Vic Fangio on defense’s dominant end to minicamp. And Tyreek Hill wants 2,000-yard season

The Dolphins’ defense ranked 31st in takeaways last season, but if the third and final mandatory minicamp practice is any indication, the unit should get its hands on the ball much more in 2023.

After Miami’s offense kept turnovers to a minimum throughout the offseason practices open to media, the Dolphins’ top three quarterbacks combined to throw five interceptions in team drills.

Starter Tua Tagovailoa, who had not thrown a pick in the four previous open sessions, was intercepted by cornerback Xavien Howard, who mirrored the intended receiver perfectly on an in-breaking route, and safety Verone McKinley III after pressure from outside linebacker Cameron Goode.

Skylar Thompson threw an interception to undrafted defensive back Bryce Thompson, and Mike White was intercepted by Bryce Thompson and cornerback Justin Bethel.

“We tried to today put ourselves in some challenging situations to see how we would respond to certain things we knew we’re going to probably see from the defense,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said after practice. “But overall, understanding that every play might not go the way that you anticipated to go, but it’s just how do you respond? Overall, we felt the growth of everyone and understanding what we’re trying to get from the spring emphasis has been great and guys are really locked in to being in the present, trying to make sure that every day the emphasis of what we’re trying to do that they were keying in on. [I] couldn’t be happier with the way the spring has gone.”

Said defensive coordinator Vic Fangio: “We have some really good talent at some places. In other places, we’ve got to find the talent. I think it’s a good mix right now. Our good players have got to play really good for us to be good, and we’ve got to find the other guys to fill in that play good in spite of their lack of playing time and experience.

Other notes from Day 3 of mandatory minicamp:

▪ Rookie cornerback Cam Smith was beaten by wide receiver Erik Ezukanma on an intermediate route near the sideline but forced an incompletion by shoving him to the ground out of bounds, causing Ezukanma to lose control of the ball.

▪ Undrafted rookie defensive lineman Brandon Pili, defensive end Emmanual Ogbah and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins all recorded pressures and likely sacks in team drills.

▪ Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg, who said he has been taking snaps at center amid Connor Williams’ absence, wore the orange jersey awarded to the best practice player of the day.

Hill on 2,000-yard season: ‘I want to break that record’

There was a moment last season when wide receiver Tyreek Hill was on pace for the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiving season. But offensive struggles in the final month of the season and Tagovailoa’s second stint in the concussion protocol caused his numbers to dip.

Hill still finished with a career-best 1,710 yards as he earned All-Pro honors. But entering his second season in Miami, Hill is once again eyeing that elusive 2k season.

“I do want to break the record. So I feel like this is one of those years that I can achieve it,” he said.

Calvin Johnson has come the closest to a 2,000-yard season, registering 1,964 yards in 2012. After setting Dolphins franchise records for catches and yards, Hill said 2023 “should be a crazier year not only for me, but for also for the other wideouts.”

Hill did not participate in team drills during minicamp as he rested what head coach Mike McDaniel called “minor stuff.”

“For me going into Year 2, it’s all about learning the playbook more, understanding where Tua wants me to be at on the field and how just everything operates,” Hill said. “Last year for me was like a blur. I had to come, I had to learn the playbook, I had to get to know my teammates. And this year everything has slowed down, so I’m just really trying to understand playbook, formations and routes and route depths and stuff like that. So it’s going pretty well.”