Tag: Anthony Weaver

Anthony Weaver wants a chance to use all 3 Dolphins edge rushers

Chop Robinson, Jaelan Phillips, and Bradley Chubb didn’t get to play together in 2024. Will they get the chance in 2025?

When the Miami Dolphins picked Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, the team knew it was unlikely that he’d begin his career in rotation with edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.

Now it’s a question if Robinson will ever play with that duo.

After returning from an Achilles tear in time to play Week 1, Phillips made it only four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Meanwhile, Chubb is still working to return from the devastating knee injury he suffered on New Year’s Eve in 2023.

While there’s no reason to believe Phillips and Robinson won’t play together in 2025, it wouldn’t be a shock if the Dolphins decided to part with Chubb in order to clear more than $20 million in cap space in each of the next three seasons.

But defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is hoping he eventually gets to see what he can with the trio.

“The idea of having all three of them available and on the field on the same time, I mean you completely opened up Pandora’s box for me and you just start thinking of ways you can use them in multiple positions and really scare and intimidate offenses,” Weaver said Thursday. “t would certainly be an awesome, I want to say problem, it’s certainly not a problem, but it’d just be a lot of fun to see what we can do with all those three guys.”

With five sacks in the last seven weeks, Robinson has made a late push to get in the mix for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Last season, Phillips had 6.5 sacks in eight games before his Achilles tear. Chubb finished the year with 11 sacks in 16 games.

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Dolphins coaches defend play of underperforming starting DB

Dolphins coaches haven’t been shy about benching veterans, but they haven’t shaken up their starting secondary.

Miami Dolphins starting safety Jordan Poyer earned All-Pro honors in 2021 and a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 while with the Buffalo Bills. His play in 2024 likely won’t earn him any accolades, though.

In nine games with the Dolphins, the 12th-year safety hasn’t recorded any interceptions, tackles for loss, forced fumbles, or sacks. He’s notched only one pass defense and opposing quarterbacks have a 144.5 passer rating targeting him in coverage, per Pro Football Focus. His 55.7 grade from PFF is the lowest of his career.

“There’s some absolute plays that he could be better at — I will say I’m very happy with his play overall and what he brings to our defense,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said of Poyer on Wednesday.

“I would imagine Jevón Holland would say he plays his absolute best when he’s alongside Jordan Poyer. … He’s making plays for us from a physical standpoint each and every week and he’ll improve on the stuff because there’s a reason he’s been in the NFL so long.”

The Dolphins have kept Poyer in the starting lineup, despite strong play off the bench from Marcus Maye, a former starter with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, who has made three starts in relief of Poyer and Holland.

Miami hasn’t been shy about benching struggling veterans, but defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver also thinks Poyer’s impact is more than it seems.

“Each and every week, whether it’s players or coaches, we’re all earning the right to be where we’re at,” Weaver told reporters Thursday. “I don’t know exactly what [Poyer’s] numbers are or where in the narrative that he’s failing in terms of coverage because there’s so many other things that he does in terms of just getting people in the right positions that he doesn’t get credited for. So there is a cerebral part of the game particularly at that position which is incredibly important and he has graduate level honors in that.”

Through 11 weeks, the Dolphins rank ninth in the NFL in total defense and 15th in points allowed.

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Dolphins sticking with LB Anthony Walker Jr. in starting lineup

The Dolphins benched David Long Jr. last week and they plan on keeping him on the sideline in Week 10 too.

The Miami Dolphins benched linebacker David Long Jr., one of their four defensive team captains, in Week 9 and he won’t be getting his job back in Week 10.

“I thought [Anthony Walker Jr.] went out there and did a good job of both executing not only his assignment but communicating to the defense overall and trying to help guys out,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver told reporters Friday.

“That’ll be a decision based week-to-week. Love [Long]. He’s a captain. He’s an outstanding teammate. At this particular time, we just think ‘Walk’ gives us the best chance to go out there and execute from a defensive standpoint.”

Not only was Long yanked from the starting lineup against the Buffalo Bills, he didn’t play a single snap in the Dolphins’ 30-27 loss.

Long, 28, received a grade below 42 from Pro Football Focus in each of his last four games and was credited with missing 12 tackles during that stretch. Walker received a 54.8 grade against the Bills.

“It was less about David Long not doing something and more about we felt like ‘Walk’ needed and deserved the opportunity and has skills of his own in his own right that were the best man for the job,” McDaniel explained earlier in the week.

“It’s not necessarily fun, but the whole team and organization are depending on you to try to do what you see as very best. And I think David respects that and regards that. I’m sure he disagrees, but it’s about understanding intent and I think the whole team loves David. That’s why they voted him captain, but also you have to – I think it was the football team was excited for ‘Walk’s’ opportunity which he made the most of, for sure.”

Walker, 29, joined the Dolphins in March after spending the last three seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

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Dolphins confident in Jevon Holland, regardless if he has club on hand

Jevon Holland might play with a club on his hand Sunday, but Anthony Weaver thinks the Dolphins safety will be effective, no matter what.

