In his latest public remarks at the conclusion of the Miami Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp on Wednesday, cornerback Jalen Ramsey opted not to criticize his previous defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, choosing instead to laud his new defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver.
Ramsey withheld any direct comparison between Fangio and Weaver, stating, “I’m not going to compare them. I’m not going to sit here and do that.
Y’all can do that on your own, but I think he’s a great coach. I think he’s a good hire.
I think he’ll put guys in position to do really good empoweringly and show their whole skill sets. That’s fun – it makes the game fun.”
Under Fangio’s scheme last season, Ramsey found himself restricted to one side of the field, a stark contrast to how he’s been utilized throughout his career. This change came as Ramsey and then-teammate Xavien Howard, who was released in March, were positioned on opposite sides without the freedom to move. This year, however, Ramsey is thrilled with the freedom Weaver’s strategy affords him, allowing him to shadow the opposition’s top receiver, no matter where they line up.
Ramsey, a former Super Bowl champion, emphasized the excitement of returning to a familiar role under Weaver, indicating the new approach allows him to fully leverage his capabilities, something he felt was limited last season. His enthusiasm for the game has been rejuvenated, even with just a couple of practices under Weaver.
The shift in strategy will see Ramsey resuming his role in tracking premier receivers across the field, such as CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys, whom he was notably restricted from following in a game last season due to Fangio’s defensive setup.
Reflecting on the change, Ramsey remarked, “Those are things that I’ve done throughout my whole career besides last year. Last year was the only time I didn’t follow and only stayed on one side of the field.
So last year was kind of a different year for me rather than this being different. This is like back to what I do, back to where I thrive and make an impact and have a lot of fun playing the game.”
Though Ramsey’s previous season was marred by a ligament injury during training camp causing him to miss the first seven games, he still managed to put up a Pro Bowl-caliber performance in the 10 games he played. With Xavien Howard’s departure and the acquisition of Kendall Fuller, formerly of the Washington Commanders, there’s palpable anticipation around the potential of the Ramsey-Fuller cornerback duo, which some are already touting as among the league’s best.
Reflective yet looking ahead, Ramsey expressed mixed emotions about Howard’s exit, acknowledging their bond but also showing enthusiasm for reuniting with Fuller, a long-time acquaintance since high school. “X (Xavien Howard) is always going to be my dude…but me and Kendall (Fuller) go way back to like high school, so that’s my guy too. It’ll be fun teaming up with him,” said Ramsey.
As the Dolphins gear up for the upcoming season, the recalibrated strategy and renewed dynamics in the defense under Anthony Weaver’s guidance, spearheaded by Ramsey’s versatile role, promise an invigorated and potentially formidable defensive lineup.