MIAMI GARDENS — New Miami Dolphins linebacker Willie Homosexual Jr. begins coaching camp practices letting out a loud scream, like one thing you’d hear on a roller-coaster.
It’s one thing he has introduced with him to Miami after he began doing it his second 12 months within the NFL, 2021 with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
He remembers the genesis of his patented yell vividly. The Chiefs had moved observe inside as a consequence of rain. He felt the staff’s vitality declining and determined to simply shout his lungs out.
“Subsequent factor I do know, individuals simply began buzzing about it,” mentioned Homosexual, an undisputed coaching camp standout with the Dolphins these previous two weeks. “However I by no means did it for (different) individuals. I do it to get my blood flowing just a little bit. In all places I’m going now, it turns into large.”
Whether or not Homosexual does it for others or not, the vitality he releases goes to permeate throughout the soccer staff regardless.
“He’s magnetic,” coach Mike McDaniel mentioned earlier than Sunday’s observe. “You may really feel his presence contained in the constructing, and he was a quick pal for lots of the fellows within the locker room. However what has jumped off is his vitality isn’t a one-off factor. He brings that daily.
“It’s a pillar of who he’s as an individual as we actually get to know him.”
Homosexual’s ardour for the sport has actually reemerged in Dolphins camp after he revealed just lately he “clocked out” mentally final season round Week 11 as he wasn’t getting a lot enjoying time for a New Orleans Saints staff whose season had gone to waste.
“I simply love the sport a lot, love being on the sphere a lot,” Homosexual mentioned. “Like everybody says, vitality is contagious. For those who deliver it, it’s going to at all times unfold like a virus.”
Homosexual has constantly made large performs everywhere in the area in coaching camp. The 6-foot-1, 246-pound athletic freak provides a flexible piece to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme. Homosexual can shed blocks and assault ball carriers in run protection. He has flashed pass-rush prowess on the blitz, and he has impressed in move protection. He can do it from inside or exterior within the linebacker corps.
“Simply let me run and hit,” Homosexual mentioned. “No matter they need me to do. Inside, I can go get the ball from that angle. We’re engaged on some issues exterior the place I’m blitzing off the sting and attending to the quarterback. … Any place I’m put in, I’m going to attempt to make performs.”
Of all Homosexual has proven in camp, he’s most pleased with his strides in move protection.
“I really feel like I’m doing fairly good getting my arms on — batting balls down, though a few them had been dropped,” he mentioned. “However it’s OK, as a result of within the video games, they’re going to be picks.”
Stated McDaniel: “Any time there’s a tip or an overthrow, he’s a possible takeaway man. He’s across the ball and he’s difficult each the individuals in his place group and the offense.”
However Homosexual has had a number of situations the place a possible interception was dropped after he put himself in place to create the turnover.
He mentioned large receivers have given him a tough time over the drops.
“I’m closing so quick,” he started to clarify. “I don’t suppose I can get there, so I get there and I panic. And I simply throw a hand on the market. Then, I notice, ‘I might’ve caught that.’ ”
Including the protection abilities to his recreation, Homosexual can marry that along with his pure capability to blitz as a consequence of his athleticism.
“Nicely-rounded,” he labeled himself. “No matter they ask me to do, I attempt to do it to one of the best of my capability. Having the ability to blitz and drop in protection and canopy man-to-man, I really feel prefer it’s my talent set.”
As a lot as Homosexual has stood out, he’s a part of a tricky defensive entrance seven to crack for taking part in time.
At inside linebacker, the Dolphins return Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, whereas including Ok.J. Britt together with Homosexual this offseason. On the sting, the trio of Chop Robinson, Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb should all get ample alternatives.
“I really feel like we might be one of the best protection within the league, beginning up entrance,” he mentioned. “I really feel like we may very well be one of the best linebacker room within the Nationwide Soccer League.”
And Homosexual could be making a case the place the Dolphins should discover methods to get him on the sphere regardless of who else is on the market.
Initially Printed: