MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Several of the newest Miami Dolphins defenders spoke to reporters on Monday, offering insight into how they fit into the team’s evolving scheme and how they’re adjusting to a new environment just days into training camp.
Veteran cornerback Mike Hilton, one of two recent free-agent additions to help fill a banged-up secondary, said familiarity with head coach Mike McDaniel played a role in his decision to sign with Miami.
“We played each other in ’21 when they came to Cincinnati from San Francisco,” Hilton said. “Made a couple of plays there, so he’s one of the guy coaches that know what I’m able to do, and he’s excited about me, and I’m excited to be here.”
Hilton praised McDaniel’s offensive mind, saying it’s a challenge going up against a system designed to create mismatches and exploit space.
“I mean, his offensive teams, you know, all the motions and the schemes he can download to get his playmakers in space. He’s one of the best offensive callers in the game,” Hilton said. “And with guys like Tyreek (Hill) and Jaylen (Waddle) and De’Von (Achane), we got a lot of guys that make plays in open field.”
Hilton also emphasized the importance of cohesion in the secondary, especially as the Dolphins continue to shuffle players due to injuries.
“Oh, you definitely need a lot of time,” he said. “We all work on the stream, so we all got to be on the same page and know what each other is doing — knowing where our leverage is and our help is — so we can go make plays when the ball’s in the air.”
Jack Jones, another veteran cornerback recently added by Miami, was blunt when asked about how his offseason played out. The former Patriot said he hadn’t received many calls — until Miami came through.
“Nobody was calling,” Jones said. “So when I got the call, I just took full advantage. I’m gonna go out there and do what I do. It’s football at the end of the day.”
Linebacker Willie Gay Jr., signed earlier this offseason, said he feels like he’s in the right system to maximize his skills.
The former Chiefs linebacker has experience playing both inside and on the edge, and said Miami’s defense is built to create playmaking opportunities.
“They put us in position to make those plays, man,” Gay said. “You know, we dropping back and all kinds of zones and then man, over the three, you know, in the middle of the field, flats, so it gives you opportunities to deflect the path and intercept them. That’s what we wanna do. But, you know, so this defense is schemed just for that.
When asked about his versatility, Gay said it’s one of his biggest assets in coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense.
“Being the versatile guy that I am, I feel like we have a lot of versatility at the linebacker position already with everyone,” he said. “But me coming in, and what they’re asking me to do — whether it’s blitz the edge, blitz the middle, cover man-to-man, or like I just said, they (have) all kind of zone coverages. I feel like I’m in a great position, a great role. Being here, the defense is perfect for guys like myself."
“That’s why I feel like our room is so good and well-rounded because we all are skilled in that aspect,” Gay added. “So I feel like we’re all gonna benefit from it.”
Miami added Hilton and Jones over the weekend after suffering a string of injuries in the secondary, including a season-ending ACL tear to Artie Burns and a leg injury to Kader Kohou, who is considered day-to-day.
With veteran voices like Hilton and Gay stepping in, the Dolphins are hoping to stabilize a defense that’s being tested early and build the chemistry needed to compete at a high level.
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