The Miami Dolphins might go from missing at edge rusher final yr to having a surplus in 2025.
The largest issue is that exterior linebackers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are anticipated to return wholesome. Together with that, Chop Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round decide, might take a 12 months 2 leap.
With a trio of standout edge defenders however solely two beginning spots, the Dolphins might deploy defensive packages that contain all three on pass-rushing downs.
Robinson appears to consider that’s a risk in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.
“I’m tremendous excited. Simply imagining the three of us on the sphere on the identical time,” Robinson mentioned in a Wednesday net convention with reporters throughout crew offseason exercises, “or simply me and JP, or JP and Chubb on the identical time. It’s sort of arduous for tackles to (say), ‘All proper, you’ve bought to check JP, you’ve bought to check Chubb, you’ve bought to check me.’
“And if we’re all on the sphere on the identical time, it (can) sort of mess up the offense’s thoughts as a result of they wouldn’t know what to do.”
Robinson surged halfway by means of his rookie season to complete with six sacks in 2024. Whereas he was profitable move rushes early within the yr, he persistently began getting residence to the quarterback within the latter parts of the season.
He needed to do a lot of that on his personal on the sting. Chubb missed the whole season whereas rehabbing his torn ACL from Dec. 31, 2023, and Phillips, who recovered from a torn Achilles in 2023, then partially tore his ACL 4 video games into 2024, successfully ending that season prematurely.
A current social media photograph launched by the crew from closed exercises confirmed Robinson working available placement with Chubb. It’s the sort of factor Chubb was already doing with the teen whereas the veteran was out final yr, however now he can take a extra energetic position.
“It’s sort of like the identical factor he was doing when he was off the sphere with me final yr, simply tuning into the issues that he was capable of do,” Robinson mentioned. “Now that he can do all the pieces, we’re simply tuning it up once more, however now we’re doing it collectively as a substitute of him simply being a mentor, a instructor. He’s nonetheless doing the identical factor, being a mentor and stuff, however he’s additionally on the market serving to me excellent my craft.”
Whereas Robinson was reverse Emmanuel Ogbah and his five-sack 2024 marketing campaign, he’s nonetheless but to play a down with Chubb and hasn’t seen a lot motion on the sphere with Phillips. Ogbah has since signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.
The revamped edge-rushing group can pair properly with the inside move rush that ought to be offered from defensive sort out Zach Sieler coming off back-to-back 10-sack seasons. The Dolphins, who misplaced Calais Campbell this offseason, additionally drafted Michigan defensive sort out Kenneth Grant within the first spherical this yr.
Robinson, out of Penn State, is acquainted with Grant and his athleticism at 331 kilos from enjoying within the Massive Ten, and is wanting ahead to the inside linemen complementing the sting defenders.
“When the offense has to deal with greater than only one man, they will’t simply set a slide to the sting rusher,” Robinson mentioned. “They will’t simply ship a chipper to that aspect if you’ve bought inside that may tear up the entire sport, so it’s sort of a special sport plan than it’s with out having guys like that.”
Robinson is understood to have pass-rushing prowess, however he’ll must proceed to enhance in setting the sting towards the run with the intention to be an every-down contributor, particularly with Chubb and Phillips returning.
Initially Revealed:
