Imagine a defense that knows every assignment but still gets gashed. That has been the Miami Dolphins’ case this season: knowing the playbook but losing the physical battle. Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver called for a change in tone after the Buffalo Bills exploited them on the outside zone run. “That’s not a them thing, that’s an us thing. That’s something we can control, but at some point, we gotta do it.” He sees discipline as table stakes, but demands raw physicality to tilt the field. In the process, Weaver has issued a call for Miami to assert dominance over the NFL’s other 31 franchises.

As Anthony Weaver further addressed Miami’s run fits in a recent presser, “We know where guys are supposed to be and all those things. … But at some point, again, it comes down to challenging the math through violence.” Weaver’s demand of his defense is clear: be physical, stop the run, and give their own offense as many opportunities to make plays as possible. As he further added, “I need you to do more than your job. I need you to whoop that guy’s a** in front of you, and then fall off and make a play.” Weaver admitted that the locker room shares this mindset, but without visible results, this shift is urgent. 

Miami’s defense ranks 26th in total yards allowed (370.3 yards per game) and 31st in third-down defense. They’ve allowed third-down conversions over 52% of the time, choking Miami’s ability to sustain stops. Despite boasting powerful edge rushers, injuries have gutted the secondary, forcing a patchwork lineup that can’t match the league’s elite passing offenses. The result: opponents routinely pick apart Miami’s coverage, turning close games into blowouts. And the fallout from this is as clear as day.

Miami’s defense has become the anchor weighing down its playoff hopes. Weaver’s sharp rebuke is a drastic measure against all NFL teams; a challenge to show Miami’s defense can turn brutality into victory. For Weaver, that doesn’t translate to players dropping their assignments, though. As he adds, “You still gotta do your assignment. I’m not asking anybody to come out of the structure. – Excuses change nothing. Execution solves everything. But you can do those same things with violence.” If Miami’s defense pushes a more violent form of football, they might rise through the ranks and get their first win of the season. But Miami’s troubles go beyond defense. A more personal drama on offense has enveloped quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the coach who once elevated him: head coach Mike McDaniel.

Mike McDaniel’s growing frustration with Tua

Mike McDaniel had once crafted a rise for Tua Tagovailoa from promising prospect to franchise cornerstone. Now, that narrative shadows uncertainty. McDaniel’s recent candor regarding Tua’s room for improvement reveals cracks: “There’s a ton of things based on my experience with him.” Signaling mounting pressure, the coach had further added, “I think that all things throwing the football he’s capable of, and there’s opportunities that he needs to take advantage of. There’s also a ton of opportunities to turn the ball over that he hasn’t taken. He’s really answered the bell 99 percent of the time.” 

Tua’s slide is tangible. He’s thrown 4 picks through three games and taken eight sacks already. His yards per attempt (6.5) are down from last season (7.2), and there are fewer explosive throws. As a whole, Miami’s offense ranks 23rd in yards per game (281.7) and 25th in points per game (18.7). Off-field pressures, like questions about Tua’s durability, compound the storm further. But the quarterback himself hasn’t shied away from the blame.

As Tua confessed recently, “I’m not playing up to the standard that I’ve played in years past, and knowing the standard that I can play to. … It starts with me. Offensively, I have to get out [offense] going, and the defense has to feed off that.” The Dolphins now face a balancing act. On one hand, Tua Tagovailoa has to take fewer hits and make better plays. On the other side of the ball, Anthony Weaver’s squad has to present a more physical brand of football. Together, can they finally get their first win? All eyes will be on the Hard Rock Stadium for their Week 4 clash against the New York Jets, who are also going 0-3.