Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis said the team is focused on improvement after an 0-2 start, with 15 games remaining and its first regular-season home game at Hard Rock Stadium still ahead. Willis discussed the offense, his development and the team’s response during a postgame media availability on Sept. 23, 2026.
The Miami Dolphins have not yet played a regular-season game at home. Willis said he is looking forward to playing at Hard Rock Stadium after experiencing the atmosphere during the preseason, when he saw Dolphins fans in the building.
“I’m excited. I think it would be cool, just like the preseason was cool,” Willis said. “I mean, being on the sideline and just having the Fins fans in the building. It was cool and I just expect that to be doubled or tripled.”
Willis Sees First-Half Offensive Progress
Willis said the offense executed better in the first half than it did in the first game. He also said the group needed to carry that execution into the second half while continuing to develop with young players handling responsibilities they had not previously been asked to perform.
“I think that we were executing better than we had been in the first game,” Willis said. “And I think we need to continue to do that in the second half and that game looks a lot different.”
The quarterback said the offense must continue to sustain drives and produce points, including in the red zone. He acknowledged that starting 0-2 was difficult but said the season remains in progress, with the offense and defense continuing to work toward complementary football.
“We have 15 more games to do that. It’s not the end of the world,” Willis said. He also said the team has to keep working, stay positive and focus on what it sees in the film.
Quarterback Reviews His Decisions
Willis said he evaluates his pocket decisions through film study by examining the offensive concepts, the location of routes and the opportunities available when a play needs to be extended. That process includes recognizing when a play is not developing and avoiding an unnecessary risk.
“I think twice I should have probably thrown it away because there was nothing there,” Willis said. He added that knowing when it is not the right time to make a play remains part of his development.
Willis said his comfort level improved from the first game to the second as he experienced the ups and downs of the contest. Although the team came out on the wrong side of the result, he said those repetitions can help players respond to situations they have not previously faced and learn from mistakes.
He also said he gives himself little leniency despite having fewer than 10 career NFL starts. Willis said he holds himself to the same standard he applies to his teammates, and perhaps an even higher one.
“I hold myself to the same standard I will hold them and I think that’s fair,” Willis said.
Communication Guides Willis’ Evaluation
Willis said communication is central to the coaching and feedback process. He said he seeks perspectives from Bobby, Bush and KP while recognizing that others can view a play differently than he does.
“It’s really just communication. That’s everything,” Willis said. “Give me your perspective. I’ll ask Bobby, I’ll ask Bush, I’ll ask KP. Just continuing to get their perspective.”
Willis also said he relies on God, his teammates and his family while moving forward from difficult results. He described the team’s development as an ongoing process rather than something that can be solved immediately.
“I lean on God. First and foremost, I lean on God, just trusting in the plan he got for my life,” Willis said.
Willis Discusses Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones
Willis said the Miami Dolphins cannot approach a game as a contest between him and Patrick Mahomes. Instead, he said the offense must execute whenever it receives an opportunity, while the defense does the same on its side of the ball.
Willis said Mahomes is a player he respects and acknowledged his ability to use different arm slots at a high level. Willis said, however, that his own use of different arm slots was not inspired by Mahomes.
He also discussed Chris Jones and the challenge created by a defender who can rush from multiple positions. Willis said pressure is difficult regardless of where it comes from and that the Miami Dolphins must continue to improve and stay solid.
When asked about designed runs and read-option plays, Willis said his priority is executing whatever play is called. “I would like to go out and try to execute the offense best as I can,” he said.
Home Opportunity Remains Ahead
Willis said the first regular-season game at Hard Rock Stadium will give the Miami Dolphins an opportunity to play in front of their home fans after opening the season without a home game. He said the preseason experience at the stadium was positive and that he expects a larger regular-season crowd.
The source does not identify the opponent or date for the scheduled home game. Willis said the team’s immediate responsibility is to use its remaining 15 games to improve, maintain communication and apply what it finds during film review.
FSB Take
Willis’ comments identified film study, communication and offensive execution as central parts of the Miami Dolphins’ response to an 0-2 start. His acknowledgment that he should have thrown the ball away twice provided a specific example of the decisions he is evaluating as a quarterback with fewer than 10 NFL starts. The team’s first regular-season home game at Hard Rock Stadium remains ahead, but the opponent and date were not provided in the source.
Source: Original report