In the same week Miami moved on from head coach Joe Philbin, the Dolphins fired defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle.
The team made the announcement Thursday, and Lou Anarumo has been promoted from defensive backs coach to coordinator by interim head coach Dan Campbell.
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Coyle's defensive schemes with the Dolphins were simply not working this season. Many felt the defense had plenty of playmakers — including offseason acquisition Ndamukong Suh — to be one of the best in the league. Instead, they're one of the worst. The team is third-worst in total defense and dead last in run defense.
Speaking of Suh, he reportedly wore sneakers to practice in protest of Coyle. In addition, NFL Media reported that Suh and Dolphins defenders held a closed-door meeting at the end of last week to discuss their unhappiness with Coyle's schemes. They said it was too complex and constricting.
Campbell had this to say before the media Thursday:
“First off, I am excited to announce the completion of my staff. I let go of Kevin Coyle today, who I have a tremendous amount of respect for. I appreciate his work and dedication through these past years. Moving forward I have elevated Lou Anarumo to defensive coordinator, who I know is the right man for this job. Lou and I see eye-to-eye about what we need to do defensively moving forward. He has been a coach who has gotten the proven production out of his players and has insight into the most intricate parts of our defense which are the blitzes, coverages, among other things.
Other moves that have been made – Jeff Burris will work with cornerbacks, Blue Adams will work with safeties and with that I am extremely excited about what has taken place here today. I feel like this is where we need to go moving forward. I feel like it is the right move. I feel like it is a move that is going to help us win games down the stretch here with 12 to go. The only hard thing about today, the worst thing about today for me because it is the first time I have had to go through it with somebody that I have a tremendous amount of respect for as I said earlier, was letting go of Kevin Coyle. We are going to turn this into a positive experience and we are moving forward from here on.”
Coyle joined the Dolphins as defensive coordinator in 2012.
