The Dolphins’ promising start in 2022 turned to disappointment stemming from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s injury issues. After jetting to an 8-3 start, the team lost six of its last seven games, including an ugly playoff matchup against the Buffalo Bills. They were 8-5 in games where Tagovailoa was the starter, and 1-4 in all other games. While his efficiency had been declining before his season-ending injury in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, it is clear that he is vital to the team’s success.
Since the Dolphins relied so heavily upon the efficiency of a Tagovailoa-led offense, the downfall of the 2022 squad didn’t come as a surprise. Counting on the health of the young quarterback did not work out well, and Miami Dolphins brass clearly recognized this. While the defense performed at a solid level, an elite defense would create much-needed stability for a team whose explosive offense heavily relies upon the health of one player. The front office responded this offseason by adding several defensive players who can make an immediate impact next year.
However, the addition of Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator (DC) may serve to be the most important addition. Fangio is an exceptional coach who has an impressive track record, especially at DC. By bringing his extremely popular Fangio-style defense (which has already spread throughout the majority of the NFL), he will elevate the Miami defense to an elite group that will serve as the backbone to Super-Bowl-contending team.
They Already Have a Solid Base
Abundance of Talent
While looking through the depth chart, the number of high-level players on the 2023 Dolphins roster is staggering. Everyone knows who the names on offense. Tyreek Hill, arguably the most dangerous wide receiver in the league, and Jaylen Waddle combine to one of the strongest wide receiver duos in recent history. With a highly efficient quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa, the sky is the limit for the offense.
However, the strength of the defense is what will propel the team next year. Miami boasts an extremely talented unit that has firepower on all three levels. Christian Wilkins has quickly turned himself into one of the most effective defensive tackles in the NFL. In addition, Jaelan Phillips took a massive leap last season, putting up an impressive 87.7 overall PFF score. He is an ascending talent and the perfect complement to Wilkins.
The linebacking core isn’t without its own strengths. The tandem of Jerome Baker and David Long Jr. will be more than enough to unlock the defense’s potential. New addition Long Jr. will bring a boost to its run defense, while Baker should continue his upward trajectory.
Even Miami’s secondary is loaded with talent. It will once again be led by lockdown cornerback Xavien Howard in 2023. He has been a cornerstone of this defense for years and will continue to do so. Safety Jevon Holland is also a menace to opposing quarterbacks. Similar to Jaelan Phillips, he is a good player that has shown signs of ascending to elite levels. The front office even added CB Jalen Ramsey to the mix in one of the most high-profile moves of the offseason. Ramsey is widely regarded as one of the top three players at his position. Though Ramsey will be out until December, the secondary certainly has the talent to head a top-of-the-line defense; it only needs the right scheme.
2022 Metrics
To be clear, the Dolphins already had an above-average football team last year. They were even able to put up a strong fight in their daunting playoff matchup versus Buffalo, despite the injuries at quarterback. They had the 6th highest rated offense according to PFF. The offense, as long as Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy, is already good enough to contend. On the other hand, PFF ranked their defense at 15th. This could certainly be improved upon, but is a great starting point for Vic Fangio.
2022’s Lack of Turnovers
Last year’s Miami Dolphins had two major issues on the defensive side of the ball: coverage and lack of turnovers. The teams ranked 28th in the NFL in overall coverage grade according to PFF. This is surprising due to the presence of Jevon Holland and Xavien Howard-who had a down year.
Lack of turnovers goes hand-in-hand with the teams’ poor coverage grade, considering that most turnovers are caused by interceptions. The 2022 Dolphins ranked second to last in forced turnovers- a measly 14. Flipping the field more often and giving the efficient offense good field position would work wonders for the team. Enter Vic Fangio.
What Fangio Brings to the Table
Bringing in Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator changes everything for the Miami defense. He projects to bring his patented “Fangio-style” defense to south Florida. In general, his scheme focuses on stopping explosive passes while still managing to limit opposing run games. It mainly consists of 2-high-safety looks, which allows Fangio to commonly drop into Cover 4 and Cover 6, which are both effective in defending deep passes. In today’s pass-happy NFL (the AFC especially), it is no wonder that many coaches are adopting this strategy.
