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Savaiinaea goes from 8 sacks allowed to 0; Dolphins didn't give up
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- Savaiinaea goes from 8 sacks allowed to 0; Dolphins didn't give up
Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley brought up guard Jonah Savaiinaea unsolicitedly one day after the team's first victory of the season , at the Jets.
"If you watch Jonah yesterday, Jonah was so physical against what I thought is a really good front," Hafley said.
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Hafley said that watching Jonah and Miami's offensive line was "fun."
Hafley has been showing the entire team positive highlights from Jonah and the blocking game.
Talk about a development.
Holy Development!
Miami Dolphins ' Jonah Savaiinaea takes huge step
As a rookie, Savaiinaea was arguably the worst guard in the NFL.
According to Pro Football Focus, he graded 81st among 81 graded guards.
But the Dolphins did not give up on Savaiinaea. And in 2026, after a move from left guard to right guard, he's been ... well ... pretty solid.
Last season, Jonah was an extreme liability in pass protection. That is not the case at the moment.
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And this is exactly what 2026 is about for the Miami Dolphins .
Savaiinaea was a second-round pick last year. The Dolphins traded up to get him.
He's big and strong so how could he possibly have been so terrible?
Hafley and Miami's new front office and coaching staff were determined to find out. They were determined to do everything they could to help Jonah improve.
"It's got to be about us and developing these players because I think what you're seeing is these young guys are starting to play better and there is development and that's got to continue to be the main thing," Hafley said. "It's growth and development, so when you turn on the film Week 17, are we better than we are right now? Because that's the whole key."
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Miami Dolphins NFL Draft plans alter if Jonah Savaiinaea succeeds
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jonah Savaiinaea #71 of the Miami Dolphins walks to the line during the NFL game against the Las Vegas Raidersat Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 27-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
One thing Savaiinaea said he's done is think less about every detail of every technique and every assignment. By not focusing on every scenario that could go wrong, he's played more confidently.
Savaiinaea has told me if he's wrong on a play, he just wants to make sure he hits someone with aggression and conviction. That mindset shift has eased a burden.
"That's the name of the game right now is just go out there and play," Jonah said earlier this season.
The statistical improvements are staggering.
Last season, Savaiinaea gave up 8 sacks. This season, Savaiinaea has given up 0 sacks.
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"Much more stout in there," Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said earlier this season.
Last season, Savaiinaea gave up 45 pressures (2.6 per game). This season, Savaiinaea has given up 9 pressures (1.5 per game).
Jonah Savaiinaea's statistical improvement is staggering
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: Jonah Savaiinaea #71 of the Miami Dolphins and Tacario Davis #20 of the Cincinnati Bengals pose after a game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 11, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
"Jonah, I feel like he's better in all areas overall, pass game and run game and just IQ of the game," veteran center Aaron Brewer said earlier this season. "I feel like he developed a lot."
Savaiinaea was graded by PFF at 28.4 last season and this year it's 49.8.
It hasn't been perfect, but this is real progress. This means Miami does not have to rush to replace Savaiinaea with Jarrett Kingston or Caedan Wallace or DJ Campbell or Andrew Meyer or anyone else on the Dolphins roster you may not be very familiar with.
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Everyone has known the name "Savaiinaea," but last year it was for all the wrong reasons.
This year, he's hardly talked about, and it's for all the right reasons.
Miami has so many needs that it surely would prefer to avoid selecting yet another guard with a pick in the first three rounds of the 2027 NFL Draft.
At the moment, it appears the Dolphins won't have to.
That is progress. That is a positive development.
That's exactly what this season is about for the Dolphins.
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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post . You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Threads and Instagram and X at @sc hadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter . Help support our work by subscribing today .
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Savaiinaea goes from 8 sacks allowed to 0; Dolphins didn't give up
