MIAMI GARDENS — Imagine being a dominant player in high school and college, so much so you’re one of the top players drafted into the NFL. Imagine winning a job as a rookie and starting every game.
Now imagine being the most-criticized player on your team.
That’s the world — the good and the bad — Miami Dolphins guard Jonah Savaiinaea has lived in, at least until recently. If you’re looking for Jonah Savaiinaea now, you’ll find him in a new place (the right side of the line, not the left) in a new number (71, not 72) with a new approach (actually, it’s the old approach he used until last season).
Put that together and what do you have? Maybe just another NFL player trying to live up to expectations … or maybe the player the Dolphins thought they were getting when they made him the 37th overall pick last year.
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Savaiinaea seemed to perk up when told that earlier in the day, first-year coach Jeff Hafley left nothing to the imagination when describing how little the 2025 version of Savaiinaea matters to him now.
“I don’t want to hear any more about Jonah last year,” Hafley said. “It’s over. Like, let’s judge Jonah on everything that he’s doing today, moving forward.”
Of all the changes Savaiinaea has made to jump-start his career, it’s the one you can’t see that might be most significant.
“I want to get back to that kind of a reset mode and starting to be myself again,” he said. “It’s all about how you attack everything mentally. I’m a different person as far as mentally. So far, so good.”
Jonah Savaiinaea changes number to 71
Some changes matter more than others. Savaiinaea knows this. He knows the 71 across his chest and back is only one digit off his old number, even if reverting back to his old high school and college number just feels right. Unlike the more-important change.
“How I approach my work,” he said. “Nothing changed because of the side switch or the number switch — I don’t think so. I feel like if I approach this game like I’m coming there to move somebody out of there and protect Malik (Willis) behind there, I feel like I’m going to be successful in this league.”
Hafley: “All I know is this: He has been a pleasant surprise to me on how he’s been in these first three days. I think his confidence is in an all-time high. I think he’s learned from going through a really hard year. …. And all I want him to do is him to believe in himself and continue to progress and tune out everything that happened last year. Because every one of us in our lives has had a tough moment, a tough day, a tough year. And you’ve got to put that behind you, man. You’ve got to move on.”
At 6-feet-5 and 326 pounds, Savaiinaea has size for the position. Now at right guard, he’s surrounded by two accomplished veterans in center Aaron Brewer and right tackle Austin Jackson. And if anyone can sympathize with the rough transition Savaiinaea has endured from college to the pros, it’s Jackson.
Savaiinaea went so far as to predict Miami will have a “great group” of offensive linemen this year. With a new quarterback in Willis and an unproven set of receivers, the line’s ability to open holes for running back De’Von Achane is of vital importance. The five up front cannot afford a weak link.
Savaiinaea’s blueprint for success?
“Not second-guessing myself,” he said. “I feel that’s part of thinking too much: ‘If this guy is going to cross my face? How am I gonna take these steps?’ So this year I’m like, ‘You know what? Whether or not he’s gonna cross my face, I’m gonna run through this angle. And if he crosses my face, I’m gonna blow through that shoulder.’ ”
Maybe things will pan out as planned, maybe not. But at least Savaiinaea is starting with a clean slate in the eyes of his coach.
Hal Habib covers the Miami Dolphins for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at HHabib@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Does new approach equal new Jonah Savaiinaea for Miami Dolphins?
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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By Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
