2026 Miami Dolphins defensive first-quarter report card: The last two weeks have flipped the script on a slow start
The Miami Dolphins have played four games under defensive head coach Jeff Hafley. How is his unit performing?
When the Miami Dolphins hired head coach Jeff Hafley, it was apparent that a new scheme was going to be installed for the team to play. That isn’t always an easy transition…and that’s before a team flushes out the kind of experience Miami did this offseason.
Now, with the first quarter of the 2026 season in the books, we can look back on how Miami’s defensive performance has come together for their new coach. Here’s a first quarter report card for Hafley’s defense.
2026 Miami Dolphins defensive first quarter report card
Overall Performance
Things looked pretty dire across the first two weeks of the season. The Dolphins gave up 27 points to the Raiders, then allowed five consecutive touchdown drives to start their Week 2 contest against the 49ers. Not great! Then the Chiefs came to town and the lightbulb clicked. Then, a trip to Minnesota where the Dolphins defense played quite well but ran out of gas in the fourth quarter. They were on the field for 14 minutes of game clock in the final period, after all.
The sacks came in bunches last week. The team ranks 21st in scoring defense and 17th in yards allowed — despite playing Mahomes and Purdy in this stretch. There’s good here relative to the inexperience. And it’s trending well, too. Miami ranks 13th in Defensive EPA in Weeks 3 & 4.
GRADE: C+
Rookie Contributions
The Dolphins defense boasts three rookie starters. Michael Taaffe has locked down the free safety spot. First-round pick Chris Johnson never leaves the field as an inside/outside cornerback. And he’s been a rock solid, steady player at that. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is the team’s best rookie — and the betting favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year through 4 weeks.
That’s uh…not bad. Not bad at all.
GRADE: A
Injury Luck
The Dolphins have not been immune from bad fortunes here. 2025 first round draft choice Kenneth Grant spent the first four weeks on injured reserve. His practice window opens tomorrow. Mid-round rookie LB Trey Moore had a first-class ticket punched to start for Miami before a preseason injury landed him on injured reserve, too. And then the team’s best pass rusher, Chop Robinson, was concussed in a Wednesday practice and missed Week 2 against the 49ers.
GRADE: C-
Coaching
I can see Hafley’s defensive prowess starting to take hold on all these young players. And perhaps the most impressive part of this effort defensively for Miami is that the team’s hand-picked talent is playing the best. Rodriguez & Johnson with early picks. The team’s conviction in Michael Taaffe has led to an improved player — although he’s still settling in. And against the Chiefs & Vikings, the unit seemed to have a better feel for spacing in coverage. I’d say the coaching points are sinking in.
Now, the performance needs to continue to trend this way. And some weeks it won’t. But I think given the lack of resources and the unproven nature of the secondary, this side of the ball is punching above its weight class.
GRADE: B
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