Dolphins Camp Preview: Defensive Line

The Miami Dolphins made plenty of modifications this offseason hoping to make the playoffs for the primary time since 2017 and win a playoff recreation for the primary time since 2000.

The staff employed former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as its head coach, acquired extremely touted offensive gamers like offensive sort out Terron Armstead and Tyreek Hill, and saved their whole 2021 beginning protection collectively.

In an effort to put together followers for a pivotal season, we’ve determined to interrupt down every positional group on the roster by giving an outlook for every participant, awarding superlatives, and analyzing key questions.

We proceed our collection with the defensive position.

DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OUTLOOKS

Emmanuel Ogbah

2021 Stats: 41 tackles, 9 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 1 pressured fumble 12 passes defended, 24 quarterback hits, 61 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: Ogbah returns for his third season in Miami after signing a brand new four-year cope with the staff this offseason. He’s blossomed into an above-average move rusher since becoming a member of the Dolphins, and there’s no purpose to suppose that may change this season.

Ogbah’s size, pure energy and move rush method make him an ideal slot in defensive coordinator Josh Boyer’s scheme. Ogbah will chase double-digit sacks this season, however his capability to get constant stress makes him one in every of Miami’s greatest defensive gamers no matter sack numbers.

Christian Wilkins

2021 Stats: 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 1 pressured fumble, 4 passes defended, 13 quarterback hits, 31 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: 2021 was a profession season for Wilkins as he eclipsed his career-highs in most vital classes. Nonetheless, 2022 is a vital season for Wilkins as he hopes to earn a long-term contract from the Dolphins after they exercised his fifth-year choice for the 2023 season this offseason.

The previous first-round decide has gotten higher each season since coming into the league and has his inside defensive position spot locked down. Wilkins nonetheless  may look to enhance his move rush manufacturing this season whereas sustaining the high-level run protection he displayed final yr.

Zach Sieler

2021 Stats: 62 tackles, 2 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 1 pressured fumble, 3 passes defended, 3 quarterback hits, 23 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: Sieler loved a powerful season in 2021, beginning 9 video games on the Dolphins’ inside defensive position. His numbers aren’t overly spectacular, however Sieler is an ideal match for Miami’s protection.

His movie reveals a succesful run defender who’s all the time positioned properly to disengage from blockers. This season, Sieler doubtless will see a good quantity of motion however may earn much more snaps if he develops as a move rusher.

Raekwon Davis

2021 Stats: 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 0 pressured fumbles, 0 passes defended, 1 sort out for loss, 1 quarterback hit, 5 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: Davis regressed in 2021 as he missed time with an harm early within the season and by no means discovered his footing after he returned.

Davis nonetheless has an essential function within the Dolphins’ protection as their major run-stopping nostril sort out, however his run protection left rather a lot to be desired in 2021. Davis additionally must make himself a extra impactful move rusher this season.

There’s a place for Davis to stay on Miami’s roster long run, however he’ll need to play nearer to how he did in 2020 to earn it.

Adam Butler

2021 Stats: 17 tackles, 2 sacks, 0 pressured fumbles, 3 passes defended, 2 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hits, 24 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: Final season, Butler primarily functioned as a move rush specialist with 419 of his 592 snaps coming as a move rusher.

Butler’s function doubtless will stay the identical this season as Miami introduced again all of its defensive starters. If Butler needs to extend the variety of snaps he will get this season, he’ll need to show he can flip pressures into extra sacks.

John Jenkins

2021 Stats: Performed in 7 video games, 16 complete tackles, 2 complete quarterback pressures

2022 Outlook: Jenkins was inactive for 9 video games final season, which didn’t go away him a lot of a chance to garner stats.

Jenkins’ function for 2022 doubtless will likely be as a depth choice on the defensive position with a give attention to run protection. He’s a powerful participant on the level of assault and is able to two-gapping with out giving floor to opposing linemen.

There’s all the time room for these forms of gamers in Miami’s defensive position rotation below the present scheme.

Benito Jones

2021 Stats: Didn’t play

2022 Outlook: Jones spent all of final season on the apply squad after enjoying in six video games as a UDFA in 2020.

If Jones goes to make the 53-man roster this season, he’ll have to indicate some pass-rushing prowess. Miami has loads of gamers who’re succesful run defenders, so if Jones goes to face out, it may need to be by getting after the passer.

Owen Carney

2021 Faculty Stats (Illinois): 44 tackles, 6 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss

2022 Outlook: Carney signed with the Dolphins as a UDFA following the 2022 NFL draft. He produced stable numbers in faculty as an out of doors linebacker and defensive finish hybrid.

