Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Fangio sees talent, potential in defensive roster
MIAMI GARDENS — Among the reasons Vic Fangio decided on the Miami Dolphins as his next coaching destination was the talent and potential he saw on the defensive side of the roster.
He said as much when he was introduced Monday as the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator.
“There’s some good young talent there,” Fangio said. “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 combination of Chubb and Phillips at outside linebacker will be instrumental for Fangio’s success, especially if they can consistently apply pressure with Fangio to be more selective with the blitz than his predecessor Josh Boyer.
“They have great potential,” Fangio said. “But potential, we got 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 ½ sacks over his first two NFL seasons. Chubb has made two Pro Bowls in five seasons, but he hasn’t surpassed eight sacks since collecting 12 as a rookie in 2018.
Fangio and Chubb were together the next three years with the Denver Broncos, but in each campaign, injuries either kept Chubb off the field or from being his optimal 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 said.
Many of Fangio’s recent defenses over the past decadeplus have had a standout edge rusher — whether it be 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 both of Phillips and Chubb to reach that level.
The same can be said of Fangio’s success with safeties at those three stops: Eddie Jackson in Chicago, Justin Simmons in Denver or the Donte Whitner-Dashon Goldson combination 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 said. “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 may allow Holland and Brandon Jones, coming off his season-ending knee injury, to be more of a traditional safety tandem, in lots of two-high shell looks rather than the exotic safety blitzes Boyer dialed up. But if Fangio finds it beneficial to incorporate some of what they’ve done previously into his defense, he appears to have an open mind 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 said. “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 greater use of zone coverages could also work well to get four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard a shot at a bounce-back season. Boyer was reliant on having his cornerbacks constantly in man coverage. More time dropping into a zone could be easier on Howard’s legs as he enters his age-30 season, and with 28 career interceptions, it could give him more opportunities with his eyes on the quarterback.
It also helps Fangio that he comes into a situation with established defensive line play, led by Wilkins and Zach Sieler. He also mentioned Monday how vital it remains, even in today’s NFL, to stop the run. The Dolphins defense finished 2022 fourth in rushing yards allowed per game at 103.