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A six-pack of Dolphins notes as OTA practices kick off on Monday:<\/p>\n
\u25aa New quarterbacks coach Bush Hamdan, speaking to reporters for the first time last week, said that second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers has specific skills that are plenty good enough to start in the NFL. But he also was specific about where he needs to improve.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s confident; that\u2019s [my] No. 1 impression,\u201d Hamdan said of the player who will back up Malik Willis. \u201cHe\u2019s got a lot of starting traits. And more than anything, he\u2019s a confident player. Sometimes I tell him too confident in some of the throws he makes down the field. But you\u2019ve got to have a belief in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
The biggest area of growth for Ewers?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to speed him up at times,\u201d Hamdan said. \u201cHe\u2019s such a natural thrower. At times, it looks like we\u2019ve got to speed it up and get the ball out of your hands [more quickly. But] I\u2019ve been extremely impressed with him and his ability to make all the throws.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to come down to decision-making [for him]. Sometimes we can focus on the big throws. As you continue to grow in this league, it always comes down to the throws you don\u2019t make. Year 2 in the offense, he has a leg up in that way of knowing what it takes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ewers went 1-2 in three late season starts, closing with three touchdowns, three interceptions, an 85.5 passer rating and a 63 completion percentage. According to a source, Ewers would have been the front-runner to start if Mike McDaniel had remained the coach and if the new GM relented on that.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Undrafted rookie quarterback Mark Gronowski, who is competing with Cam Miller for a spot on the 53-man roster or a practice squad job, is \u201ca winner,\u201d Hamdan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can all get enamored with arm talent and what he looks like and the athleticism. But there are some guys when you put the ball down that can move an offense, win games.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has good size [6-2, 226], good enough accuracy and arm talent. It\u2019s been a good experience having him here for the first week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gronowski started the most victories of any quarterback in college football history (58) over four years at South Dakota State (where he won two FCS championships) and one year at Iowa (where he went 9-4).<\/p>\n
\u25aa New running backs coach Ladell Betts on the players competing behind De\u2019Von Achane:<\/p>\n
On Jalen Wright: \u201cHe has a lot of speed. It\u2019s about him staying healthy.\u201d…<\/p>\n
On Ollie Gordon II: \u201cHe brings more physicality in terms of size.\u201d<\/p>\n
Betts made clear that \u201ceverybody has got opportunities. It\u2019s a new regime.\u201d…<\/p>\n
New tight ends coach Ron Middleton on Greg Dulcich: \u201cHe\u2019s a talented, talented guy. The sky is the limit for the kid.\u201d As we noted before free agency, Dulcich was the incumbent Dolphins free agent who appeared to be prioritized above all the others in the 30-player class.<\/p>\n
\u25aa Though most of the comments from Dolphins coaches about top pick Kadyn Proctor have focused on his move to guard, offensive line coach Zach Yenser said: \u201cHe can play tackle in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n
But… \u201che fits us better and we need him at guard and he\u2019s going to be a really good guard for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Defensive line coach Austin Clark, who\u2019s also now coaching the team\u2019s edge players, sized up veteran additions Joshua Uche and David Ojabo:<\/p>\n
On Uche: \u201cHe\u2019s accomplished a lot in his career. He\u2019s played a lot of different positions. He\u2019s got a high motor, and I love his mental makeup. We\u2019ll see where that thing takes us.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Ojabo: \u201cHe\u2019s an elusive player. He\u2019s got good twitch. He\u2019s played in that 3-4 outside linebacker mode, doing a lot of drop [into coverage]. I\u2019m excited to see where he goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa Special teams coach Chris Tabor said Riley Patterson did not object to being asked to compete with veteran Zane Gonzalez for the kicking job, even after a season in which Patterson made 27 of 29 field goals.<\/p>\n
\u201cRiley doesn\u2019t mind,\u201d Tabor said. \u201cObviously he had a great year, and he\u2019s a really good player, as is Zane Gonzalez. But if you looked at both of their careers, they\u2019ve competed against a lot of guys all the time, so I think that\u2019s nothing new. Any competitor will say, If I\u2019m in a competition, I play better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tabor coached Gonzalez in Cleveland earlier in his career and said \u201che\u2019s changed. When we drafted him in Cleveland, his stance and everything, his approach, how he does things, you see it. I\u2019m dealing with an older player now as opposed to a rookie.\u201d<\/p>\n
This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 10:23 AM.<\/p>\n