With our BYE Week upon us, it’s time for Miami Dolphins Head Coach to take a look at what the team has done over the last 5 weeks. The most obvious thing resides in the loss column, and that would be a perfect 5 of 5, or 0-5. Yes, we know it’s not ALL about wins and losses, but at some point it realistically will be. He needs to take stock of our positives and negatives. This is a good time for evaluation of everything, players and coaches alike. One thing I can tell you from personal experience, since I was at the game as many of our FMU people were as well, is playing at Hard Rock Stadium in 2026 does not equal a “Home Field Advantage”. Other than the heat, which the Florida sun provided plenty of, game time temps were above 90 degrees, the stadium was what looked like to me about 70% Cincinnati Bengals fans compared to just 30% Miami Dolphins fans. It was a sea of Orange and White, but Bengals Orange and White, not Dolphins. I understand that Florida is a huge vacation destination, but despite HC Jeff Hafley repeatedly stating wins and losses don’t matter, they most certainly do at the box office. You want to have Miami Dolphins fans stuffing the seats at Hard Rock, you need to start winning!!!
Besides having the youngest roster in the NFL out of necessity, we’ve already lost our best offensive players, RB De’Von Achane for the entire season with a torn ACL. In addition to the Achane injury, 3rd RD pick WR Caleb Douglas has been OUT since Week 2, so he has missed the last 3 games. Our second 3rd RD pick, WR Chris Bell, has been playing, but has yet to make any kind of real impact. How much of that is the struggles of QB Malik Willis, or the fact that WR Chris Bell who is a rookie is still learning the offense, and is still working his way back from last year’s ACL injury and isn’t fully confident in his reconstructed knee. I’m sure it’s a lot of all of the above. 3rd year veteran WR Malik Washington is the most targeted WR on the team by more than double anyone else on the team. Washington has been targeted 36 times for 23 receptions. There are 2 players with 17 targets, TE Greg Dulcich, and surprisingly, rookie 5th RD pick WR Kevin Coleman also with 17 targets. Dulcich has been far more successful at reeling in those targets with 13 of 17, compared to just 5 of 17 for Coleman.
Being at the game and sitting close enough to actually see the action, as well as using binoculars when I couldn’t when the action was on the other side of the stadium, I was able to see a lot of things you simply can’t see from a TV broadcast. For one thing, you can focus on what YOU want, rather than what the camera man shows you. A couple of observations I believe I share with my fellow Festers. One, QB Malik Willis is absolutely not seeing the field well. He missed guys open all day long, and was late throwing the ball on many occasions. Two, he always rolls out to the right to escape pressure. That just makes it too easy if you’re so predictable, that as soon as you get pressure the QB will move to his right. Of course the other issue is you almost only have to defend one side of the field because of the difficulty of throwing across the body to other side of the field. These are correctable issues, and I truly hope that OC Bobby Slowik goes over this and more with QB Malik Willis. The other issue with going to the right is expecting the weaker of the two bookend OT’s, Austin Jackson, who has struggled, to help you out by occupying his defender.
Looking at QB Malik Willis statistically so far, it’s dreadful. Willis is has complete 73 of 130 pass attempts for 849 yards and a 56.2% completion percentage, with 2 TD’s, and 4 INT’s. That’s good for a passer rating of 68.4. I think we all hoped he’d be. better than this, but so far, he hasn’t shown that he’s a guy you can build a team around. He certainly has the athleticism to escape pressure, unlike his predecessor who was stuck in concrete or chose to curl up in the fetal position and take cover when pressure came (QB Tua Tagovailoa), but it’s not enough. On the other hand, it’s five games, and he will have opportunity to improve upon this. Hopefully during this BYE week, they can clean some of his issues up, or sooner than later, backup QB Kyle McCord will get his chance instead. Signing Malik Willis to a 3 YR contract for $67M isn’t a cap killer, especially in 2028. If the losses continue, however, and we’re choosing in the top 5, it may be difficult to stay away from drafting a top QB in that spot. Or, we could trade out of one of those top spots and get more picks and continue to build the roster around a Qb, one who may be taken later on in the draft. As we’ve seen, 1st RD QB’s are quite hit or miss these days, and many of these QB’s have done better on their 2nd or even 3rd teams.
Another observation from being at the game, but one you can see from the TV broadcast as well, is our ST’s coverage SUCKS!!! I could easily just leave it as our special teams altogether sucks. We have been gashed for huge returns seemingly every week, yet ST’s Coordinator Chris Tabor is still employed. I’d like to think he’s on a short leash, because with such a young roster, having a huge weakness is special teams is just one more deficit to overcome, and there are plenty of other deficits on this team already. Let’s look at a positive. RB Ollie Gordon. I didn’t have this on my Dolphins bingo card, I’ll tell you that. Ollie Gordon has 47 rushes for 236 yards (5.0 YPC) and 3 TD’s. It seems clear that while former 4th RD pick from 2024 RB Jaylen Wright, who we traded a 2025 3rd RD pick to draft, has been a huge disappointment. Anyone here think we should just not draft or sign any player with the first name Jaylen, Jalen, Jaelan etc? Not a one of them has worked out well for us, although WR Jaylen Waddle netted us a 2026 1st RD pick (#30), a 2026 3rd RD pick (#94) and a 2026 4th RD pick (#130) in exchange for Waddle and a 2026 4th RD pick (#111) in the trade with the Denver Broncos. That very same WR Jaylen Waddle has 22 receptions for a whopping 228 yards and 1 TD. So far I’d say we got the better of this deal but there’s plenty more time to reveal the answer to that.
