Emmanuel Ogbah Returns With Plenty Left To Give

By Alex Schubert on July 24, 2024

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Five months to the day after the Dolphins released him from his expensive contract extension, Emmanuel Ogbah has been brought back on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million.

📲 Emmanuel Ogbah on Instagram: “Thank you Miami!!!! We back 🐬🎲🎲” (@EmanOgbah) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/1DmpnOUfxa

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) July 23, 2024

After the sudden retirement of Shaq Barrett, the Dolphins once again found themselves needing veteran pass-rushing help. Ogbah totaled 24.5 sacks in his four seasons with the Dolphins, but his production decreased once he was signed to a four-year, $65 million extension in 2022.

What does Ogbah’s return bring to the Dolphins?

Familiarity

Miami’s defensive line has taken an absolute beating in the last several months. Christian Wilkins departed for Las Vegas, while Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are still recovering from injuries. Even with the draft selection of edge rusher Chop Robinson, a veteran who knows both the coaching staff and the players around him can get the team by while Chubb and Phillips recover.

While Ogbah’s production has declined since his first two seasons in Miami, in which he recorded 9.0 sacks in each season, he had a solid 2023 season. He was able to play 15 games (with one start) and registered 5.5 sacks.

Emmanuel Ogbah wasn’t the same player last season, but he can still win with his signature cross-chop. Miami is hoping he can get back to his old form in a scheme where he should be more comfortable. pic.twitter.com/riuoiB5rmY

— Finscentral (@finscentral) July 23, 2024

With the injuries and departures of other defensive players like Andrew Van Ginkel, Raekwon Davis, and Jerome Baker, any sense of familiarity is huge as the Dolphins roll into 2024 with a new defensive front. Assuming Ogbah is good to go by Week One, he will likely be…

A Day One Starter

With the Dolphins switching defensive coordinators from Vic Fangio to Anthony Weaver, we will likely see a much more aggressive pass rush in Miami. Weaver was the defensive line coach for Baltimore from 2021 to 2023, and in that span, the Ravens had the third most sacks (142.0) of any team in the league. Now, the former defensive end will be coordinating Miami’s defense, which already had the most sacks during that aforementioned span (144.0).

Ogbah had modest production despite limited play under Fangio in 2023. With a transition to Weaver’s system, in which multiple pass rushers should get a good chunk of playing time, Ogbah will likely see a more consistent role. That will, in turn, allow the defense to play at full strength from the kickoff to the final whistle.

“Yeah, it’s kind of like the tsunami approach. I’m half-Samoan, I lived in Hawaii for a little while,” Weaver said. “They always say the first wave of the tsunami does damage, but the second wave does the most damage. So for me, sometimes people get overly concerned about who is starting the football games – that means nothing to me. I want to know who is finishing the football games. I think you’ve got your best chance at finishing football games when guys are fresh.”

Another Veteran Mentor 

They say it takes a village to raise a child. The Dolphins’ defense, which is loaded with veteran talent, has enough pass-rushing help to ease rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara into the NFL. Longtime players like Ogbah and Calais Campbell can be mentors to the next wave of Dolphins defensive linemen.

Even with Ogbah’s signing, Robinson will likely have to contribute right away and be a rotational piece while Phillips and Chubb recover from their injuries. Robinson is saying all the right things and is willing to help the defense however he’s asked.

“I don’t really pay attention to (the pressure), because I know what type of player I am,” Robinson said. “I just go to work every day, compete, give everything I got and control what I can control… just focus on ball, that’s the main thing. There really is no big message to it. Just hang with my guys, keep my mind off of it.”

In addition to Robinson, Kamara was selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft and will likely see significant playing time while the vets recover from their injuries. While Kamara was less than thrilled with where he was drafted, he’s ready to play with an edge to prove that he can be a contributor.

“I knew I could’ve gone higher and I wanted to go higher,” Kamara said. “But the lovely team of Miami picked me up and I’m going to give them that burning desire. I have a chip on my shoulder, so it just got even greater. Everybody else, all 31 other teams, look out, because the way I’m about to play against these guys, you should’ve picked me before.”

There now is no shortage of veterans to help those rookies. Ogbah, who knows the organization and how to have an extended career in the NFL, should be a particularly helpful resource. The two Dolphins’ rookies might have to get thrown into the deep end right away, but having long-time, consistent players to show them the ropes will be crucial in their development.

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