Dolphins receivers, corners appreciate chance to be coached by greats at their position

Wes Welker took a chance to reflect on the start of his career and the full-circle moment manifesting in front of him.

In 2004, his first year in the league, Welker had the chance to play with Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain, two cornerbacks in the prime of their career.

That season overall wasn’t a success for the Dolphins — Miami started 0-6 on its way to a 4-12 finish — but it was the only year all three of Welker, Surtain and Madison were with the Dolphins together.

Well, until now.

All three are part of first-year Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s coaching staff. Welker is the wide receivers coach, Madison as cornerbacks coach and pass game specialist, and Surtain as a defensive assistant.

“It’s kind of crazy, us being together again on the same team,” Welker said back in February about pairing up with Madison and Surtain again. “Those guys were awesome, really helped my career as far as being a little bit older than me.”

Now, Welker, Madison and Surtain — a trio with a combined 35 years of NFL experience (including 20 total with the Dolphins), five first-team All-Pro honors and 12 Pro Bowl nods — are tasked with helping pave the way for a new generation.

‘He had success in this league’

The Dolphins’ receiver corps, a group filled with up-and-comers in the league, has not taken Welker’s experience for granted. In 12 NFL seasons, Welker caught 903 passes for 9,924 yards and 50 touchdowns. He twice reached the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and led the league in catches on three occasions (2007, 2009 and 2011).

“It’s a different approach because he actually played and he had success in this league,” second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “You really take into consideration what he’s telling you because he did it before. It just makes it hit home a little better.”

What stands out the most to Waddle about Welker’s coaching approach?

“He’s not going to sugarcoat nothing,” Waddle said. “He’s going to tell you if that was a bad play, that’s a bad play. That’s all you can ask for from a coach, honestly, is to give his true opinion.”

Rookie Erik Ezukanma, the Dolphins’ fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, said after Miami’s Week 2 preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders there’s a message Welker consistently preaches that is sticking with him: You have never arrived.

“He told us, ‘You’re here to take a grown man’s job.’ That really resonated with me,” Ezukanma said. “I went back out there and just did everything I could to make plays when the ball came my way.”

‘They’re legendary here’

The cornerbacks feel equally grateful to be working with Madison and Surtain. The two have combined for 75 career interceptions (including 56 during their Dolphins tenures) and have three first-team All-Pro honors among them.

“Those guys, they’re legendary here,” Dolphins All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard said, “so I just want to learn from those guys and just try to pick their brain.”

Has Howard brought up how close he is to passing the two on the Dolphins’ all-time career interceptions list? Howard enters the season with 27 interceptions, sixth in franchise history. Surtain is fifth on the list with 29 interceptions. Madison is third with 31 interceptions.

(Jake Scott and Dick Anderson are first and second, with 35 and 34 interceptions respectively).

“Not about that,” he said. “That’s one thing I’m looking forward to this season is finishing at the top.”

Third-year corner Noah Igbinoghene, meanwhile, is taking advantage of the “whole different type of experience” that is available to him — from both the coaches and his teammates on the roster.

“We already have ‘X’ and Byron [Jones] — two people that have been playing this position for a very long time and when you add Sam Madison, you add Pat Surtain, that’s four right there that just — they played this game at a really high level at my position,” Igbinoghene said, “so I’m just able just to soak everything in just to learn. I just watch and learn and listen and apply it to my game and whatever they tell me, I do so.”