Dolphins’ Defense Has Been The Biggest Disappointment

Originally posted on Dolphins Talk | By Ryan VanHoover | Last updated Sep 21, 2025 10:15 AM ET

Dolphins’ Defense Has Been The Biggest Disappointment

Going into this season, I really was excited about the Miami Dolphins’ defense. They added three new players on the defensive line who are younger, bigger, and have potential to be very good. Their best pass rushers, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, were coming back healthy, and their inside linebacker group was a position that is as deep as I’ve seen it in years.

I know they have flaws in the secondary, but I felt the front seven could play well to help them out with their inexperience.

The defense has been a total disaster, and it’s been the biggest surprise to me. In 3 games, they have given up opening touchdown drives or let the opposing team come down for a score. They are also getting dominated up front, especially in the running game, as they have given up over 150 yards rushing, which is bad. The tackling has been poor, and they aren’t generating the pressure on the quarterback the way that I thought they might.

Chubb has three sacks in 3 games, which is a positive, but the overall pass rush has been nonexistent.

The Dolphins, in 3 games, haven’t even forced one turnover.

I don’t know what the issue is. Maybe upfront, some of the rookies are going through some growing pains? Is it possible Phillips still isn’t back to his usual self? Why are the inside linebackers still having issues in the passing game?

The Dolphins’ secondary, I knew, was going to be bad because the Dolphins got rid of their starters from a year ago and didn’t really try to sign anyone except for a bunch of castoffs. Minkah Fitzpatrick, coming back to the Dolphins in the trade from the Pittsburgh Steelers, hasn’t made an impact either. It’s possible he has lost a step, and the Steelers knew it.

I thought the Dolphins’ defensive line would be a real strength and set the tone in games, but so far, I’ve been way wrong. They must start setting the tone and stop having teams go up and down the field at will.

They did make strides in the 2nd half against the Buffalo Bills as they held them to two three-and-outs and would have had a 3rd if it wasn’t for the roughing the punter penalty to keep the drive alive.

Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver did a wonderful job last year of making this team a top 10 defense with less talent, without a pass rush, and the defense not forcing turnovers. He was a finalist for the New Orleans Saints head coaching job, but he’s not going to get considered for a head coaching job if he can’t turn this defense around.

They are way too talented in the front seven to be playing the way they have been. He must get these guys to play to their best potential, and it starts next Monday Night against the New York Jets.

Otherwise, maybe it might be best to get rid of some of these players before the trading deadline, especially with the season going south fast.

This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.

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