In order to strengthen their position group and provide a counterpunch to the top quarterbacks the team will face on its path to the AFC Championship, the Miami Dolphins signed veteran pass rusher Calais Campbell.
Campbell, a disruptive and adaptable defensive tackle in his 16th NFL season, arrives in South Beach after recording 6.5 sacks in 2023.
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Campbell’s choice to accept a free agent contract was mostly influenced by his chance to play meaningful football and lead the charge in the Super Bowl this season in the hopes of collecting his first ring.
“I feel like there’s a really good opportunity here, which is a big reason why I signed here,” Campbell told reporters in his first remarks in front of the media following his signing with the Dolphins. “Very talented squad on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. We’ll be a force to be reckoned with when you look over your roster and see how many players I think we can play with and develop the necessary team chemistry.
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“I think the coaching staff is excellent. I mean, one of the main reasons I genuinely trust in this squad is Anthony Weaver, a guy I know well and admire greatly. I’m confident that this defense will be excellent since I am aware of his work ethic and character. Without getting too carried away, I think it will be a strong defense.
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It’s still unclear exactly how Campbell fits into the Dolphins’ plan of action.
Calais Campbell Talks Honestly About The Miami Dolphins’ Role
On October 29, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, during the second half of an NFL game against the New England Patriots, head coach Mike McDaniel of the Miami Dolphins calls a play.
Although Campbell spent a lot of time playing around the interior of the defensive line when he first entered the NFL, some of his best seasons have come as an edge defender.
Pro Football Focus notes that in 2023, Campbell recorded 42 quarterback pressures en route to earning an excellent overall rating of 80 from the publication.
Over his first 16 seasons, Campbell has amassed 105.5 sacks and 616 solo tackles. It sounds like the Dolphins plan to move the veteran around to cause havoc with a group that also includes explosive first-round pick Chop Robinson and the returning Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.
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Campbell assured reporters, “Yes, I will play everywhere.” “We haven’t really discussed how they want to use me, but we will move around a little bit in various scenarios since we know [defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver] and his mentality.
“Yes, I would be shocked if I didn’t play actual position on the D-line at some point during the season in certain gaps, but there are a lot of different packages and ways to line up and do things in this defense.”
