 58 ½ sacks over an eight-year stint, he can most certainly play a valuable role in Vic Fangio’s defense. Alongside standouts like Bradley Chubb, Jerome Baker, Andrew Van Ginkel and Christian Wilkins, JPP can actually provide a lot.
He’s a two-time Super Bowl winner, a former All-Pro honoree and has been named to three Pro Bowls. On top of all that, he’s recorded three seasons with double-digit sacks, including his sophomore season where he recorded 16.5, and has tallied over 600 tackles in his career along with 127 tackles for a loss.
Needless to say, McDaniel is excited to add another weapon to a defense that. is improving despite allowing opponents to average 22.8 points per game.
“I’m pumped for the team to add a player of his experience, his esteem, he’s a force on the edge and I’m pumped for him to get in the mix with the entire team,” McDaniel said. “This is a team that’s been working diligently together for a long time. He’ll be getting up to speed, studying all day and trying to get comfortable with what we are asking him to do.
“I’m just pumped really to have the depth that we have on this team and adding a player like him is just more of that.”
Experience is where a lot of Pierre-Paul’s value lies. He’s only tallied 5.5 sacks while playing in 25 games over the last three seasons but turned in a Pro Bowl year in 2020. He recorded two interceptions, four forced fumbles, 9.5 sacks and 14 quarterback hits during Tampa Bay’s run to a Super Bowl.
That type of experience, playing on a Super Bowl-winning team, alongside the likes of players like Tom Brady, Ndamukong Suh, and Devin White is truly valuable. Pierre-Paul also didn’t do it just once, but twice.
During his standout year in 2011, just his second year in the NFL, Pierre-Paul anchored the New York Giants’ Super Bowl-winning defense line as they upended Brady and the New England Patriots 21-17. Pierre-Paul deflected two passes, tallied two tackles, one tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit.
On a young team, that only has three defensive players 30 years of age or older, Pierre-Paul could end up being a veteran voice in the locker room as the Dolphins attempt to make a deep playoff run.
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