The Miami Dolphins are nearing kickoff for their Week 2 contest against the San Francisco 49ers, hoping to bounce back from a lackluster showing against the Las Vegas Raiders last week. What do the Dolphins need to change to succeed this week? What does the team need heading into the future?
Our mailbag opens this morning as a primer to get you ready for today’s game. We talk Jacob Rodriguez, Malik Willis, scouting needs, and much more in this packed mailbag edition. We also bring back Marek Brave to turn the mailbag back into a round-table discussion.
Without further ado, it is time to head into the mailbag and see what was on your minds this week:
MB: Absolutely! I think the sky is the limit for Rodriguez after his stellar pro debut. He is second in the entire NFL in tackles — unfortunately, Anthony Hill Jr. of the Tennessee Titans is first, and he’s also a rookie. When JRod gets some forced fumbles with his “Peanut Punch,” his counting stats will look even more impressive, which should help his case.
KN: Completely agree. He has taken on the responsibility of being the play caller, getting the entire defense into position, and he is doing really well at it. He has already shown he can be a tackling machine and he is doing that while still adjusting to the speed of the game. Sacks and interceptions are the sexy stats that usually get the attention when people vote for major awards like this, but if Rodriguez can keep playing like he did against the Raiders, he can definitely be in the conversation.
MB: I don’t think I was surprised, but I do expect him to use his legs more going forward. On Thursday, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik called Malik’s mobility his “superpower,” so I would assume some conversations about him scrambling took place after Week One’s showing. Let’s just hope he avoids big hits so that he can stay on the field.
KN: I feel like there is a push for Willis to prove he can be a drop-back, pocket passer. Based on Slowik’s comments, I think it is probably an internal thing for Willis, consciously or subconsciously. He wants to prove he is a starting NFL quarterback, so he wants to make all the throws like a pocket passer. I think we see that with all quarterbacks known as “dual-threat” or “mobile quarterbacks.” I think there were times when Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, and others were all trying to prove they could sit in the pocket and throw the ball, which led them to wait too long to decide to run. I think Willis will get back to using his legs as well as his arm as he gains comfort and trust that the coaches want him to be the starter, and with continued reminders from the coaching staff that they want him to run.
MB: Bobby Slowik helped CJ Stroud win Rookie of the Year in Houston, so he does have that on his resume, but those questioning Week One’s play-calling have a legitimate gripe. I felt Slowik coached the second half like the team was down 30 points and needed to throw it downfield every play to catch up — which wasn’t the case. I’m hoping for more Achane touches this week and every week throughout the rest of the season.
KN: I think that is a fair assessment – the team definitely went away from De’Von Achane and tried to throw the ball way more than needed in the second half. It did feel like a Mike McDaniel game plan, where the talk was all about the run game but the execution fell back to the passing attack. I also think that is where the criticisms and complaints come in – Slowik is a holdover from McDaniel’s staff, so seeing things that feel like the McDaniel era does not sit well with the fans right now.
Slowik does come from the same tree as McDaniel, based in the Shanahan-McVay-Kubiak West Coast offensive style. That offense does work, but after the last couple of years of McDaniel’s offense sputtering, Dolphins fans are not going to be comfortable seeing the same thing happening under this new coaching staff. I think it will be fine, but that assumes Slowik realizes his mistake in going away from Achane last week and corrects it starting this week.
MB: Jalen Tolbert is not a building block for the Miami Dolphins. Their rookies — Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. — are. I think it’s as simple as that. They are focusing on the future and not necessarily on the “here and now,” and I think that’s a sound strategy. I’d rather our young guys get the reps they need now so that they can be meaningful contributors when the team is better in 2027 and 2028.
KN: Exactly. I think they believe in the young players, and they want to get them on the field and gain the experience they need to overcome the NFL learning curve. I do not think there was any point during the game I thought Tolbert would have made a difference.
MB: I would focus on pass rushers, cornerbacks and defensive tackles. The first two are probably obvious answers, but the last one may surprise. Unfortunately, despite the success of Zach Sieler in the past, age is catching up to him and I can’t see him being a member of the Dolphins beyond this season. Miami’s three second-year defensive tackles didn’t have a positive impact on Week One’s game (Kenneth Grant is on IR currently).
KN: I think edge is going to be a huge focus for the team. Head coach Jeff Hafley’s defense is all about the edge rushers creating havoc, and I think the Dolphins will look to address the position early (and possibly often) next year. Like you said, cornerbacks are the second priority because they have to keep building the position. If Storm Duck can come back this year and prove to be a starter once again, maybe they feel a little better about the position moving forward, but even then I think they are looking to add another piece to the group.
I will turn to the offense for my third spot. I think tight end becomes a need for next year. Greg Dulcich is a free agent after the season and, while he is fine for this year and can be a solid all-around tight end, they could look to add a young, dynamic pass catcher at the position. If you have an offense with Achane out of the backfield and have Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell, and Kevin Coleman, Jr., reach their potential, then add an upper-level tight end, the weapons are suddenly there to attack in multiple ways.
Of course, all of that assumes Malik Willis is the guy at quarterback. The scouts have to keep an eye on quarterbacks until the front office and coaches have their answer on Willis as a franchise quarterback for Miami.
MB: Coaches have recently said that joint practices are more important than preseason games. I don’t know if I agree with them. There’s something about an actual game that feels more beneficial, in my opinion, and I could see coaches placing more importance on preseason game reps in the years to come.
KN: I think coaches around the league are really starting to move away from the preseason games for their starters. Obviously, plenty of starters around the league got playing time this summer, but as you said, joint practices are becoming more important than preseason games. The reluctance to put things on film, injury concerns, and the desire to get extended looks at younger players lead to limited playing time for starters. Did I think the Dolphins would have used their starters more during the preseason this year? Absolutely. But I do not think it makes or breaks this season either way.
MB: If you’re expecting a juggernaut on offense, then Week One should be very concerning to you. I didn’t go into that game expecting a huge offensive output, so I wasn’t as offended by what I saw. I just want to see improvement as the year goes along and I think that’s what will happen.
KN: My main concern was just the offense straying from Achane so quickly. I know defenses are going to stack the box and dare the Dolphins to throw the ball, but Miami still needs to find ways to get Achane the ball.
MB: Hafley is a rookie NFL head coach, so I’ll give him a pass for his first-game conservative nature, but I do want to see him get into Slowik about his poor play-calling.
KN: Like I said earlier, I am not sure they were “failing to use Malik Willis’ signature mobility” as much as Willis was trying to make the plays through the air to prove he can be a starting NFL quarterback. It will get better. It was the first game. This year will be rough through Week 18. Overreacting now is only going to make it so much worse as the season moves along.
MB: Ross has tried. Unfortunately, he’s failed each time. He’s been spurned by both Harbaugh brothers. He failed to get Sean Payton to South Florida via surreptitious dealings and the organization paid the price. Let’s give Hafley a chance to prove he can be the guy moving forward. Don’t judge him by his win/loss record in 2026. Judge him by how the team learns and grows throughout the year and then we can start expecting wins next year and especially in 2028.
KN: I will never complain about the money Stephen Ross has used on the Dolphins. He has never blinked an eye at renovating the stadium, paying coaches, signing players, or anything else that could help the team. Things have not worked out, but not because Ross is not spending his money. Besides, “net worth” is not liquid money that can just be spent however and whenever desired.
