Miami Dolphins: If Fangio Is Their Guy, Will 2023 Be Their Year?

In 2021 the Miami Dolphins had one of the top defenses in the league. In 2022 however, they dramatically regressed. Now, rumor has it they’ve unofficially signed Vic Fangio as their defensive coordinator for 2023, which will be announced post-Super Bowl. Every Dolphins fan must wonder if next year is finally the year the offense and defense contribute equally. It’s a tall order, but it might happen.

First off, Mike McDaniel proved exactly who he is in 2022. He said he was going to come in and fix the Dolphins’ offense, injuries aside he did. He was brought in to fix Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles, and he did. The Miami Dolphins were a different team with Tagovailoa under center. Skylar Thompson played his butt off against the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs, somehow keeping them in the game. However, his stats were the tale of the tape and did about as expected as a 7th-round pick and rookie quarterback could do. But still, that is a testament to McDaniel as a coach when despite all of that, a 7th-round pick and rookie quarterback almost had them in the AFC Division Round.

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Now on to Fangio. Some might question Miami here, but not different than when they questioned McDaniel. Fangio might not have had success as a head coach, but he’s been on Miami’s radar for some time. His name has come up before when the Dolphins were searching for a HC a few years back. Just like McDaniel, he’s said to be a scheme guy who can get the best out of his players and get the defense to the next level. His defenses often finish in the top 10 in the league. Miami has the talent but if they want to beat the Bills, Chiefs, or Bengals then they need to excel on both sides of the football.

Was Fangio the plan all along? If they wanted to lure him to Miami, then the move for Bradley Chubb had to be the bait they dangled. Chubb is one hell of a defender and Miami locked him up in a long-term deal after the trade. It seems like the Dolphins knew where they were in the middle of the season and wanted to bring in a guy who could lure a top DC into the fold. Obviously, that is pure speculation, however, it’s a lot easier to build a defense around a young talented player like Bradley Chubb, especially with a. coach that has coached him before. Then you have to throw in guys like Jevon Holland, Jaelan Phillips, and Christian Wilkins and Miami is on the cusp of something special.

Even though the Miami Dolphins had a hell of a run defense in 2022, the overall defense lacked explosiveness. The biggest struggle of 2022 was how little Josh Boyer seemed ready for the first half. Often he’d make adjustments and the defense would settle in for the second half. At times it was too little, too late. That’s where Vic Fangio comes in. If ever there was a guy who will have his players ready and have the right schemes, it’s Fangio. Look out for the Dolphins if Fangio does for the defense what McDaniel did for the offense.