Terrell Williams hired as Miami Dolphins’ new defensive line coach

The Dolphins have hired former Raiders defensive line coach Terrell Williams for the same role, multiple sources told the Miami Herald on Thursday.

Williams, who held that post in Oakland from 2012 through 2014, takes over for Kacy Rodgers, who is now defensive coordinator of the Jets.

Williams, 40, played his college ball at East Carolina but never appeared in the NFL. He had taken the defensive line job with the University of Florida last month, but apparently got a better offer in Miami.

Prior to his time in Oakland, he had stops at Texas A&M, Purdue and Akron, among others. He joined the Raiders when Dennis Allen was named head coach three years back.

Though the Raiders scuffled through a 3-13 season, costing Allen his job, the defensive line performed well. Oakland ranked eighth in the league in yards allowed per rush (4.0), but did have the league’s second-fewest sacks (22).

Williams inherits a group in transition. Defensive tackle Jared Odrick is set to become a free agent next month, and it’s unclear whether the team will even try to bring him back. Also, Randy Starks is a likely salary-cap casualty. Starks had a down year in 2014, and is poised to cost $6 million against the Dolphins’ cap if he’s on the team in 2015, but just $1 million if he’s not.

The cupboard won’t exactly be bare, either. Cameron Wake is back after leading the team with 11.5 sacks last year, and starters Olivier Vernon and Earl Mitchell will be as well.

Williams’ No. 1 job might be to finally get the most out of Dion Jordan, who remains mostly an unknown two years after he was the third overall pick in the draft.

This story was originally published February 5, 2015 at 11:51 AM with the headline "Terrell Williams hired as Miami Dolphins’ new defensive line coach."