Still, the traits \u2014 big arm, mobile, able to make off-schedule throws \u2014 stood out.<\/p>\n
\u201cReally talented individual,\u201d Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said. \u201cCan throw the ball everywhere. He can use his legs. He\u2019s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Patullo will certainly have a voice in the offense\u2019s construction, it will ultimately be up to Slowik. The offense will likely somewhat resemble that of former coach Mike McDaniel \u2013 both of whom come from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree<\/a>. How Slowik balances that the scheme\u2019s basic principles with Willis\u2019 skill set will be key.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have some core beliefs and fundamentals that we really want to make sure we do,\u201d Slowik said. \u201cI\u2019m sure coach [Jeff] Hafley has talked about it. I believe in keeping a defense off balance. I believe in running the football, skewing as close to 50-50 on first, second down.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s core tenants that are always going to be there. Everything beyond that you really are working within your scheme to fit the guys you have.\u201d<\/p>\n Although he\u2019s a first-time starter, Willis isn\u2019t new to the NFL. He was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022 who never got a full opportunity to start. That his circumstances have changed doesn\u2019t appear to have affected him as a person, something that has apparently endeared him to his teammates, per quarterback coach Bush Hamdan.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s battle-tested,\u201d Hamdan said, adding that \u201che knows what it takes\u201d to succeed. \u201cIt\u2019s authentic. It\u2019s believable. I don\u2019t know if you guys have had a lot of time to spend with him, but he\u2019s just as good a human being as I\u2019ve been around in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n While his personality won\u2019t certainly win games outright, it can bring a level of calm<\/a> to the offense. With as many young and unproven players that the Dolphins will likely trot out, the confidence that Willis has and injects into his teammates cannot be overlooked.<\/p>\n \u201cHe cares about his teammates, not just from a setting of it\u2019s going to make him play better but because he realizes you don\u2019t get these opportunities often,\u201d Hamdan said. \u201cHe\u2019s done a tremendous job of rallying all the guys, regardless of where they\u2019re from, what position they play and that\u2019s been a big thing for us as we start this new year.\u201d<\/p>\n What the offense will ultimately look like remains to be seen. And as much as Slowik wasn\u2019t a popular pick considering how poorly the Dolphins\u2019 passing offense performed in 2025, there still should be some optimism about his capabilities. Case in point: look at how the Houston Texans\u2019 C.J. Stroud \u2018s play has declined<\/a> since Slowik left after the 2024 season.<\/p>\n If Slowik brings a 2023 Texans version of the offense to Miami and Willis thrives, the sky will be the limit \u2014 that is, once the Dolphins improve their wide receiver core.<\/p>\n
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