The Miami Dolphins have a new regime after bringing in Jeff Hafley as the franchise’s new head coach and a new starting quarterback in Malik Willis. As much as Willis may want to be a leader both on and off the field, Hafley is making it clear that kind of status has to be earned through performance.
“My main focus for him right now is to learn the scheme, get to know the players and not overdo the whole leadership thing,” Hafley said, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.
“I mean, I think that’s my job and [the coaches’] job right now, so he can focus on becoming the best quarterback and the best player and the best teammate he can be.”
Willis, who has only six starts over his four-year career, is more than fine with proving himself first.
“It’s about building trust,” Willis said. “I mean, every play we go out there, whether it’s calling the play, whether it’s executing the play, whether it’s making sure somebody else can get lined up, you build that over time. I don’t think you just put somebody in a position to say, ‘OK, you’re the leader now.’ You got to earn that.”
Willis’s new offensive coordinator, Bobbly Slowik, has been impressed with his quarterback’s character.
[Willis is a] really talented individual. Can spin the ball all over the field, can throw the ball everywhere, can run, obviously, can use his legs,” Slowik said. “He’s tough, but honestly, what I’ve enjoyed the most so far is getting to know him. The person is really fun to be around. He’s really energetic. He infuses everybody with a lot of energy, just makes you want to kind of be involved in whatever he’s doing, and he’s been fun to coach.
“We’re in the early stages of the scheme stuff, that takes a back seat right now. Most of our talks right now are like fundamentals, and he’s all about what we’re doing. It’s very similar to what he did in Green Bay and we’re just having a lot of fun right now.”
Willis and the Dolphins will open the season on September 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders in the desert.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.