MIAMI GARDENS ― During the preseason, including joint practices, Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley was open about keeping schemes simple.
The key, Hafley explained, was getting a complete evaluation of the players.
It was not about tricking opponents with complex strategies.
It's my opinion that Hafley should take a similar approach in the regular season, starting with the season-opener at Las Vegas on Sunday, Sept. 13.
Keep it simple. Less complex. Limit risk.
Recently I asked Hafley about if he'll use his "gut" to potentially override some in-game recommendations from the analytics teams, such as punting or going for it on fourth down.
"I think you have a plan, and I think a lot of the times you try to stick with your plan, but there's always got
to be the feel of the game and where it's going and the momentum of the game and how I think everything is going and what the team needs from me right now," Hafley said.
Much of the strategy will be determined the week before the game. Stick with the plan.
Miami is currently an underdog in 16 of 17 regular-season games. But the Dolphins have a shot on Sunday.
Miami Dolphins roster is youngest in NFL
They're only 3.5-point underdogs and facing a beatable quarterback, Kirk Cousins.
If rookie Fernando Mendoza was making his first career start, it might make more sense to throw a few "kitchen sinks" at the youngster.
But Cousins has seen everything. There is no need to throw a bunch of blitzes at him that may confuse Miami's 14-member rookie class more than Cousins.
Keep it simple. Give the team a chance. Help limit busts from a very inexperienced secondary.
There is no shame in that.
Blowouts can be demoralizing for a young group. Limiting blowouts could prove beneficial in the long-run.
Go for it on 4th-and-1 from Miami's 39-yard line on the first possession of the season?
We say punt. And that hurts to write. But punt.
Limit short fields for the defense. Limit tons of snaps for the defense. This team lacks depth.
Dolphins could play it conservative early on
Hafley noted he was among the leaders in going for it on fourth down at Boston College one season.
At times, BC was undermanned in a manner similar to what the Dolphins figure to face this year.
At least early on, we say play it safe.
The goal this season is to, yes, try to win some games. But even more important is to evaluation of players, particularly young players.
Former Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt, a mentor of Hafley's, used to say in so many words that the punt is not a bad play (certainly compared to a turnover on downs, interception or lost fumble).
Times have changed. Far more teams now are going for it on 4th-and-1.
But tapping into some of Wannstedt's mindset this season would not be the worst thing.
Could Miami roll out an exotic blitz here or later there this season?
Sure. But starting out "base" and "vanilla" seems the best way to go early in the season.
"I'm going to call what I believe our guys can execute at a high level," Hafley said, a few days before the opener.
Miami needs to evaluate their players in 1-on-1 situations this season. It's far less essential to scheme up free runners or 2-on-1's. Evaluation must be key to every decision.
Miami Dolphins' Jeff Hafley could keep it vanilla early on
Miami has the youngest roster in the league. Keep it simple.
I once asked a college coach about how fast a young player was.
"That's great but if you're running the wrong way, you just get there faster," he said.
Miami figures to have some rookies running fast, but the wrong way on Sunday.
Keep it simple. Limit mistakes. Just play fast and free.
And base. And risk-averse.
At least, for now.
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: Why Jeff Hafley should keep it simple with these young Dolphins
