Should Dolphins Bench Malik Willis for Kyle McCord?

Should Dolphins Bench Malik Willis for Kyle McCord?

The Miami Dolphins head into a bye week to get healthy, rest, and work on key fundamentals. It’s also a good time for head coach Jeff Hafley to evaluate his team. He wants to have a tough, physical team that can run the ball on offense. I would say that is definitely the identity of this offense. However, the passing game has to improve. 

I hear a lot that the Dolphins don’t have many skill-position players to help quarterback Malik Willis, and that he has only 10 starts in his NFL career and is still learning the position. Those things might be true, but I’m not going to use that as an excuse overall. Willis has the physical tools to be a good quarterback, with his mobility to extend plays and run.

He also has a strong arm to make a lot of throws. The problem is that he is leaving a lot to be desired. At times, he holds the ball too long and extends the play unnecessarily instead of taking what the defense gives him. 

Last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Willis did that a lot and hurt the team in key moments. In the 2nd quarter, the Dolphins had a 1st and goal at the one and then had a two-yard loss, but on the next play, Willis rolled out and instead of dumping the ball off or throwing it away, took a sack at the 11, making it 3rd and goal from there, and the Dolphins settled for a field goal. There was no reason to take the sack; they were inside the 5-yard line, and he had time to get rid of the ball, but he took an unnecessary hit.  

On the next possession, the Dolphins were at midfield, and Willis again rolled out and held the ball to extend the play, leaving the tight end wide open to dump the pass off. Instead, Willis tried to force a ball only to get it deflected and intercepted. Again, take the underneath throw, since the Dolphins were within one possession. The Bengals cashed in on the turnover. 

Then the play that really irritated me was on his 39-yard run. It was a great play by Willis, but one thing was wrong. HE STILL HAD NOTHING BUT GREEN GRASS IN FRONT OF HIM! He then slid when he could have gained at least 10-20 more yards. I didn’t understand that because he didn’t come up hobbling with a cramp. He could have been out of breath from the heat, but he kept playing and showed no signs of it. 

I know this is probably nitpicking, and I should give him a break, but this has been going on for 5 games now. Willis isn’t the problem, but he’s also not the solution either. His offensive line gives him decent time to throw the ball most of the time, and his receivers are open at times. He is now the quarterback leading this offense, and this is his chance to show that he can be a good quarterback in this league, but I’m not seeing it after 5 games. He needs to be more decisive and less hesitant, and he shouldn’t pat the ball every time he throws it. 

I think Jeff Hafley should monitor this, and if it continues, give Kyle McCord a chance. I know this from his one season at Syracuse: McCord is decisive with his throws and won’t hold on to the ball that long. He showed that in the preseason at Green Bay, which is why John Eric Sullivan traded for him.

I know Hafley is loyal to Willis because of their history at Green Bay, but he must set that aside and look at the big picture for the rest of the season. That is, if Willis can’t step up and work on these things, then he should sit him. I know the Dolphins paid him $45 million in guaranteed money, but the bottom line is the Dolphins will be picking high for a quarterback in next year’s draft, and that contract has outs next year. 

I know I am sounding like a traumatized Dolphins fan with the quarterback revolving door since Dan Marino retired, but if the new regime is big on competition, then Hafley needs to make a tough call as the season progresses if this keeps up to show that he isn’t going to settle for mediocrity at the position.