The Miami Dolphins are heading north this week to participate in joint practices in the Motor City. The famed big bad of the NFC North, Detroit Lions, are already running their motor-mouth when it comes to the South Beach crew stepping in their building.
“I don’t know if they’re ready, I’m gonna keep it a stack,” linebacker Grant Stuard told SI’s John Maakaron. “I’ve played at other places and played against that team last year, and joint practiced against that team twice when I was in Tampa. I don’t know if they practice how we practice. I’m excited to see our guys for sure, and I’m excited to get out there and do something against somebody else, who doesn’t know every in and out of what we’re doing.”
Can Miami Keep Up With The Physicality Of Detroit?
As far as common fan perception is concerned, the Lions are the pinnacle of toughness, while the Dolphins are deficient. The fact that this narrative is already on the fan’s conscience, it will inevitably be one of the lead story’s coming out of this week’s news cycle.
Whether it’s justified or not, the Phins have a lot to prove this week. SI’s Dante Collinelli has his eyes on it.
“Preseason practices get chippy all the time, but the Dolphins are fighting against a narrative that they’re not a tough team,” Collinelli writes of last week’s fights during joint practices with the Bears. “Regardless of where you land on how the Dolphins and Bears handled joint practice last week, it’s clear the Dolphins have something to prove against the Lions. So, don’t be surprised if things get even more intense.”
Head Coach Dan Campbell Praises Dolphins Speed
While his linebackers are busy throwing shade at the Dolphins toughness, their head coach, Dan Campbell, was busy complimenting the team’s speed.
“It’ll be good, that’s a talented roster,” Campbell said of the Dolphins. “They’re creative on offense, and they’ve got a tough D. That’s that kind of Baltimore background, so the scheme will be good. The speed on the perimeter will be really good for our guys, obviously with what they’ve got. We’re looking forward to it.”
You’d have to look pretty hard to find someone criticizing a coordinator that has somehow become underrated since joining Miami.
Anthony Weaver, who signed with the Dolphins last February, lead the team to a fourth place finish in total defense. His unit was also top-ten against both the pass and the rush.
The team’s red zone defense was top five as well, while the third down defense finished just outside that mark.
Now, in year two with a healthy unit, Weaver is flying under the radar in preseason conversations. It’ll be hard to match his impressive year one statistics, but I implore fans not to sleep on Miami’s defense.
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