OK, so time to deal with FACTS. We are scoring 14 PPG, good for 31st in the NFL. Only the Tennessee Titans are worse, at 11.6 PPG. On defense, we’re not much better at 24th in the NFL, allowing 26.4 PPG. Add in that our special teams have been below average, it’s no surprise we find ourselves winless after our first 5 games. Now that RB Ollie Gordon is rolling, and thank GOD that Mike McDaniel is not here calling plays, you can say what you want about Bobby Slowik, at least he keeps handing RB Ollie Gordon the rock! To be fair, now that Gordon has established himself as the primary ballcarrier, maybe I’m giving him too much credit. In any case, it’s good to see the run game successful. This makes it even more difficult to accept how poorly the passing game has been. This is where we have to show the most improvement. If Malik Willis isn’t getting it done, maybe take a look at Kyle McCord around game 12 or 13 and see what McCord can do. I would love to see WR Caleb Douglas return to action after the BYE week, we need a spark, and I think a healthy Caleb Douglas can bring that.
I still can’t get the Hard Rock takeover out of my head. We can say winning doesn’t matter, but winning is the only thing that will change this from happening. If you want season ticket holders to stop selling their tickets, give them a reason to do so! We’ve played 5 games, scored 7 TD’s, recorded only 4 sacks, intercepted 3 passes, and forced 3 fumbles and recovered 3, 4 if you include P Bradley Pinion recovering his own fumble. I think the O-line play has been better, with the exception of RT Austin Jackson. Now better doesn’t necessarily mean good, but the bar was pretty low from the hideous O-line play of 2025. LT Patrick Paul has been disappointing, not because he been playing poorly, but he he may be worse this season than last. Rookie LG Kadyn Proctor has played well for a rookie, C Aaron Brewer is always good. RT Jonah Savaiinaea has improved to maybe below average, but he was piss poor last season, so we’ll take that, and hopefully he continues to improve. It seems pretty obvious to me, that LG Kadyn Proctor will be moving to RT next season and we will be looking for an OG to replace him either in the draft, or Free Agency, or both. I understand many of you think Proctor will stay at LG, but I thought as soon as we drafted him he was the eventual replacement for Austin, who will be a Free Agent OT in 2027, and if his play continues the same, that will be a surety.
Let’s hope we see a better product coming out of our BYE Week. Here’s to seeing players come back healthy from injury, and that we see a more competitive team. Last week, despite the score, we were not competitive, we just weren’t in the game. I know we closed to a 7 point deficit, but the Bengals were just cruising to victory. I’d love to see Chop Robinson become a true pass rush threat, our toothless pass rush just sin’t getting it done. Sieler leads the team with 2 sacks and there’s fan talk that we could/should trade him. Fuck that, not trading Sieler for a 5th RD pick, he’s a good player and a leader. Chop has been used sparingly and has only 8 tackles, after missing one game with a concussion. We need a helluva lot more from the former 1st RD pick. My goodness, Chris Grier may have been the absolute worst at identifying a pass rusher in the draft. Oddly enough, his most successful pass rusher drafted is Minnesota Viking OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, who Grier drafted in 2019 in the 5th RD. Van Ginkel has 39.5 sacks in his 8 year career, including 4 this season. We had him, but Grier didn’t keep him. Enough looking back, time to put our eyes forward to better things!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
I’ve heard that Bailey only had like one good game. They were talking about it on WFAN.
Not sure what constitutes a good game to them on WFAN. Today he had 5 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Against the Browns he had 7 tackles and 3 sacks. Even against the Packers he had 3 tackles a sack and a forced fumble. I would call that 3 good games for a rookie. Even in his 1 ever NFL game he had 4 solo tackles with a sack vs the Titans. That’s 4 good games.
He wasn’t in our range to draft anyway as MikeE said.
Okay I really didn’t know.
Happy Birthday BBM
Glad You made it through the storm as well! ☺️😄
Thanks!
I find that Packer fans are some of the most naive and stupid fans in the NFL
I’ll take the bate. How so?
We are currently sitting with the #2 pick in next years draft. Tenn finally won a game this weekend so that leaves only the Chargers with one more loss than us.
Now, if only a QB would separate himself from the pack that would be great.
I am not one for using the #1 pick on a wide receiver. I don’t care how “great” he is.
Lost for so long in mediocrity drafting in the middle of the round even though we “suck” is wearing on me. You don’t often have the opportunity to draft at the top of the rounds. I hope we don’t squander the chance on some diva WR.
Now, if only a QB would separate himself from the pack that would be great.
———-
None of them are doing that right now. That’s for sure.
I am still riding that Conner Weigman train. I am looking forward to seeing how he does against #10 Utah this weekend.
You can’t make this shit up. LOL
Chargers have their bye week this weekend. If Harbaugh fires Mike McDaniel, it will be this week. There are strong rumors out there that he will get fired.
If MM is fired, he will be replaced by Pass Game Coordinator Adam Gase.
LMAO!
In more LOL news:
The Falcons signed QB Andy Dalton after finally figuring out Tua sucks. LOL
https://atozsports.com/nfl/miami-dolphins-news/jeff-hafley-just-confirmed-that-help-is-on-the-way-for-the-miami-dolphins/
Happy Belated Birthday BBM
or HBBBBM
Thanks man!
Looking forward to the Jets, what do We know about Willis ?
Obviously We know the coaching staff stuck by him during the bye week.
Traditionally , that’s a good time to make a QB change if that’s what the coach decides.
A bad showing in NY, probably won’t put him on the bench imo, here’s to hoping the extra time actually is of benefit, and the light comes on!
We assume the season is lost, but if We were active players, We wouldn’t, We would be going all out to try and make up ground and compete.
We are going to see what this team really is soon IMO
I see a lot of the “draft guru’s” are falling in love with Missouri QB Austin Simmons. I get it. He has looked good. He’s 6’4, 220 and has probably the strongest arm in college football. Some pundits have him in their top 5 already.
My problem is this is his first year as a starter. He looked like a rock star vs Florida but has struggled in other games against Texas A&M, Ole Miss and even against Troy where he only went 11 of 20 for 108 yards and 1 TD but played the whole game.
Also, he kind of has that windup throwing motion that I am not crazy about though his release seems a little quicker than others with that windup motion.
He is a senior but may have another year of eligibility. He would definitely need to sit behind someone and learn if he gets drafted.
