Dolphins coaches dish on the question with Willis, special teams problems, more

Miami Dolphins admin October 9, 2026 0 Comments

Dolphins coaches dish on the question with Willis, special teams problems, more

With rankings close to the bottom of the league in passer rating and passing yards per game, Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis made clear this week that his performance hasn’t met his expectations.

“I mean, speaking of holding myself to the level of accountability I try to, it’s not good enough,” he said.

But Willis also made clear that he isn’t going to beat himself up over not spotting an open receiver during the chaotic two or three seconds he has to set and deliver the ball.

That became an issue last Sunday when Willis opted to throw to Chris Bell, who was well-covered, on a 3rd and 8 play, instead of passing to Kevin Coleman Jr., who was open. Vikings safety Harrison Smith knocked away the ball, forcing the Dolphins to punt. The Vikings then ran out the clock.

Asked about that play, Willis said: “These are high-speed decisions. I threw the ball and he ran over there. That’s how they play Cover Zero; it’s vision based. But yeah, it looked good after the play. I’m never going to take back anything I do out there. I have no regrets.

“We did a lot of research in how we wanted to attack them if they gave us a look, and they gave us a look. It might not have worked out how we wanted to. They played softer than they did on film, and that’s unfortunate. I won’t say, I’m going to go back and be like, “Oh no, somebody said he was open, so I should say–“ no. We have plays called a certain type of way and I’m trying to execute them the best I can as we are taught.”

What’s more, Willis said Coleman was short of the first down line. “I mean, we’re trying to continue to drive,” he said. “People are just really instant gratification, so they think that way and they’re results-based, but we try to be process-based.”

So what does offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik think about the play?

“That play was a critical moment in the game,” Slowik said Thursday. “We put a play in for cover zero. Got exactly what we want – an all out blitz – and the way we equip the quarterback is give him options. We have an outlet always available to throw to” and that was Coleman on the play.

But Slowik said “you want to be aggressive about cover zero” and he had no issue with Willis throwing downfield to Bell.

“It was a 50/50 ball,” Slowik said, adding that the team believes Bell will “come out with that a hundred times out of hundred.”

Slowik was asked if Willis not spotting open receivers has been a problem in general.

“Malik Willis has been doing just fine,” Slowik said. “He is getting used to the system. It’s something he will continue to work on. This is a new scheme for him. Anytime you sit there and use a clicker and rewind a play six times and question a decision of someone doing the hardest thing in sports, which is playing quarterback in my opinion, you are playing a dangerous game.

“You stick to what we teach, and whatever you decide to do you do [with conviction]. You’re too talented not to make really good plays. Every day, I see him taking steps to get better.”

Coleman said Thursday that he told Willis after the play that he was open. But he indicated he would not second-guess his quarterback. “I let him figure it out,” Coleman said.

Coleman said he has “definitely been” open consistently. But only 2 of 10 passes thrown to him have been caught, for six yards.

Though several fans pointed out that Willis could have thrown to Coleman, Willis said he tries not to pay attention to social media.

“I just don’t know about it,” he said. “It’s just too much tomfoolery and you can’t [ever] win. They just want to make you feel some type of way. And I don’t feel no type of way anyways.”

News and notes from Thursday session with five Dolphins assistants

▪ The Dolphins special teams was an unmitigated disaster to start the Vikings game last Sunday. Here were the first five plays against the Vikings: a 47-yard kickoff return by Minnesota’s Myles Price; Malik Washington dropped a punt (but a Minnesota player touched it before it went in the end zone, preserving possession for Miami) while Julius Wood was called for an illegal block on that play; Price returned a punt 36 yards; the Vikings made a field goal; and Jaylen Wright muffed a kickoff.

“Beginning of the game, to put it politely was atrocious,” special teams coordinator Chris Tabor said. “Second half was better. We are a very inconsistent group. My feeling is coach it better.”

What happened on the 47-yard return to begin the game? “We had an employee not fulfill his job requirement,” Tabor said.

Tabor said he has never liked to simply move on from a player who messes up.

Instead he asks, “Is there a different teaching technique I can use.”

Tabor said: “My name is on it. Their name is on it. We’re in it together.”

Has Tabor been in this situation before, with so many young players on special teams?

“I have,” he said. “I coached seven years in Cleveland.”

▪ Defensive coordinator Sean Duggan was asked if game-planning to stop tight ends is more difficult with shorter safeties (Michael Taaffe is listed at 6-0, Dante Trader Jr. at 5-11): “Just because you’re a shorter safety doesn’t mean you can’t cover tight ends; it’s a technique thing, a matchup thing.”

▪ Duggan, on the return of defensive lineman Kenneth Grant, who has been a limited practice participant this week as he makes his way back from a toe injury that has sidelined him the first four games:

“It’s great to have him back. He’s a big body, he can move, has really good feet for his size. Very strong at the point of attack, can provide some rush value. He brings a lot to the table. [But] the guy hasn’t practiced for a month. There are certain parts of his game that are rusty.”

Defensive line coach Austin Clark said Grant looked good but also “rusty” the past two days.

Grant is eligible to come off injured reserve at any time.

▪ Duggan said edge player Chop Robinson has “been unbelievable, awesome. He’s been all about: ‘What do I need to do to get better? What did you see on the play?’”

On defensive lineman Jordan Phillips, Duggan said: “I can’t say enough good things about that guy.”

▪ Running backs coach Ladell Betts said he has encouraged Ollie Gordon II to “lean into… his power and ability to get downhill. Everyone can see the physicality. Just try to lean into that.”

Injury update

Receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle), defensive lineman Rob Beal (hamstring), tight end Justin Joly (concussion), cornerback Reese Taylor (quad) and linebacker Jackson Woodard (ankle) did not practice Thursday. Their status is very much in doubt for Sunday’s game against visiting Cincinnati (1 p.m., Fox-7).

Bengals Pro Bowl receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who’s in concussion protocol, was a limited participant Thursday. Cincinnati’s other Pro Bowl receiver, Tee Higgins, again sat out practice with an adductor injury.

This story was originally published October 8, 2026 at 5:47 PM.