Dolphins players often questioned the wisdom of ex-coordinator Kevin Coyle’s defense. Not so with Coyle’s replacement, Vance Joseph.

“VJ is brilliant,” Jenkins said. “That’s the one thing I can say. He’s brilliant and he’s passionate and you can feel it. I think he commands the defense and when he’s in front of the room, everyone’s listening.”

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“He’s a laid-back guy, has a sense of humor, but he demands a lot out of you, wants to make sure you’re on point,” Dansby said.



Cornerback Sean Smith called Coyle a “technician” who is constantly harping on veterans to use proper technique and fundamentals. Smith said Coyle pays special attention to the defensive backs given his background, and is “always throwing in his two cents.”

“He always wants us to take the proper steps, with the proper alignments, everything,” Smith said. “It’s good for us. When we’re tired, fourth quarter and fatigue sets in, you definitely want your fundamentals to kick in.”

Defensive end Jared Odrick said he appreciates how Coyle starts off each meeting with a personal story and goes out of his way to try to relate to the players.

“Today he started off talking about Memorial Day and how much he respects the veterans, and how thankful we should be,” Odrick said after Tuesday’s practice. “Coach Coyle takes a more personalized approach with the way he coaches and just the way he is in the building.”

The players still don’t know too much about the new defense – “we see the potential, we just have to put it all together,” Dansby said – but Smith expects the new defense to be much simpler than the 3-4 scheme they ran under Nolan.

Though the Dolphins finished sixth in total defense in 2010 and sixth in points allowed in 2011, they had too many mental breakdowns to count in the first half of last season, contributing greatly to their 0-7 start.

“It’s real simple,” Smith said of the new defense. “It allows guys to play fast. There’s not too much thinking going on, so it lets guys run around and make plays. It’s going to be good for us.”

im not going off of what our players are saying, I'm encouraged about what others around the league (players and personnel) have said about Gase and Joseph.

I get that this time of year all the players are going to say all the right stuff about their new bosses. But Joseph has intensity and passion. He seems like an alpha among alphas, and though that doesn't necessarily translate into success on the field, it'll be a refreshing change.