Dolphins Hire Defensive Coordinator

Cincinnati Bengals defensive backs coach Vance Joseph looks on as he stands on the sidelines while watching the action on the playing field during a week 6 NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sunday, October 12, 2014. The Panthers tied the Bengals 37-37. (AP Photo/Scott Boehm)

The Dolphins have officially hired their new defensive coordinator: Vance Joseph, the defensive backs coach for the Cincinnati Bengals for the last two seasons. Joseph has 11 years experience in coaching defensive backs in the NFL, with an impressive resume in improving the secondary.

In his two seasons with the Bengals, he has helped them to lead the league with 41 interceptions and limit opposing passers to the lowest passer rating in the NFL of 77.4. In addition, during those two seasons, the Bengals were the only team in the NFL to have more interceptions than passing touchdowns allowed (36 TD’s).

Before joining the Bengals, he spent two years as the defensive backs coach of the Houston Texans and also helped them to make massive improvements. When he joined the Texans in 2011, they were ranked dead last in the league in pass defense, allowing 267.5 yards per game. However, in just his first year he was able to help improve the secondary to become the 3rd ranked passing defense in the entire league by allowing only 189.7 yards per game. The Texans also led the league in opponent completion percentage by nearly two points at a very low 51.9 completion rate and were also second best in the league in opponent passer rating of 69.0.

On paper, most sports gambling fans would say this appears to be a terrific hire. Joseph has turned around two secondaries in the last 4 years and helped make both of these team’s defensive back units to become the best in the league. This clearly shows that Joseph knows how to teach players, and has schemes that work in this league. But, different talent can create different results and the Dolphins, at this point, are one of, if not the, weakest units he has ever coached.

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The only knock on Joseph would be that he has never been a defensive coordinator before. Having the best defensive secondary is one thing, but it’s a whole other thing to have to be in control of the entire defense. I am not saying he does not have the capability to control the entire defense, but – as with Gase –  he is going to have a lot more responsibility to handle, and in the beginning there is going to be a steep learning curve. All in all, it does “appear” to be a promising hire and it’s a nice cherry on top that he has some NFL player experience. I am truly excited to see what he can do with our defense. As bad as our defense was last season, we at the very least have a few very talented players that our defense can be built around. What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans thought about the Dolphins new Defensive Coordinator? Not know enough about Vance it would be great to get as much feedback as possible!


 

14 comments

  • Phinfreak

    It won’t take long to find out if these rooks can coach. I’m not optimistic given Gase did not choose experienced coordinators.

    I don’t know expect much difference in the end result.

    At best it’s a .500 season.

  • Van Hamlin

    I believe that Kevin Coyle was also a Bengals defensive backs coach. Our defense is in a shambles because of the poor quality in personnel. We have failed to keep the good players we drafted because they commanded too high of salaries, yet we have overpaid other players who are underachievers. As Gary Stevens once said, “I can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh.t!” I doubt if Jesus could make much of an improvement in our defense without some sweeping personnel changes. My congratulations to Coach Joseph.

  • Steve

    Ralph

    Cornerback selection:

    Most practicle selection would be for Miami to trade out of the 1st pick for more picks. ( Maybe the fins could get another second rounder then the most Practical pick:

    Eli Apply Ohio State would be a late 1st rounder rated about 29th pick.

    Most of the best Cornerback would be in the late second early 3rd round.
    60th William Jackson III 6’1
    71st Rashard Robinson 6’2 LSU
    77th Artie Burns 6.0 Miami

    A 7th rounder maybe undrafted
    Mississippi State redshirt senior CB Taveze Calhoun will attend the East-West Shrine Game.

    The 6-foot-1, 180-pound redshirt senior ranked eighth in the SEC in pass breakups with nine last year. TFY Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline called Calhoun “significantly overlooked” over the summer and gave him a fourth-round grade. “His ball skills and instincts are on a par with [Will] Redmond’s and I dare say Calhoun is more consistent,” he wrote. Fri, Nov 20, 2015 06:12:00 PM

    • admin

      thank for the CB info…not too hip on college. Wished there was a stud CB for us. Guess it will have to be a smart choice in the latter rounds…that’s always scary for Miami’s scouts – can’t even find to linemen with 1st round picks. Hope we have become a better FO.

