MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has been impressed by the mental toughness of backup quarterback Zach Wilson, who once flamed out with the New York Jets as a No. 2 overall pick.
“He looks like a guy that has been through some s— and found his way through it,” McDaniel said on the first day of mandatory minicamp.
Wilson, 25, spent last season resetting with the Denver Broncos. He did not play though he flashed in the preseason and benefitted from working with Sean Payton.
It was a bit of a healing process, not too dissimilar from when Tua Tagovailoa emerged from the Brian Flores era with scars.
Zach Wilson has ‘been through some s—,’ says Mike McDaniel
“There’s residuals to people just in general that have gone through things,” McDaniel said. “He’s come close to about as much scrutiny as one could have. You’re a top three draft pick in New York City. Well, I mean I think Joe Namath figured that out and everybody else is like, well, this is a lot. But that’s what I see, is a guy that is playing football with the empowerment of, ‘You know what? I’m strong enough to handle anything.'”
It’s hard not to miss Wilson’s cannon arm in practice.
Wilson fires lasers. But playing quarterback in the NFL is obviously about much more than that.
“A guy who is continually working at his craft, who has supreme arm talent, it’s cool to watch him grow, particularly in our offense, because guys with arm talent always throw it late,” McDaniel said. “You have a stronger arm, I’ll just wait and see it. Go back to like John Elway and dudes with cannons.”
Dolphins look to polish former No. 2 pick Zach Wilson
McDaniel and the staff are pushing Wilson to improve footwork, timing and rhythm.
“I’m gonna challenge the guy,” McDaniel said.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins impressed by Zach Wilson’s ‘supreme arm talent’
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
