MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel received a question about left tackle Patrick Paul at his Thursday morning news conference and realized something.
“Well, that’s my first question about him,” McDaniel responded. “As an offensive lineman, it’s probably positive. If we’re not talking about an official, he’s probably doing a solid job, right? Offensive linemen kind of have the same experience.”
As the Dolphins have started 0-3 and have major questions on the right side of the offensive line with two injuries, plus have rookie left guard Jonah Savaiinaea struggling on that side, Paul has been a solidifying force at his position, along with center Aaron Brewer.
“I think Patrick had as good of an offseason, has developed as much as any player that I’ve really been around,” McDaniel said of the first-time starter, taking the starting role of the now-retired Terron Armstead. “And he has a serious — it’s like in high school or college how different freshman year is from sophomore year — in the truest sense, as a player, he’s that way. And within that, he’s found appropriate expectations so that he doesn’t make himself worse when there’s a play that he doesn’t like.
“That’s been a big climb for him. And I really think that we’ve just scratched the surface. I think he feels the same way. But I’ve been happy that he’s displayed the endless amounts of work that he’s put in on tape.”
As is necessary from any NFL left tackle, Paul has been solid in pass protection against top edge rushers he’s faced.
“There’s a lot of times he’s able to keep a pass rusher pretty far away from the launch point,” McDaniel said.
He also has liked his run-blocking, noting a play where he and rookie Savaiinaea made a strong combo block to open up a lane for running back Ollie Gordon II on the opening-drive touchdown.
McDaniel has also seen Paul rebound from minor mistakes and likes his understanding that it won’t all come immediately to him.
“It’s a journey,” the Dolphins coach said. “That’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Darren Waller practice plan
McDaniel said, after tight end Darren Waller had a more extensive practice Tuesday, the big pass-catching target will have an easier session Thursday.
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“We’re just trying to be smart. He’s going to be working football,” McDaniel said. “How many reps he gets in the practice, that’s what we adjust or just depending on, really, feedback. You go back and forth between moderation and full participation. After that practice and on Wednesday and the situations that we’re planning for him — we have a very well-planned high-low process. So he will do less than he did the other day.”
The goal is to have the practice work prepare him for availability but probably a limited snap count against the Jets on Monday.
“That level is finally, through a fine-tooth comb, trying to get him all the full speed work at all the plays that he’ll be participating in,” McDaniel said.
Jets QB situation
Jets quarterback Justin Fields is progressing through concussion protocol to the point of participating in practice Thursday. He still has to advance through the latter half of the five stages of the NFL’s protocol.
New York coach Aaron Glenn told reporters Fields will start Monday night if he clears protocol before the game.
After Fields suffered a concussion Sept. 14, backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor started in the Jets’ loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday.
Fields, with the Chicago Bears in 2022, once ran for an NFL regular season-record 178 rushing yards as a quarterback against the Dolphins.
“You better be prepared to play football against (either one),” McDaniel said. “This much I know: Dude’s going to have a strong arm, and he’s going to have the ability to make yards running the football on pass plays.”
This story will be updated.
