‘Let his ability naturally take over.’ How Dolphins plan to use QB Malik Willis
The Miami Dolphins have a problem.
In Malik Willis, they have a quarterback who seemingly excels when the play breaks down. Signal-callers of this ilk — Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, etc. — can quickly transform into superstars, yet that doesn’t negate the difficulty that comes along with the construction of an offense that’s tailor-made for their skill set. The question becomes how does one build an offense around a guy who thrives in chaos, something that the Dolphins need to have answers for come September.
“You want to help them presnap with everything so they can see as much as they can see,” passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo said Tuesday. “Then you never want to take away that ability.”
Added Patullo: “You want to keep it in the structure of the offense and then let his ability naturally take over — whether it’s running, getting out of the pocket to throw and get explosive plays.”
Granted, the sample size for Willis, 26, is very small. He accumulated just three starts during his two-year stint with the Green Bay Packers, completing 80% of his passes for 612 yards and three touchdowns. Willis also added another 174 yards and three touchdowns on the ground with just 21 carries.
Still, the traits — big arm, mobile, able to make off-schedule throws — stood out.
“Really talented individual,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. “Can throw the ball everywhere. He can use his legs. He’s tough.”
Although Patullo will certainly have a voice in the offense’s construction, it will ultimately be up to Slowik. The offense will likely somewhat resemble that of former coach Mike McDaniel – both of whom come from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree. How Slowik balances that the scheme’s basic principles with Willis’ skill set will be key.
“We have some core beliefs and fundamentals that we really want to make sure we do,” Slowik said. “I’m sure coach [Jeff] Hafley has talked about it. I believe in keeping a defense off balance. I believe in running the football, skewing as close to 50-50 on first, second down.
“There’s core tenants that are always going to be there. Everything beyond that you really are working within your scheme to fit the guys you have.”
Although he’s a first-time starter, Willis isn’t new to the NFL. He was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022 who never got a full opportunity to start. That his circumstances have changed doesn’t appear to have affected him as a person, something that has apparently endeared him to his teammates, per quarterback coach Bush Hamdan.
“He’s battle-tested,” Hamdan said, adding that “he knows what it takes” to succeed. “It’s authentic. It’s believable. I don’t know if you guys have had a lot of time to spend with him, but he’s just as good a human being as I’ve been around in the game.”
While his personality won’t certainly win games outright, it can bring a level of calm to the offense. With as many young and unproven players that the Dolphins will likely trot out, the confidence that Willis has and injects into his teammates cannot be overlooked.
“He cares about his teammates, not just from a setting of it’s going to make him play better but because he realizes you don’t get these opportunities often,” Hamdan said. “He’s done a tremendous job of rallying all the guys, regardless of where they’re from, what position they play and that’s been a big thing for us as we start this new year.”
What the offense will ultimately look like remains to be seen. And as much as Slowik wasn’t a popular pick considering how poorly the Dolphins’ passing offense performed in 2025, there still should be some optimism about his capabilities. Case in point: look at how the Houston Texans’ C.J. Stroud ‘s play has declined since Slowik left after the 2024 season.
If Slowik brings a 2023 Texans version of the offense to Miami and Willis thrives, the sky will be the limit — that is, once the Dolphins improve their wide receiver core.