It’s still unclear if Jevón Holland will be able to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after suffering a hand injury in the Miami Dolphins’ last game. But if Holland is wearing a club to protect his injured hand, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is confident the safety will still be an asset in his secondary.

“I think with that kid, I’m not saying he can’t do anything,” Weaver said of Holland. “So if I was going to count on anybody to get out there and play, it would be him. … Regardless of if he has something on his hand or not, I think he’ll be able to go out there and do his job.”

Holland, 24, dealt with knee sprains during the 2023 season. But an injured hand is a new experience for the fourth-year safety.

“I’m going to assume it’s going to be a little difficult,” Holland said Wednesday. “If I have to club it, I’m not really sure yet, but yeah, I’m going to assume it’s going to be a little hard to catch the ball and whatnot because it’s kind of in the way.”

What might not be too difficult is forcing fumbles. Holland punched a ball out of the hands of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. in Week 1 and could look to do the same against future opponents.

“It probably won’t that hurt bad since it’s casted and everything,” Holland said. “So yeah, I’ll probably end up doing that.”

Holland has four sacks, five interceptions, and five forced fumbles in 50 career games with the Dolphins.

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Anthony Weaver: Dolphins veteran is ‘what you hope Mohamed Kamara grows into’

Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver says the team has the perfect role model for fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara.

Miami Dolphins fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara still hasn’t made his NFL debut. While he’s on the 53-man roster, the outside linebacker was a healthy scratch in the first four weeks as the team patiently develops the former Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

The hope, according to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, is that they can get Kamara to become a lot like current starting outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah.

“He’s essentially what you hope Mohamed [Kamara] grows into,” Weaver told reporters Thursday. “He is an enforcer and you saw it multiple times in that game. He sets a firm edge. He can intimidate you with just his sheer size and will and his ability to stick his face in the fan. And then as a rusher, he’s not just a power guy, there’s a little finesse aspect and great hand usage to it, too.

“To me, he’s the perfect guy for Mohamed to watch and kind of see what he can take from him and then add to his game.”

Ogbah, 30, came into the league with higher expectations than Kamara as the No. 32 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. But it took time for him to find his footing in the league. After 12.5 sacks in three years with the Cleveland Browns, Ogbah was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for backup safety Eric Murray.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Ogbah broke out with back-to-back seasons with nine sacks as a member of the Dolphins.

Kamara may be a similar late bloomer, but Weaver has high hopes for the rookie.

“He’s a guy that’s rugged, tough,” Weaver said of Kamara. “You talk about he should be a firm edge setter, be able to reduce him to a three technique and rush him there if need be, but he needs to be like your topflight security of the world. He needs to be the protector and be the enforcer on the field, and I’ve kind of tasked him with that since he’s been here.”

With Jaelan Phillips done for the year with a knee injury, it may be time for Kamara to see his first NFL snaps. However, the arrival of veteran Tyus Bowser could mean play time for Kamara remains scarce. In the meantime, he can spend the next few months continuing to learn in hopes of eventually becoming the Dolphins’ next Ogbah.

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Dolphins sign OLB who was 2nd round draft pick in 2017

The Dolphins reunited Anthony Weaver with a familiar face to fill Jaelan Phillips’ spot on the roster.

The Miami Dolphins signed outside linebacker Tyus Bowser off the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, the team announced Thursday.

Bowser, 29, was picked in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Baltimore Ravens and spent the first seven years of his career with the team. During his time with the Ravens, Bowser worked with current Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who became the Ravens’ defensive line coach in 2021.

Bowser recorded 19.5 sacks during his tenure in Baltimore, but missed all of 2023 due to a knee injury suffered in the offseason. The Ravens released Bowser earlier this year and he eventually landed with the Seahawks. He appeared in two games with Seattle in September and received a 62.4 grade from PFF.

Miami was in need of some pass rushing help after losing Jaelan Phillips to a season-ending knee injury. Through four games, the Dolphins have seven sacks, more than only four teams in the NFL.

Earlier this year, the Dolphins picked Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara in the first and fifth rounds of the 2024 NFL draft. The team also has Bradley Chubb on the PUP list as he works to recover from an ACL tear suffered in Week 17 of the 2023 season.

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Anthony Weaver: Bradley Chubb likely to return ‘at some point this year’

Anthony Weaver’s update on the health of Bradley Chubb doesn’t sound like he expects the pass rusher back soon.

There haven’t been many updates about the health of Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, who suffered an ACL tear on New Year’s Eve last season. On Friday, Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver didn’t offer the most encouraging signs about Chubb’s return.

“I truthfully have no idea [when he’ll return],” Weaver told reporters Friday. “He’s in all of our meetings so he certainly gives me the feeling that we will see him at some point this year.”

Chubb, 28, is currently on the Dolphins’ physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is eligible to make his return as early as Week 5. But Weaver’s update doesn’t seem to indicate that the team expects to see the pass rusher back on the practice field next week.

Miami’s defense could use the boost, though. Through three weeks of the 2024 season, the Dolphins have recorded six sacks, more than only nine teams. Last year, the Dolphins’ 56 sacks ranked third most in the NFL. Four of Miami’s six sacks so far have come from defensive linemen Calais Campbell, Zach Sieler, and Da’Shawn Hand.

