From attendance to judgment lapses to punctuality, Dolphin players reveal what must improve

In the wake of the Dolphins finishing 8-9 and missing the playoffs, several respected team leaders offered some eyebrow-raising comments this about the need for more player self-policing and correcting of mistakes, improved punctuality, better judgment and greater offseason attendance.

Three different players mentioned that other players need to stop showing up late -- a problem that Mike McDaniel confirmed was not only a problem this season, but one firmly addressed during Monday’s team meeting.

“I can fine people till they’re blue in the face,” McDaniel said. “ One thing I did learn during the course of the season is that fining guys.. didn’t particularly move the needle in the way we need to so I’ll adjust as I should as the head coach.

.”There was a reason that was an overall theme for the final team meeting. There were certain specific individuals – I don’t think it was across the board. There were a lot of guys that had certain fines before that didn’t have any [in 2024]. There were some people that had multiple [fines this season]. Bringing it up as a team and continuing to fine guys wasn’t enough, so I’m not going to continue to just place all blame on even some of the smallest of individuals that were multiple offenders. I’m going to adjust my process.”

Edge rusher Bradley Chubb also suggested players need to show up for voluntary offseason workouts and practices more consistently.

“I know a lot of people don’t want to be here [for] optional [practices], but at the end of the day man, if we want to get to where we want to go, that’s where the foundations will have to be laid,’ Chubb said. “In life you’ve got to sacrifice for what you really want. It’s not, ‘you got to be here every day, each and every day.’ But let’s start building that rapport as a team and setting our goals for what we want in the future.”

Does McDaniel need to lay the law down more with his team, as he seemed to do during Monday’s meeting?

“Mike knows what he needs to do,” Chubb said. “He addressed us about how he’s going to be better as a coach and as a leader of men next year. So he knows exactly what he has to do and we’re all right there behind him in that same direction.”

Chubb — who missed the season with a knee injury but remained very involved all year — suggested effort wasn’t the issue:

“Every week, that laid it out in practice each and every week. But when it came down to the minute details, we had lapses in judgment. And that comes from having lapses in judgment throughout the week. And leaders seeing something but not saying something at the time. And not having that small problem end up being a big problem. I saw a little bit of that this year.”

Does there need to be a higher self- standard for players, including being on time more?

“Absolutely,” said Zach Sieler, who was voted team MVP by local media. “What McDaniel does a great job of is preaching a player-led locker room. That needs to come from us as players, leaders and captains as well as the staff. And get everyone here and get everyone working together from Day 1 in OTAs and camp and get things taken care of from day 1. And take care of business to start fast this year.”

Was that a problem this year? “There were things going on this year in the background that needed to get taken of. Some things could have been, I would say, we needed to be on our Ps and Qs earlier in the season, earlier in camp. It’s a point of focus this year. We’re going to make sure we don’t mess that up again.

“As a team, we need to stay focused this year that everyone is here, making sure we’re on time, and winning it all next year and making the corrections from this season going into camp.”

How tough is it to speak up?

“Speaking up is one of the things I’ve been working on my entire career,” Sieler said. “Me and Christian Wilkins talked a lot about that early on. I’m now a leader on this team, I’m a veteran, I have my name now.

“To speak up with guys like Chubb, Calais [Campbell], Emmanuel Ogbah, Jalen Ramsey, all these guys on defense, we need to make sure we are holding everyone to a standard, to be here from Day 1 to work as a unit and stay on top of things early on so we’re not trying to play catch-up, and we’re starting the season fast and not playing from behind the eight ball.”

Asked if players needing to hold themselves to a higher standard was an issue, tight end Jonnu Smith said:

“Definitely a lot more housecleaning rules we can clean up on. Is that going to equate to wins? That’s hard to say. You need structure any time you strive to do something great. There’s a lot of things we need to clean up as a team, speaking individually as myself.”

One thing that’s clear: The Dolphins will no longer tolerate players not being punctual.

“Players have to be accountable for each other,” general manager Chris Grier said. “Coaches aren’t around them 24/7. “It’s clearly understood now and Mike’s message to the team was very well received.”

This and that

▪ The Dolphins must be prepared for more growing pains if they hand the left tackle job to Patrick Paul and move on from Terron Armstead.

Paul allowed four pressures in 51 pass-blocking snaps. Armstead, elite all season, struggled Sunday, permitting two sacks on a bad knee.

As PFF’s Ryan Smith said: “Paul had some moments but it was a rough year overall. He ranked 78th out of 80 tackles this season Miami knew he was a prospect who needed time to develop, but he got thrown into the fire and struggled. Not surprising given the Dolphins’ history and the way the OL was built.”

At right guard, Isaiah Wynn allowed one sack in 28 pass-blocking snaps, and Eichenberg permitted four pressures in 23 pass-blocking snaps Sunday.

▪ Tyreek Hill — who wasn’t available in the fourth quarter for reasons not explained and then expressed desire to play elsewhere afterward — played just 27 of 70 offensive snaps on Sunday.

At receiver, the Dolphins gave 63 snaps to Jaylen Waddle, 43 to Malik Washington and 25 for River Cracraft.

Hill was not removed for medical reasons. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told WSVN 7 that several doctors recommend he have wrist surgery months ago, but Hill played through it.

Only one Dolphins player (Chubb) expressed disappointment in Hill’s comments and actions on Sunday.

“Disappointed for sure,” Chubb said. “But at the end of the day, you’ve got to move on with the guys who want to be here who will continue to fight.”

▪ Raheem Mostert, curiously, played just one snap on offense Sunday. De’Von Achane played 49, Jeff Wilson Jr. 13 and Jaylen Wright 9.

Achane’s 1,499 total yards from scrimmage were the most by a Dolphins running other than Ricky Williams, who did it twice.

Achane is the first Dolphins player to score six touchdowns running and six receiving in a season. Only five active NFL players have done that.

▪ Pro Football Focus’ five highest-rated Dolphins this season, in order: Armstead, Campbell, Achane, Sieler and Jonnu Smith.

Sieler is the first Dolphins player with double figures in sacks in consecutive seasons since 2016-17. His 20 sacks during the past two seasons are the most by an NFL defensive lineman in that time.