Physicality needs to become part of 2024 Miami Dolphins M.O.

For the past two seasons, if there was one word you could use to define the Miami Dolphins, it would be “lightning.” Their players on both sides of the ball are lightning fast, they are a lightning rod for media talking points and controversy, one could even say that they’ve captured lightning in a bottle when their offense is running on all cylinders. But the easiest counterpoint to all that is Miami’s apparent lack of physicality. Where’s the thunder to go with the lightning?

Physicality is not just a trait, it’s a mindset. One that a team either has, or it doesn’t. In 2023, as fun as it was to watch the Dolphins overwhelm unprepared opponents with their speed and timing, more typically physical teams were usually their weakness. That lack of physicality on their part soon spread and gave Miami a reputation that they wouldn’t shake all year long.

Now, with head coach Mike McDaniel in his third year as head coach, and the entire team backing newly-paid franchise QB Tua Tagovailoa, they’re looking to finally change the narrative and add some physicality to their game. Some thunder to go with their lightning.

“New guys like myself pride ourselves on being physical, and I think of any great defense, you have to be physical.” Linebacker Jordyn Brooks said on Tuesday. “We want to be feared and so right now, we’re in the process of doing that. Not everyday is going to be perfect, but that’s why we got the pads on working in the heat and just emphasizing it day after day until we get to the point where we feel like we’re the bullies on the team.”

WOW… 1st round pick Chop Robinson continues to WRECK at #Dolphins camp, or you can very clearly see his elite speed & explosiveness.

Chop had the fastest 40 TIME EVER for edge & 10-yard split for anyone over 250 lbs, along with the longest broad jump 🤯
pic.twitter.com/4KpPlnGAdu

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) July 30, 2024

But physicality is more than just being big and strong, it’s about mental toughness as well. No one has a better idea of what that’s like than veteran safety Jordan Poyer, who joined the Dolphins this offseason after spending his entire career to date with the Buffalo Bills, the team that has spent more time pushing Miami around than any other these past several years.

“I think just sharing the experience.” Poyer said on July 23rd. “Like I said, playing against this team over the past few years, you kind of get a sense of, ‘OK, if you get on top of this team, they might fold.’ And there are some teams that are – this is just being honest, so what is that that happens in those moments where we get hit in the mouth? What happens in those moments so we’re like, ‘Hey, we’re good. Let’s bounce back. We’re good. It’s a 60-minute game, it’s a long game.’ I’ve been in games where I’ve been up 24 points and end up losing. I’ve been in games where we’ve been down 21 points and end up winning. So it’s just continuing to just play, play the game.”

To be clear, Poyer gains nothing by admitting this. He is merely stating that the perception of the Miami Dolphins outside of the bubble of team fandom, is that Buffalo – and others most likely – saw Miami as dangerous but vulnerable to being pushed around. That is a problem that cannot repeat itself in 2024.

So far, Miami is showing they’ve made changes to how much physicality they have. Only when the season begins will we learn if it truly pays off.