MIAMI GARDENS – There are a lot of things you’d rather forget about the Brian Flores era.
Flores was stubborn, uncooperative and callous.
But don’t overlook that Flores was a good tactical football coach. And don’t overlook that Flores did deliver toughness, accountability and discipline to the Miami Dolphins organization.
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Flores was fired for the other stuff.
This is where I tell you that when I listen to Jeff Hafley speak I hear plenty of Flo-isms. And in these cases, that’s not a bad thing.
Hafley and Flores know each other. And, in fact, they both have connections to Boston College.
Flores played at BC from 1999-2003.
Hafley was head coach at BC from 2020-2023.
Flores is a New Yorker.
Hafley is from Jersey.
This
is where we tell you that Hafley has the charm and good nature and polish that Flores lacked.
But, whatever. Can Hafley win?
Miami Dolphins seem in good hands with Jeff Hafley
One of the reasons we think he has a shot is because he talks about many of the things Flores once did.
Flores wanted a tough, smart, disciplined team.
Hafley wants a tough, smart, disciplined team.
Flores stressed he wanted his team to not beat itself by committing bad penalties and mistakes.
Ditto for Hafley.
Players said Flores promised them the truth.
Ditto for Hafley.
Hafley wants his team to be well-prepared for game situations and has a clear vision for organization and efficiency in practices.
Sound familiar?
Hafley and Flores also seem to share a zero tolerance policy for this: lack of maximum effort.
Look, a lot of this stuff is fairly common in football coaching circles. And both Hafley and Flores have defensive backgrounds.
But this will be a more physical training camp than we saw under Mike McDaniel. It is obvious already.
Flores couldn’t get Miami’s offense, and Miami’s offensive coaching staff, right.
Hafley is hoping McDaniel staff holdover Bobby Slowik can strike the chords he wants struck.
Most notably, Hafley desperately wants Miami’s offense to run, run, run the ball and to run it downhill and to run it when the opponent knows what’s coming.
Dolphins’ Jeff Hafley, like Brian Flores, has Boston College ties
If Flores had just been a little more flexible, a better communicator behind the scenes and with the media, he might have had more time.
If Flores had just spent a little more energy on interpersonal relationships, perhaps he might have gotten more time.
Creating a culture of competition with a sense of urgency can be beneficial. But too often we see coaches who create a vibe where everyone is consistently on edge fail.
A good head coaches’ approach is adaptable and thus, more sustainable.
That’s ancient history now, of course.
But Hafley seems to be a sharp guy.
A plan to restore toughness, discipline and accountability seems obviously a good one.
But Hafley is likely all too aware of why Flores, despite being a skilled tactician, did not make it as the Dolphins’ head coach.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Jeff Hafley wants team traits Brian Flores once wanted