YUK
a lefty
Yuk, a lefty
It’s happening again! My reply posts are not posting!
Austin Simmons – Lefty – YUK
Yeah, I’m not crazy about another lefty for this team.
Me either. He’s not very experienced either.
I’m not a huge fan of draft gurus. They get almost everything but the obvious opinions wrong. Then, when the players they thought are amazing are average or failures, they never bring that up again. Anyone can be a 50-60% draft guru. MF has a better record than they do, and he doesn’t do it for a living. Same for Rock, BBM, etc.
LOL I don’t even watch college ball.
Thank you for the kind words, New Age. I appreciate ya.
Wow, the Colts fired Chris Ballard over the weekend. First GM of the season done.
I’ve got a special teams question that’s both situation specific and in general. You guys allowed the 81-yard kickoff return last game. Why not kick it out of the end zone the rest of the way? I mean, situationally and philosophically, was that just a case of you had it covered and somebody missed their assignment on the 81-yard return? Did you try to kick it out of the end zone? Do you believe in doing that?
Jeff Hafley: We did on some of those. We did try to kick them out of the end zone; that was discussed and just not executed the way that we wanted it to be. Now fortunately, we covered a bunch of those kicks better than we did on the first time. And yeah, they had a nice return on the big return, obviously we didn’t execute it very well. So I would say it’s a combination of lack of execution on the big one. Good execution on their part, I don’t want to take that away from them. And then on the ensuing kickoffs, yeah, several of them were supposed to be touchbacks and weren’t.
So, coach, what you are saying is our kicker’s leg isn’t strong enough to kick the ball out of the endzone? Why did you keep that kicker on the 53 then?
So, coach, did you know that Chris Tabor sucked before you hired him?
Kicking the ball out of the EZ all the time would be retarded
This is supposed to be a rebuild, kicking out of the EZ doesn’t give our kick coverage any experience
Rich, I don’t know if you watched any of the Notre Dame/BYU game. Even though they lost, I was impressed with CJ Carr’s final drive that game. He had 2 big mistakes that game in overthrowing a WR missing a wide open TD then just before the half when going to spike the ball to stop the clock he fumbled the snap. I still like him a lot. He doesn’t have much of a receiving corps. His WR’s are average at best and no good receiving threat at TE either.
Hurts out for the rest of the season with blood clots. Do you guys think Philly will use this as an excuse to draft a QB next April? I’ve read a bunch this past off-season how they (the Eagles) are not happy with Hurts overall production and attitude.
Don’t know enough about the Eagles and their potential intentions, but they’d better get that O-Line fixed: the Lane Johnson retirement, the injuries, and their investment in Saquon depends on it.
And ever since they dealt AJ Brown, their only reliable WR is DeVonta Smith. I’d look for them to go WR before day 3 of the Draft… maybe even in the 1st round.
Is it possible they use this season as an excuse to replace Hurts? Possibly so. GM Howie Roseman is one of the best in the biz, and he may see this as an opportunity to bring in a talented young QB on a rookie deal. This would allow him to spend FA $$$ on the above mentioned issues.
Good point M. They could go with one of OT Jordan Seaton or OT Trevor Goosby. Then there would be Charlie Becker right there also.
I read that also about not happy with his attitude. Unfortunately they strapped themselves with his extension and 179 million in guaranteed money. They are in a worse position than we were with Tua.
They are loaded with draft picks for 2028 and that is when I thought they would draft a QB. They look to be having a top 10 pick next year though and they could grab one. They could even use their extra 2028 capital to move up this year for one or stay put and draft someone like CJ Carr at #7.
I think it all depends on who enters the draft who still have eligibility left.
Right back at ya with a good point, BBM. If they move on from Jalen Hurts, they will be hurt worse than we with Tua in dead cap.
Overthecap shows only 67m in dead money for 2027 with 110m guaranteed now
It doesn’t really show the contract like it used
@stclaudeii
@stclaudeii
The Dolphins hope to activate S Kyle Louis (knee) this week, per coach Jeff Hafley #PhinsUp
Hopefully Trey Moore too. I think Grant has been confirmed. It’s the perfect season to play as many young players as you can. It helps building the roster next season and we have a good draft every round and two 3rds.
I like the Washington uniforms tonight, but they should have the Redskins logo on the helmet.
^^^
Niners have a half dozen injuries, but keep rolling!
That’s a damn good team
They’re thin at WR, but still have Evans, MCC, and Kittles, so not bad
True, Evans still got it too! He’s looking good
Also doesn’t hurt to have a QB, that actually knows how to play QB
And then Evan’s goes out with an apparent Achilles issue … NEXT
Even when the niners turned it over, their defense bails them out with 3rd day draft picks.
This is what’s been holding Miami back, poor drafting by Grier, I know I know, lol we know
But this illustrates the importance of having good drafts, picking guys that fit into your system, that have upside, and desire, play physical and still diciplined.
I’m impressed with the fins last draft, we need quality drafts for a couple more years and then can be very competitive IMO
Niners had to use one of their coveted 7th round picks for Brock Purdy.
That’s just fucking nuts!
How the heck 32 teams passed on him for 6 rounds.
Well there’s also that 1st round trade up they did to draft Trey Lance …. So they aren’t infallible 🤣
8 Things Malik Willis Must Fix to Save His Dolphins Season
8 Things Malik Willis Must Fix to Save His Dolphins Season
The Miami Dolphins entered the 2026 NFL season hoping Malik Willis could become the franchise’s quarterback of the future.
Five games later, that hope is fading.
With Miami at 0-5, Willis has become one of the organization’s biggest storylines. His inconsistent performances, costly turnovers, and inability to consistently move the offense have raised legitimate questions about whether he can be the long-term answer at quarterback.
But here’s the reality: Willis still has time to change the narrative.
The Dolphins are coming off their bye week and preparing to face the New York Jets. Head coach Jeff Hafley can make adjustments, and Willis can show that the struggles of the first five games don’t have to define his season.
No one should expect Willis to suddenly become an elite NFL quarterback overnight.
