Watt excited to see Weaver get DC opportunity with Dolphins
What are the Dolphins getting in Anthony Weaver, their new defensive coordinator?
Future Hall of Famer J.J. Watt, the most-accomplished player on the one defense that Weaver has coordinated, was effusive in his comments on Tuesday.
“You’re getting a great man, a truly great man,” Watt during a CBS Super Bowl Zoom session on Tuesday.
“I love Weave. We’re extremely close. I’m very excited to see him get this opportunity to be a DC and I have no doubts he will one day be a head coach and be a great head coach.”
That 2020 Houston defense was 27th in points permitted and struggled to stop the run, forcing Weaver to move from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 defense a few weeks into the season.
But that unit had injuries and talent issues, beyond Watt, Zach Cunningham and a few other players.
After that 2020 season, Weaver joined the Baltimore Ravens as defensive line coach — a position he held for the past three seasons before the Dolphins hired him last Saturday night to succeed Vic Fangio, who’s now with the Philadelphia Eagles.
GOODE UPDATE
According to a source, the injury sustained by Dolphins edge rusher Cameron Goode in the Jan. 7 regular-season finale against Buffalo was a torn patellar tendon.
The typical recovery time for that injury is nine months. If Goode follows that pattern, he could be out until October. But he has been recovering well so far and there’s hope he could be back in August or September.
It’s also in question if starting edge rushers Jaelan Phillips (torn Achilles’) and Bradley Chubb (torn ACL) will be ready for the start of the 2024 season after their late-season injuries.
Free agent linebacker
Andrew Van Ginkel, who sustained a foot injury against Buffalo and missed the playoff game, will be back from his foot injury by the offseason program, agent Drew Rosenhaus said.
Goode appeared in all 17 games last season, logging 79 snaps on defense and 309 on special teams. He sustained the injury on Buffalo’s punt return TD that tied the game at 14.
TANNER CONNER WEIGHS IN
The Dolphins need to add a seam threat at tight end this offseason.
Tanner Connor hopes he can be that player, but he’s entering season three and has logged only 45 offensive snaps, without a career reception.
Conner fell behind rookie Julian Hill in the Dolphins tight end developmental pipeline, but Conner should get another offseason to prove he’s ready to contribute.
He played only 25 offensive snaps as a member of the 53-man roster in 2022 and 20 snaps as a member of the practice squad this past season.
“I was trying to do the best I could to make plays for our defense and be a good scout team representative,” he said. “I was elevated three times, did the best I could in the game.”
In what areas has tight ends coach John Embree encouraged him to improve?
“Knowledge of the position,” said Conner, who was a college wide receiver before joining Miami as an undrafted rookie free agent 21 months ago. “It’s only my second year playing tight end.
“[Need to] continue to learn how to block. In the passing game, I feel pretty good. I feel really comfortable in the offense.”
I noticed over the past two years that Conner is often studying his I-pad at his locker, as much or more than any player during media access in the locker room.
“I’ve done a lot of studying,” he said. “Just being confident in myself and understanding the intricacies of the run game” will be important to crack the 53-man roster.