The Miami Dolphins opened training camp with lowered expectations. 'I don't give a s---," one starter said.
MIAMI GARDENS — "They talk, we do."
That's what Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has been telling players about lowered national expectations.
That's the story told as revealed at the start of training camp by Dolphins veteran Bradley Chubb.
"They talk, we do," Chubb repeated. "At the end of the day, we only go out there and control what we do. The work is gonna be put in each and every day. And at the end of the day, man, we're gonna look up at the end of the season and see where we at."
Expectations are, in fact, low.
ESPN and Pro Football Focus have evaluated Miami to have the 24th-best roster in the NFL.
Professional oddsmakers have the Dolphins ranked around the 9th-best team in the AFC.
Miami has not won a playoff game in three years under Mike McDaniel.
Miami Dolphins training camp opens with low expectations
Miami has not won a playoff game since the 2000 season.
Many are predicting a 9-8 or 8-9 season.
These Dolphins have a chip on their shoulders.
Asked about lowered expectations, gregarious and garrulous fullback Alec Ingold retorted: "I don't give a s---. Catch me in training camp, catch these guys working. Like, they can say whatever they want to. We are going out every single day and we're working. And people want to use that as motivation, great. Good for you."
If the Dolphins can channel their annoyance with analysts on ESPN and NFL Network, and X and Instagram posters and Youtubers and podcasters into anger on the field, that could work out.
"We try not to pay too much attention to outside noise, because we control our own destiny at the end of the day," Dolphins star Tyreek Hill said on the eve of training camp. "I mean, I think that's great that people kind of put us in that underdog situation, because if coach brings it up or whoever brings it up, receivers coach, that makes guys even more hungry, you know what I'm saying? To get back what's ours. So we have a real nice chance to be special here this year. I think guys have matured a lot."
Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel's message resonates
One reason players cited for belief this season will go well is familiarity with both the offensive and defensive schemes. For the first time in Miami, for example, Chubb will have the same defensive coordinator ― Anthony Weaver — in consecutive seasons.
"Everybody's kind of mastered the scheme," Chubb said. "Not just learning stuff anymore, it's kind of just going, reviewing it and putting our spin on it and mastering it the way we know how to."
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at [email protected] and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins open training camp with lowered expectations
Category: Football
