Head Coach Brian Flores, New Look Dolphins Defense Look To Bounce Back From Dismal 2018 Season
DAVIE (CBSMiami/AP) - The Miami Dolphins were one of the worst defensive teams in the NFL during the 2018 season, but that could change in 2019.
Until the ball is snapped, at least.
The Dolphins allowed a franchise record 6,257 yards in 2018, which is one reason they have a new coach, Brian Flores. His defensive play-calling helped the New England Patriots to a 13-3 Super Bowl victory over the high-scoring Los Angeles Rams, and Flores has brought to Miami a scheme that redefines the meaning of positions.
"We're all learning," third-year end Charles Harris said. "I don't think anybody has really ever played this kind of defense before. Everybody's trying to get used to it."
With the Patriots, Flores often had five or even six defensive backs, and the Dolphins could depart from the NFL norm even more.
Corners and safeties will switch spots. Safeties will play linebacker. Ends will drop into pass coverage.
"We'll get the best 11 guys out there," Flores said Monday. "Trust me on that."
In practice, the Dolphins have had up to eight defensive backs on the field at a time. With a defense that lacks star power, rotations may well involve up to 20 players.
"It really comes back to trying to put the right personnel groupings out there to match up with what the offense is doing, and try to maximize the skill set of our players," first-time defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said. "If it's five or 10 safeties, then that's what it is."
The Dolphins deployed a 4-3 defense last season under coach Adam Gase. The new staff is being coy about its plan to mix a 4-3 and 3-4.
"I don't even know what that is," Graham said. "We can be a 1-10 if you want us to be. We'll figure out something. If it works, we'll do it."
Graham was defensive run game coordinator last year for the Green Bay Packers. He and Flores were on the Patriots' staff together from 2009 to 2015.
"He knows defense," Graham said. "We were raised the same in terms of how we think about the game. Everything aligns with our head coach — being smart, being tough, being disciplined. That's what we're trying to make our defense. Before the scheme, that's what we're going to do."
The core group on defense is expected to include Harris, Davon Godchaux, Tank Carradine and first-round draft pick Christian Wilkins up front; Kiko Alonso, Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan at linebacker; and Xavien Howard, Eric Rowe, Bobby McCain, Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. McDonald and Reshad Jones at safety.
Jones, the team's highest-paid player this year at $13 million, has been in a walking boot and the timetable for his return is uncertain. When healthy, he can double as a linebacker, as can McDonald. McCain was primarily a nickel back last season but has been moved to safety. Fitzpatrick, Miami's first-round pick in 2018, played nickel back, boundary corner and safety as a rookie and will likely do so again.
Safeties coach Tony Oden, who is in his 16th season as an NFL assistant, said he has never coached a team where so much was so interchangeable.
"It's refreshing," Oden said. "There's not a safety group, there's not a linebacker group, there's not a d-line group. It's all positions. One of the good things about our defense is that they're just spots on the field."
In the line, the Dolphins are counting on a collective effort to overcome the offseason departures of four veteran ends — William Hayes, Andre Branch, Robert Quinn and five-time Pro Bowler Cameron Wake.
With those four the Dolphins had only 31 sacks last year, the fourth-lowest total in the league. The biggest issue for the defense this year will likely be finding ways to generate a pass rush.
"It's going to come from everywhere," tackle Akeem Spence said. "It might come from up front one play. We might have the blitz one play. We're going to do it as a group. Trust me, we're going to get after the passer."
Flores has been getting to know his new team for six months, and midway through the second week of training camp, he and his staff say they're still figuring out who to play where.
The evaluation process will reach a new level with the first preseason game Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons.
"I think I know what guys do well, but I also know this — when the lights go on and we start to play games, some guys just are gamers," Flores said. "The games will tell us a lot."
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)