Watching Brian Flores-led defenses has become a very fun exercise — the man knows how to light a fire under his players and he certainly knows how to draw up gap fits and coverage combinations. As far as schematics go, Flores is one of the NFL’s bright young coaches with a defensive pedigree — a rarity in today’s wide-open, passing oriented NFL. And with Flores welcoming half of a starting defense in 2020 with all of the new players this team has added into the fray, things should only continue to get better for Flores’ defense.
But if the Miami Dolphins were given the chance to drop a former legend into the fray with these 2020 Miami Dolphins, which star would shine the brightest under Flores’ watch?
Defensive Jason Taylor
Taylor, by the end of his career, proved he could do a little bit of everything. His primary quality was acting as a devastating pass rusher, but Taylor’s 2006 campaign under Nick Saban was a tour de force as he went on to log the AP Defensive Player of the Year award for doing everything under the sun.
Taylor went on to become a 1st-ballot Hall of Fame inductee and is one of the NFL’s all-time sack leaders.
Linebacker Zach Thomas
The cornerstone of Miami’s early 2000s defensive teams that smothered opposing offenses, Thomas was revered for his film study, preparation and football intelligence — all things that would endear him to Brian Flores faster than you can blink an eye.
Thomas was a vacuum cleaner in the middle, ascending above his physical limitations to log five 1st-team All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowl appearances during his 12 years with the Dolphins.
Cornerback Sam Madison
Madison exploded onto the scene for the Dolphins in the late 1990s and early 2000s, at one point logging 20 interceptions over a three-year stretch of play and helping provide a stout anchor on the back end to put the clamps on opposing receivers.
Madison in total played 9 seasons in Miami and accounted for 31 interceptions with the Dolphins before finishing his career with three years in New York with the Giants. We all know how much Brian Flores loves a good, physical man-cover corner.
Which standout would Brian Flores love the most? Jason Taylor doesn’t necessarily meet the trench standard the Dolphins are looking to impose, whereas Sam Madison would step into a group that already has a slew of talented coverage options. Zach Thomas feels like the best fit — but if your defense can’t accommodate Jason Taylor, you find a role for him. Flores would love all three — but Taylor’s big play ability and value as a pass rusher is too good to ignore. He’d be the best puzzle piece for Brian Flores’ 2020 defense.
Does anyone have a time machine?