Dolphins QB coach sizes up what’s behind Willis. And more from assistant coaches
A six-pack of Dolphins notes as OTA practices kick off on Monday:
▪ New quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan, speaking to reporters for the first time last week, said that second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers has specific skills that are plenty good enough to start in the NFL. But he also was specific about where he needs to improve.
“He’s confident; that’s [my] No. 1 impression,” Hamdan said of the player who will back up Malik Willis. “He’s got a lot of starting traits. And more than anything, he’s a confident player. Sometimes I tell him too confident in some of the throws he makes down the field. But you’ve got to have a belief in yourself.”
The biggest area of growth for Ewers?
“We want to speed him up at times,” Hamdan said. “He’s such a natural thrower. At times, it looks like we’ve got to speed it up and get the ball out of your hands [more quickly. But] I’ve been extremely impressed with him and his ability to make all the throws.
“It’s going to come down to decision-making [for him]. Sometimes we can focus on the big throws. As you continue to grow in this league, it always comes down to the throws you don’t make. Year 2 in the offense, he has a leg up in that way of knowing what it takes.”
Ewers went 1-2 in three late season starts, closing with three touchdowns, three interceptions, an 85.5 passer rating and a 63 completion percentage. According to a source, Ewers would have been the front-runner to start if Mike McDaniel had remained the coach and if the new GM relented on that.
▪ Undrafted rookie quarterback Mark Gronowski, who is competing with Cam Miller for a spot on the 53-man roster or a practice squad job, is “a winner,” Hamdan said.
“We can all get enamored with arm talent and what he looks like and the athleticism. But there are some guys when you put the ball down that can move an offense, win games.
“He has good size [6-2, 226], good enough accuracy and arm talent. It’s been a good experience having him here for the first week.”
Gronowski started the most victories of any quarterback in college football history (58) over four years at South Dakota State (where he won two FCS championships) and one year at Iowa (where he went 9-4).
▪ New running backs coach Ladell Betts on the players competing behind De’Von Achane:
On Jalen Wright: “He has a lot of speed. It’s about him staying healthy.”...
On Ollie Gordon II: “He brings more physicality in terms of size.”
Betts made clear that “everybody has got opportunities. It’s a new regime.”...
New tight ends coach Ron Middleton on Greg Dulcich: “He’s a talented, talented guy. The sky is the limit for the kid.” As we noted before free agency, Dulcich was the incumbent Dolphins free agent who appeared to be prioritized above all the others in the 30-player class.
▪ Though most of the comments from Dolphins coaches about top pick Kadyn Proctor have focused on his move to guard, offensive line coach Zach Yenser said: “He can play tackle in this league.”
But... “he fits us better and we need him at guard and he’s going to be a really good guard for us.”
▪ Defensive line coach Austin Clark, who’s also now coaching the team’s edge players, sized up veteran additions Joshua Uche and David Ojabo:
On Uche: “He’s accomplished a lot in his career. He’s played a lot of different positions. He’s got a high motor, and I love his mental makeup. We’ll see where that thing takes us.”
On Ojabo: “He’s an elusive player. He’s got good twitch. He’s played in that 3-4 outside linebacker mode, doing a lot of drop [into coverage]. I’m excited to see where he goes.”
▪ Special teams coach Chris Tabor said Riley Patterson did not object to being asked to compete with veteran Zane Gonzalez for the kicking job, even after a season in which Patterson made 27 of 29 field goals.
“Riley doesn’t mind,” Tabor said. “Obviously he had a great year, and he’s a really good player, as is Zane Gonzalez. But if you looked at both of their careers, they’ve competed against a lot of guys all the time, so I think that’s nothing new. Any competitor will say, If I’m in a competition, I play better.”
Tabor coached Gonzalez in Cleveland earlier in his career and said “he’s changed. When we drafted him in Cleveland, his stance and everything, his approach, how he does things, you see it. I’m dealing with an older player now as opposed to a rookie.”
This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 10:23 AM.