But he can do several things immediately to improve his performance, help Miami become more competitive, and potentially convince the organization he deserves to remain part of its future.
The question is whether he can make those adjustments before the Dolphins decide it’s time to move in another direction.
The Numbers Show Just How Much Willis Needs to Improve
Before discussing what Willis must do differently, it’s important to understand how poorly he’s done through his first five starts.
MALIK WILLIS — 2026 SEASON THROUGH FIVE GAMES
Those aren’t numbers that inspire confidence in a starting NFL quarterback.
Willis has thrown twice as many interceptions as touchdown passes, completed barely more than half his attempts, and repeatedly put the Dolphins in difficult turnover situations.
His performance against Cincinnati was especially troubling.
In Miami’s 31-24 loss, Willis completed 15 of 27 passes for just 137 yards, threw two interceptions, and lost a fumble. Although he contributed with his legs and helped lead a late rally, the damage had already been done.
So what needs to change?
1. Stop Turning the Football Over
This is Willis’s biggest issue, and it isn’t particularly complicated.
He must protect the football.
Seven turnovers in five games are unacceptable, especially for a quarterback leading an offense that already struggles to score consistently.
The Dolphins aren’t built to overcome multiple turnovers every Sunday.
When Willis throws an interception or loses a fumble, Miami’s young defense is forced back on the field, often with little time left.
Against Cincinnati, two interceptions on consecutive second-quarter possessions helped turn a competitive game into an uphill battle.
Willis needs to understand that not every play requires something spectacular.
Sometimes throwing the football away is the correct decision.
Sometimes a short completion is better than attempting a difficult downfield throw.
And sometimes accepting a modest gain is preferable to trying to extend a play and risking a fumble.
Willis has to become more disciplined with his decisions.
If he can eliminate the unnecessary turnovers, Miami’s offense will immediately become more competitive
2. Improve His Accuracy on Routine Throws
Willis possesses impressive arm strength, but having a strong arm doesn’t automatically make someone an effective NFL quarterback.
Accuracy matters.
Over five games, his 56.2% completion percentage suggests he isn’t consistently delivering the football where it needs to go.
There have been too many missed opportunities on relatively simple throws.
Short passes to running backs, quick routes to receivers, and intermediate throws that should move the chains have become more difficult than necessary.
For an offense featuring several inexperienced skill-position players, the quarterback needs to make their jobs easier.
That means placing the football where receivers can catch it in stride rather than forcing them to adjust to poorly located passes.
It also means improving his timing.
Willis cannot consistently wait until a receiver is completely open before releasing the football.
He needs to anticipate routes and trust his receivers to get open.
The Dolphins don’t need Willis to make highlight-reel throws every series. They need him to consistently complete the throws that NFL starting quarterbacks are expected to make.
3. Make Quicker Decisions and Trust What He Sees
One of Willis’ biggest problems has been hesitation.
At times, he appears uncomfortable making decisions from the pocket, leading to unnecessary sacks, hurried throws, or broken plays.
The NFL moves too quickly for a quarterback to consistently hold the football while waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Willis needs to improve his pre-snap recognition and understand where his answers are when opposing defenses bring pressure.
If the defense is blitzing, he must identify his hot receiver.
If the coverage takes away his first read, he needs to progress to his second or third option without hesitation.
And if nothing is available, he needs to know when to escape the pocket or throw the ball away.
This is where Hafley and the offensive coaching staff also have a responsibility.
The Dolphins need to give Willis a passing game with defined reads that lets him play decisively.
Quick throws, play-action passes, and designed outside-the-pocket movement could help Willis get into a rhythm.
The more comfortable he becomes operating the offense, the better his decision-making should become.
But ultimately, Willis has to execute.
4. Use His Legs as a Weapon, Not a Crutch
No one can question Willis’ athletic ability.
Against Cincinnati, he rushed for 74 yards, setting a Dolphins single-game rushing record for a quarterback.
He also broke off a 39-yard run, showing how dangerous he can be in open space.
That ability should be an important part of Miami’s offense.
Designed quarterback runs, read-option plays, and bootlegs can create problems for opposing defenses.
But there’s a difference between using mobility to create opportunities and relying on it because the passing game isn’t functioning.
Willis cannot abandon the pocket every time his first read isn’t available.
He needs to learn when to trust his protection, step up, and deliver the football.
At the same time, Miami’s coaching staff should continue finding creative ways to utilize his athleticism.
A quarterback who can threaten defenses with both arm and legs creates extra challenges for opposing defensive coordinators.
Willis has that potential.
The challenge is becoming a more complete quarterback, not just an athletic player who occasionally throws the football.
5. Get the Offense Moving Earlier in Games
The Dolphins have spent too much of this season playing from behind.
While the entire team shares responsibility, Willis must do a better job getting the offense into a rhythm early.
Against Cincinnati, Miami’s passing game was virtually nonexistent during stretches of the first half.
Willis failed to complete a pass until the second quarter, and the Dolphins found themselves trying to overcome another significant deficit.
That simply cannot continue.
Miami needs to script early offensive plays that give Willis confidence.
Short completions, quick throws to the outside, and a productive running game could help establish momentum.
The Dolphins should also consider getting Willis outside the pocket early, where his mobility can threaten defenses.
The goal should be to avoid the repeated three-and-outs and turnovers that have forced Miami to chase games.
A productive opening drive could change the entire tone of a contest.
With the Jets up next, this is an excellent time to finally start fast.
6. Develop Better Chemistry With His Young Receivers
One issue that shouldn’t be overlooked is Willis’s lack of experience.
Miami’s receiving corps is young, and several players are still learning to perform consistently at the NFL level.
Malik Washington, Chris Bell, and other young receivers have shown flashes, but the passing game hasn’t consistently operated with the timing and precision necessary to succeed.
That chemistry takes time.
However, five games into the season, Willis and his receivers need to begin demonstrating noticeable improvement.
Routes must be run at the proper depth.
Receivers need to understand how to adjust against different coverages.
