New Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver sheds light on scheme, plan for Ramsey and more

It’s still seven months until the Dolphins’ new-look defense will take shape under Anthony Weaver at the start of the 2024 season.

But in the first comments from Miami’s new defensive coordinator, Weaver expressed excitement to work with a group that finished top 10 in yards allowed for the first time since 2010 — and sees similarities to the top-ranked Baltimore Ravens defense that he is leaving.

Weaver, who on Thursday spoke to local reporters for the first time since his hiring on Feb. 3, said there are “probably multiple guys on every level of the defense that you can get excited about.” He then rattled off a list of players and even notably mentioned defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who is set to hit free agency in March.

The defense that Weaver, 43, has inherited won’t be the same one that takes the field this fall. There are multiple key free agents, headlined by Wilkins, and notable injuries that could extend into the 2024 season. The Dolphins will also use free agency and the draft to fill holes and improve the unit.

Weaver, though, has a solid core to build upon this upcoming season and hinted and how he intends to leave his mark in Miami. Here are three takeaways from Weaver’s introductory news conference.

Scheme will be ‘flexible’

Weaver had a stint as a defensive coordinator with the Houston Texans in 2020 and has more than a decade working in various schemes during his time as an assistant. He most recently was an assistant head coach and defensive line coach for a Ravens team that led the NFL in sacks, points per game and takeaways in the 2023 season.

When asked what scheme he would utilize in Miami, he said the “foundation” of it would be from Baltimore’s defense.

“I think the scheme that we used in Baltimore is extremely multiple and flexible,” Weaver said. “And the foundation of what we’re going to do here will be from that. But the beauty in that is a lot of the things that they’ve already done here, that they’ve had success in, we were very similar there.

“So, there should be a lot of crossover teaching. But, I think in this league it’s hard to just pigeonhole yourself as one particular thing because you’re going to face different situations throughout the entire year, whether it’s injuries. There’s a multitude of factors. And your scheme better be flexible enough to one, adapt to the players, and adapt to whatever situation you may be.”

That mind-set applies to his philosophy on blitzing, too. Weaver noted he’s worked with defensive coordinators on both ends of the spectrum when it comes to blitzing — and the Dolphins have had coordinators at both extremes in recent years. Weaver, though, plans for any decision to send additional rushers to have a reason behind it.

“I believe you have to be calculated and not reckless in blitzing,” he said. “Because when you do blitz, you’re obviously leaving your secondary vulnerable. So, whenever we do blitz, it will be with intent.”

Ramsey is ‘ultimate chess piece’ for Dolphins

If Weaver stays true to his desire for the Dolphins’ defense to be flexible and multiple, it could mean a much bigger role for cornerback Jalen Ramsey in 2024.

Ramsey was Miami’s top acquisition in the 2023 offseason but a meniscus tear on the second day of training camp sidelined him for the first seven games of the season. Ramsey returned to Pro Bowl form but gave indications that he wasn’t fulfilled by his role in Miami. With the Los Angeles Rams, he played a versatile STAR role, lining up in the slot and closer to the line of scrimmage, along with his traditional outside cornerback responsibilities. But in 2023 under former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Ramsey’s 14 snaps in the slot were by the fewest in his career, and he rarely shadowed opposing receivers.

Weaver said he plans to maximize Ramsey’s skill set as a coordinator.

“I think he is your ultimate chess piece,” Weaver said. “So to have him sit outside and be a field corner or boundary corner or something like that, I think is a detriment. We’ve got to find ways to move him around where he can be most impactful.”

Weaver aligned with McDaniel philosophically

The hiring of Weaver seems to be focused on culture as much as it is on Xs and Os.

Head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged as much in his opening statement, noting that when he spoke to Weaver during the interview process, “it started as the person and who could have the biggest impact as a person and then in the process, got to get down to some nitty gritty on some schematic football side of it that really allows us to build on what we’ve been good at and continue forward in 2024.”

As Weaver addressed reporters for about 25 minutes, many of his statements matched talking points from McDaniel over the last two seasons.

Weaver touched on adaptability as a key trait, spoke about coaching as “service work” and embraced the use of analytics to make decisions. It should be noted that Fangio wasn’t as open to analytics and his rigidness in personnel and scheme was a point of frustration for players at times.

This isn’t to say Weaver is the anti-Fangio but there are stark differences between the two, down to their preference of location in calling plays; Fangio preferred to call plays from the coaches’ booth, but Weaver said he plans to be on the sidelines, where he believes he can get a better pulse on the game.

There’s also a connection of fundamental principles between Weaver and McDaniel, who first crossed paths in 2006 when Weaver was playing defensive end for the Houston Texans and McDaniel was a quality control coach. They later coached alongside each other with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 when Weaver was the defensive line coach and McDaniel was the wide receivers coach.

Weaver is viewed as a future head coach and interviewed for vacancies this cycle. He’s also said to be a personable coach who relates to others well; Weaver said his seven-year career has allowed him to do so.

And in hiring Weaver, McDaniel brought in a coach whose impact he believes can be felt off the field as much as it is on the field.