Jul 28, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to reporters after practice at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Erik Schlitt · SB Nation Thu, November 5, 2026 at 1:30 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Detroit Lions (5-2) and Miami Dolphins (1-6) will square off in Week 9, with the Lions looking to extend their three-game winning streak—and the Dolphins seeking their second win of the season.
"(Dolphins Head) Coach (Jeff) Hafley's done a good job in his first year," Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Wednesday. "A lot of similarities to—just reminds me a little of what we were when we came in. They're young, they're hungry, they're active. They run, they hit, they hustle, they finish, try to play disciplined ball, and they're playing that way."
Let's take a closer look at the Dolphins' coaching staff, the scheme they run, and scouting notes from their most recently viewed games.
Head coaching seasons : 1st in the NFL NFL coaching seasons: 10th season (Dolphins, Packers, 49ers, Browns, Bucs) Defensive coordinator : 2 seasons (Packers 2024-25) Other coaching roles held : DBs coach, Head Coach Boston College (2020-23), DC at Ohio State (2019) Influences: Robert Saleh (scheme); Greg Schiano (Xs & Os), Dave Wannstedt (leadership) Coached under: Kyle Shanahan, Saleh, Schiano, Wannstedt, Matt LaFleur, Mike Pettine, and Ryan Day (OSU) Lions coaching connection: Jim O'Neil (Lions safeties coach/Assistant head coach) was the Browns DC in 2014-15 and the 49ers DC in 2016 when Hafley was the DBs coach for both teams Play caller : Yes
NFL coaching seasons : 13th season (Dolphins, Texans, 49ers, Washington) Offensive coordinator seasons : 4th season (Dolphins 2025-present, Texans 2023-24) Previous coaching positions : Passing game coordinator, pass game specialist, offensive & defensive assistant Influences: Mike and Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, Matt Lafleur, Sean McVay Coached under: Shanahan, Shanahan, McDaniel, and DeMeco Ryans
Passing game : Shanahan Spread Running scheme : Outside zone Scouting notes :
Shanahan Core principles: marry pass and run, Shotgun looks (52%), lean on play-action (26.6%, 11th in the NFL), bunch formations, screens, etc.
21 personnel (28%) – traditional FB usage
Blocking scheme balance: Outside Zone (24%), Man (20%), Inside Zone (14%), Power (12.5%), Puller (7%), Counter (7%)
Prefer to get downhill with RB Ollie Gordon, with electric RB De'Von Achane on IR (ACL)
Rushing yards per game: 123.3 (11th); Rush yards per play: 4.4 (11th)
Heavy reliance on explosive plays over consistency in the run game
Explosives: EPA per rush: -0.03 (10th); Explosive run plays: 16.7% (3rd); 10+ yard rushes: 26 (7th)
Consistency is low: Success rate: 38.7% (20th); DVOA rushing: 26th; Stuffed Rate: 20% (26th)
Passing game is not clicking; DVOA passing: 26th
EPA per pass: -0.16 (24th); Explosive passing game: 24th
Pressures allowed (7 games): 99 (16th); Pressure rate: 43.2% (31st); Time to pressure: 2.77 (27th)
Sacks allowed: 21 (21st); Sack rate: 10.3% (31st)
RPO/rollout/bootleg concepts with QB Malik Willis to buy time in muddy pocket
"Offensively, they really have an athletic offensive line that's got mass. They run a versatile scheme. (RB Ollie) Gordon is a heavy back. You give him a lane, and he can hit it, hit it with speed, build the speed, and that's where he gets dangerous. You let him hit the line of scrimmage with any type of speed and any crease and he can go. […] There's a ton of this eye candy and motions and cutting the defense off. It's a good scheme and they run it well, screens, gadgets, play pass off of it. (QB) Malik (Willis)'s done a heck of a job with all that stuff. (WR) Malik Washington, they got young receivers outside that are growing, up and coming, growing. Washington is a good football player, plays in the slot, he can play outside and he's also their punt returner. So, he's pretty dynamic in that regard. Look, this is a hungry team and they're playing good football."
NFL coaching seasons : 3rd season (Dolphins, Packers) Defensive coordinator seasons : 1st season Previous roles : LB coach, defensive assistant Influences: Jeff Hafley, Matt LaFleur Coached under: Hafley, LaFleur Staff ties to Detroit : Joe Barry (Lions DC during winless season in 2008)
Base : 4-3 Wide-9, 1-gapping front Coverage : Zone-heavy, split-safety/Cover-3 Scouting notes :
Stay in Base 43 defensive front 52% of the time
Blitzing percentages are low (23%, 29th in the NFL) and mainly on third downs
"Replacement" blitzing (blitz a linebacker, drop an edge into coverage)
Pressure comes from DL stunts and twists (almost all pressure)
Pressures: 77 (31st); Pressure rate: 35.6% (18th)
Two of their best three defensive games have come in the past two weeks
Week 4 vs. Vikings — Pressure rate: 37%; 4 sacks
Week 7 vs. Jets — Pressure rate: 46%; 2 sacks
Week 8 vs. Patriots — Pressure rate: 50%; 3 sacks
Pass defense is bad: Pass yards allowed per play: 8.3 ypp (32nd); EPA per pass allowed: 0.26 (32nd)
Zone coverage 80%; Man coverage (15%) — man coverage always means Cover-1
Single-high: Heavy Cover-3 (33%) and Cover-1 (15%)
Two-high: Cover-6 (17.6%), Cover-4 (14%), and Cover-2 Zone (13%)
Subpackages (48%) mean three-safety/Big-nickel sets (47%); rarely in Dime (1%)
Pre-snap with two-high safety looks (56%)
Post-snap option to shift to single-high (44%) and drop one into the box
Safeties help in the run game — mostly middle of the League results
Rush yards allowed per game: 113.1 (16th); per rush: 3.8 (8th)
Vulnerable to explosive runs: 10.17% (17th); EPA per rush allowed: -0.06 (20th)
"Defensively (DL Zach) Sieler is really the anchor in there. He's played good football for a really long time. Smart, crafty, powerful, just can get an edge in the pass game. Active linebackers, with (Jordyn) Brooks and (Jacob) Rodriguez, football players. (CB Chris) Johnson's done a heck of a job. Nickel corner, he's pretty versatile in that regard."
Source: Sports
