The Dolphins Edge Rushers: The Praise, The Issue, and The Opportunities
The Miami Dolphins have experienced significant growth in recent seasons, especially with a revamped offense under head coach Mike McDaniel and star players like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. However, one area of the team that has consistently drawn attention — both positive and negative — is the defense, specifically the edge rushers. In today’s NFL, a strong pass rush is paramount to defensive success, and the Dolphins’ edge rusher position has the potential to make or break their success in the coming years.
In this article, we’ll break down the praise for Miami’s current edge rusher group, the issues they have faced, and the opportunities ahead as they look to improve and become one of the league’s most formidable defenses.
The Praise: Miami’s Edge Rushers Have Potential
Despite the challenges in Miami’s defense, the Dolphins’ edge rushers have shown flashes of brilliance. In particular, two key players have been the focal point of their pass-rushing efforts: Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
- Jaelan Phillips: A Rising Star
Jaelan Phillips, a former first-round pick in 2021, has emerged as one of the Dolphins’ most promising defensive players. After a slow start to his career due to injuries, Phillips has made significant strides in his development as an edge rusher. In 2022, he racked up 8.5 sacks, showcasing his ability to get to the quarterback and disrupt plays in the backfield.
Phillips possesses a unique combination of size, speed, and explosiveness that makes him a constant threat to opposing quarterbacks. At 6’5″ and 260 pounds, he has the frame to handle blockers, but he also has the quickness to get past them and into the backfield. His versatility allows him to play both standing up and with his hand in the dirt, making him a difficult matchup for offensive linemen. When he’s at his best, Phillips can single-handedly change the course of a game with his relentless pressure.
- Bradley Chubb: A Proven Commodity
Bradley Chubb, acquired in a midseason trade from the Denver Broncos in 2022, was expected to immediately boost the Dolphins’ pass rush. A former fifth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Chubb has established himself as one of the premier edge rushers in the league when healthy. In his first full season with Miami in 2023, Chubb showed his ability to create pressure on quarterbacks, contributing to the Dolphins’ defensive success.
Chubb is a powerful, athletic rusher who excels at using his hands and strength to shed blockers. He has the ability to change direction quickly and can close the pocket with his quick first step. His presence, paired with Phillips, has the potential to form a dynamic pass-rushing duo that can give offensive coordinators nightmares. While he hasn’t consistently reached the double-digit sack numbers seen earlier in his career, Chubb remains a dangerous force when on the field.
Key Praise: Phillips and Chubb are the two cornerstones of the Dolphins’ pass rush. When both are firing on all cylinders, they can cause chaos in the pocket and help elevate the defense as a whole.
The Issue: Inconsistency and Health Concerns
While the praise for Phillips and Chubb is justified, there are significant concerns regarding the inconsistency of the Dolphins’ edge rushers and their health. Despite their potential, both players have struggled to maintain consistency throughout an entire season.
- Jaelan Phillips: Injuries and Inconsistency
In his first two seasons in the NFL, Phillips has been plagued by injuries, limiting his ability to consistently dominate the field. While he showed flashes of brilliance, he has also had stretches where he disappeared from the game plan. One of the challenges facing Phillips is his ability to play at a high level week in and week out. He has yet to put together a full, injury-free season that would see him reach his full potential. His durability remains a significant question mark going forward.
Additionally, Phillips must become more consistent in his pass-rush techniques. While his physical attributes are outstanding, there are still times when he doesn’t convert pressure into sacks. Developing better hand placement, refining his pass-rush moves, and becoming more polished in his technique will help him avoid those lulls in production and make him a more complete edge rusher.
- Bradley Chubb: Health and Production
Much like Phillips, Bradley Chubb’s career has been marred by injury concerns. Chubb’s first few seasons in Denver were promising, but injuries have kept him from reaching his full potential as a top-tier pass rusher. Despite his clear talent, he has only posted double-digit sacks once in his career (12 sacks in 2018). Since joining the Dolphins, Chubb has been solid, but he hasn’t been the game-changing force the team was hoping for when they traded for him.
Chubb’s health will be a major factor in determining his future success in Miami. He has shown that when he’s healthy, he can be a disruptive force, but staying on the field has been an ongoing issue. Additionally, Chubb must work on becoming more of a complete rusher and producing more consistent pressure to help elevate Miami’s pass rush.
Key Issue: Both Phillips and Chubb face health-related concerns that have affected their ability to consistently stay on the field. Additionally, their inability to turn pressure into sacks consistently has limited their impact.
The Opportunities: A Defense on the Rise
Despite the inconsistency and health concerns surrounding Miami’s edge rushers, there is a wealth of opportunity for the Dolphins to improve in this area. With the right coaching and a focus on developing their current talent, the Dolphins have the potential to turn their edge rushers into one of the league’s most dominant duos.
- Defensive Coaching: Developing Pass Rushers
The Dolphins’ defensive coaching staff, led by Vic Fangio, is known for its ability to get the most out of his players, particularly his pass rushers. Fangio, a respected defensive mind in the NFL, has experience working with top-tier edge rushers, such as Von Miller in Denver. If he can work his magic with Phillips and Chubb, it could unlock their full potential.
Fangio’s defensive schemes focus on creating confusion for quarterbacks, disguising blitzes, and making life difficult for offensive linemen. His expertise in defensive line play, combined with his ability to create disruptive schemes, could help Phillips and Chubb find success. If the coaching staff can refine their techniques, improve their pass-rush moves, and keep them healthy, the Dolphins could have one of the league’s most effective pass-rushing tandems.
- Bringing in Depth Through the Draft or Free Agency
Miami has the chance to bolster its pass rush even further by addressing the depth behind Phillips and Chubb. While both are talented, the Dolphins have seen that relying on just two players to create pressure can be problematic if one or both suffer injuries. Adding another edge rusher through the draft or free agency could provide depth and allow the Dolphins to rotate fresh players into the lineup. This would also lessen the burden on Phillips and Chubb, helping them stay healthy and effective throughout the season.
- Creating More Pressure: Taking Advantage of Miami’s Other Defensive Strengths
The Dolphins’ defense is loaded with talent in other areas, including a strong secondary and playmaking linebackers like Jerome Baker. The key for the Dolphins’ defense will be to use the strength of their secondary to give the edge rushers more time to get to the quarterback. If the secondary can lock down receivers and make the quarterback hold the ball longer, it will give Phillips and Chubb more opportunities to generate pressure.
Additionally, using creative blitz packages and stunts can open up more opportunities for Miami’s edge rushers to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. If the defensive line can work in tandem with the secondary, the Dolphins’ pass rush could become one of the most effective in the league.