‘Physical, tough kids.’ Why the Dolphins decided to build through the trenches
The writing on the wall is clear.
The Miami Dolphins need help in the trenches.
Throw in the loss of leaders such as defensive tackle Calais Campbell and offensive tackle Terron Armstead and the need for depth along both sides of the ball grew even clearer.
“We wanted to get better at offensive line,” general manager Chris Grier said. “We knew we had some older players with ‘T. Stead’ and Kendall Lamm, Isaiah Wynn moving on. So we talked about adding youth, and it just so happens that these guys are bigger players that are physical, tough kids that love football. And we haven’t shied away from looking for those types of players.”
Two words stand out: physical and tough. That’s why the Dolphins drafted three players on the defensive line (Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers) and one along the offensive line (Jonah Savaiinaea). The message: build through the trenches and have an identity that the Dolphins try to rely on in 2025, something they believe that this group of rookies can immediately contribute to.
“They were awesome just talking about those stories about when adversity hit them with the teams and what they did to stay there and try and help their teams to get better and win,” Grier said. “So you’re always drawn to those types of stories with players. These kids are quality kids that we’re excited to add.”
Since the arrival of coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins have struggled to shed the label of “soft.” It has nothing to do with McDaniel specifically, it’s just that the team has often struggled through adversity. The results speak for themselves: in cold weather games, they tend to wilt; against good teams, they tend to shrink; and when someone gets injured, they tend to collapse.
When that happens, newcomers are shocked.
“Simple as that, I thought we were soft today,” linebacker Jordyn Brooks said Nov. 28 after an embarrassing 30-17 loss to the Green Bay Packers. “I don’t know if guys was too cold. . . . I don’t know what it was. I feel like the elements played a part in how we played as a group, and that was the result that we got.”
Though it should be noted that Brooks’ “soft” comment was rooted in the Dolphins’ poor display of tackling against the Packers, the ethos of what he said — that is adversity leads to folding — should not be lost. So why not try something different? Rather than draft a bunch of skill players who fit the McDaniel offense, invest on the big boys who make said offense thrive.
Such a tactic has worked around the league for years. Most recently, the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl — and not just due to the addition of tailback Saquon Barkley. The power of the trenches — defensive players such as Jalen Carter and Zack Baun as well as having one of the best offensive lines in the league — was why the Eagles just so happened to be up 34-6 against the Kansas City Chiefs at the start of the fourth quarter.
The Dolphins still have very real needs, specifically at cornerback. But just, for a second, imagine a defensive front of Zach Sieler, Grant, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips with a sprinkle of Chop Robinson. That, on paper, is a unit that can certainly keep opposing offensive coordinators up. And as long as the Dolphins offensive line stays intact in order to keep quarterback Tua Tagovailoa upright, the Dolphins could have a new identity come 2025.
“I think when we talk about players that we’re adding to our football team, there’s a lot of needs,” McDaniel said, later adding “It’s important that you have people valued appropriately and you don’t overvalue you players because that’s where you can run into some trouble.”
