A brand new period of management has begun in Miami with the latest hiring of Head Coach Jeff Hafley. It follows 4 seasons beneath Mike McDaniel, during which the Dolphins went 35-33 and made two Wild Card Spherical postseason exits. Miami continues its streak of hiring solely first-time NFL Head Coaches, a sample that dates again to 2000. Regardless of the shortage of expertise, the Dolphins’ entrance workplace clearly noticed sufficient from Hafley to take the gamble.
The final coordinator from Inexperienced Bay to land a head teaching job in South Florida was Joe Philbin, so the bar is fairly low. Dolphins’ followers can be hoping that this time, issues work out somewhat higher.
Hafley’s Teaching Background
Regardless of a scarcity of head teaching expertise, Jeff Hafley entered the NFL teaching ranks virtually 15 years in the past. His first position got here in Tampa, the place he served because the Buccaneers’ defensive backs coach. He adopted that with comparable roles in Cleveland and San Francisco earlier than turning into a co-defensive coordinator at Ohio State. After 4 seasons and a Bowl victory with Boston Faculty, he returned to the NFL because the Defensive Coordinator for the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Whereas teaching the defensive backs unit in Tampa, Hafley’s group completed fifth within the league for takeaways in 2013. His unit in Cleveland was additionally within the prime 10 in cross yards towards the next season. The stint in San Francisco was much less spectacular statistically, however his total résumé exhibits a coach able to constructing aggressive and opportunistic secondaries.
Defensive Expectations
There’s a lot for Dolphins followers to get enthusiastic about when Hafley’s defences in Inexperienced Bay. Throughout his tenure, the Packers’ defence ranked within the prime 10 in yards per play (5.0), yards per cross (6.01), goal-to-go proportion (68.9), and quarterback hits (98). Contemplating Miami has gained a fame for being comfortable lately, Hafley’s confirmed aggressive and organised defences ought to be a welcome change in South Florida.
Though he’s not a heavy conventional blitzer, Hafley excels at creating the phantasm of strain. A number of defenders are inclined to line up on the line of scrimmage, however solely 4 of them rush the passer, dropping the remaining into protection. This helps to create alternatives for turnovers because the quarterback rushes into choices.
An important facet of his defensive ideology is adaptability. Moderately than forcing gamers into inflexible roles, he goals to adapt the scheme to suit his gamers’ strengths. If a participant can play on intuition moderately than overthink, the Dolphins ought to be capable of play quick, bodily soccer.
Crew Tradition
One facet of teaching that doesn’t appear to be missing in Hafley is his recruitment. Whereas working because the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, Hafley established himself as among the best recruiters within the nation. 247Sports.com had him ranked at ninth. Though the recruitment course of is vastly totally different from school to the NFL, Dolphins followers can nonetheless count on Hafley to have some affect in the case of free company and the draft evaluations.
It seems that Hafley has actually proven himself to be an incredible man-manager. Among the best defensive backs in NFL historical past, Richard Sherman, praised his preparation, saying:
“His preparation is among the finest I’ve seen”, per MSN. “I’ve had some nice defensive again coaches, some nice defensive coaches and defensive minds. He’s proper up there together with his preparation and the way he breaks down movie…how simple and easy he makes the sport plan sound and the way simple he makes it for guys to know.”
Regardless of his defensive background, a shift in crew tradition also needs to imply that the offence is extra disciplined. Though the quarterback conundrum hangs over the franchise, followers can count on extra accountability and higher preparation in all three phases of the sport. Hafley’s demanding but motivating teaching strategy ought to trickle right down to your complete crew.
Jeff Hafley arrives in Miami with a transparent imaginative and prescient, defensive acumen and a fame for creating expertise. Rising pains are to be anticipated, however with the assistance of former Inexperienced Bay Vice President of Participant Personnel, Jon-Eric Sullivan, there may be real purpose to imagine that the franchise is shifting in the proper route.
Do you agree?
