Defense tape makes Dolphins’ Weaver ‘want to throw up.’ And Grant on struggling
Dolphins fans weren’t the only ones nauseated by Miami’s run defense against Carolina.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Thursday that the tape made him want to “throw up.”
Carolina gouged the Dolphins on Sunday, running for 239 yards on 7.5 per carry.
“A lot were second-level misfits and guys trying to make plays on the ball before we stopped the ball,” Weaver said, citing trust issues, run fits and tackling as reasons behind the shoddy run defense.
“Some that went 40 yards should have gone for 9 or 10. Our run defense is disappointing.”
The Dolphins defensive line has been arguably the worst in the league against the run. But Weaver reiterated on Thursday that the Dolphins must be patient with first-round pick Kenneth Grant, who is rated by Pro Football Focus as the second-worst defensive tackle in football, and fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips, who is rated 97th of 118.
“You have to give them time,” Weaver said of young players.
In five games, Grant has half a sack but no tackles for loss and has faltered against the run. Weaver said he was encouraged by how Grant practiced Wednesday.
“He was playing free,” Weaver said.
Grant said the goal, at practice this week and in games, is “letting me roll off the ball and cause destruction, like I did in college. [Coaches] want me to roll off the ball and just go.”
The Dolphins are trying to keep Grant from getting down on himself.
“The confidence issue is real,” Weaver said. “As much as you talk about ignoring [criticism on social media], that’s hard. I’ve had that conversation with Kenny. Nobody puts more pressure on himself to perform than he does.”
There was one running play against Carolina where Grant was pushed back 5 yards into a linebacker.
Asked about that play, Weaver said if a defensive lineman is pushed into a linebacker’s hip, that’s not good enough. “For that to happen is unacceptable,” Weaver said, adding he wasn’t speaking of that specific play.
Though Grant has said his problems have been related to technique, he acknowledged “it’s a physical game. You’ve got to match the physicality no matter if it’s two or three people blocking. That’s my job and that’s what they expect.”
Weaver said one issue with the rookie defensive tackles is “they want to do things exactly right, sometimes to your detriment.”
What has surprised Grant about the NFL?
“The pace of the game for sure, how fast the players move,” he said. “What to expect [with] backfield sets. It’s a lot more studying that goes into the game for sure. Trying to guess the blocks you’re trying to play and guessing what type of runs they’re going to run and backfield sets.”
Weaver said he was pleased how defensive tackle Benito Jones played against Carolina and “for that he will be rewarded” with more playing time.
Dolphins linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson entered last week with more tackles than anyone else in the league. That’s not entirely a good thing, Weaver acknowledged.
“I played with Ray Lewis; it’s not the worst thing,” he said. But there have been “plays.. made by linebackers that should be made by the defensive linemen.”
Tagovailoa update
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has taken every first team rep in practice this week despite nursing a thumb injury (on his throwing hand) and a hip injury, quarterback Zach Wilson said, adding that Tagovailoa has looked good.
Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said Tagovailoa is expected to play on Sunday.
Safety Elijah Campbell (quadriceps) and linebacker Dodson (concussion protocol) did not participate in Thursday’s practice.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks said K.J. Britt and Willie Gay Jr. have split Dodson’s snaps in practice.
Here’s my Thursday piece on why the Dolphins had guard Jonah Savaiinaea change positions from college.
This story was originally published October 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM.
