For the first time in a long time, a quarterback not named Tua Tagovailoa will be starting the season as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins after the organization jettisoned the former #5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft this offseason and signed former Green Bay Packers backup, Malik Willis, to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million.
Willis being a quality starting quarterback for Miami would go a long way towards expediting the Dolphins’ latest rebuild attempt, as it would allow the organization
to skip the “drafting a young quarterback and coaching him up” portion of the process.
According to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, some patience may be needed in regards to Malik Willis’ development — considering his offseason has seen some “high highs and low lows.”
The 27-year old passer has had plenty of highlight plays, according to Furones, but has also had plenty of head-scratching mistakes as well, including multiple interceptions thrown during the six practices the media has been allowed to watch Miami work.
One reason to not panic? Dolphins’ offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has stated that the offense has gone through three phases of play installation with each install going more smoothly than the previous one. Plus, there has reportedly been an emphasis on Willis making pocket throws during the offseason program — not allowing the playmaker to rely on his athleticism and mobility like he did when he was finding success in Green Bay while filling in for normal starter Jordan Love, writes Furones.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has said Willis’ connection with his wide receivers is still a work in progress — understandable since the team has only been together for a short amount of time. Slowik thinks that chemistry between the quarterback and his pass catchers will not fully develop until the beginning of the regular season.
Let’s hope that that chemistry does eventually develop, or else the Dolphins could find themselves in an all-too-familiar position next offseason — searching for the next “solution” at the quarterback position.
For the entire Sun-Sentinel article from Furones, click here.
