MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley met with reporters Thursday (Sept. 3), the last day before everyone takes a three-day break to refresh from training camp and focus on the opener Sept. 11 in Las Vegas.
Highlights:
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- On D.J. Herman making the transition from linebacker to fullback, and making the team. "He's a smart football player and he was able to pick up the offense fairly quickly." Hafley said Herman is a physical player who can move laterally. "I give him a lot of credit. He worked really hard."
- Regarding injuries, Hafley is required to file an injury report to the league on Wednesdays most weeks. The league injury report is then updated on Thursdays and Fridays. "If I don't have to reveal anything, I will wait till the deadline to reveal it."
- On Malik Willis' calm demeanor: "It's one of the things that drew me to him. He's got this cool demeanor about him where guys kind of gravitate to him."
- The Dolphins open the season against the Raiders, who will start veteran Kirk Cousins at quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza: "It's kind of what we figured would happen, so now we'll game plan for him."
- Defensive players say they'll run after practice if they don't create three takeaways in a game. "I think it's awesome. ... I like the number that they picked, three."
- On team captains: They'll be announced Monday. Players have voted but the votes haven't been counted yet.
- Hafley said DL Jordan Phillips doesn't get enough credit because he does the "grunt work" of keeping offensive linemen occupied to free up the linebackers to make tackles. Phillips embraces the role. Hafley said coaches have asked players what they intend to do on the rare weekend off. Some are going home to watch their college team play. Some will visit family. Phillips? "Jordan will be in the sauna 5 a.m. tomorrow and probably lifting weights. He just doesn't stop."
Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Jeff Hafley on how ex-LB made the team at fullback
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