Andrew Van Ginkel's Carving Out Role in Dolphins Defense

Andrew Van Ginkel feels at home.

Not just in South Florida, the city that adopted him when the Miami Dolphins selected the former Wisconsin standout in the fifth-round of the 2019 NFL draft.

But the linebacker also feels like he’s a good fit in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 zone defense, which is similar to what he played in with the Badgers.

Earlier this season Van Ginkel proved that by becoming one of the unit’s top performers during a stretch where he was serving as a starting inside and outside linebacker.

He’s started five of Miami’s nine games, and has contributed 31 tackles, four sacks and recovered one fumble. And even though Jaelan Phillips has recovered from the back and torso inside that sidelined him for a couple games, Van Ginkel remains an integral defender in Fangio’s scheme.

He’s gone from a talent the Dolphins organization consistently tried to replace, especially last season when he played less than 400 snaps on defense, to being a glue guy, a role player who holds it all together.

“I’m comfortable playing inside and outside. I’ve got a good grasp of what everybody is doing and the weak spots in the defense, and how we’re trying to attack on certain calls,” said Van Ginkel, who was personally recruited by Fangio this offseason when he was a free agent.