Kelly: Dolphins say Zach Sieler is ‘a coaches dream’ |
Zach Sieler was changing the brakes on his mobile Recreational Vehicle five years ago about this time in December when his life changed forever.
He had plenty of time on his hands since the Baltimore Ravens had just released him for the second time that season.
Baltimore needed a roster spot to patch a recent injury, and felt they could sneak the 2018 seventh-round pick on the practice squad again. But a rebuilding franchise saw opportunity and pounced, giving Sieler a call with flight information while he was greased up under his RV.
And here we are five-years later, with Zach Sieler turning out to be one of the best waiver wire claims in Miami Dolphins history considering he’s a 61-game starter having a Pro Bowl worthy season, one where he’s clearly established himself as one of Miami’s best players.
If not one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL.
“Isn’t it funny how God works,” said Sieler, who spent his first two seasons with the Dolphins living in that RV, unwilling to lay roots because he feared being cut again.
Five years and 25 sacks later Sieler still acts like he’s a roster bubble guy even though one of the two sacks he registered in last Sunday’s 32-26 overtime victory against the New York Jets was a key play considering it put Miami in position to tie the score, sending it into overtime.
Sieler’s performance in that game earned the 29-year-old the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week honor, and it coincidentally fell on the anniversary week of him being cut and claimed.
“I see so much potential in him. He’s got it. He’s a superstar that nobody knows yet. But that’s about to change,” said fellow defensive lineman Calais Campbell, a 17-year veteran who has been named to six Pro Bowls, and played with a handful of other Pro Bowlers.
“He’s a beast, and if he keeps playing like that, we’re going to be in this thing when it matters.”
Campbell’s referring to the Dolphins being in the hunt for the final AFC playoff spot, which the Dolphins stay in the mix for by beating the Houston Texans (8-5) this Sunday.
The Dolphins will clearly need Sieler at his best to give themselves a chance, but that’s usually what this former Ferris State standout provides.
Last Sunday’s game changing play was just one of the many impact plays Miami’s become accustomed to receiving from Sieler, whom Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel affectionately, and infamously called his “binky,” which is the affectionate nickname used for a pacifier given to toddlers that needs to be soothed.
Sieler’s wife Hannah loved McDaniel’s nickname so much she made shirts for herself and their 1-year-old son Stetson Sieler, encouraging McDaniel to “Get your own binky.”
“It’s a testament to just how hard he works at everything — on his body, on his craft, on his knowledge of the game. He is the ultimate professional,” defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said. “If I’m a younger defensive player, I’m looking to him, Calais Campbell, and trying to mimic as much of what they do to try to make sure I maximize my God-given ability.
“I love him to death. He is a coach’s dream and all of the rewards he’s reaped so far, he’s worked for.”
Weaver’s referring to the fact Sieler’s the last guy in, last guy out type, a player who refuses to miss practices and games unless he’s forced to, which was the case this season for two games, after he suffered an eye injury in practice.
And even that was an instance where the Dolphins were protecting Sieler from himself because he would have absolutely played with an eye patch if needed.
The way Sieler saw it — or didn’t - there will be no letting down his team.
He’s come too far to let that happen.
“To me, just to be able to come from where I came from. Just from walked on D-II, cut twice in the NFL to even have a chance of making it is just an incredible journey, and makes me emotional,” said Sieler, who has contributed 39 tackles, six sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and recovered one fumble in the 11 games he’s played this season.
“I was always told ‘You’ll never play in college, let alone in the NFL.’” Sieler continued. “I think it’s a cool story and I love to share that and talk to kids and families and schools or whoever asks about that. Especially being from a small school in the middle of nowhere, not a lot of scouts or people kind of came by that area, so it’s pretty special.”
While Sieler might have spent his first three seasons in Christian Wilkins’ shadow, serving as “Salt” in the “Salt and Pepper” defensive tackle tandem the Dolphins had, his performance these past two seasons proves he takes a back seat to nobody.
“He’s a player that far after he gets done playing, he will serve as an example for the next 20 rookie classes of perseverance,” McDaniel said, “[Proof of] what you can do if you just refuse to give up and attack adversity.”
This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 5:15 PM.
