Miami Dolphins' pass-rushers Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Jaelan Phillips on field together?

Yahoo

2 days ago

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb had just come off the practice field with the sweat pouring off him. He was feeling tired – 'dead tired,' to be exact.
And he liked it.
For the first time in about 1½ years, Chubb had practiced in pads.
'That's, like, what I missed,' Chubb said 'You know what I mean?'
It's not just what Chubb missed but what the Dolphins can't afford to miss in 2025. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has to stay healthy. We all know that. But if there's an equivalent must-have for the defense, it's not just that Chubb remains healthy but that he and fellow edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson live up to the faith defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has in them. An untested secondary is depending on it.
Bradley Chubb: Chop Robinson is 'lights-out'
Last week, Phillips gave Robinson his highest compliment, predicting that the second-year man will grow into being one of the best players in the NFL. Chubb seconded it.
'One hundred percent,' Chubb said. 'He's lights-out, man. His motor, the way he bends the edge, the way he could play the run – I know a lot of people in here say he couldn't play the run, (but he's) nothing short of phenomenal, man, and I'm excited to see him keep growing.'
If the initial assumption was that the Dolphins would alternate two of the three to keep them fresh, the possibility (probability?) now is what Weaver first floated in the spring: using all three at the same time. Maybe all three will be rushing the passer, maybe they won't. Maybe one is dropping into coverage, maybe not. If that's a lot of maybes for quarterbacks to sweat out pre-snap, it's fitting that if you put the names Chubb-Phillips-Robinson together, you get CPR.
'Just being able to have the offense thinking,' Chubb said.
Could this be the best pass-rushing trio in the league?
'I just feel like as a unit, we're getting there,' Chubb said.
Miami Dolphins' James Daniels expects to be fully cleared for practice this week
Chubb missed the 2024 season because of an ACL. Phillips has suffered season-ending leg injuries the past two years. And Robinson was a rookie first-rounder last year. Not only have the three never taken a snap that counts together, but Chubb and Phillips haven't even had much time together to work out the kinks. That first padded practice found Chubb isolated in coverage with running back De'Von Achane – a speed mismatch the Dolphins hope is never duplicated in the fall.
'We're kind of just all learning each other's rush styles and how to work together,' Chubb said. ' … And when it's a full, polished thing, man, the sky's the limit.'
Miami Dolphins haven't installed everything for the trio
The Dolphins are only six days into training camp. The trio isn't even close to being that 'polished thing' Chubb envisions.
'We haven't even put everything that we have in,' Chubb said. 'So just seeing the possibility … '
Work toward that end never seems to cease. It's not just the many snaps the three take in unison. When they're not in live action together, chances are they're grouped on the sidelines honing techniques.
'Playing with Bradley is some of the most fun times of our careers,' Phillips said. 'I feel like when we were on the field, if it's not me, it's him, or both of us. So being on the field with him is great, but then adding Chop to that equation – I truly feel like Chop is going to be one of the best players in the league very soon.'
In the three seasons in which Chubb has played 16 games, he has recorded 12, eight and 11 sacks. Phillips has averaged more than seven sacks in three of his NFL seasons. Robinson got hotter as last season went on and was a finalist for defensive rookie of the year.
'It's a race to the quarterback,' Chubb said. 'Nobody wants to be the last one there.'
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' trio in 'race to the quarterback,' Bradley Chubb says