

There’s no easing into things under Mike McDaniel.
When the Miami Dolphins hit the field for their second day of mandatory minicamp, the tone was already set: expectations are sky-high, and no one is coasting-not even the rookies. That includes quarterback Quinn Ewers, who’s quickly proving he’s not here to just learn quietly from the sidelines.
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McDaniel, speaking to reporters after practice, touched on everything from injury updates to locker room culture. But when asked about Ewers, his tone shifted-measured but unmistakably confident. “Here [QBs] are asked to throw the ball a little earlier than they’re used to, play with a bit more anticipation,” he said. “That plays right into Quinn’s game. He’s had command and he keeps taking steps.”
It’s not empty coach-speak. Miami didn’t draft Ewers on a whim. Despite some inconsistency at Texas, the Dolphins saw in him what others hesitated to commit to: quick processing, a fearless release, and a swagger that doesn’t spill into recklessness.
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During early reps, Ewers has looked sharp, especially in timing routes and red-zone drills. He’s splitting second-team snaps, but coaches say his rhythm and communication are already ahead of schedule. “He’s not shy,” said quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell. “He’s absorbing the playbook, asking the right questions, and playing with urgency.”
It helps that McDaniel isn’t trying to make things easy for anyone. The head coach has doubled down on structure and accountability this offseason, calling a pointed team meeting where he laid out what he called “non-negotiables”-things like showing up on time, staying focused, and holding each other accountable.“It was kind of music to people’s ears,” McDaniel said. “It needed to be said.”
That kind of culture could overwhelm some young players. But Ewers? He seems to thrive on it.
“It’s intense, but that’s what makes it exciting,” Ewers said in a post-practice scrum. “There’s a standard here. I like that. It makes every rep feel like it matters.”
For a team still shaping its identity and future at the quarterback position, that mindset might matter more than anything. And for now, Quinn Ewers is showing he belongs.
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