When you discuss modern defense in the NFL, you won’t get very far without discussing the “Fangio system,” i.e., the series of concepts installed by legendary defensive coach Vic Fangio over the last few years. The shorthand version of “Fangio” refers to light boxes, simulated pressures, and predominantly two-high coverages with an emphasis on quarter-quarter-half (Cover-6). It’s a system that has become all the rage in the NFL today, so it was not surprising that after a year off, in which he spent time studying tape in Florida and consulting with the Philadelphia Eagles, the man himself returned to the league as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator. Fangio was the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2019 through 2021; he was fired after a 19-30 record and no playoff appearances, but Fangio ran a defense that ranked eighth in yards allowed and third in points allowed by the time he was done.
That’s aligned with his root philosophy.
“We’re in charge of not letting the other team score, and we will do anything and everything to do that,” Fangio said during his Miami introductory press conference on February 20, when asked about his overall defensive philosophy. “I’ve been places in the past where we pressured a lot. I’ve been places where we didn’t pressure very much. You’ve got to fit the scheme to the players that you have while also factoring in the opponents that you’re playing.
“So hopefully, we’ll be a team that will keep the points down, make it hard for teams to score a lot of points, and put our offense in position to score points for us. I’m not a buzzword guy as far as that goes other than we want to play good defense and what’s good defense? Keep them out of the end zone.”
The 2022 Dolphins ranked 15th in Defensive DVOA under defensive coordinator Josh Boyer; 25th against the pass, and fourth against the run. In recent years, the Dolphins had a very specific defensive DNA that was radically different than what Fangio is bringing in, so that’s the best place to start.
(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Sports Info Solutions, and Football Outsiders unless otherwise indicated).
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