Dolphins’ Hafley explains what’s unacceptable, how he makes it clear to players
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley can accept if a player is beaten in coverage; he said Thursday he doesn’t agree with yelling at a player as he comes off the field instead of using it as a teaching moment after the player is back on the sideline.
But what he cannot accept is lack of effort.
“I meet with the team every morning and go through 30 to 40 clips on both sides of the ball,” Hafley said. “The most important thing I show them is effort…. I watch effort when I watch the film every single play.
“I show defensive guys running to the ball on the backside. I show defensive linemen putting his foot in the ground and retracing to the ball. I’ll call guys out by name… by number and applaud them for that. When they do that, it shows me how much they care about their teammates.”
But he will also publicly identify players who didn’t show enough effort on a particular play.
“Conversely, I will show a guy who doesn’t run to the ball, and I’ll challenge them and ask them why and I’ll tell them that’s not good enough. I don’t do it in an insulting way. I just continually show guys what I see, and I try to teach them what’s good enough and what’s not good enough.”
There’s something else he won’t accept, either: Receivers not blocking.
“When a wide receiver catches the ball, the other wide receiver on the backside better put his foot in the ground and go block for him to show he cares about him and he’s unselfish and he’s going to play for his teammates,” Hafley said.
“When I don’t see that, I’m going to call it out. Today was probably the most we had on offense. That is the most important thing to me. I will not immediately see it on the field [before watching tape]. If I do, I will grab a guy and tell them that’s not good enough.”
Hafley also wants to see players “jog on and off the field. It’s a respect thing and it’s a conditioning thing. All of that stuff is really important to me because I do believe it helps win games.”
During those morning meetings, Hafley also talks about “ball security, good execution, poor execution.”
Injury update
The top veteran addition to the Dolphins’ offensive line has avoided a major injury.
Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer was carted off during Wednesday’s practice, but he won’t be out long-term, Hafley said. Salyer missed Thursday’s practice and might miss next week’s final OTA session.
Salyer is competing with Jonah Savaiinaea for the starting right guard job. The Dolphins want to give Savaiinaea every chance to win the job.
Rookie receiver Caleb Douglas, who also was injured this week, “tweaked something” but won’t be out long-term, Hafley said.
The Dolphins entered the final day of their mandatory minicamp in good health, overall.
This and that
▪ The Dolphins will play Jason Marshall Jr. primarily on the boundary, but he could be used in the slot selectively. Marshall was a boundary corner at UF, but the Dolphins moved him to the slot as a rookie partly out of necessity.
“I did see him get better as the year went on [as a rookie last year],” Hafley said. “He’s stronger now. I would be lying if I say we didn’t put him on the inside, but primarily he has and will be on the outside for us. When the pads come on, we will find out how much improvement he has made in tackling and physicality. I like his demeanor. I’m excited about him as a player. He can play the ball well down the field.”
▪ Hafley said cornerback Chris Johnson, the team’s second first-round pick, “has done a really nice job. He’s very instinctual. Sees the game really fast. Super athletic. He has really good coverage ability. Has been able to get his hand on the football. We’ve thrown a lot on his plate, and he’s really responded. He’s really mature for a rookie.”
▪ On second-year defensive lineman Jordan Phillips: “He embraces playing the run and the dirty work that most people in our league don’t want to do. [He’s a] damn good zero technique. He thrives the closer he gets to the center. I’m not going to knock him as a pass rusher; hopefully he will improve and have some production.”
▪ On how teams should defend the Tush Push on short-yardage situations, something the Eagles have done brilliantly: “Get good at it and do it. It’s hard to stop. As long as it’s a legal play, we need to figure out a way to stop it. And with a quarterback like Malik [Willis] and big guys up front, maybe we can get good at it.”
▪ Hafley said “you will see me around [defensive backs] more” in training camp because he loves coaching them.
This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 10:24 AM.
