Dolphins new head coach Jeff Hafley sees value in mistakes as his young team prepares for preseason

Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley sees value in his team making mistakes during training camp. While he does not want his players to miss assignments or make critical errors on game days, Hafley encourages them to step out of their comfort zones in practice. "Some guys get so comfortable," Hafley said, "and they’re so scared to make a mistake that they play things safe. How do you grow if you’re going to play things safe? That doesn’t make any sense to me because you’re comfortable or you don’t want to look bad?"

Hafley has applied this mindset to his own coaching style, experimenting with different snap counts and pre-snap penalties. He also wants his players to test out various techniques during drills. "Like step out of your comfort zone. Don’t worry about the results," Hafley said. "That’s what practice is for." When players make mistakes in practice, Hafley views it as an opportunity for learning.

Instead of yelling at them for poor performance, he asks them questions to help them understand what went wrong. He wants to foster an environment where players feel comfortable trying new things and learning from their mistakes. This approach will be put to the test as the Dolphins prepare for their preseason opener against Washington on Friday.