Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver: Jaelan Phillips looks like player we expect to see
MIAMI GARDENS — Anthony Weaver ended the calendar year 2023 with a victory but also with a memory no coach wants to see.
Weaver was on John Harbaugh’s defensive staff of the Baltimore Ravens when they blew out the Miami Dolphins 56-19 on New Year's Eve. It was a dreary day from Miami’s point of view not just because of the score but because they lost edge rusher Bradley Chubb to a torn ACL. With Jaelan Phillips already out with a torn Achilles, it meant that the Dolphins would have to finish the season without their bookend edge rushers.
In the cold world that is the NFL, that was someone’s problem until it became Anthony Weaver’s problem a month later. He was hired as the Dolphins' defensive coordinator.
Weaver knew what he was getting into for 2024.
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“Going into the season, I think there was probably a question mark there, just because of the injuries that have occurred toward the end of last season,” Weaver said Tuesday. “But each and every guy has showed promise and showed that they can do something positively for this defense.”
The question mark, in Weaver’s mind, is fading away thanks to what he has witnessed from veterans and rookies alike, none more notable than Phillips.
“He looks like the Jaelan Phillips we all expect to see,” Weaver said.
Big statement, although Weaver did sprinkle it with words of caution on expecting too much too soon from Phillips, who last week was activated off the physically unable to perform list.
“I think we’re going to have to listen to his body, right?” Weaver said. “Ultimately, I don’t think you want to put a number count on that kid, but we know we have to be smart in how we approach this so he can maintain and last throughout the entire season. But I’m certainly not counting that kid out of anything. You saw how fast he’s gotten back from the Achilles, and he looks like a man-child out there when he has gone.”
Chubb’s recovery remains a bit behind, which is why he’s still on PUP.
“You talk about a guy that is just attacking his rehab with a fierce intensity,” Weaver said.
Rookies Chop Robinson, Mo Kamara have friendly competition
Given the uncertainty involving Phillips and Chubb in the spring, the Dolphins used two draft picks to address edge rushers, taking Penn State’s Chop Robinson in the first round and Colorado State’s Mo Kamara in the fifth.
Weaver said the rookies “were genuinely distraught” over not getting to play in the preseason opener against Atlanta. They took their friendly rivalry to heart last week against Washington.
In the second quarter, Robinson stopped running back Michael Wiley for a loss of 4 yards. Three plays later, Kamara tackled quarterback Jeff Driskel for a loss of 6.
“I joked with ‘Mo’ because Chop has his TFL, and then maybe a few plays later Mohammad makes his play,” Weaver said. “I was like, ‘Oh, you felt like you had to catch up, right? You felt like you were behind.’ ”
When Weaver also takes into account the resurgence of veteran Emmanuel Ogbah, he thinks what was a question mark shouldn’t have everybody, well, on edge.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips looks as good as advertised to coordinator
