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MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins edge defender Chop Robinson has a vital third season coming up in which he has to rise to being an every-down player capable of starting for the new-look defense.
To become a complete player on the edge, Robinson must capitalize on the pass-rush acumen he’s known to have while improving his ability to set the edge against the run.
Robinson has looked the part a week-plus into training camp, often seen winning against the blocker in front of him on the pass rush and using the weight he added this offseason to his advantage in run defense. Playing at 254 pounds last season, Robinson is up over 260 entering the 2026 season and playing better leverage.
“He changed his body,” new Dolphins defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said of the noticeable difference from the player he watched on film from his first two seasons to the one he’s coaching now. “I mean, the way this guy worked in the offseason with our strength and conditioning team and then by himself, I think that’s showing up now. He’s completely transformed the way he looks.
“I think it looks great. I wish, if I added seven, eight pounds, it would look that good. I think he’s comfortable, moving fast.”
With that new frame, Robinson also must mentally commit to stopping the run.
“Not that he had a bad attitude when we got here, but he’s embraced playing the run, playing early downs,” Duggan said. “I can’t say enough of how much that guy’s worked. You’re seeing a payoff, which is great.”
A lot of that comes from now being under the tutelage of defensive line coach Austin Clark, who takes over the edge rushers as, under new coach Jeff Hafley’s scheme, they are more often going to put their hand in the ground as traditional 4-3 defensive ends.
“I think Coach Clark’s doing a great job, just demanding, ‘This is the way we’re going to play the game. This is the way we’re going to play early-down run game,’” Duggan said. “He does a great job drilling the fundamentals with Chop, and then, Chop, I think you can see his confidence when he’s rushing the passer.”
With Robinson and free agent addition Josh Uche expected to lead Dolphins defensive ends, 2025 seventh-round pick Zeek Biggers, a 319-pound defensive tackle, has also emerged as a possibility to help against the run on the edge, according to Duggan.
“It’s depending on the call and the situation,” Duggan said. “Those guys are doing a great job. I mean, we put a lot on the D-line as far as our front variations and lining up in different places to make it challenging for the offense. Those two have done a great job, Zeek, in particular, being able to play across the line.”
Behind them on the defensive front, the Dolphins have three rookie linebackers — all with different trademarks to their game — developing during camp in Jacob Rodriguez, Trey Moore and Kyle Louis.
“They’re all doing a great job,” said Duggan, who was previously linebackers coach in Green Bay under Hafley when he was defensive coordinator with the Packers. “We’ve thrown a lot at the linebackers, put a lot on their plate. To handle the amount of information and install we’ve done is pretty impressive from those three. They’re just getting better.”
Rodriguez, as a potential budding leader for the defense for years to come, has shown strong command in the huddle, according to Duggan. All three have had the game slow down as they familiarize themselves with the play calls.
“When you start to get more comfortable with the calls, you can start to pick up on what the offense is doing,” Duggan added, “but I think just those three have done a great job, just their attitude every day, their willingness to learn. What I love is they just go out there and play, man. Just go play fast. We’ll correct the mistakes. We’ll correct everything that we need to schematically, but just go cut it loose out there.”
One thing that makes Rodriguez such a great fit in what the Dolphins want to do defensively is his propensity to punch the ball out for forced fumbles.
“Coach Haf does a great job talking about the ball,” Duggan said. “It’s the fastest way to win and lose the game. If you can take it away, your percentages of winning go way up, and I think that’s something we harp on every day. We start every individual period with two minutes worth of takeaway drills.”
Moore is a candidate to make an impact from Day 1, given his versatility to play off the ball and on the edge.
“To know the scheme, know where he’s supposed to be, know his assignment (is impressive). I think he’s a versatile player,” Duggan said. “Just trying to figure out what he can do, where he can help us, and letting him go play. … There’s still a lot of stuff we got to clean up, but he’s done a good job just embracing the playbook, embracing the position, and just honestly getting better every single day.”
The young linebackers have veterans such as Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson to learn from, and they also are going through their first NFL training camp experience together.
“It’s great,” Louis said. “We’re not a strict room. We’re all just smiling, laughing, joking, and we all are getting to the business, as well, so it’s a balance of both. Being in that room, it gives you an eagerness to learn.”
Another veteran, Willie Gay Jr., has made plays in camp but mostly against reserves. Last season, he had several flash plays in camp, too, but it didn’t translate to much playing time under previous defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Duggan offered a bit of a revelatory answer in that he hasn’t always been in the right place when he makes those plays, something Gay has been correcting of late.
“I think the last three practices for Willie have probably been his best ones,” Duggan said. “I think you can tell he’s starting to slow down. I think Willie’s got one speed. He’s all gas, no brakes, which I love, but you got to do it within the framework of the call.”
In the secondary, Duggan said rookie cornerback Chris Johnson seems mature in handling the responsibility of playing both on the outside and in the nickel.
“The thing that’s impressed me the most about him is just the poise he plays with out there,” Duggan said. “For a rookie, the moment’s never too big. He always seems under control, and he learns from his mistakes. He understands how he’s going to be attacked and very rarely does he make the same mistake twice.”
