Broncos pick Joseph as coach
DAVIE — Vance Joseph made an injury-riddled Miami Dolphins’ defense respectable this past season, and that coaching performance got him a new job.
The Denver Broncos appointed Joseph, 44, their head coach Wednesday. Joseph, a former University of Colorado player, will replace Gary Kubiak, who retired for health reasons after the reigning Super Bowl champions went 9-7 and failed to reach the postseason. According to ESPN, Joseph signed a four-year deal.
The loss of Joseph will create a void in Adam Gase’s coaching staff, but it is believed Dolphins linebackers coach Matt Burke will become Miami’s next defensive coordinator.
Burke has coached in the NFL for 13 seasons, and spent the past eight coaching linebackers. But this was his first year with the Dolphins, and his unit struggled this season. Injuries to starters Kiko Alonso, Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins forced undrafted backups into prominent roles.
No deal with Burke has been finalized, and it’s possible he could join Joseph’s staff, considering those two coached together with the Cincinnati Bengals for two seasons.
Instead of pursuing more accomplished defensive coaches such as Rex Ryan, Wade Phillips or former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, who all run a 3-4 defensive scheme, Gase has no interest in changing Miami’s defense from a 4-3 based scheme. Gase praised Joseph. “When we brought [Joseph] in the building, we knew he would be in control of everything on that side of the ball,’’ Gase said. “He has that ‘alpha’ mentality, and he has great leadership qualities. He holds players accountable, and he leads them well.’’
Joseph, who played defensive back in the NFL for two seasons, earned high marks in previous stops as a secondary coach with the 49ers, Houston Texans and Bengals before joining the Dolphins (10-7).
While Miami's defense struggled under Joseph — ranking 30th against the run and allowing the most total yards during the regular season (6,122) in franchise history — Joseph kept the injury-depleted unit that spent most of the season playing without five starters competitive.