With Super Bowl 57 coming to an end, Vic Fangio has concluded his time as a consultant for the Philadelphia Eagles and is soon expected to join the Dolphins as their new defensive coordinator.
The longtime coordinator’s arrival means new philosophies, principles and potentially different roles for Miami defenders who have played in a much different system in recent years.
“He’s been a huge help,” Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon told the Miami Herald at the Super Bowl’s Opening Night last Monday. “He’s a fantastic mastermind and a really good friend. ...
“It’s just extremely well-coached,” Gannon added about Fangio’s defenses. “And that’s coming from the top down. I think more so anything that’s scheme or coverages or anything, his guys are in the right spot a lot. If you’re watching tape and you know what ball looks like, his defenses look like good ball.”
Here is what Fangio’s system could mean for several Dolphins defenders.
Xavien Howard
Since entering the NFL as a second-round pick in 2016, Howard has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He’s been one of the most indispensable players on Miami’s defense because of his ability to shadow top wide receivers and use his football intelligence to intercept passes.
But Howard admittedly had a season that was below his standard in 2022. His 15.6 yards per completion allowed was a career-worst, according to Pro Football Reference, and he dealt with a groin injury in the first half of the season.
In Fangio’s scheme, which uses high rates of zone coverage, Howard, who turns 30 in July, won’t be asked to follow opposing wideouts as much but cover a particular spot on the field.
Howard has great recognition of route concepts and with more snaps in zone coverage and with his eyes on the quarterback, Fangio could unlock Howard’s IQ in a different way to impact games.
Jevon Holland
Holland has put together two seasons that have established himself as one of the up-and-coming safeties in the league.
But a bigger role could await Holland in Fangio’s scheme, which often disguises looks pre- and post-snap.
In 2020, safety Justin Simmons led the Fangio-led Broncos with five interceptions and was named to his sole Pro Bowl. Simmons patrolled the back end of Denver’s secondary but also played close to the line of scrimmage, logging 319 snaps in the box, according to Pro Football Focus.
Holland has shown the ability to blitz the quarterback — he only trailed teammate Brandon Jones in pass rush snaps among safeties in 2021 — and with fewer responsibilities as a deep safety, he could return to a more versatile role.
Kader Kohou
Kohou became the latest undrafted gem for the Dolphins, starting 15 games as a rookie. Though he played significant snaps at outside corner, most of his snaps came from the slot, and that where’s his long-term projection is.
If the Dolphins have better health at cornerback in 2023 and Kohou can return to nickel back on an every-down basis, it’s a position he could thrive in as a second-year player. Part of Fangio’s principles in run defense is funneling the ball carrier to the outside, so players can come from depth and make stops.
Kohou is not only sticky in coverage but one of the defense’s most reliable tacklers. With a role closer to the box, Fangio could use Kohou not only in coverage and run defense but maybe as a blitzer, too.
Brandon Jones
Jones began the 2022 season as Holland’s running mate at safety but his season ended in Week 7 because of a torn ACL. Before his injury, he was again taking on a role as one of the best blitzing safeties in the NFL and a trusted defensive back in the box.
Fangio’s scheme uses two-high shells often, placing both safeties deep in coverage. In his early career, Jones has struggled at times in coverage.
Once Jones returns to the field, one of the most intriguing questions is how Fangio uses the talented safety. Does Miami target another coverage safety in free agency? If so, the Dolphins could play more three-safety packages with Jones effectively playing a nickel cornerback or dime linebacker position.
Bradley Chubb/Jaelan Phillips
Over the years, Fangio’s defense has brought out the best of many pass rushers, including Chubb, who had 7.5 sacks in 2020 and was named to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Broncos.
While there’s a lot of focus on what Fangio does in the secondary, he’s also able to manufacture pressures with exotic schemes and isolate his edge rushers with favorable matchups.
Similar to their previous defense, Chubb and Phillips will have to be stout against the run and drop into coverage at times. But their pass-rush production should also be the beneficiaries of Fangio’s presence.
“The edge players are very important in this 3-4 defense Vic and I have been running these for the last eight years,” former Broncos Ed Donatell, who was Fangio’s defensive coordinator in Denver, said in 2019. “You need guys that can compress the edge and then you need somebody who can rush the passer.”
