Quarterback Zach Wilson explains the change he is being asked to make. And Dolphins notes
New Dolphins backup quarterback Zach Wilson threw three interceptions and two near-interceptions during the two minicamp practice sessions last week.
But Wilson offered context afterward, what served as perspective that should ease some of the concerns about the flurry of turnovers.
Wilson is working on throwing how the Dolphins want him to throw, even if it leads to practice picks.
“When I first got here, it was trying to find completions, trying to do how I normally play ball,” he said. “But here, it’s ‘No, we throw into space with time and anticipation’ [and] truly trust what they’re asking the quarterback position to do.
“You see Tua [Tagovailoa] do it all the time. You almost need to say to yourself, ‘OK I’m going to throw this ball with absolute conviction and I trust they will be where they need to be and I’ll learn from the mistakes.’ As I get used to it, that’s almost more important to me [during minicamp] than trying to get completions.”
Wilson noted that he threw an interception Tuesday “because somebody came out a little flatter than I was anticipating, but I ripped it with conviction. The ball sailed over his head. That’s the trust factor. Now I know he is going to run the route a little flatter and I still have to throw in that timing. If I had waited, maybe I still would have completed it.
“But that’s not what this offense is asking. [What coaches are asking] is throw it on time in the scheme so these fast guys we have can catch it and get some yards after the catch.”
Though Wilson’s career has been disappointing for a No. 2 overall pick, he said this is the first time in his career where coaches have told him he’s throwing late at times. Mike McDaniel, asked about Wilson last week, said that’s a common proclivity for quarterbacks who have strong arms, like Wilson does.
“I’ve never been told before at past places, ‘hey you’re late.’ But here it’s an entire step above and with good reason. They want these balls out before our guys get to whatever their landmarks are because we are throwing to speed... Sometimes I’ll go to the right guy but it isn’t fast enough. From a coaching standpoint, that’s not a good rep.”
Wilson has thrown 25 interceptions (compared with 23 touchdowns) in 35 games, so reasons for concern are valid. But at least there was a method behind the flurry of turnovers and near-turnovers last week.
More on culture shift
▪ In explaining how team chemistry has improved, fullback Alec Ingold admitted that last season “there was a little struggle inside the locker room. It’s the little things — details of communication. The [2024] offseason didn’t go how you want. Things kind of piled up. You saw that in the first part of the year. Guys fought through it.”
And this year? “You had same intention without all the friction,” Ingold said. “I don’t think we had OTAs like this last year. I don’t think guys were as dialed in as they are. We learned the lesson: You can’t will it to happen... That’s the change. There is no, ‘we are not going to flip or switch’ or figure it out. That’s not how it works in this league.”
Ingold indicated Mike McDaniel has set the ground rules.
“It starts from the top,” Ingold said. “It has been no nonsense — players to coaches, coaches to players.”
Asked if there’s a different vibe from when he joined the team midway through last season, linebacker Tyrel Dodson said: “Our energy is different this year. We are moving as one…When you come to work, you’ve got to be serious about work. Everyone around you is depending on you to make plays. A sense of urgency, we’ve got to go, there’s no more waiting... We are here to work.”
He said defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver “is like my uncle. He’s very strict [but] he likes to have fun.”
▪ Running back Jaylen Wright appreciates that Jeff Wilson Jr., who remains unsigned, mentored Wright as a rookie last season.
“He was a guy that talked to me when I was down, got me back up,” Wright said. “It hurts to see him leave. He was an older brother to me, took me under his wing, told me how to be successful in this league.”
Wright said he gained “six pounds, lost a lot of body fat, gained a lot of muscle. That’s why I look a little bigger.”
This story was originally published June 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM.
