MINNEAPOLIS ― Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had just completed his fourth pro game, as well as his fourth pro loss.
"Not big into moral victories," Rodriguez was saying, after the Dolphins lost at the Vikings by a score of only 15-10.
Kudos to Rodriguez for echoing veterans like Zach Sieler and Jordyn Brooks.
But we have the benefit of a longer lens and a broader perspective. We can look at Rodriguez's 18 tackles and the Dolphins not allowing a single touchdown with Rodriguez calling the on-field defense.
And we can feel good about some things.
Did it feel to Rodriguez like he had 18 tackles?
"No," Rodriguez said, adding, "Body does."
The Dolphins defense was on the field for too many plays and too many minutes in a loss that dropped
them to 0-4 on the season. The Vikings are 4-0.
Miami Dolphins schedule has been brutal
Miami has some significant concerns ― notably on offense and special teams.
Malik Willis has not been played well enough. And now De'Von Achane is out for the season. And now Caleb Douglas has missed two games.
And, yes, Miami running back Ollie Gordon II ran for 100 yards. But the passing offense has been anemic. And Miami's special teams? Disastrous.
This is where I tell you that Sieler had two sacks, which honestly, most importantly increases his trade value before the NFL's trade deadline on Nov. 10.
This is where I tell you that Chop Robinson had a sack and was a monster, helping lead the team to four team sacks and many quarterback hits on tiny scrambler Kyler Murray.
Former Dolphins coach Brian Flores may have a cigar after his team limited Miami to 10 points and 8 first downs and Willis to 85 passing yards.
"I mean, his defensive scheme, Flo, I mean, it's a great scheme," Willis said. "They did a great job."
But there is where we tell you Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan did a great job on Sunday, too. That is reason for optimism as again, we take a longer-term view on this season.
"A heavyweight defensive fight," Hafley said of this game.
Miami Dolphins roster has way to go
And it was. It was also a battle between Flores and Hafley, two former Boston College men, with strong reputations as defensive schemers and play-callers.
"It's tough when you go and you play a game like that that hard and your defense battles like that," Willis said. "And we shoot ourselves in the foot on drives and don't convert."
This isn't an offense-defense finger-pointing thing, and Miami's offense would look a bit different with Achane and Douglas in the lineup. And no, Willis has not yet provided confidence that he is QB1 of the future.
Hafley felt a need after the game to clarity that even though he feels there's been "growth in back-to-back weeks" and improvement and effort, and having a chance to win was great, "Guys, I'm not happy. I want to win the game. And I think you can can sense that, right?"
Of course Hafley wants to win some games. Of course Hafley wants to win his first game as head coach of the Dolphins.
It hasn't helped that three of the first four have been on the road.
It hasn't helped that Miami's first four opponents are now a combined 15-1.
There are three undefeated teams in the NFL ― Chiefs, Vikings and Raiders ― and Miami has faced them all. Who's next ― the '85 Bears?
But here is what's far more important than Miami sitting at 0-4: That Rodriguez is growing into an absolute stud, a player the Dolphins can build around on defense.
Rodriguez's 18 tackles? Most in a game by an NFL player this season.
Those 18 tackles? Most in a game by a Dolphins rookie. Ever. Breaking a record by Zach Thomas.
Listen to Hafley:
"I think his communication today, him and I, was, and I give him the credit for this, not me, was by far the best that it's been. We were able to talk throughout the game until that thing got down to 15 seconds, the things I was able to see and tell him, and for him to get that done for a rookie, the adjustments I was making until that clock got down to 15, and for him to lead our defense in a place like this and give up 15 points, I think that's really. Really hard and it's really impressive. And he just keeps getting better and better."
Better and better. Miami is headed there.
Even though all you see right now is losing.
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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 Threads and Instagram and X at @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 rookie Jacob Rodriguez gives Miami reason for hope at 0-4
