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Dolphins news: Jeff Hafley left in awe of linebacker who became preseason star after signing
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- Dolphins news: Jeff Hafley left in awe of linebacker who became preseason star after signing
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With the Miami Dolphins ' preseason continuing in preparation for the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sept. 13 against the Las Vegas Raiders , the team is coming off a 26-3 exhibition loss on Saturday. As the Dolphins are led by head coach Jeff Hafley , preparing for his first season with the team, he would point out a bright side from the loss, specifically with a linebacker who was signed to the team on Friday.
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After the loss, Hafley would give credit to the defense in the situations they were put in, and highlighted rookie linebacker Stephen Dix Jr., saying that he met him on Saturday morning and had him play the entire second half of the game. Plus, he gave Dix the duty of calling the defense, even only using two defensive play calls the entire half, sharing how impressed he was with the Arkansas product.
"We were able to play only like two calls in the second half, which has never happened to me in my life. So I just give him credit for going out and fighting. That's what the preseason is all about, to find out who those guys are," Hafley said, via Ari Meirov.
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Dolphins' Jeff Hafley continues on Stephen Dix Jr.
Hafley would continue about Dix, who went undrafted out of Arkansas, as he first started with the Arizona Cardinals , then made his way to the Dolphins in a move announced on Friday. The coach recalls meeting him and expressing his respect for the player, with him totaling three tackles on Saturday.
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"It's like calling in a linebacker, walking to my office saying, 'Hey, how you doing? My name is Jeff, and you're going to play real football for us today.' Where else in the world does that happen? I mean, the guy literally showed up this morning, didn't know his team, and was giving calls in the huddle. That is a story. I respect that, though, man. That guy played hard," Hafley said.
At any rate, it remains to be seen if Dix remains with Miami for the long-term, though he's off to a good start with Hafley.
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