Dolphins want more from Robinson. And coaches dish on other players
After blossoming in the second half of his rookie season, Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson hasn’t been nearly as productive so far this season.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver offered a blunt assessment Thursday:
“Chop has had an up-and-down year,” Weaver said. “Not the production you want from a pass rush standpoint. He’s had some inconsistencies in the run game [that] you have to clean up.”
Weaver said there have been some good plays from Robinson but also “times [where you say], ‘Ah man, you have to do better.’ I still love the kid. We’ve got to get it fixed. Sometimes he wants to do right so bad that he puts himself in vulnerable positions.”
Robinson has seven tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss in 173 defensive snaps.
Pro Football Focus rates Robinson 108th among 113 edge rushers who have played this season.
Though PFF rates Jaelan Phillips 104th among 113 edge players against the run, Weaver said that’s not a fair assessment.
“When we need him to set violent edges he has,” Weaver said. “Some of the grading is because he’s been in coverage, and that hurts him in the grading process.”
Weaver joked about trade speculation involving edge players (a group that includes Bradley Chubb and Matthew Judon) and said: “I know rumors are floating around. I don’t want to lose any of them. I love them to death.”
Grant update
Weaver and defensive line coach Austin Clark have been encouraged by the recent play of rookie first-round pick Kenneth Grant. PFF graded him as Miami’s top defensive lineman in the loss to Cleveland.
“It started two weeks ago, and it started in practice,” Weaver said. “He seemed more relaxed out there.”
Clark cited Grant’s increasing “comfortability in the scheme and the way we are playing him and working into pro playing shape. Those things have helped him out. We’ve seen growth. He has a long way to go.”
Asked if Grant’s body (weight, body fat) is where the Dolphins want it, Clark said: “As a 22-year-old lineman, I wouldn’t say it’s exactly where we want him. He’s getting in shape. He can handle more because of it.”
▪ Clark said rookie fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips is “playing with aggression” and doing a good job on early snaps. He said seventh-round rookie defensive lineman Zeek Biggers is “close” to contributing.
▪ Weaver said safety Dante Trader Jr. didn’t play a defensive snap against Cleveland because he was “banged up” and the team “didn’t want to put him at risk.” He’s on the injury report with a shoulder issue.
▪ Weaver suggested he plans to continue rotating Jack Jones and Ethan Bonner at cornerback, opposite Rasul Douglas.
▪ Rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., who has been on injured reserve for the past four weeks, began practicing this week, and the Dolphins have 21 days to activate him.
When he’s deemed ready to play, “he will go back to the nickel spot and that will allow us to put Minkah [Fizpatrick] more at safety,” Weaver said.
▪ Has second-year running back Jaylen Wright put himself in position for more carries after not getting any in the past three weeks?
“Jaylen Wright has practiced well,” running backs coach Eric Studesville said. “The [August knee] injury he had set him back. He has been great in meetings. He has worked tail off in practice.”
▪ Zach Sieler has no sacks after producing 9.5 each of the past two seasons. He has three tackles for loss and four penalties.
Weaver said the Sieler partnership with Christian Wilkins and Calais Campbell helped him the past few years, and that’s one reason his numbers are down.
▪ Offensive coordinator Frank Smith said tight end Greg Dulcich, who was moved from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, “has got really good ball skills, good speed downfield. He has really good natural pass game awareness. He’s good at yards after the catch. The hangup has been staying on the field - with injury issues.”
Dulcich might be needed on Sunday at Atlanta (1 p.m., CBS 4). Darren Waller is on injured reserve, and Julian Hill is dealing with an ankle injury.
