The Miami Dolphins parted methods with defensive coordinator Josh Boyer on Thursday, the staff introduced.
Boyer’s third season main the Dolphins protection was a disappointment. A bunch anticipated to be one of many higher items within the league completed the 2022 common season thirtieth in takeaways, twenty seventh in go protection, twenty fourth in scoring protection and third-down protection and 18th in complete protection.
“I am grateful for Josh’s contributions this year and throughout his tenure with the Dolphins,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated in a press release. “The defense made strides through the season, so coming to this decision was not easy, but ultimately I feel it is in the best long-term interests of the Miami Dolphins and the continued growth of our players and team.”
Miami additionally introduced safeties coach Steve Gregory, outdoors linebackers coach Ty McKenzie and assistant linebackers coach Steve Ferentz had been relieved of their duties.
The choice got here after Miami’s season led to a 34-31 AFC wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills the place the Dolphins, regardless of being two-touchdown underdogs, hung tight with the Bills. While Boyer’s protection surrendered 423 yards to Buffalo’s high-powered offense led by quarterback Josh Allen, it pressured three key turnovers and scored on certainly one of them.
McDaniel, who will now rent a defensive coordinator for the primary time, appeared to return away impressed with the protection’s end after the tight loss in Orchard Park and 11-6 win within the regular-season finale to get into the postseason, protecting the New York Jets out of the top zone.
“I was very, very proud of the defense, the coaching staff and the players on, specifically, the very end of the season,” McDaniel stated in his Monday season wrap-up media session. “I think the last three regular-season games, in a place of adversity, they found their best self, I think. I couldn’t be prouder of [Sunday], specifically.”
Names for a substitute will come out within the coming days, however a best choice may very well be longtime NFL defensive coordinator and one-time Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio. The Dolphins had been excited by him final offseason after coach Mike McDaniel was employed, however a deal couldn’t be reached and Boyer was retained as a holdover from the Brian Flores period. Fangio, although, who’s at present a defensive marketing consultant with the Philadelphia Eagles, has been linked to coveted head coach Sean Payton, who’s a scorching commodity on this hiring cycle.
Boyer grew to become Dolphins defensive coordinator in 2020 after following Flores to Miami in 2019 as cornerbacks coach. He and Flores had been longtime members of the identical teaching employees with the New England Patriots.
The Miami protection underperformed in 2022 after spectacular campaigns the earlier two seasons. Those years, although, Boyer had Flores to lean on. Gerald Alexander, Dolphins defensive backs coach below Flores and Boyer, additionally performed an intricate function within the success of these items, and he was not retained final offseason.
Beyond Boyer, there have been different components that led to the demise of Miami’s protection in 2022.
The unit by no means had cornerback Byron Jones, who remained on the physically-unable-to-perform record after decrease left leg surgical procedure final March.
The protection then misplaced defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah, security Brandon Jones and cornerback Nik Needham to numerous season-ending accidents. Cornerback Xavien Howard, regardless of making the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his profession, was not his normal self, taking part in via groin and knee accidents.
The Dolphins made a trade-deadline transfer, buying edge rusher Bradley Chubb for his or her remaining first-round decide within the 2023 draft. He had 3 1/2 sacks after the early November transfer, together with one in Sunday’s playoff loss.
Boyer didn’t use any of these excuses when requested about his job safety heading into the common season’s ultimate week.
“I think you have to adapt to what you have available to you,” he stated then. “I’m sure there’s other teams that are dealing with quality players that are not there, and they have to adapt and deal with that. None of us are promised tomorrow.”
He gave the impression to be at peace with no matter choice was forthcoming early within the offseason.
“I think more of, like, Lou Gehrig on July [4], 1939. I feel like the luckiest man on earth. I do,” Boyer stated in an impassioned second talking to reporters Jan. 5, channeling the New York Yankees legend’s famed farewell speech after retiring resulting from being identified with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is now generally known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
“And whatever comes my way, I’ll be okay. And whatever comes our way, we’ll be okay. But we’re going to keep moving forward.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com