And Willis needs to trust that his targets will be where they are supposed to be.
Hafley has acknowledged that the passing game’s problems extend beyond the quarterback, pointing to receiver execution, pass protection, and coaching as areas that must improve.
He’s correct.
But as the starting quarterback, Willis is responsible for helping bring those pieces together.
He must communicate better with his receivers, build trust through repetition in practice, and take command of the offense.
The Dolphins won’t suddenly acquire an entirely new receiving corps.
Willis has to find a way to succeed with the players currently on the roster.
7. Become a Better Leader When Things Go Wrong
Leadership is about more than giving speeches or encouraging teammates on the sideline.
It’s about accountability.
Willis has been willing to acknowledge his mistakes, which is encouraging.
Following the Cincinnati loss, he spoke about the need to correct repeated execution problems and avoid turning ordinary mistakes into disastrous plays.
That’s the right message.
But words only carry so much weight.
Willis needs to demonstrate that accountability through improved performances.
When a drive stalls, he needs to respond positively.
When he makes a mistake, he can’t let it affect the next possession.
When the Dolphins face adversity, he needs to provide the steady leadership expected of a starting quarterback.
The young players surrounding Willis will look to him for direction.
If he appears uncertain or frustrated, that can spread throughout the offense.
If he stays composed and executes the next play, he can help build confidence.
To become Miami’s long-term quarterback, Willis must prove he can lead the offense through difficult moments.
8. Prove He Can Win Games, Not Just Make Exciting Plays
This may be the most important point.
Willis has shown flashes of talent.
He can make impressive throws, escape pressure, and run for explosive gains.
But those individual moments matter little if the Dolphins keep losing football games.
At some point, Willis has to demonstrate that he can consistently put his team in position to win.
That means converting important third downs.
It means finishing drives in the red zone.
It means avoiding costly mistakes late in close games.
And it means making the right decisions when the game is on the line.
The Dolphins have been competitive in stretches against quality opponents, but they haven’t been able to finish.
Willis needs to become part of the solution, not one of the reasons Miami keeps falling short.
How Much Time Does Willis Really Have?
Hafley has publicly backed Willis coming out of the bye week.
When asked whether he was considering starting Kyle McCord against the Jets, Hafley rejected the idea and reaffirmed Willis as the starter.
That’s an important vote of confidence.
But it shouldn’t be interpreted as an unlimited commitment.
The Dolphins are rebuilding, and part of that process is deciding which players deserve a role in the organization’s future.
If Willis continues struggling, Miami will eventually need to evaluate whether McCord deserves an opportunity.
The Dolphins also must consider selecting a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft.
That puts additional pressure on Willis to demonstrate progress.
He doesn’t necessarily need to lead Miami to eight or nine victories over the remainder of the season.
But he does need to show that he can operate the offense effectively, protect the football, and consistently make NFL-caliber throws.
If the Dolphins finish the season with only a handful of wins but Willis shows significant improvement, the organization could still have reason to believe in his future.
However, if the same problems continue week after week, Sullivan and Hafley will struggle to justify another season with Willis as the unquestioned starter.
The Jets Game Is a Perfect Opportunity to Start Turning Things Around
Miami’s next opponent is the New York Jets, and the matchup gives Willis a chance to start changing the narrative.
The Jets have their own problems, and Miami shouldn’t need its quarterback to throw for 350 yards and four touchdowns.
Instead, Willis should focus on playing clean, efficient football.
A performance featuring 200 to 225 passing yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers, and several productive runs would represent a meaningful step forward.
More importantly, it could help the Dolphins earn their first victory of the season.
One strong performance wouldn’t erase five weeks of struggles.
But it would provide evidence that Willis is learning from his mistakes.
And that’s what Miami needs to see.
Final Thoughts: The Rest of the Season Will Define Malik Willis’ Future
The Dolphins invested in Willis because they believed his athleticism, arm talent, and potential made him worth developing.
That belief hasn’t paid off in the first five games.
But the season isn’t over.
Willis still has opportunities to prove that he can become a productive NFL starting quarterback.
The path forward isn’t particularly complicated.
Protect the football. Improve accuracy. Make faster decisions. Trust his receivers. Use his mobility intelligently. And, most importantly, help the Dolphins win games.
The challenge is actually doing those things consistently on Sundays.
Miami doesn’t need Willis to become Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen overnight.
It needs him to become a reliable quarterback who gives his team a legitimate chance to win.
If Willis can make those improvements, he may still have a future as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback.
If he can’t, Miami may have no choice but to begin looking elsewhere.
The bye week gave Willis an opportunity to reset.
Now comes the hard part.
He has to prove the first five games were growing pains, not a preview of what the Dolphins can expect for the rest of the season.
And with the Jets waiting on Sunday, there is no better time to start.
___________
Long-winded but…..
That was a lot, didn’t read past #3, but get the jist of it, pretty much what has been said here after the last game
Reporters, TV commentators and fans from a message blog are all seeing the obvious, so after the bye week, if the turn around doesn’t start this week, we have serious problems
Malik needs to start taking the easy free completions, especially on early downs
1st and 20 the coaches need to drill into him he has 3 downs to get 20, not 3 downs to throw a 20 yard completion
And if that doesn’t work, get stick and…
One more thing about Willis
And this is one of his biggest area of change that’s needed.
No more pussying out on long runs , no QB slides when an open path to the end zone is there
He played like a pussy and that’s not going to work, even if he improves in other areas.
Overthecap shows only 67m in dead money for 2027 with 110m guaranteed now
———–
Re: Jalen Hurts
Pre 6//1 release
2027 Dead Cap: $107,234,800
2027 Savings: -$65,102,000
Post 6/1 release
2027 Dead Cap: $52,756,800
2028 Dead Cap: $54,478,000
2027 Savings: -$10,624,000
Reports that Jay-Z selected himself to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show spark mixed reactions from fans.
———–
I still don’t understand why this ugly devil worshipping MF’er is the one who decides every year.
It’s called money, his company roc nation made a deal with the NFL.
