The Dolphins 2024 secondary was sloppy… and the team paid a big price
The Miami Dolphins’ 2024 season was marked by a number of ups and downs, and one area where they continually struggled was in the defensive backfield. Despite having talented cornerbacks in Kendall Fuller and Jalen Ramsey, the Dolphins’ defensive backs were plagued by penalties throughout the season. In fact, Ramsey was second in defensive back penalties with five.
Whether it was holding calls, pass interference, or personal fouls, the Dolphins secondary couldn’t seem to avoid mistakes that cost the team dearly. Given they don’t have as much talent at cornerback this season, discipline will even be more critical.
A Breakdown of the Penalties
In 2024, Miami’s defensive backs accumulated a staggering number of penalty yards. The Dolphins were among the worst in the NFL when it came to penalties committed by their secondary, with over 200 penalty yards accumulated in key moments throughout the season. This was an issue that not only stalled defensive drives but also directly contributed to the team’s inability to close out games, especially in tight matchups against division rivals and high-powered offenses.
The most glaring penalties for the Dolphins came in the form of pass interference and holding calls, which frequently wiped out what would have been crucial stops. There were several instances in 2024 where the Dolphins had the opposing offense on third-and-long, only to see the defensive back commit a critical penalty that extended the drive.
You can bet with the best pay per head that these mental errors not only cost the Dolphins valuable yardage but also hurt the team’s ability to sustain defensive momentum, leading to a few losses.
Who can forget the unnecessary roughness calls that changed the season. How devastating was Jordan Poyer’s unnecessary roughness penalty in the waning minutes of the 4th Quarter vs the Bills in Buffalo? Crippling and gut wrenching. This penalty allowed the Bills to get in field goal range, nail the game winning field goal, and steal a huge win from the Phins.
The Importance of Discipline in 2025
In 2024 the Phins were among the leaders in anti-clutch on 3rd Down defense, tied for 5th most 1st down penalties on 3rd Down.
This type of sloppy play will cripple even a good team’s chances to win. There’s no way this year’s team can afford them given the young cornerback group, who will likely have plenty of growing pains.
Can Anthony Weaver get his young secondary to play smart? Weaver better or he might find this defense taking a step back in 2025. He’d better!
As the Dolphins aim to prove themselves to be able to challenge for an AFC East title and beyond, cleaning up the penalties from their defensive backs will be crucial. If Miami can get their secondary to avoid unnecessary penalties, it will go a long way toward solidifying their defense and this 2025 team will need all the help they can get! Go Phins!!!