The Miami Dolphins’ defense is improving and approaching respectability ahead of Sunday’s AFC matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.
I’ve learned to respect, if not appreciate, formulas over the course of my life.
When you understand that if something works and produces a desirable result, keep working on it, things start to add up.
With that said, I have to admit that I initially rejected Vic Fangio’s formula because the early performances of the Miami Dolphins defense he took over made me want to vomit.
The “bend but don’t break” scheme being implemented by the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator, a grizzled coaching veteran with over two decades of experience, was too passive for my liking.
Too reactionary, and wouldn’t force the issue, based on what Dolphins fans and observers saw in the first month of the season, which was a Dolphins defense that was knocked to the ground in the first game (a Los Angeles Chargers victory), and then stumbled through the next couple of rounds.
As the weeks passed, trust grew, and as comfort began to set in, players began to find their lane.
The Dolphins’ defense has found its stride.
The interior of the defensive line began to stop the run more consistently (107.9 rushing yards allowed now). Only two of Miami’s last six opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards.
Bradley Chubb’s pressures and hurries resulted in impact plays, five sacks, and three forced fumbles.
Andrew Van Ginkel moved past the role player label to become a valuable contributor with 32 tackles, four sacks, and one fumble recovery.
David Long Jr. stopped shooting wide and began making tackles at the point of attack (he now leads the team with 55 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble).
Essentially, Fangio’s defense began to develop an identity.
“It’s hard to be really, really good in systems if your system’s really good,” head coach Mike McDaniel explained. “A good system has high-level nuances and details that make it more difficult. It’s a simpler system if you have loose rules or non-detailed responsibilities, but if you’re like, ‘Hey, it’s somebody’s job to make a play,’
“It’s a process when you have a system that identifies who has the difficult down, who has help, and how do you play together and have a ton of different position specific details with that.” That is why we do not overreact.”
The Dolphins are constructing a respectable defense.
And it appears that the coaching staff’s patience is paying off.
The Dolphins started the season near the bottom of almost every defensive statistical category, but have risen to 15th in total yards allowed per game (329.4), 17th in rushing yards allowed (107.9) per game, and 11th in third-down conversion rate (37.5).
The Dolphins defense continues to struggle in red zone defense, where 65.5 percent of opportunities result in touchdowns (tied for 28th) and points per game allowed are 25.5. However, perhaps a baby-steps approach should be used.
After all, assistance is on its way. Players who have missed games, such as Jalen Ramsey, Jaelan Phillips, and Nik Needham, have already returned, and more are on their way.
“We can do a lot more,” said safety Jevon Holland, who cleared the NFL concussion protocol after missing last Sunday’s 31-17 win over the New England Patriots due to a concussion.
‘Rams’ (Jalen Ramsey) adds a significant veteran component to the defense for me, myself, and other younger players who want to learn. “It’s great to have ‘X’ (Xavien Howard) back,” Holland said, referring to Howard, who has missed the last two games due to a groin strain suffered in Miami’s 42-21 win over the Carolina Panthers. “Having two veterans back on the field with us is huge.” It really helps us out, and it just makes the game more enjoyable.”
Two elite cornerbacks could alter the defense.
Working with backup cornerbacks has hampered Fangio’s play-calling, so it’ll be interesting to see how much he’ll loosen up, getting more exotic with the coverage calls and disguises Miami employs in this zone defense, which is supposed to produce turnovers.
So far, the Dolphins have only created eight, which ranks them 24th in the NFL.
Ramsey’s return three months after undergoing surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee couldn’t have gone any better, as he allowed only one catch, had an interception with a 49-yard return, and forced a fumble.
The hope is that as he gets his football legs, the three-time All-Pro will improve and he and Howard will become the anchors of this Dolphins zone defense, delivering more of the 49 interceptions they’ve pulled down since entering the league in 2016.
With Ramsey, Howard, and Holland back in the lineup, we’ll soon find out if Fangio can devise a formula that transforms the Dolphins into a top-ten defense with the bite of Miami’s top-ranked offense.
