MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins quarterbackMalik Willis isn't one to get overly stressed and it sure seems he's not overly stressed headed into the season opener at the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Just go out there and have as much fun as possible," Willis said. "I mean, this is an opportunity of a lifetime, bro. Not many people get to play and start football games in the National Football League. I just want to go out there and have some fun."
Willis, 27, will start a season opener for the first time in his career.
Willis has six total starts in four seasons, three with Green Bay and three with Tennessee.
Though Willis has little more starting experience than the rookies, he'll be lining up with up to three rookie receivers, two rookie tight ends, a rookie guard
and a rookie fullback against Las Vegas.
How does Willis plan to help them?
Miami Dolphins roster packed with rookies
"Just taking it one play at a time, making sure we're prepared before we even get there, and that's the main thing," Willis said. "Each one got to prepare. So when the game comes, it's a lot easier as far as mental gymnastics and hoops that you have to go through to execute a play.
"I mean, we'll get, I don't know how many reps. We've got 80 reps today. We'll continue to just build and get those reps, mental reps, and just continue to learn and get better. Obviously, there's going to be mistakes, but if we can learn from those mistakes, in the long run, we'll be better off."
Willis is level-headed and he has not made any bonehead statements in press conferences, which is a small victory for the Dolphins.
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He is clearly a let-his-play-do-the-talking kind of athlete.
"I'm going to just try to take advantage of the opportunity," Willis said of the opener.
Willis has to balance taking care of the football with the fact that he is the point guard who decides if and when to go after big plays. It will be interesting to see him navigate those choices.
"I mean, if you're going out there thinking about mistakes, you are in the hole already," Willis said. "You can't go out there thinking about mistakes. You've got to go out there and play ball. Mistakes will happen. I mean, they get paid too. The defense is going to make a play. We just got to go play ball and be aggressive doing that.
"Obviously, situationally, it's how aggressive can we be? Sometimes it's aggressively hitting the check down. You aggressively got it there fast enough where he can transition and get extra yards. It's just a mentality of being convicted in what we're doing, and that comes from the preparation."
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: Dolphins QB Malik Willis keeps focus simple: ‘Go have some fun’
