Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley revealed his plan is to give deserving players a shot, no matter the circumstances.
One of the biggest ways that a team can find true talent is to give deserving players a shot, no matter how they arrived. That appears to be the mantra for Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley, who spoke about how the roster is made up to just that.
When speaking to the media, Hafley indicated that a lot of the players on the Dolphins' roster are on one-year deals, and this is their shot to make something more out of the opportunity they have been given.
"I think you're going to see you're going to see a lot of guys playing and practicing at a very high level, pushing each other, competing with each other because they know they're on a one-year deal. And for some of them, this is this is it. This is their shot," Hafley said.
Hafley's candid opinion on the Dolphins roster is a double-edged sword. One one hand, the sheer number of low-cost veterans could lead to a troublesome year due to said players not having been productive on previous teams.
Then again, the fact that most players are on a one-year deal and want to land a multi-year deal, this could lead these Miami players to compete at an even higher level. As Hafley said it, "this is their shot."
This same sentiment was echoed by Hafley during an apperance on "The Joe Rose Show." The first-year head caoch indicated that he would allow any deserving player the chance to play if they earn it.
No matter if they were drafted high, traded for, or otherwise, whatever player shows their mettle in a significant way will get playing time.
"In my opinion, it's our job to find the best players and I think you see that in practice. I think you see it when you watch film and then ultimately I think the players see it and I think it's our job to make sure that we get the best guys on the field," Hafley said.
Hafley then went into an anecdote about a rookie tryout player who outpaced his first-round pick counterpart.
Hafley's outlook on giving the best player the opportunity could go a long way for the Dolphins' roster. There very well could be some hidden gems among the players who have been added thus far, but they will need the chance to show that they are.
Training camp has just begun for Miami and this is the time where Hafley can start to evaluate the roster from top to bottom to put together the best players possible at each position.
If he stays true to his word about giving everyone an equal shot, there is a chance this Dolphins team could be tougher than everyone expects them to be. There are plenty of veterans who have arrived but have not been given a bigger shot with previous teams.
It will be interesting to see who begins to separate themselves during training camp, whether its rookies, free agents, or veterans who have also not emerged in a significant way just yet.
