MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Math was never really Vic Fangio’s strong suit. He took an old-school approach to running the Miami Dolphins‘ defense.
But with Fangio out and Anthony Weaver in as Dolphins defensive coordinator, expect analytics to play a larger role in the team’s in-game decisions on that side of the ball.
Miami Dolphins’ Anthony Weaver on Analytics
It’s no surprise that Weaver, born at the tail end of Generation X, would have a drastically different worldview than a legit Boomer.
Fangio’s favorite SiriusXM station is 70s on 7. Weaver wasn’t even alive in the 1970s. And by replacing the former with the latter, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel signaled a fresh start with fresh thinking is needed.
Weaver, who met with reporters here Thursday for an introductory news conference, fits the bill.
“At this point in time, I think you’re a fool not to listen to some of the analytical data, and there’s so much positive uses of it,” Weaver said. “Some of it needs to be filtered absolutely, but if you’re not at this point in time, you’re behind. We certainly want to make sure we’re staying ahead of those trends.”
Translation: His door will be open to Max Mulitz, the Dolphins’ director of football analytics, in a way that perhaps Fangio’s was not.
Fangio trusted his eyes and decades of experience more than any calculator. And certainly, old-school scouting is still hugely invaluable.
But the margin of victory in this league is so slim that it would be irresponsible for any coach not to seek out any edge he or she can find.
When asked back in November if he uses advanced stats to evaluate individual players on his defense, Fangio was dismissive.
“No. I don’t look at the analytics part of it,” he said. “I watch the tape, and I know if our pass rush is good enough or not.”
Weaver’s new boss, however, absolutely sees the value in analytics. McDaniel meets with Mulitz’s team extensively in the offseason and then weekly during the regular season to discuss strategy.
When asked in October to explain why he elected to go for two down 11 against the Bills, he replied:
“It has to do with a lot of analytic talk. It was an 11-point game at the time, so you’re trying to make it a nine-point game and understanding that if you miss the two-point conversion, your defense at least has to hold the offense out of the end zone regardless, and a field goal would just make it a two-score game.
“So it’s kind of a tactical measure that being down by nine, you’d be in a situation where you can score a touchdown and then win with a field goal, knowing that the defense was going to have to stop them from getting to the end zone at that point anyway, so it doesn’t hurt you as much. Some analytical talk that we discuss on a weekly basis, and that was the plan coming out of halftime.”
KEEP READING: Get To Know the Dolphins’ New Defensive Coaches
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
