Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel on starter absent from minicamp, Fangio’s impact and more
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that defensive tackle Zach Sieler will be at the team’s three-day minicamp, but starting center Connor Williams is not.
Neither player was at the two voluntary organized team activities practices open to reporters last month. McDaniel said Williams’ absence is not excused but he has been in communication with him.
Both players are eligible for extensions and Sieler’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, previously said that he is seeking a new contract for Sieler, who is entering the final year of a three-year extension he signed in 2020. Sieler has a $2.5 million base salary in 2023 but no guaranteed money.
Williams signed a two-year deal with the Dolphins last offseason and thrived in a move from guard to center, starting every game in the 2023 season. He is set to make $6.5 million, $2 million of which is guaranteed.
“I think that’s part of my job, is to be empathetic ... so there’s a bunch of things that come up,” McDaniel said. “A bunch of stuff that came up last offseason, that will come up next offseason. That’s always something that you’re juggling and working with players to have your team perform at its highest ability.”
McDaniel addressed these other topics:
▪ On defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s influence on the offense: “A subset unintended consequence is that the technique with which they perform their assignments really takes advantage of poor techniques offensively ... the way they pattern match and really play with vision, as a receiver it’s the best training you can get, as a tight end it’s the best training you can get.
“We’re pushing that envelope on both sides of the ball now ... I want guys trading punches and handling adversity.”
▪ On the challenges of facing a primarily zone defensive scheme: ‘The defenses that are capable of playing good zone defense make you earn everything and they really force teams to execute and execute across the board. ... In zone defense, you really have to get your depth. The quarterback has to be precise with his footwork ... It is more of a process, zone defense. But I think the reward you reap when it’s sound are huge.”
▪ On wide receiver Erik Ezukanma’s progression: “It almost feels like a redshirt year ... He’s probably made the biggest gains from last year to this year in terms of ownership of the offense. That allows him the opportunity to carve out a specific role ... The challenge is real but he’s put himself in a position to really compete for an opportunity. I’m happy for him as it stands and moving forward can’t wait to see what he does.”
