MIAMI GARDENS. Fla. \u2014 The Miami Dolphins introduced three new coordinators on Wednesday as part of head coach Jeff Hafley\u2019s efforts to help a franchise that finished 7-9 last season and fired previous head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier.<\/p>\n
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, defensive coordinator Sean Duggan and special teams coordinator Chris Tabor were unveiled at a press conference at the team\u2019s facility. Hafley indicated the coaching staff is nearly finalized.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve hired three, and just so you know the staff is almost finalized so as soon as that does come out, we\u2019ll get you the list,\u201d Hafley said. \u201cThere\u2019s just a few other things that I\u2019m working on and we\u2019re working through, and hopefully that will be done soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slowik returns to the Dolphins after spending last season on the staff as a senior passing game coordinator. He spoke about his relationship with Hafley and his philosophy for an offense that ranked 25th in the NFL last year, averaging just over 300 yards per game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am very appreciative, obviously being here last year,\u201d Slowik said. \u201cMy relationship with Coach Hafley goes way back. He means a lot to me. I respect him so much as a person, as a family man, as a father, and I think he\u2019s an unbelievable coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
Addressing questions about how his offense will compare to McDaniel\u2019s, Slowik said they share similar foundational principles but will adapt to the current roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we\u2019re all from the same tree. The way I like to frame it is very similar to like the bones are the same, the roots are the same, but all the trees grow different,\u201d Slowik said. \u201cA lot of that has to do with the players you have on any given team, which changes year to year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slowik emphasized the importance of establishing a physical identity, particularly in the offensive line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a huge style play guy,\u201d he said. \u201cSo our physicality, our toughness, our strain, our effort, how relentless we are, are we violent, are we fast \u2014 that needs to show up on tape all the time. That\u2019s the most demanding thing as far as what they\u2019ll get from me as a coach.\u201d<\/p>\n
The new offensive coordinator also addressed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was second in the league with 15 interceptions last season \u2014 a career high. Slowik said the organization is still in the early stages of evaluating personnel but praised Tagovailoa\u2019s character during a difficult 2024 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know last year, that was a difficult year,\u201d Slowik said. \u201cIt was a difficult year for him, without a doubt for a lot of different reasons, and I think what jumped out to me was the grace he handled that with. Even at the end of the year, the kind of person he was to everybody and to his teammates, really, you can\u2019t say enough about that. How good of a person he was and how he handled that situation is all you could ask for.\u201d<\/p>\n
When asked if Tagovailoa can rebound from last season\u2019s struggles, Slowik expressed confidence in the quarterback\u2019s ability to overcome adversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re talking about people that are at the peak of their profession. They\u2019re the best in the world at what they do, not just physically but mentally,\u201d Slowik said. \u201cThey\u2019re some of the strongest human beings there are… absolutely I think Tua can, he can absolutely bounce back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duggan, the team\u2019s new defensive coordinator, discussed his approach to coaching and building relationships with players, particularly as a relatively young coach working with veterans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m big into relationships, right?\u201d Duggan said. \u201cI think developing relationships with guys is always important no matter what age you are. When it comes to age, guys just want to be coached, right? If you can help them get better and you care about them, they\u2019re going to listen and they\u2019re going to take in your coaching.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duggan outlined his defensive philosophy, which emphasizes versatility and playing to the strengths of personnel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to be multiple, we want to fit to the strengths of our players,\u201d Duggan said. \u201cWe want those guys to go out there and play fast, know what they\u2019re doing and just go play 100 miles an hour. You\u2019ve got to be multiple in this league and present different looks to the offense or it\u2019s going to be potentially a long day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like his offensive counterpart, Duggan stressed the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe the game always starts up front,\u201d Duggan said. \u201cTo me, it starts with stopping the run, staying square, playing your gap. You should be able to see a guy\u2019s numbers and his nameplate, taking away space for the offense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tabor, the newly appointed special teams coordinator, brings experience and was recently ranked as the second-most respected special teams coordinator in a league-wide poll of players.<\/p>\n
\u201cI paid a lot of money on that,\u201d Tabor joked when asked about the ranking.<\/p>\n
Tabor discussed the evolving role of special teams, particularly with the new dynamic kickoff rule and the increased importance of long field goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it has. I\u2019m going to go ahead and predict it\u2019s going to impact this weekend\u2019s game, because obviously on fourth down you only get one opportunity,\u201d Tabor said. \u201cBut with regards to like the dynamic kickoff and those types of things, obviously you\u2019re seeing a lot of returns which is fun, you\u2019re seeing a lot of covered kicks.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Dolphins are hoping the new coaching staff can help end the NFL\u2019s longest playoff winless drought. Miami hasn\u2019t won a playoff game since the 2000 season.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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