Miami Dolphins focus on team chemistry; try out pilates and paintball
Several Miami Dolphins players have said this year feels different.
And more team bonding activities are on the 2025 agenda.
"I feel like we're closer as a team," Dolphins assistant head coach Jon Embree said during offseason workouts. "I felt like last year we were more of a roster than a team. This year the feeling I'm getting out of us is more of team, the comradery, guys doing stuff together."
Advertisement
The offensive line did pilates together.
The defensive line did paintball together.
The tight end have gone to dinner.
"We're doing more team events," Embree said. "(Coach) Mike (McDaniel) has set more time for us as coaches to do stuff with our players."
Said running back De'Von Achane: "We're trying to build our chemistry."
Said edge rusher Chop Robinson: "You get to see the team chemistry. Everybody just wants the same goal. Everybody wants to be great, everybody wants to win. The only way to do that is doing it all together."
Miami Dolphins try out paintball and pilates
Are you picking up what the Dolphins are putting down for 2025?
Advertisement
The Dolphins are planning to trade star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is very talented, but a bit of a lone wolf.
It's clear Miami, in general, has felt a chemistry shakeup can be beneficial.
"I think that we can further develop and that can contribute to a culture of a team-first mentality," McDaniel said at league meetings.
A higher percentage of players are attending voluntary offseason workouts.
Miami Dolphins' offseason attendance is up
"The attendance is similar to our first year when we had everyone showing up," Embree said.
Embree was asked about McDaniel's approach to some things that came up in 2024, such as player lateness.
Advertisement
McDaniel's plan has always been to empower the players to hold themselves and each other accountable.
Embree made it clear McDaniel has not undergone some dramatic metamorphosis in approach. Sure, there will be tweaks, but McDaniel believes in his core philosophies and principles.
"One thing I have to say about Mike, and some people might think this is a fault, he's even-keeled," Embree said. "You can hear when I'm mad. Everyone knows when I'm not happy. So I think I need to be more like him. He's done a good job of really continuing to empower the true leaders on the team, lifting them up and doing stuff."
Mar 31, 2025; Palm Beach, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel attends the Annual League Meeting at The Breakers. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
And to be clear, Embree implied he is seeing more focus.
Advertisement
"I would have to say that the players have done more," Embree said. "They are hearing all this stuff about discipline and they are taking it personal and feeling like its a reflection on them."
The Dolphins, in recent years, have added a collection of star power.
General manager Chris Grier drafted players like Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane and traded for players like Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey and Bradley Chubb.
But any coach or player will tell you that it takes more than talent to win.
The Dolphins clearly have 2025 themes of focus, accountability and also strengthening overall team chemistry.
Advertisement
In some ways, it all goes hand-in-hand.
"More time within the calendar for us to do the things we need to do to become closer as a team," Embree said.
Jonah Savaiinaea: Miami Dolphins OL coach on Jonah Savaiinaea: Big-body, explosive, anchor
Chop Robinson: Can Miami Dolphins' Chop Robinson make the leap to elite pass rusher?
Zach Wilson: Miami Dolphins coach: Zach Wilson has 'gifted arm' and humility
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 Instagram and on X @schadjoe. 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: Miami Dolphins want to grow closer, so Mike McDaniel adds team bonding
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Atlanta Braves sweep Miami Marlins in historic doubleheader with first female umpire
Marcell Ozuna hit two home runs and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 8-6 on Saturday night to sweep the doubleheader in the first major league games with a female umpire. Jen Pawol worked the doubleheader — at third base in the nightcap and first base in the opening game. She received an ovation during both games when the umpires were introduced. Between games, MLB announced her cap from the first game would be given to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Braves won the opener 7-1 thanks to a strong outing from rookie Hurston Waldrep and a key three-run home run from Michael Harris II. In the second game, Erick Fedde (4-12) won for the first time in three starts with the Braves. Raisel Iglesias had a perfect ninth for his 16th save. Ozuna hit a solo shot in the fourth and a three-run homer an inning later to help the Braves overcome a 4-0 deficit. Catcher Drake Baldwin was 2 for 5 with three RBIs. He had two RBIs in the first game while serving as DH. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (6-11) gave up five runs in five innings, including both of Ozuna's homers. His ERA climbed to 6.55. Xavier Edwards and Heriberto Hernandez had two RBIs each for the Marlins. Rookie Jakob Marsee was 2 for 2 with 2 walks. He is hitting .448 in his first 10 games as a big leaguer. Ozuna's three-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Braves their first lead at 5-4. It traveled 416 feet to left to cap a four-run inning. Alcantara has given up at least five runs in 10 of his 23 starts this season, including five of his last eight. Marlins RHP Cal Quantrill (4-9, 5.21) will finish off the five-game series opposite LHP Joey Wentz (2-3, 5.34) on Sunday.