Texans
ROSTER CUTS
Sign him to the practice squad
https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/onsi/what-miami-dolphins-coach-jeff-hafley-likes-about-his-new-rb-and-updating-the-waiver-pick-up-scoreboard-01m5az3zhyw5
Pats sign former Dolphins WR Ryan Miller to their practice squad after putting WR Romeo Doubs on IR.
Chargers are a half game ahead in the tank it marathon season
The jokes write themselves with that organization.
Think we can beat them, think again, here is their current thought process
If the team doesn’t play well and win in their next game, rumours and some anonymous sources are saying the chargers will fire mcdaniels and promote adam Gase
Lol yea, THAT Adam Gase!
Dolphin fans know how this story ends,,,,,
Just keep running the ball. Don’t try to change things up for a QB who isn’t the answer anyway. You’re always tweaking but the offense and personnel were already set up for Willis to succeed. Run Forrest! Run!
His hero ball is detrimental to the team
His comp% is actually pretty good, considering he doesn’t check it down much
I am just going to disagree with you that is completion percentage is pretty good. 56.2% with a 6.53 yard average does not scream “pretty good” at all.
6.5 puts him in the bottom 3rd of the league.
It’s about time!
Miami Dolphins Signing Zane Gonzalez After Kicking Struggles
Patterson is still on the roster as of this news.
I guess Patterson has been cut now.
It was nice being a name that mattered for a bit 😢…. Now I guess I’m down to Douglas 🤷🏻
I will still be mocking Peyton Woodring in round 7 of my mocks this offseason. LOL
He doesn’t have a big leg but he is very accurate.
He has the highest “kick added value” (whatever the fuck that is) in the class 🤣
Yesterday was a pretty rough day for me
My father passed away
It was expected because he was 92 and had bladder cancer, but knowing something is going to happen is different from feeling it when it does happen.
I tried calling two of my brothers to tell them and they wouldn’t answer the phone
When I texted them, they did not reply
My sister tried to reach out to them as well, and they didn’t reply to her either
I guess we are persona non grata
Wow Rock sorry to hear about your father. RIP!
Storm Duck cut from PUP
He’s a FA as of yesterday
bailbondmike
says:
October 20, 2026 at 9:09 am
Reports that Jay-Z selected himself to headline the 2027 Super Bowl halftime show spark mixed reactions from fans.
———–
I still don’t understand why this ugly devil worshipping MF’er is the one who decides every year.
****************
Don’t even get me started on that PUNK MOFO. Can’t wait till he goes down for all the SHIT he’s done. He and Diddy are two peas in the same pod.
Rockphin
says:
October 20, 2026 at 4:20 pm
Yesterday was a pretty rough day for me…
———-
Brother, deepest condolences for your father’s passing. And I’m sorry your siblings wouldn’t even pick up the phone, SMH. That’s really cold, man. Prayers are coming your way. Stay strong. Dayum. SMH
NBA fans, reg season started today!
Celtics looking good with their new addition, Paul George, 31 points in the first 3 quarters over Detroit
Rock, I’m very sorry for Your loss, I hope the best for You, and prayers, for real ones your way.
Keep your head in the game, and hang in there bruh
It was like that when my father passed.
Some made the time, some didn’t have the time, etc
It was very difficult, all I could do is hold his hand, until the warmth went away.
I’m certain he appreciated his only son holding his hand, even if others weren’t there
Sorry for your loss Rock
Thanks for the wishes guys. It’s still kind of surreal.
Sorry as well big guy 🙏🙏
Rockphin
says:
October 20, 2026 at 2:06 pm
I am just going to disagree with you that is completion percentage is pretty good. 56.2% with a 6.53 yard average does not scream “pretty good” at all.
6.5 puts him in the bottom 3rd of the league.
Pretty good, only because he doesn’t check it down
Few years ago one of our QBs checked it down far too often, decided to see what other QBs did, and our QB was pretty avg with the checkdowns
My point was, if he doesn’t check it down his downfield passing isn’t bad, without averaging in all the free yards other QBs take
ROSTER CUTS
SIGNINGS
Eagles
SIGNINGS
ROSTER CUTS
Jaydon Blue would be a nice pick up. Try and trade Wright. RB’s have been going down and teams need them. I bet the Redskins pick up Blue.
Happy we didn’t sign Jaydon Blue from the Eagles practice squad now. Yes, ya sign Blue to our PS at this point, IMO.
Remember I was talking about him a few weeks back: he’s got some ‘Achane’ about him.
Rock: I’m so very sorry. No matter how much you know it’s coming you never really are prepared. The family situation makes it more difficult. Peace to you and your family.
Sorry to hear, Rock. My condolences to you and your family.
I think it was Randy who said just keep running the ball. I agree, continue to establish that physical mentality and identity. It’s the only way we’ll play well in big games in the future. I like that we’re establishing a physical identity on both sides of the ball.
Yes, it was Randy, and I don’t disagree with either of you, to a certain extent. So I’ve haven’t a problem running the ball as our Offensive identity in year 1 of our rebuild… and for the near future.
However, we have to develop our young WRs (Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas, and Kevin Coleman) for the future.
We certainly don’t want to deny the talent in our WR room. Just sayin’…
Nobody is saying don’t throw the ball. I like that we’re not shy down the field. Keep working!
Rock – Just saw the sad news – So sorry for your loss. I don’t get the sibling thing, sometimes family is so darn strange. Hopefully all that stuff works out
Dolphins’ Zach Sieler sends Jon-Eric Sullivan a clear message about being traded
ByBrian Miller|Oct 21, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Cincinnati Bengals vs Miami Dolphins Week 5 Prediction
The NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching. The November 10th deadline is less than a month away, and the Miami Dolphins are still considered to be a seller before the window closes.
The problem for the Dolphins is that they are not a going-out-of-business team; they are a Saturday morning yard sale. There might be a couple of decent finds, but for the most part, there isn’t much to draw interest.
