Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ description for his ideal team usually involves the words tough, smart, physical and disciplined.
Flores and his coaching staff repeat those labels as if they are a mantra they intend to speak into existence.
Problem is, the Dolphins didn’t always live up to the “tough” and “physical” component of Flores’ description on offense and defense in 2020, especially early last season.
Miami’s issues defending the running game — which started before the Flores era — carried into last season, where the team ranked 29th in yards per attempt allowed (3.9).
The Dolphins’ defense, which spent most of the 2020 season as a bottom dweller when it came to defending the run before tightening the screws around midseason, finished 18th against the run overall.