The comment that got everyone talking this week ended up drawing a pretty quick response from Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley, and he wasn’t buying the idea that Malik Willis’ ball-patting habits amount to some major tell.
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle sparked the discussion Thursday when he made the remarks on camera. The reaction around it was immediate, with some national media voices criticizing Battle for handing that kind of information to an upcoming opponent. Hafley, though, brushed the whole thing aside Friday before practice.
“I played high school quarterback,” Hafley said before practice Friday. “I did the same thing.
It never hurt me. I'm just joking.
But I did play high school quarterback, and I probably patted the ball. Being very honest with you, I've studied quarterbacks for over 25 years, and that is not uncommon.
A lot of quarterbacks pat the ball or take their hand off the ball. I mean, there's some I've studied that look up right before they throw the ball.
I just I don't think there's anything revolutionary about that. It's a timing and rhythm thing with a lot of guys, and there's a lot of them that do that.”
Hafley’s point was simple: this isn’t some hidden cheat code, and it’s not the kind of thing that automatically helps a defense anyway. In man coverage, defensive backs are locked onto the receiver they’re covering after the snap, not staring in at the quarterback for clues.
The whole episode stood out partly because teams in today’s NFL guard information so tightly. Everything is treated like it could become an edge, which is why Battle’s comments raised eyebrows in the first place. But from Hafley’s view, the Dolphins weren’t exactly exposed by what came out.
“Any opponent that wants to share our tendencies with us, we'll take any time,” Hafley said. “But there's nothing there on that.
If there was something big, like he told us every time our left guard was in a three-point stance we were running the ball, I'd be like, all right, we've got to fix that. It's just there's nothing there.”
So while the comments made noise, Hafley made clear he doesn’t see them as anything close to a real problem for Miami heading into Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
In Other News...
Josh Allen Concern Grows As Bills Face A Protection Problem
The Bills early-season issues up front have put Josh Allen back in the conversation, even if the quarterback insists there is nothing to the suggestion he is anything less than fully healthy. Joe Brady acknowledged the obvious concern: Allen has been pressured and hit often, a byproduct, he said, of both the way the offense has been called and Allen holding the ball too long. It has become the kind of familiar problem that can hang over a contender in a hurry if the protection does not settle down.
For Miami, the broader AFC East picture still matters, especially with the Dolphins trying to find their own footing. Malik Willis has been pushing the message that the excuses have to stop now that the season is underway, and that the team needs to own its mistakes and improve rather than lean on youth or a new system. After a better showing against the Raiders and a setback against the Vikings, the Dolphins are still searching for consistency, while the Bills are trying to keep their quarterback upright and their offense on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Could Finally Unleash Malik Willis Against A Vulnerable Bengals Defense
Malik Willis has been used sparingly as a runner this season, which has made his mobility more of a background note than a central part of Miamis attack. Still, the Dolphins have reason to revisit that element against Cincinnati, where the matchup offers a chance to stress a defense that has been vulnerable in the back end and put more on Willis beyond simple pocket work.
The Bengals personnel situation could make that even more appealing, with injuries and changes across both sides shaping how the game gets called. If Miami sees room to move Willis around and attack vertically, the Dolphins may finally have a spot where his legs and arm can work together instead of one fading behind the other. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Key Defender Back As Week 5 Roster Changes Begin
The Dolphins got a notable reinforcement back for their Week 5 matchup with the Bengals, activating defensive tackle Kenneth Grant off injured reserve after he was able to practice all week. Grant had been out with a toe injury, so his return gives Miami another piece inside as it continues sorting through its early-season roster situation, with cornerback Storm Duck still on Reserve/PUP.
Miami also made a series of supporting moves around the roster to get ready for Sunday. Quarterback Brady Cook was waived to create space, with Carlos Washington Jr. and Rodney McGraw elevated from the practice squad for the game, a sign the Dolphins are still juggling depth even as they welcome back one of their more important defensive bodies. [Read more 🡒]