One player who would draw interest is Zach Sieler, but if you think he is looking to jump to a contender and potentially make the playoffs or better, think again. Sieler is content to see how this franchise continues to grow.
Miami Dolphins’ Zach Sieler praises the Miami Dolphins for what they are building
Sieler met with the media earlier in the week and made it clear that he likes what he has seen from Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley.
“I love it here,” Sieler said. “I’ve been here how long? I want to stay here and win as a Dolphin.”
The Dolphins GM has had to endure a rare offseason. He made the tough decisions to eat the contracts of Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and the nearly $100 million remaining on Tua Tagovailoa’s contract. Then he traded his best WR, Jaylen Waddle, to the Broncos.
The gutted roster wasn’t built with free agents, but instead with 13 rookie draft picks and a slew of other one-year and two-year players. While the roster was gutted and made over, he kept several veterans that he called “pillars” for the rebuild.
Among those was Sieler. The DT was never outright named a pillar. Those were Aaron Brewer, Patrick Paul, Jordyn Brooks, and De’Von Achane. Make no mistake, Sieler was always going to be the anchor of the Dolphins’ defensive line.
Of course, Dolphins fans know, as does Sieler, that the choice isn’t his to make.
Sullivan knows that Sieler’s value will never be higher than it is right now. He has to weigh the compensation against the loss of a veteran leader.
There are circumstances where Sullivan would have to accept a deal, provided it was above his demands, but there is also a message that is sent when moves like this are made. It’s not a good one. Trading veterans for the sake of making a deal makes no sense.
Unlike Austin Jackson, who will almost certainly not be with the team next season, Sieler will be. It makes more sense to keep the veteran DT firmly in Miami because he represents the type of selfless player who puts the team first. That’s value that a trade won’t bring back to the roster.
________
Agreed, and already expressed the same sentiment…lol
From Sieler’s side, there’s much less pressure on performance, he must like the locker room and doesn’t feel the team is a dumpster fire
Could also be how he feels about next year and the organizational direction
He has his family rooted there and I think he and his wife run Clay Gulley Outfitters near Lake Okeechobee. He doesn’t want to go anywhere
The Miami Dolphins are 0-5 and heading toward the first pick in the NFL Draft.
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross will be getting at least a $12.5 billion infusion of cash from Chilean billionaire Jean Eric Salata for 2.1 percent of the team and its affiliated businesses.
But the Dolphins are raising ticket prices 3 percent on average for the 2027 season, according to a team spokesperson. Some season-ticket holders are seeing 5 percent raises.
The team kept ticket prices flat in 2026, even reducing the cost of some seats. But many fans are not happy with the news that they will be paying more next season, especially for a team in the midst of a major rebuilding stage.
Is this a Brian Miller specialty?
Ross is getting at least 12.5B from a guy that’s getting 2.1% of the team?
Fins are now worth 625
NFL tv coverage continues to suck. No Dolphins/Jets game. I get the Bengals vs Ravens. Yeah, so many of their fans live on the FL panhandle. SMH
My buffstreams.plus
Thanks!
As do the Dolphins and bad teams don’t draw enough interest
Titans Release Jordan Elliott After Gun Incident at Practice
During Titans practice on October 15, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott clashed with offensive tackle JC Latham, left the field, and tried to retrieve a firearm from his vehicle, violating NFL rules against guns at team facilities. Veteran John Franklin-Myers de-escalated the situation, and no one was injured, but the team released Elliott, who had signed an $8 million deal this offseason and recorded 11 tackles in five games. Coach Robert Saleh passionately defended Elliott’s character as a father and hard worker, calling it a lapse in judgment and a cry for help amid players’ mental health struggles, while recommending him to other teams.
————-
What a story. I hope/pray Jordan Elliott gets the help he needs, and I applaud Coach Saleh for being a compassionate leader, instead of being anti #2A. MUCH respect to John Franklin-Myers for being the hero in this situation.
Calmer heads always prevail, and true compassion is the reason… not this FAKE-ASS compassion expressed as ‘virtue signaling’. JMO
I don’t want to have yet another gun argument, so PLEASE don’t go there with this. To be sure, Jordan Elliott will not be able to possess a firearm anytime soon or perhaps ever again, due to what occurred.
The Second Amendment does not come into play here. The man was NOT getting his gun to defend himself.
The ONLY reason one would “go get their gun” Would be to intimidate another person or to injure or kill them.
This is from someone who carries.
DUDE!! YOU CANNOT post political charged shit and then say don’t get political. That is the same bullshit you pull all the time. STOP IT.
FFS.
I’m have no idea why anyone would drive around with a gun…and leave it at that.
I do, then again it’s for work.
Really
These athletes carry cash, jewelry and other valuables, the gun is for protection
his poor judgement in this instance didn’t use the gun for protection, but that isn’t what you asked
Lol
From Wednesday:
INJURIES
INJURIES
WAY early mock
3. Drew Mestemaker QB Oklahoma State A+
33. Lance Heard OT Kentucky B+
36. KJ Duff WR Rutgers A
66. Quincy Rhodes Jr. EDGE Arkansas B+
67. Jelani McDonald S Texas B
138. DJ Vonnahme TE Iowa B+
160. Jontez Williams CB USC C+
181. Xavier Chaplin OT Florida State A
237. Brody Foley TE Louisville B
253. Ja’bril Rawls CB Florida State B+
2028 TEN 2nd
PFN does not have ANY punters or kickers in their available players (Very strange) so I took Rawls, but know it would have been the top rated kicker. LOL
Should not have been a reply
you can yell at the officials, but not too much?
What constitutes too much?
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-punishes-patriots-eagles-jets-head-coaches-record-fines/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
Howie’s List
Week 7 🐬@ 🛩️
🗿 20 – 17 🐬
We beat the Jets this week!
Wow, slow day of posting. It sucks when the Dolphins suck.
Am I reading this right? We currently do not have a kicker on the roster? Zane Gonzalez was added to the PRACTICE SQUAD? I guess they will elevate him for the game, but WTF kind of management is that?
