Phin Phanatic
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Miami Dolphins defense is attractive and they need to nail the DC hire

By Brian Miller

Jan 15, 2023; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reacts against the Buffalo Bills during the first half in a NFL wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2023; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel reacts against the Buffalo Bills during the first half in a NFL wild card game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /
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Josh Boyer is out as the Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator and that leaves a very attractive hole on the Dolphins’ coaching staff.

The next Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator has to be someone with experience. Not just a year or two, not some up-and-comer, they need a bonafide DC that knows the NFL and can maximize the players’ abilities. Lucky for the Dolphins they have a nice-looking defense.

Miami will undergo player changes on defense but the next DC will inherit quality players that are under contract for at least another season and an executive staff that wants to try and keep the defense together. Unlike other teams, Miami’s defensive issues have been with coaching and game planning, not necessarily the players themselves.

  • Christain Wilkins
  • Xavien Howard
  • Emmanuel Ogbah
  • Bradley Chubb
  • Zach Sieler
  • Jaelan Phillips
  • Jevon Holland

All of those players return next year and Byron Jones could be back, Trill Williams and Nik Needham will be healthy, Kader Kohou should be back after a surprising season, and while Miami will have some changes that need to be made, overall the core is in place for whoever takes the job.

Miami has to get this right. The Dolphins are wasting defensive talent and have done so for years.

  • 2014 – Kevin Coyle
  • 2015 – Lou Anarumo/Coyle
  • 2016 – Vance Joseph
  • 2017 – Matt Burke
  • 2019 – Patrick Graham
  • 2020 – Josh Boyer

Those have been Miami’s defensive coordinators since 2014 and none of them had previously held the position at the NFL level. Miami needs to change that this year. The last time Miami had a DC with previous experience at the NFL level in that job was in 2011 when Mike Nolan was the DC.

Mike McDaniel needs experience on that side of the ball to compensate for his lack of experience as a head coach.

Turning the defensive over to Boyer last season, entirely, made sense so hiring a DC that can take that role entirely makes sense as well. McDaniel is not in a position to try and help a first-time DC grow with so much to do himself.

The search will begin soon and for the Dolphins, it’s a chance to get it right.

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