Among the explanations Vic Fangio selected the Miami Dolphins as his subsequent teaching vacation spot was the expertise and potential he noticed on the defensive aspect of the roster.
He mentioned as a lot when he was launched Monday because the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator.
“There’s some good young talent there,” Fangio mentioned. “Obviously, just from two years ago in the draft with [Jaelan] Phillips and [Jevon] Holland. Those are two really good players that I really liked in the draft. Bradley Chubb is here, who obviously I know about. And several other guys. Christian Wilkins is here. Another guy who I liked in the draft.”
Unlocking the pass-rushing mixture of Chubb and Phillips at exterior linebacker might be instrumental for Fangio’s success, particularly if they’ll constantly apply strain with Fangio to be extra selective with the blitz than his predecessor Josh Boyer.
“They have great potential,” Fangio mentioned. “But potential, we bought to see it.
“I’m confident knowing those two guys’ work ethic that they’ll do everything they can to put a good product out there on the field. Both have the tools, both have the makeup to be really good players on the edges for us.”
Phillips is a rising star with 103 tackles and 15 1/2 sacks over his first two NFL seasons. Chubb has made two Pro Bowls in 5 seasons, however he hasn’t surpassed eight sacks since accumulating 12 as a rookie in 2018.
Fangio and Chubb had been collectively the subsequent three years with the Denver Broncos, however in every marketing campaign, accidents both stored Chubb off the sphere or from being his optimum self.
“I’m anxious to get him rolling, keep him healthy and see the Bradley Chubb that we all know he’s capable of being,” Fangio mentioned.
Many of Fangio’s current defenses over the previous decade-plus have had a standout edge rusher — whether or not it’s Von Miller with the Broncos, Khalil Mack with the Chicago Bears or Aldon Smith with the San Francisco 49ers. Now, it’s on Fangio to get one or each of Phillips and Chubb to succeed in that stage.
The identical may be mentioned of Fangio’s success with safeties at these three stops: Eddie Jackson in Chicago, Justin Simmons in Denver or the Donte Whitner-Dashon Goldson mixture in San Francisco.
Now, he has Holland in Miami.
“I like his physical ability, his combination of size, speed, quickness. He’s got good instincts,” Fangio mentioned. “I think he’s smart from a football standpoint. … I’m hopeful and confident that he can be one of the top safeties in the league.”
Fangio might enable Holland and Brandon Jones, coming off his season-ending knee harm, to be extra of a conventional security tandem, in numerous two-high shell seems quite than the unique security blitzes Boyer dialed up. But if Fangio finds it useful to include a few of what they’ve accomplished beforehand into his protection, he seems to have an open thoughts to it.
“What’s going to be most important is tailoring what we do to our players and to the opponent that we’re playing for that week,” he mentioned. “There may be things that we did in previous stops that we won’t do much here because it doesn’t fit our players and vice-versa.”
Fangio’s better use of zone coverages might additionally work properly to get four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard a shot at a bounce-back season. Boyer was reliant on having his cornerbacks always in man protection. More time dropping right into a zone could possibly be simpler on Howard’s legs as he enters his age-30 season, and with 28 profession interceptions, it might give him extra alternatives along with his eyes on the quarterback.
It additionally helps Fangio that he comes right into a scenario with established defensive position play, led by Wilkins and Zach Sieler. He additionally talked about Monday how very important it stays, even in at this time’s NFL, to cease the run. The Dolphins protection completed 2022 fourth in dashing yards allowed per sport at 103.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com