Forbes
4 hours ago
- Forbes
After Rocky Debut, David Bednar Shines In First Full Week For The Yankees
Shortly after 6:00 pm on July 31 as trades were announced after the frenzied deadline, GM Brian Cashman summarized the deals by ticking off the names of David Bednar, Jake Bird and Camilo Doval as part of a busy week that resulted in seven new players being acquired. During the roughly 15-minute video conference, Cashman summed up adding the three relievers as 'mission accomplished' in the context of improving a group who produced an ERA over 6.00 in July. Through the first full week since the deals, the results may be inconclusive, though David Bednar is the leader in terms of effectiveness with a pair of five-out appearances in one-run games. Bednar debuted on Aug. 1 after flying to Miami from Denver and allowed two runs in a 13-12 loss when the Yankees blew a six-run lead and a 9-4 lead. He followed up his Yankee debut with a scoreless inning Monday in Texas when the Yankees wound up with an 8-5 loss in 10 innings in a game where Devin Williams allowed a tying homer to Joc Pederson and Bird allowed a game-ending homer to Josh Jung. His most impressive work was a gutsy 42-pitch outing Wednesday afternoon in a game the Yankees needed in the worst way, getting the save by striking out Adolis Garcia. Bednar's 102nd career save occurred after he told manager Aaron Boone he could finish the game, similar to how Mike Mussina waved Joe Torre off and finished a complete game in Detroit on May 31, 2006. 'That's a dog effort right there,' Boone told reporters Wednesday. 'I love that mentality. That's who he's been.' His second set of impressive pitches occurred Saturday in another game the Yankees needed. After various old-timers shared views on the current Yankees ahead of a ceremony honoring the 2000 team, who won a third straight World Series after being two games over .500 in June and losing 15 of their final 18 regular season games, Bednar was one strike away from ending the eighth with a 4-3 lead but walked Christian Walker. He kept the game tied by getting strikeouts with his fastball and then easily finished it off in the ninth. 'I can't throw Bednar any deeper into a fire. He gets ahead of Walker there and ends up losing him. He doesn't even flinch and then [gets the strikeouts] and then has the one-two-three ninth,' Boone said. It was one of the least stressful late inning appearances in recent memory for the Yankees, whose bullpen ERA is a 4.24. It also occurred about 18 hours after Williams quietly spoke and said 'I stink right now' following an outing that saw him allowed an RBI hit to Carlos Correa and a three-run homer to Taylor Trammell with both hits coming off changeups, a pitch opponents are hitting .211 against. Williams is a free agent after this season and it is the reason why Milwaukee traded him to the Yankees in December. Bednar is signed through next season, giving the Yankees plenty of chances to see him in big situations after importing him from the Pittsburgh Pirates. As for other imports, Doval allowed three runs and took the loss in his debut to start the disastrous weekend. He turned in three straight scoreless outings but committed a throwing error on a comebacker that set up the Yankees blowing the lead before recovering. Out of the new guys, the early returns on Bird may be the worst . Bird was sent to Triple-A earlier this week after allowing seven runs in his first three appearances following a stint in Colorado where he posted a 4.73 ERA in 45 appearances. It remains to be seen whether mission accomplished will happen the way the Yankees want but Bednar looked the part a few hours after Mariano Rivera tore his Achilles, resulting in an upcoming surgery for the greatest reliever of all time. The Yankees would be aided by deeper length from their starters after seeing a starter complete six innings 43 times so far and none since July 30 – the day before the three relievers were added The Yankees began this season with Williams closing out games. Then they pivoted to Luke Weaver when Williams faltered. After Weaver injured his hamstring warming up in Dodger Stadium June 1, Williams succeeded for a while before stumbling to the point where he allowed nine runs in his past five appearances. Now it seems all roads in the ninth point to Bednar for most closing situations.
Fox Sports
6 hours ago
- Fox Sports
Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears - August 10, 2025
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that he believes Waller (undisclosed), who remains on the active/PUP list, is roughly one week away from practicing, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports,
