MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — New Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver may have gotten his start as an NFL coach under Rex Ryan. But he has a different approach to calling a defensive game than Ryan, who never met a blitz he didn’t love.
Weaver, at his introductory news conference Thursday, suggested that he has a more measured philosophy when it comes to bringing an extra rusher.
Get To Know Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
“Blitzing has gotta be calculated and not reckless,” said Weaver, who takes over a defense that had the sixth-lowest blitz rate (21.5%) under Vic Fangio in 2023. “I’ve been around both guys, right? I’ve been around guys that just call it and let’s see what happens. Let’s throw flies in the windshield to see what sticks.
“I’ve been around guys who have been more calculated than that. I believe you have to be calculated and not reckless in blitzing because when you do blitz, you’re obviously leaving your under coverage and secondary vulnerable. So whenever we do blitz, it’ll be with intent.”
Weaver would not totally tip his hand on what the Dolphins will run in 2024, but a good start for anyone interested would be to study what Mike Macdonald did with the Ravens prior to getting the top Seahawks job this offseason.
“I think the scheme that we used in Baltimore is extremely multiple and complex and the foundation of what we’re gonna do here will be from that,” Weaver said.
“But the beauty of that is a lot of the things that they’ve already done here that they’ve had success in, we’re 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 at one particular thing, because you’re gonna face different situations throughout the entire year. Whether it’s weather, injuries, there’s a multitude of factors, and your scheme better be flexible enough to adapt to the players and adapt to whatever situation you may be in.”
Weaver also revealed his coaching DNA when asked about his biggest influences:
Five-time Super Bowl champion Romeo Crennel and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
Here’s what he said about Crennel, who was his boss for several years in Houston:
“He was very detailed in terms of techniques and fundamentals and what he expected from the guys. But more importantly off the field, like he was extremely calm in the chaos, right? There’s a lot of ups and downs throughout the NFL season.
“You have some guys that ride the roller coaster. I don’t believe that. Right. I think when you do that, your players are gonna react the same way. So I try very much to be the same guy every single day. I really don’t have to try. It’s truly just who I am. Right. And then just constantly making sure we’re trying to get 1% better, which requires 100% effort every day.
“But I think as long as you’re on that constant chase to get better, eventually you’ll get to where you wanna go. But my first was Romeo Crennel.”
As for Harbaugh, with whom Weaver worked the last three years in Baltimore?
“I just saw how he walked and operated and constantly kept the pulse of the team,” Weaver said. “And when he got up and addressed the team, he always had something particular in mind and was very direct in what he was trying to get done.
“And I have so much respect for how he walks and operates. It was much different than any coach I’ve been around prior and really confirmed what I was doing to myself because I was like, ‘This is how I envision myself operating,’ and obviously it works. You can have success doing it.”
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