Calais Campbell breaks silence on new role with Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins signed veteran passer Calais Campbell to solidify the position group as a counterattack to the elite quarterbacks the franchise will have to overcome in hopes of representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

A versatile and disruptive defensive lineman, Campbell lands in South Beach after recording 6.5 sacks during the 2023 campaign, his 16th season in the NFL.

For Campbell, the opportunity to play meaningful football and make a meaningful difference in the Super Bowl this season, in hopes of winning his first ring, was a driving factor in his decision to enter free agency.

“That’s one of the main reasons I signed here, because I feel like there’s a really good opportunity here,” Campbell told reporters, in his first public comments since his signing with the Dolphins. “Very talented team all over the field, both on offense and defense. When you go through your roster and see this many people, I feel like if we can play together and build the team chemistry you need, we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.

“I really like the coaching staff. I mean, Anthony Weaver is a guy that I know very well, that I have a lot of respect for, and that’s one of the main reasons why I really believe in this team. I know the kind of work ethic he has and the kind of man he is, and I really think this defense is going to be a great — I don’t want to get too crazy, but it’s going to be a very good defense. .”

How Campbell fits into the Dolphins’ scheme remains an open question.

Calais Campbell talks role for Miami Dolphins

Some of Campbell’s best seasons came as an edge defender, but he entered the NFL and spent a lot of time playing on the interior of the defensive line.

As Pro Football Focus points out, Campbell posted 42 quarterback pressures in 2023 en route to a solid 80 overall grade from the outlet.

Over his first 16 seasons, Campbell produced 105.5 sacks with 616 solo tackles, and it appears the Dolphins will move the veteran to wreak havoc on a group that includes returning Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips injury and explosive. first round pick Chop Robinson.

“I’m going to play everywhere, yes,” Campbell told reporters. “We haven’t really talked about how they want to use me, but just knowing (defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver) and his mindset, we’re going to move around a little bit in different situations.

“There’s a lot of different things you can do in this defense as far as packages and different ways of lining up and doing things, but yeah, I’d be very surprised if I’m not literally playing on the line D at some point in the season, in certain gaps.

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