By Marc Lawrence, playbookSpports.com — The Miami Dolphins have spent the last few years building up a roster that is now good enough to compete for a Super Bowl despite playing in arguably the toughest division in the NFL.
But while most of the national attention is focused on the offense — notably Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua Tagovailoa — the defense’s elite potential has flown under the radar.
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The organization has struck gold with recent draft picks like Jaelan Phillips and Jevon Holland. It has also flipped other picks for immediately impactful players, including Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey.
Even though Ramsey injured his knee in Training Camp, he’s expected back for the second half of the season – and the Fish just signed Eli Apple in his stead.
Schematically, the Dolphins’ defense will look significantly different in 2023, as Vic Fangio’s defenses have typically relied more on zone coverage as opposed to the man-to-man principles Miami has utilized in recent years. This is the type of defense that takes a “bend but don’t break” approach.
The Fish are on the shortlist for the most talented defensive units in the NFL. When you consider this and the addition of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, one of the league’s best and most respected coordinators, there is a lot to be excited about in Miami this season.