      • Steve

        Admin

        No problem to easy! Like Troy Akmen from Dallas QB once said the only Shut Down Corner that he has ever seen was Deon Sanders. I agree Deon was the only CB that the coaches told the QB dont throw on his side!

        There are some pretty good one’s out there! Remember we had the best pair of corner also with Sam Maddison and Patrick Sertain a decade ago!

        Lastly the Cornerback position A really good one is valuable also to (returned kicks, intercepting.

    • admin

      thanks for the CB info…not too hip on college. Wished there was a stud CB for us. Guess it will have to be a smart choice in the latter rounds…that’s always scary for Miami’s scouts – can’t even find to linemen with 1st round picks. Hope we have become a better FO.

      • Steve

        Admin

        I agree! Possibly with the defensive coach he can perfect the players in that position. I would not gamble on a cornerback with the 1st or 2nd round pick before drafting offensive linemen.

        It appears that the Dolphins Cornerbacks are in the 3r round.

        Admin also the Dolphins Running “”Back Alex Collins from Arkansas the number 3 back my opinion the Best in the draft will be late 2nd or 3rd round. This guy is the real deal alternating him and Ajai we will get 60% offense from the run game with a revamp front offensive line.

        Some may say what about the defensive line just wait until they are cut or will not cost the dolphins a big check “Free agency” Note: Also by trading out of the 8th spot the fins could request a good defensive linemen “INADDITION” to more picks?????

        A GOOD GENERAL MANAGER CAN MAKE IT THAT HAPPEN!

  • Steve

    Admin!

    Excellent choice! Coach Joseph is about 10 years overdue to the dolphins. You mentioned the key WORDS “Improved the Bengals and Texans secondary”.

    Admin over the last decade Miami’s secondary lacked being aggressive tackling, pass defending, just Sorry!

    The Fins used to have the best pair of defensive backs listed below.

    Two of Miami Dolphins top Corners
    He played college football for the University of Louisville, and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Madison also played for the New York Giants. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
    Madison was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. Madison made the Pro Bowl for four straight years from 1999-2002. On March 1, 2006 the Dolphins released him.[1] He finished his career with the Dolphins starting 127 of 138 games, recording 353 tackles, a sack, 31 interceptions and two touchdowns.

    For much of his career as a Miami Dolphin, Sam Madison played alongside fellow cornerback Patrick Surtain. During their time together, Madison and Surtain were one of the most prolific cornerback tandems in NFL history, posting a combined 697 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 60 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns.

    • admin

      Yeah, to me the only “passive” secondary I like was Tampa’s and they had a fierce front…other than that playing 10yrds off every play is garbage. Alot of it I think was due to how bad the CB’s were or at least the coaching staff thought they were – Davis and Smith are doing very well and well respectively.

  • Ralph

    I hope he gets to select the corner that we probably will draft and this time finally get one or two that is / are good and can stay healthy
    Our recent draft history of DB’s has not been very good
    He should also have final say as to the new safety that we Will probably draft in a later round
    I really hope Tannebaum listens to his recommendations and follows it – he knows what scheme he wants to implement and who is better suited to that scheme
    I think our first pick will probably be a corner and at number 8 we should get one of the 2 best corners in this year draft so our D will be much better next year
    Taylor has to be released – no good
    By the way there are 7 middle linebackers in free agency out of 14 linebackers
    So if we can afford it that’s probably the position we should target in free agency and get an experienced good MLB

  • Michael

    First, I’ll be a FinFan to the grave and beyond! I do like Gase as our coach and I will pray for his and the teams success but I will not be misled again! I, like many many others, was blinded by the hype of last years off season, training camp and pre-season. Gase, his staff and the team have to prove to me that they’re headed in the right direction and that will start in game 1 of the regular season and not before. Fins up ALWAYS!!!!

  • Lemmus

    …couldn’t agree more admin

    …my only concern is that we wind up with a lot of rookies at new coaching positions …the fail rate for NFL rookie coaches at every level doesn’t bode well for their success …the turnover is brutal …and yes, I consider both Gase and Joseph to be rookies at their new positions …que sera, sera

    • admin

      Yeah, brother…but, initial success and long term success often don’t jive right away. Turn the boat in the right direction and sooner or later – unless and storm or Jaws comes at least – and you should get there…no matter what, the only way to have a chance to arrive somewhere is get headed in the right direction. Sooner rather than later is always better!!!