Dolphins DC Sends Message to His Team After Winless Start
The Miami Dolphins entered the 2025 season with plenty of optimism, but through three weeks, the defense has been anything but inspiring. A unit loaded with talent and big names has yet to create a single turnover, and that lack of disruption has left the Dolphins sitting winless. For defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the solution isn’t complicated — in fact, he boiled it down to one word: violence. “All of our problems that we need to solve can be solved through violence,” Weaver told reporters during his weekly media session. “At some point, you draw a line in the sand and say, ‘I’m going to violently take the ball away.’ That’s what it takes.”
Weaver’s message is less about recklessness and more about intent. Against Buffalo in Week Three, the Dolphins showed flashes of physicality in the second half, holding the Bills scoreless for nearly two quarters. The opening frame told a different story, with Miami’s defense on its heels as Buffalo dictated the tone. That’s the imbalance Weaver wants to fix — demanding his players not just “do their job,” but dominate the man across from them. The lack of takeaways is glaring. Miami ranks dead last in the league in turnover differential, sitting at minus-five. While Tua Tagovailoa’s late interceptions have magnified the issue, the absence of defensive playmaking is equally alarming. Weaver wants his defenders to attack with a mindset that every tackle, every punch at the football, has to end in a potential turnover.
Safety Ashtyn Davis echoed that thought, explaining the difference between a routine swipe at the ball and a violent attempt to rip it away: “A lot of it is intent. You can take a shot on the ball for show, or you can take a shot on the ball like you’re trying to get it.” Weaver isn’t blind to the challenges. Miami’s defense is still working through growing pains, with rookies up front, new corners in the secondary, and stars like Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips returning from injury. He refuses to accept talent as an excuse. “We have everything we need to play better defense,” Weaver said. “It’s on me to get that done.” For Weaver, “violence” isn’t a catchphrase — it’s the foundation of what he believes this defense must become. Until the Dolphins embody that physical identity and start forcing turnovers, their season will continue to feel like a fight they’re losing.
