There has been a massive stink made out of the concerning lack of depth in the Miami Dolphins’ secondary, and for good reason. But early reports coming out of camp seem to confirm what writers like myself have hypothesized, this front seven is going to be really, really good.
Back in March, when Kader Kohou was healthy and Jalen Ramsey was happy, this front office made a few key signings. Along with the handful of new linebackers receiving contracts was two time Super Bowl champion Willie Gay.
Related posts
Gay is an old school off the ball linebacker who does his work from the second level. He is not a pass rusher, he patrols the second level with good instincts in the passing game and a huge impact on run defense.
ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques says Gay hasn’t missed a beat with his new team, detailing the impact he had on Wednesday’s practice.
“In the span of about five minutes, Dolphins linebacker Willie Gay Jr. had two sacks and broke up a pass — a typical day’s work for what looks like Miami’s best free agent signing of this year’s cycle,” Louis-Jacques writes. “Every day, Gay makes a play, whether it’s getting to the quarterback or getting his hands on the ball. It hasn’t translated to an orange jersey (for the best player in practice) quite yet but his impact has been obvious through the team’s first 12 practices.”
Willie Gay Speaks On His Role With Miami
Gay was a late second round draft pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021. He had a relatively quiet rookie season. His second year he showed real strides, intercepting two passes in 12 games and making nearly 50 tackles.
It was during the back-to-back Super Bowl run that Gay really established himself. In 29 games during this run, Gay made 146 tackles, intercepted two passes, recorded four sacks, and was credited with 12 passes broken up.
After an unsuccessful one year contract with the New Orleans Saints, the linebacker says he is focused on figuring out how he can best help the team succeed.
“Whatever they ask me to do, I try to do to the best of my ability,” he said earlier this week. “Being able to blitz and drop in coverage and cover man-to-man, I feel like is my skill set. Obviously, there is always going to be something to get better at within those things. Like I was telling him, being able to get into those passing lanes a lot this camp has been big for me. So continuing to use my skill set every way I can.”
Mike McDaniel Says Gay Is ‘Magnetic’
Gay has been bringing the energy all camp.
“I just love the game so much, love being on the field so much,” Gay said of his effort. “Like everyone says, energy is contagious. If you bring it, it’s going to always spread like a virus.”
Coach Mike McDaniel says his energy has done just that. Praising the ways the sixth year backer has been affecting his new teammates just two weeks into his first training camp in South Beach.
“He’s magnetic,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “You can feel his presence inside the building, and he was a fast friend for a lot of the guys in the locker room. But what has jumped off is his energy isn’t a one-off thing. He brings that every day. It’s a pillar of who he is as a person as we really get to know him.”