Do or die for defense

Better play on both sides of ball a priority

Jokes wrapped in uncomfortable truths are the ones we all need to pay close attention to because they usually highlight an area of discomfort.

All offseason, when asked about the Miami Dolphins’ debacker which allowed a franchise-worst 6,122 yards in 2016, the coaching staff and front office’s response mirrored what new defensive coordinator Matt Burke said Saturday, which is that “statistically we can’t get much worse, right?”

Actually, considering the Dolphins finished 30th in the NFL at stopping the run and were only better than the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers, ranked 29th in total yards allowed per game and 18th in points allowed per game, it could.

“We could, but not too much further down. Both sides of the ball, we were just bad,” said head coach Adam Gase, who promoted Burke up from linefense, coach to replace Vance Joseph, who left to become the Denver Broncos’ head coach. “We have a lot of room to improve, which is a good thing for us.”

Jokes aside, the point Gase and Burke are trying to get across about last year’s disappointing defense is that they realize that each side of the ball must play better for the team to improve on its 10-6 record, and the Dolphins have a plan in place.

That plan started in free agency, where Miami added seven newcomers on defense, including defensive end William Hayes, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and safeties Nate Allen and T.J. McDonald, who were all starters with their previous teams.

It continued throughout the NFL draft, where five of Miami’s seven selections were defensive players. The Dolphins’ first three picks — pass rusher Charles Harris, linebacker Raekwon McMillan and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley — could all potentially become rookie starters.

“It worked out well for me,” Burke said about the defense-heavy draft. “I wasn’t complaining.”

Up next is Burke tinkering with the defense to create a more multiple-looking scheme, one that potentially varies the front used and incorporates more disguises.

Burke is responsible for tightening up Miami’s defense and shaving off some yards (382 per game) and points (23.8) from the number allowed last year.

But most of Miami’s pass rushers are on the small side, which indicates that edge setting could remain a problem, as it has been since 2014. And even after the draft, despite Miami selecting Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor in the later rounds, Burke acknowledged that he’s still a bit uncomfortable with the talent level of the defensive tackles behind Ndamukong Suh.

Burke hinted that there might no longer be a weak or strong side to his defense. That means every linebacker must be interchangeable, proficient at handling everything that comes with the position — pass coverage, edge setting, run diagnosis and communicating the calls on the field.

If Miami takes that approach, all three inside linebackers — Kiko Alonso, Timmons and McMillan — might all be on the field together, which could explain why the Dolphins used a second-round pick on McMillan, a two-year starter at Ohio State.

But Burke acknowledged that he doesn’t know exactly how everything will play out until he gets a look at the players on the field together, in pads, which won’t happen until August.

“It’s having guys that are interchangeable, that can play multiple positions, that can match up in different areas week to week,” Burke said of his vision. “Our plan for all of those guys is to literally crosstrain them and to try to get the most and find out what the best fit is. And honestly, it may be week to week. I don’t know.”

What Burke does know is that he needs the tide to turn in 2017, showing that he deserved his promotion so his defense can have the last laugh.

MIKE STOCKER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “It’s having guys that are interchangeable, that can play multiple positions, that can match up in different areas week to week,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke says of his vision for the unit. “Our plan is to literally crosstrain them and ... find...