Since Miami has him listed as a “DL” on its roster, it looks like he’s considered as a defensive finish proper now. Carney can have an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster throughout camp because of Miami’s depth on the place.

Ben Stille

2021 Faculty Stats (Nebraska): 42 complete tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 3 passes defended

2022 Outlook: Stille signed with the Dolphins as a UDFA following the 2022 draft. He profiles as one other participant who’s a major run stopper with restricted move rush upside and manufacturing.

If Stille goes to make the 53-man roster, he’ll need to show he can provide the Dolphins extra than simply ample run protection. The extra doubtless state of affairs is he competes for a spot on the apply squad.

Jordan Williams

2021 Faculty Stats (Virginia Tech): 33 complete tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks

2022 Outlook: Williams signed with the Dolphins as a UDFA following the 2022 draft. His physique kind makes it tough to venture the place he’ll compete for a spot on the Dolphins line.

He’s too skinny to be a everlasting inside lineman however doesn’t have the useful power to be a long-term defensive finish both. Williams’ path to the roster will doubtless come by him making the staff’s apply squad this yr.

DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE LINE SUPERLATIVES

Finest Move Rusher: Emmanuel Ogbah

Finest Run Defender: Zach Sieler

Breakout Candidate: Christian Wilkins

Most Versatile: Emmanuel Ogbah

Most Underrated: Zach Sieler

KEY DOLPHINS QUESTIONS AT DL

Will Christian Wilkins proceed his upward trajectory?

2021 was Wilkins’ greatest season within the NFL by far since he received drafted within the first spherical of the 2019 draft out of Clemson. He recorded profession highs in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks final season.

Nonetheless, Wilkins nonetheless has room to get even higher in 2021 — primarily as a move rush risk. Wilkins’ 5 quarterback hurries ranked 124th within the NFL final season, based on Professional Soccer Reference.

Wilkins’ run protection is certainly above common, however his move rush manufacturing nonetheless must get higher regardless of his enchancment in 2021. That enchancment doesn’t have to return completely within the sack division both.

Miami’s defensive scheme is concentrated on blitzing second-level defenders to create stress and sacks, particularly on third down. The place Wilkins can separate himself in 2022 is by creating stress on first and second down.

If Wilkins can discover extra success on these downs in 2022, he’ll put himself in a superb place to get a contract extension, and the Dolphins defensive position will attain a brand new degree of effectiveness.

Who Will probably be Miami’s Major Nostril Deal with in 2022?

The nostril sort out place is crucial to Miami’s protection and for the reason that Dolphins are preserving Boyer as defensive coordinator, that received’t change this season.

Miami spent a second-round decide on Davis in 2020 hoping he would fill that function for the long run. His rookie season confirmed he was able to doing it, however he regressed closely each relating to his stats and his movie in 2021.

Different choices on Miami’s roster embrace Sieler, Butler, and Jenkins. Sieler strikes round rather a lot and is the defensive position’s most constant run defender, so he may fill that function a number of the time however not completely.

Butler noticed motion on the nostril sort out spot, however that was to provide him a chance to hurry the passer on third downs. He’s not going to be within the recreation taking up two blocks and making run stops fairly often.

Jenkins has the pure dimension (weighs 335 kilos) and talent set to play because the nostril sort out, however he was inactive for 9 video games final season.

Whether or not one participant steps up or the Dolphins finds an efficient rotation on the place, they should get extra constant play from the nostril sort out spot in 2022.

How will the shortage of recent gamers have an effect on the unit?

This query may very well be requested for nearly your entire protection since Miami retained each defensive starter from final season. Nonetheless, the staff did put money into its linebacker group by drafting Channing Tindall within the third spherical.

The defensive position acquired no such help partially as a result of the Dolphins traded so a lot of their picks to Kansas Metropolis for Hill.

Miami’s defensive position received sturdy play from Ogbah, Wilkins and Sieler final season however gamers like Butler, Davis and Jenkins didn’t have massive impacts. That very same lack of depth will comply with the staff into 2022 until Davis regains his 2020 type whereas Butler and Jenkins enhance their recreation as veterans.

It does go away the door open for one in every of Miami’s UDFAs to compete for a major backup spot, which makes for an fascinating camp battle between these gamers.

The Dolphins made the choice to not improve its defensive position by free company or the draft, in order that they’ll need to depend on inside improvement, which isn’t a positive factor by any means.