It’s not too late for you guys in the NJ area.
MetLife Takeover 2026: What to know
The annual MetLife Takeover is the biggest road game of the year for Dolphins fans. Heading into its 16th season, DolFansNYC is once again setting the bar high. The money they raise from the event continues to help charities in and around the New York and Miami areas.
It isn’t too late to sign up for the bus from Slattery’s Midtown Pub, the game’s starting point. Visit MetLifeTakeover.com to see what is still available for pre-purchase. You won’t want to miss the high-energy tailgate party complete with beverages, food, live music, and 100s of Dolphins fans in the MetLife Stadium parking lot!
Tailgate: Begins at 9:00 am, four hours before kickoff. Charter Bus Lot L4
Welcome Party: Saturday night at 6:00 pm at Slattery’s Midtown Pub in Manhattan
Bus Departure: Arrive at Slattery’s no later than 7:30 am
Random post. Does anyone else put a destination in their navigation just to get their arrival time solely to have a time to beat?
🏁 4:19
Challenge accepted.
LOL everywhere I go, for the most part.
I was driving home a bit earlier and I obviously know where I live but I still do nav for only that reason.
Herd – that’s funny, I don’t do that but I might just start! When I do use navigation, I always try to get there before the original ETA
Things are a little boring around here. I have to find something to entertain myself. 😂
Have you told a cop after getting pulled over for driving 93MPH in a 55MPH zone that you were just desperately trying to best your navigation ETA?
Nooooo!!!! But on more than one occasion I’ve gotten a warning instead of a ticket by being honest. Do you know how fast you were going? My answer is when I saw your lights I looked and it was whatever it was. Twice I’ve gotten a warning and they say they appreciated my honesty. 🤷🏼♀️😉
Thursday’s report
INJURIES
NJURIES
Rockphin
says:
October 22, 2026 at 9:01 am
DUDE!! YOU CANNOT post political charged shit and then say don’t get political. That is the same bullshit you pull all the time. STOP IT.
———–
Apologies if you thought I was attempting to be political, sincerely. The way I see it, I’m talking about preserving the Constitution and #2A: that’s not political (reps vs dems)… rather, that’s about following the law of the land, enforcement of the law of the land, and acknowledgement of the law of the land, IMO.
The law is black and white, and I wanted to keep it black and white as far as the convo. I had quite specifically stated that I did NOT want it to turn into a blue and red (political) debate, as it always seems to regarding the topic of guns here and everywhere else. I’m 100% with ya on that, man: it certainly wasn’t my intention.
Jordan Elliott is likely to find himself on the Commish’s special list, and in this case, rightfully so. And if he needs to face justice for what transpired, he will be held accountable. We have laws for a reason.
Tragedy was averted, a good man (by nearly every account) nearly flipped out due to some kind of issue/trauma, we had a hero in this story (John Franklin-Myers) to talk Elliott out of doing an unspeakable act, and a HC who will do nearly anything to help the troubled Elliott.
It’s the STORY I wanted to highlight… how we ALL can play a part to avert tragedy by simply listening, observing, and being there for somebody who needs help. THAT is why I posted that I didn’t want it to turn into a political debate, and why I feel I wasn’t being political. Sorry for the misunderstanding, Brother. I’ll try to do better in the future.
My prayers continue for you and your fam in light of your loss, Rockphin. You are respected and appreciated.
I especially hope you realize that it was YOU who taught me the difference between “in lieu of” vs “in light of”… I respect you for that. Now re-read my next to last sentence above! 🙂
Are we going to be buyers, sellers, or stand pat regarding the trade deadline? Sounds like a good headline, but I’m askin’ y’all!
Me? I’m certainly NOT certain. However, we won’t be trading for anybody over… say… 28 years old. This is a REBUILD. Thus, we won’t be trying to add a veteran pass-rusher (for example) to suddenly take us to the PLAYOFFS(?) this season.
I could see trading a vet if we could get decent compensation. Seeing/hearing more rumors that Zach Sieler could get traded, but he doesn’t want to go ANYWHERE. And as BBM had previously stated, his dead cap could really harm what we’re trying to do with our future cap.
I simply dunno what to expect. Uche getting traded? Yeah, I could see that, but it will probably be only for a mid day 3 pick at best. We’ll see…
Howie’s List
Week 7 🐬@ 🛩️
🗿 20 – 17 🐬
🇨🇦 24- 16 🐬
I’d watched the Bears’ game last Sunday, and when that Offense is hitting on all cylinders, they are SCARY good… as in, Super Bowl good.
Watching them tonight and hoping they destroy the hated Patsies*.
Manitoba,
Sorry to hear about your ‘kid kicker’ Riley getting the axe. Hope we got it right with Zane!
Personal personnel take…
With SO many games — league-wide — being decided by 3 or less points over many years, why would most teams pinch pennies as it pertains to Kickers? They’d sooner cut a premier Kicker over a few million $$$ rather than be accountable to a skill-player they GROSSLY overpaid… like to the tune of double-digit million$$$.
If ya find a premier Kicker, you KEEP that guy! Kickers don’t eat cap space like nearly every other starting position.
Kickers can win ya games, and they can also cost ya games. Get a good one and don’t look back.
Cut Riley Patterson in favor of Zane Gonzalez?
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/fg_perc_career.htm
Unless there’s something undisclosed regarding Patterson (mental or physical), I don’t get the move.
Sorry, Chris Tabor… you’re not improving your job status, IMO.
M13, I do not think we will be buyers but probably sellers. Maybe Uche or Wright.
If we trade for a player, it would probably be a player for player trade. Maybe for a DB, OL or Edge.
M – I think the situation with Riley Patterson was the frustration of the Bengals game. Hafley was asked why we didn’t kick the ball into the endzone after Cincy got all those big returns, and he said he instructed Patterson to do that, but he failed to get the ball into the endzone. He also missed an extra point.
Examining the Pending Dolphins UFAs Who Could Be Playing Their Way to an Extension
NEW BLOG UP!!!!