Chubb led the Dolphins in sacks last season with 11, the most he’s recorded since notching 12 as a rookie with the Denver Broncos in 2018.

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Mike McDaniel: Eager to get Jalen Ramsey out there, but we’ll be smart

Unsurprisingly, Mike McDaniel isn’t offering many hints about Jalen Ramsey’s readiness to play Sunday.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey returned to practice Friday, hours after becoming the NFL’s highest paid player at his position earlier in the day.

But will he be available to play Sunday after missing practice both Wednesday and Thursday? Unsurprisingly, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was unwilling to offer many hints.

“He had a good walkthrough today. I think we’re gonna be smart, but we’re eager to get him out there,” McDaniel said of Ramsey before practice Friday. “I anticipate him — in some way, shape, or form — at practice. I don’t know the level yet.

“That and whether or not he can play in the game, it does matter to everyone — both teams. … Quite honestly, I don’t know. If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you, but I really don’t know.”

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Ramsey, 29, has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last seven seasons and was acquired by the Dolphins in a trade during the 2023 offseason. While meniscus surgery kept the cornerback out early in the year, he returned to play in 10 games and allowed a 52.9 passer rating when targeted in coverage, according to PFF.

While it would be a boost to the Dolphins secondary to have Ramsey in action against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a looming Thursday night game against the Buffalo Bills next week could force the team to be extra cautious.

“We just got to be smart and cognizant that we do have two games in whatever that is, a little over a week, so we’ll see,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday. “But the one thing I do know about Jalen (Ramsey), is that it’s not for a lack of work ethic. He’s doing everything he can in the training room to try to put himself out there.”

In the event that Ramsey is held out of action Sunday, second-year cornerback Ethan Bonner would likely get the start. On Thursday, he said he’s prepared for that and would embrace the opportunity.

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Ethan Bonner: I’m prepared to start, excited for the opportunity

Ethan Bonner says he’s ready to go if the Dolphins decide he’s starting in Jalen Ramsey’s place Sunday.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey hasn’t been ruled out for Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it would be quite a surprise if he plays. After missing back-to-back practices, it appears that second-year cornerback Ethan Bonner is set to fill his shoes in starting lineup for the Week 1 opener.

“It’s exciting,” Bonner told reporters Thursday, via Adam Beasley of Pro Football Network. “Any opportunity I have to get out there, I’m going to try to take advantage of it. So yeah, I’m definitely excited about it.

“I’m gonna be prepared to do whatever I’m asked. If that’s to go out there and start, I’ll be ready to go out there and execute.”

Bonner, 24, spent the majority of his rookie year in 2023 on the Dolphins’ practice squad after signing as an undrafted free agent. The cornerback was elevated to the active roster in December and appeared in two games, but the majority of his time was spent on special teams.

“You wouldn’t be here, and we wouldn’t even think about putting you on defense if we didn’t think you could play,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday. “So regardless of who steps out there – I don’t care who starts, I want to know who finishes. I’ve said that before and I think all those guys can finish.”

His ascension to potentially start Sunday comes at the end of a strong offseason for the second-year cornerback.

“Bonner probably has had like the craziest jump from I think any player from last year, in my opinion,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle told reporters in July. “He just seems like a totally different player out there.”

In preseason, Bonner was credited with allowing four receptions on eight targets for 70 yards.

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Anthony Weaver on Jaelan Phillips’ rehab: ‘He is an absolute freak’

Anthony Weaver hasn’t had a chance to work with Jaelan Phillips much, but he’s been impressed by the little he’s seen.

The Miami Dolphins finished the 2023 with the third most sacks in the NFL, but generating a similar amount of pressure this season could be tough.

Not only did the Dolphins lose defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency, the team’s top two edge rushers, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, are working their way back from season-ending Achilles and ACL tears, respectively.

While Mike McDaniel has shied away from giving a timetable for the return of Chubb and Phillips, new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has been impressed with what little he’s seen out of the latter.

“I’ve learned that he is an absolute freak,” Weaver said of Phillips on Friday. “He is a specimen of a human being. He is a phenomenal person and he is chomping at the bit to get out there on the field and play with his guys. So super excited.

“Mike [McDaniel] showed a clip today just how fast he was running in his rehab program so let’s just say we got excited seeing those numbers. … Faster than I’ve ever seen a dude that big run, let’s just say that.”

Phillips, 25, is currently on the Dolphins’ PUP list, making him ineligible to participate in training camp practices. The fourth-year pass rusher can, however, work individually on the sideline as part of his injury rehab.

Despite the impressive progress Phillips appears to be making, being productive within a year of an Achilles repair is still a steep challenge. Pass rushers Shaquil Barrett and Dawuane Smoot suffered similar injuries during the 2022 season, but managed only 4.5 and 1.0 sacks, respectively, in 2023.

Back in 2015, Baltimore Ravens star edge rusher Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles in Week 1 and bounced back to record a respectable eight sacks in 2016.

Phillips will have the challenge of staging a similar comeback on a shorter timeline after suffering his injury on Black Friday in 2023. But if Dolphins coaches are to believe, it shouldn’t be ruled out.

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