Jaelan Phillips had an impressive rookie season that saw him break the Miami Dolphins franchise record for most sacks by a first-year player.
After losing weight in college during his retirement from football, Phillips had done a lot of work to put some of that muscle back on. This offseason, he’s focused on getting leaner. He wants to be strong, fast and a three-down player on the edge.
That work hasn’t gone unnoticed by his defensive coordinator.
“Jaelan is a guy that wants to be great and wants to do everything perfect,” Josh Boyer said (transcribed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel). “I think he’s finding that happy balance of work-failure to bring the best out of himself. A couple of pounds here and there, it’s more nutrition-based than it is football or playing-based.”
Outside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie, who was a third-round pick back in 2009, has also been complimentary of Phillips’ offseason process.
“He’s been so eager to get better. From Day 1, we started from ground zero and worked up,” McKenzie said. “He’s had success in the preparation. His approach has been great in the classroom with [Boyer], with me in my meeting room, with [coach Mike McDaniel] in the squad meeting room. He’s taken that to preparation on the practice field.”
Emmanuel Ogbah, like a number of veterans, hasn’t been present for organized team activities, so Phillips has been getting more work than usual on the edge. If the young edge rusher can continue to take strides after a stellar first season, he’ll certainly make a name for himself in this league.
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