Following his unsuccessful stint as Denver Broncos head coach, he spent last year as a part of the Philadelphia Eagles staff. Though he may not have worked out as a head coach, his ability to command a defense as a DC is undeniable. The 2018 Chicago Bears provide the perfect example of what Fangio’s defense can look like at its best.
2018 Chicago Bears
The 2018 Chicago Bears defense was a sight to behold and will likely go down as one of the storied franchises most legendary groups. Led by DC Vic Fangio, they ranked first in overall defense, coverage, run defense and… turnovers.
While the present-day Dolphins struggle with taking the ball away, Vic Fangio excels at it. In 2018, the Bears led the league in both interceptions and forced turnovers, 27 and 36, respectively. The team thrived off of this. The average offense was given many short fields, which ultimately led to them scoring more points.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller led the NFL in interceptions (7), while safety Eddie Jackson finished tied for second (6) (ironically along with Xavien Howard). Jackson also finished with the highest ranked PFF coverage grade in the NFL, 94.7. He helped the defense put together a 95.7 coverage grade, also good for first in the league. With more players dropping back into deep coverage due to Cover 4 and Cover 6 calls, Fuller and Jackson were given the opportunity to be aggressive and take on more “ballhawk” tendencies. This paid dividends for the team as a whole.
Chicago also allowed the least rushing yards of any team in the NFL (1280). Doing so while commonly dropping four players into deep coverage should theoretically not even be possible and is a testament to Fangio’s genius. Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks was vital in clogging up the run game. He posted a 92.7 PFF run defense grade and was the largest factor (literally and figuratively) in stopping the run.
Potential 2023 Dolphins
The 2018 Bears revolved around their lively defense. The turnovers it forced elevated its average offense and propelled the team to a 12-4 record along with a division title. This could serve as a blueprint for this year’s Dolphins. However, the team possesses a much more efficient offense that what the Bears had in 2018. This allows for an even higher ceiling.
With the Bears, Fangio used Akiem Hicks to hone down opposing rushing attacks. In Miami, he’ll have Christian Wilkins. Though Wilkins is a bit smaller than Hicks, they profile as similar players. In Hicks’ first season under Fangio, 2016, his PFF run defense grade increased drastically from 61.1 to 80.6. With Christian Wilkins already putting up 80+ grade in this category, one can only imagine what impact Fangio will have on him. This also goes for other defensive tackles on the team like Raekwon Davis and Brandon Pili. Fangio has proven the ability to get the best out of his players.
Nonetheless, Miami’s secondary will take the biggest leap in 2023. As previously stated, the premium talent is there. Although Ramsey will be sidelined for much of the season, the combination Jevon Holland and Xavien Howard could prove to be this season’s Eddie Jackson and Kyle Fuller. In Fangio’s style of defense, they will both be put in fantastic positions to thrive and make plays on the ball. On top of that, when Ramsey does eventually return, the defense could reach insane levels.
Final Thoughts
The addition of Vic Fangio will bring the Miami defense to new heights. Following a year where they finished dead-last in turnovers, Fangio’s system will undoubedtly rise this number from the ashes. Fangio’s scheme will allow talented defensive backs to create more takeaways (they were 31st last year). He will bring the defense to the level of a Super Bowl contender, barring any more major injuries.
Ultimately, the Dolphins’ Super Bowl aspirations will still depend on Tua Tagovailoa. When he is sitting on the bench, the offense has shown little ability to score points. However, even in his injury riddled 2022 campaign, the Dolphins managed a 9-8 record along with a playoff birth. With an elite defense next year, the Dolphins’ floor might be much higher than most believe.
If Tagovailoa stays healthy, there is no reason that the Dolphins won’t be a serious Super Bowl contender come playoff time. The combination of talent on both sides of the ball as well as under the headset supports this. After all, there are few things you can count on in this world: Tyreek Hill outrunning opposing cornerbacks and Vic Fangio manning exceptional defenses are two of them. Will the addition of Fangio helming the defense be enough to propel the Dolphins to the big game? Only time will tell.