Daboll becomes Dolphins' offensive coordinator

DAVIE, Fla. – New Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Brian Daboll strayed from the lectern as he began to speak more excitedly. He chopped the air with his hands, waved his arms and clapped to emphasize a point.

Finally, he returned to the microphone.

"I'm ready to go to work," he said.

The animated Daboll actually appeared ready for kickoff. He was introduced Wednesday by the Dolphins, two days after their decision to hire him was first reported.

Daboll was the Cleveland Browns' offensive coordinator the past two years, and he comes to Miami with a reputation as a high-energy coach. A YouTube video shows him celebrating a Browns score this season by greeting 312-pound tackle Joe Thomas, who bumps Daboll and sends him into a backward flip.

When asked about the video, a smiling Daboll said it was misleading.

"I was going for a high five, and the son of a gun gave me a hip check," Daboll said.

He hopes for plenty of chances to work on his celebration skills with the Dolphins, who are desperate for an offensive upgrade. Their sputtering attack was the primary culprit in a disappointing 7-9 season.

Dan Henning departed after three seasons as Miami's offensive coordinator.

"Today we feel we took a great step toward correcting some of the problems we've obviously had," coach Tony Sparano said.

The move is the first by the Dolphins since owner Stephen Ross considered hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach, then instead gave Sparano a two-year extension.

Embarrassed by the way that episode was handled and eager to make some positive news, the Dolphins held a news conference for Daboll. A team official couldn't recall the last time the usually secretive organization gave an incoming coordinator such a public introduction.

"This is not something we normally do," general manager Jeff Ireland said. "But we're excited about the direction of the franchise, and we want to convey that to you. Today is a very important part of that."

Fan enthusiasm for the hiring may be tempered by Daboll's lackluster record with the Browns, who fired head coach Eric Mangini following a second successive 5-11 season.

"We didn't do as well as we wanted to do there," Daboll said.

This season the Browns finished last in the AFC in points with 271, two fewer than the Dolphins. Miami finished 21st in the NFL yardage, and Cleveland was 29th.

Daboll, like Henning, was criticized for being too cautious with play-calling. Daboll said he's open to anything that works.

"We're going to do whatever we need to do to give us a chance," he said. "We're going to attack the weaknesses of the defense and maximize our strengths. Whether that's spread-it-out, let's-go, no-huddle or tighten-it-down, we're going to do it."

Daboll was credited with helping Browns rookie quarterback Colt McCoy, who showed poise and promise in 2010 after being rushed into a starting role because of injuries. One of Daboll's challenges in Miami will be to develop quarterback Chad Henne, who regressed this season in his second year as a starter.

"I'm excited to work with Chad," Daboll said. "I think he has some tools we can develop.

"This is a quarterback-friendly system, where the quarterback is going to be able to make a lot of adjustments at the line of scrimmage. I'm going to take an active role in being with him in the meetings and getting him to develop the way I think he can."

Daboll's new job brings him back to the AFC East, where he has spent most of his coaching career. He was the New York Jets' quarterbacks coach in 2007-08 and spent seven seasons with the New England Patriots as a defensive coaching assistant (2000-01) and wide receivers coach (2002-06).

Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington said he learned a lot from Daboll when they worked together with the Jets in 2007.

"He helped me become a better quarterback as far as my understanding of how to attack a defense and how I was being attacked," Pennington said. "And he brings a lot of energy and passion to what he does."