Homecoming: Jeff Hafley returns to New Jersey seeking first Miami win

MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley likes to say it’s about the team and not about him, but he sure would like to have his first NFL head-coaching win take place in his home state of New Jersey.

“My mom will be there,” Hafley said of a Week 7 game at the New York Jets. “I’ll have a lot of people there. My brother, my sister, I’ll probably have 30-plus people at the game. For all of us, I think it’s always nice to go back close to home.”

The Dolphins are 0-5 but entered the week only 4.5-point underdogs at the Jets, who are 2-4.

Miami’s first five opponents were NFL playoff contenders. The Jets likely are not.

And here is more good news: the Dolphins are coming off of an early bye week.

“New energy, man,” said Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks. “Just a chance to reset. Wasn’t a friendly first five weeks of the season. It was tough, kind of going through that. And we still got to live with it, but I think that break gives you a chance to kind of reflect and kind of take a deep breath and I think that’s what this team needed.”

Predictably, the Dolphins’ statistical resume after five games is poor.

Miami ranks better than league average in only 8 of the top 32 essential categories, are sorted and ranked by the NFL.

“Right now, we’re a team that’s running the ball very well, and we’re playing pretty good run defense, too,” Hafley said. “We’re a physical team. I think we have to build on that identity and continue to grow and develop.”

Miami Dolphins seek development, but also a win

A lot of growth, development and patience will be required.

Coaches often say they use the bye week to “self-scout” in an attempt to improve in areas they may have overlooked in the day-to-day grind of a game week.

“With such a small sample size, it’s not huge, but a really good time to evaluate and catch your breath and sometimes when you get to step back, you can see some things clearly,” Hafley said.

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

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Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon breaks out with first 100-yard game in the NFL

There are many areas in which the Dolphins must improve to win a game (short-term goal) and finish better than, say, 2-15 or 3-14 this season.

But here are some self-scout reflections Dolphins players have spoken about after the bye.

Malik Willis wants fewer turnovers

Willis has 4 interceptions and 5 fumbles in his first 5 games with the team.

“It just can’t happen, you know?” Willis said. “I mean, regardless of what went down to force the turnovers, you just can’t have them, regardless. And just risk management because there’s no fault, it’s just the turnover goes to me, so it doesn’t matter. It’s on me.”

Jordyn Brooks wants forced turnovers

The Dolphins rank 29th in the NFL with only 4 turnovers forced, including 1 forced fumble.

“Getting the ball in any way that we can,” Brooks said. “Capitalize on turnover opportunities.”

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Patrick Paul wants fewer penalties

The Dolphins are 22nd in the NFL in net penalties per game.

Paul has been called for holding four times.

“I think just cleaning up our technique and just be more clean so you can’t get a call,” Paul said. “I think that’s just the biggest thing is just don’t give them anything to see.”

Greg Dulcich wants more players on same page

It’s not just Dulcich using the phrase “same page” for the Dolphins woeful offense.

So did Malik Willis. So have coaches and other players. Yes, the offensive roster is very inexperienced. But the time for fewer mistakes has arrived.

“Fundamentals, little things, because it takes all 11 on offense,” Dulcich said. “Everyone has to be in sequence and on the same page. So it’s really just kind of hammering those details and making sure that our knowledge of the things we do is at its best.”

Jacob Rodriguez wants to see clean football

In order for the Dolphins to win a game, they’re going to have to play a “clean” game and every knows it, even a rookie like linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.

“If we eliminate a lot of the penalties that we’ve had and if we avoid negative plays, offense and defensively and special teams, if we just avoid negative plays, we play clean football, a lot of the stuff that when we’re in close games, it’ll fall our way,” Rodriguez said.

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today