MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley pushed again in opposition to the concept his crew is getting into a rebuilding part, saying the main focus stays on enchancment and successful.
Hafley spoke with reporters Thursday earlier than the Dolphins took the sector for the second day of coaching camp, simply months after a serious offseason overhaul that included the releases of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, broad receiver Tyreek Hill and linebacker Bradley Chubb.
The crew additionally traded broad receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos and security Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets.
Despite the adjustments, Hafley stated the phrase “rebuild” doesn’t match the mindset contained in the Dolphins’ locker room.
“I don’t know how you can have a conversation with a competitive player or a competitive coach and have it sit right with them where we’re just going to say, we’re just going to rebuild this year,” he stated. “And I mean, it’s just not the mentality of any competitor who’s made it to this level or any coach that’s made it to this level.”
Hafley stated the crew’s method is centered round getting higher each day whereas competing.
“Whether it’s practice or whether it’s a drill, I think we all want to win it and our mindset is we need to get better, we need to develop, and everything that we do is going to be about competing to get better throughout the process and we want to win,” he added.
The Dolphins started coaching camp with a brand new teaching employees and a brand new quarterback in Malik Willis, who joined Miami after the offseason departure of Tagovailoa.
Hafley stated it’s too early to guage gamers after just a few practices and emphasised the significance of consistency over time.
“I just think, guys, it’s going to be really hard to assess anybody in these first couple of practices,” Hafley stated. “I think the key to everything is going to be consistency over time.”
One of Hafley’s greatest priorities throughout camp has been creating extra reasonable sport conditions. The Dolphins have spent extra time in 11-on-11 drills and fewer time in 7-on-7 work, one thing Hafley stated higher prepares gamers for the challenges of an precise sport.
“I want to just play football,” he stated. “I think that’s how you get good.”
Hafley additionally mentioned the return of working again De’Von Achane, who’s being eased again into observe after time away from soccer.
“Well, he (Achane) just came back, so he’s got to build up his reps just like everybody else to get ready to play in a game,” Hafley stated. “But we’ve got to gradually increase it, and we’ll do that throughout camp. So it’s just (his) first day back. (He) hadn’t really played football in a while, but I am very glad that he’s back.”
The Dolphins will proceed coaching camp as Hafley works to determine his tradition heading into the brand new season. The first observe open to the general public is about for Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
View the Dolphins’ full coaching camp schedule by clicking right here.
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