Dolphins DC Graham to call plays, run 3-4 and 4-3

The Miami Dolphins will run a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive system under coordinator Patrick Graham, who is expected to call plays rather than new head coach Brian Flores. Graham told the Miami Herald that the Dolphins plan to use the chameleon-like approach the New England Patriots have used for years under Bill Belichick, which Flores and Graham are quite familiar with after spending 15 and seven years, respectively, with the organization.

"It is going to be multiple," Graham said. "Are we talking about 3-4, 4-3? It's just going to be multiple. "... We're going to do what we need to do that week and that game. We're going to try to win that situation, whatever we're trying to do. If it requires all 11 guys to be on their feet, it requires all 11 guys to be on their feet. If it requires all 11 to be down in a three-point stance, it'll look weird, but we'll do it, if we think that's what it takes to win the game."

Flores, who turns 38 on Feb. 24, called plays for the Patriots in 2018, including in the team's stifling defensive performance in Super Bowl LIII, limiting the Los Angeles Rams to just three points. He was officially hired by the Dolphins just after the Super Bowl, though he appears set to hand play-calling duties to Graham in Miami. Graham, 40, was the Green Bay Packers' linebackers coach and run game coordinator in 2018, after two years coaching the New York Giants' defensive line and seven years on the same staff as Flores in New England, working under a variety of titles.

The Dolphins haven't run a 3-4 defense since 2011, when Mike Nolan was the defensive coordinator. Meanwhile, Miami announced the signing of defensive end Tank Carradine on Friday.

Carradine, who turns 29 on Monday, played just one game for the Oakland Raiders last season before requesting his release. He has 5.5 career sacks in 45 games (eight starts) since being taken in the second round of the 2013 draft by the San Francisco 49ers. --Field Level Media