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To become a complete player on the edge, Robinson must capitalize on the pass-rush acumen he’s known to have while improving his ability to set the edge against the run.
Robinson has looked the part a week-plus into training camp, often seen winning against the blocker in front of him on the pass rush and using the weight he added this offseason to his advantage in run defense. Playing at 254 pounds last season, Robinson is up over 260 entering the 2026 season and playing better leverage.
“He changed his body,” new Dolphins defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said of the noticeable difference from the player he watched on film from his first two seasons to the one he’s coaching now. “I mean, the way this guy worked in the offseason with our strength and conditioning team and then by himself, I think that’s showing up now. He’s completely transformed the way he looks.
“I think it looks great. I wish, if I added seven, eight pounds, it would look that good. I think he’s comfortable, moving fast.”
With that new frame, Robinson also must mentally commit to stopping the run.
“Not that he had a bad attitude when we got here, but he’s embraced playing the run, playing early downs,” Duggan said. “I can’t say enough of how much that guy’s worked. You’re seeing a payoff, which is great.”
A lot of that comes from now being under the tutelage of defensive line coach Austin Clark, who takes over the edge rushers as, under new coach Jeff Hafley’s scheme, they are more often going to put their hand in the ground as traditional 4-3 defensive ends.
“I think Coach Clark’s doing a great job, just demanding, ‘This is the way we’re going to play the game. This is the way we’re going to play early-down run game,’” Duggan said. “He does a great job drilling the fundamentals with Chop, and then, Chop, I think you can see his confidence when he’s rushing the passer.”
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With Robinson and free agent addition Josh Uche expected to lead Dolphins defensive ends, 2025 seventh-round pick Zeek Biggers, a 319-pound defensive tackle, has also emerged as a possibility to help against the run on the edge, according to Duggan.
“It’s depending on the call and the situation,” Duggan said. “Those guys are doing a great job. I mean, we put a lot on the D-line as far as our front variations and lining up in different places to make it challenging for the offense. Those two have done a great job, Zeek, in particular, being able to play across the line.”
Behind them on the defensive front, the Dolphins have three rookie linebackers — all with different trademarks to their game — developing during camp in Jacob Rodriguez, Trey Moore and Kyle Louis.
“They’re all doing a great job,” said Duggan, who was previously linebackers coach in Green Bay under Hafley when he was defensive coordinator with the Packers. “We’ve thrown a lot at the linebackers, put a lot on their plate. To handle the amount of information and install we’ve done is pretty impressive from those three. They’re just getting better.”
Rodriguez, as a potential budding leader for the defense for years to come, has shown strong command in the huddle, according to Duggan. All three have had the game slow down as they familiarize themselves with the play calls.
“When you start to get more comfortable with the calls, you can start to pick up on what the offense is doing,” Duggan added, “but I think just those three have done a great job, just their attitude every day, their willingness to learn. What I love is they just go out there and play, man. Just go play fast. We’ll correct the mistakes. We’ll correct everything that we need to schematically, but just go cut it loose out there.”
One thing that makes Rodriguez such a great fit in what the Dolphins want to do defensively is his propensity to punch the ball out for forced fumbles.
“Coach Haf does a great job talking about the ball,” Duggan said. “It’s the fastest way to win and lose the game. If you can take it away, your percentages of winning go way up, and I think that’s something we harp on every day. We start every individual period with two minutes worth of takeaway drills.”
Moore is a candidate to make an impact from Day 1, given his versatility to play off the ball and on the edge.
“To know the scheme, know where he’s supposed to be, know his assignment (is impressive). I think he’s a versatile player,” Duggan said. “Just trying to figure out what he can do, where he can help us, and letting him go play. … There’s still a lot of stuff we got to clean up, but he’s done a good job just embracing the playbook, embracing the position, and just honestly getting better every single day.”
The young linebackers have veterans such as Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson to learn from, and they also are going through their first NFL training camp experience together.
“It’s great,” Louis said. “We’re not a strict room. We’re all just smiling, laughing, joking, and we all are getting to the business, as well, so it’s a balance of both. Being in that room, it gives you an eagerness to learn.”
Another veteran, Willie Gay Jr., has made plays in camp but mostly against reserves. Last season, he had several flash plays in camp, too, but it didn’t translate to much playing time under previous defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Duggan offered a bit of a revelatory answer in that he hasn’t always been in the right place when he makes those plays, something Gay has been correcting of late.
“I think the last three practices for Willie have probably been his best ones,” Duggan said. “I think you can tell he’s starting to slow down. I think Willie’s got one speed. He’s all gas, no brakes, which I love, but you got to do it within the framework of the call.”
In the secondary, Duggan said rookie cornerback Chris Johnson seems mature in handling the responsibility of playing both on the outside and in the nickel.
“The thing that’s impressed me the most about him is just the poise he plays with out there,” Duggan said. “For a rookie, the moment’s never too big. He always seems under control, and he learns from his mistakes. He understands how he’s going to be attacked and very rarely does he make the same mistake twice.”
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