Miami Dolphins: Will Defense Be The Offseason Focus?

Now that the Miami Dolphins have found their new defensive coordinator they’ve got some work to do to turn the defense around. Miami swung for the fences when they hired Vic Fangio to replace Josh Boyer but they can’t rest on their laurels. The defense isn’t going to get better with Fangio alone, so he’s already brought in former Los Angeles Chargers DC Renaldo Hill to push their limits. Miami needs Fangio and company to improve the defense the way Mike McDaniel helped improve the offense but which side of the football will be their focus?

Clearly, the offense shouldn’t be ignored. One of the main reasons the Miami Dolphins were a playoff team was the stretch of solid football in the middle of the season. Granted most of it came with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa. The offense struggled to have the same spark without Tua under center. If the Dolphins want him to be healthy for all 17 games, they will need to solidify their pass protection, something they’ve struggled to do for years. Last offseason they hit a home run with Terron Armstead, but that’s where they stopped for whatever reason.

Then there’s the running back position. Miami had more productivity out of the position this season than the one before, however, they filled their backfield with placeholders and will need an every-down type back. If they can’t get one they’ll still need to find two RBs with opposing styles to split carries and change the pace of the game.

MORE Miami Dolphins: Will 2023 Be The Dolphins Year?

But the offense might not be what Miami zeroes in on this off-season. While they have a ton of talent up front on defense, they’ve got plenty of holes to fill on defense. Their run defense was a massive improvement, but their pass coverage dipped significantly. However, injuries decimated the unit. With that being said, even if they all return healthy this year, don’t look for Miami to sit still while searching for an upgrade. If they do, this offseason could be a waste.

First and foremost, the Dolphins need to be looking for trade partners. They’ve already burned their first-round picks going after Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb. Maybe they can find a player deep in the draft who will come in and make an instant impact. Maybe they need to move a player or two to regain some mid-round picks. Early rounds are for playmakers, mid rounds are for role players, and late rounds are for depth. Unless they can get an early pick back, or find a placeholder in free agency, then take a shot with as much competition as you can create.

Whatever the focus is this offseason, the Miami Dolphins need to make big strides. They won’t keep up with the rest of the AFC if they have a quiet offseason. One coach and a new scheme won’t fix this team alone. They’ve spent a ton of resources the past season and a half so there might not be enough left. I guess we’ll have to see how creative Chris Grier can get.