The Miami Dolphins spent a good amount this offseason to ensure that the team gets a better overall product in the front seven in 2020 — the objective being to play more stout both against the run and the pass of opposing offenses. But despite the fact that Miami welcomed in a slew of new bodies up front, the team didn’t exactly go out and nail down a bunch of explosive, bendy edge threats to boost their pass rush.
So what gives?
The Dolphins, under the watch of head coach Brian Flores, are going to be calling upon Flores’ experience working in New England under Bill Belichick — and they’re going to bet on the talent of their loaded secondary to stay stick in coverage while scheming up their pass pressures to create heat on the quarterback. So instead of simply trotting out their four best linemen and assuming they’re going to win in one on ones, the Dolphins will be crafting pressure looks with the objective of manufacturing pressure — at times without even sending extra bodies.
Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux was asked about the approach yesterday during his press availability and explained that the Dolphins, if disciplined, have all they need to pressure the quarterback.
“(Schemed pressure) works well. You have ‘Flo’ (Brian Flores) was with New England and they had the scheme – scheme pressures – and you just have to have everybody do their jobs. If the nose tackle’s got to penetrate, he’s got to penetrate and the Buck probably has to do a stunt or he’s got to do something; so you’ve just got to have everybody on the same page,” explained Godchaux.
“I think once you do that as a defense, you’re going to get sacks, you’re going to get the numbers you want. You’re going to get the TFLs. You’re going to do all of that, but you have to do it as a team. It’s 11 guys on the field as a defense.”
A major point of emphasis from Godchaux was that all it takes is one selfish player or overly ambitious free-lance effort to get popped for big gains — and that serves as a reminder of why the Dolphins are so dialed into having team players on their squad. Buy-in is necessary, as is trust that if you execute your job, your number will be called often enough for everyone to eat up front. The Dolphins seem to think they’ve got the right blend after a busy offseason — and we’re now less than a month from seeing just how good the team’s pass rush can be.