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Mike McDaniel raves about Miami Dolphins veteran Melvin Ingram’s ‘impact’

Melvin Ingram Lynne Sladky-Associated Press

Though most of the big-name players the Miami Dolphins added this offseason play on the offensive side of the ball, one player that was acquired and could add a lot to the defensive side is edge rusher Melvin Ingram.

Ingram’s best days of football are most likely behind him, but that doesn’t mean the three-time Pro Bowler can’t have a positive impact on the team. In fact, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel recently praised Ingram.

“It was cool to see him yesterday,” he said. “He was practicing for the first time but we had planned not to have him in team periods to make sure we didn’t put him in harm’s way. He was fighting tooth and nail with defensive coaches.

“They let him in [11 on 11 work] for a couple of plays. That’s what you want from a veteran leader that has had production. I don’t know how many sacks he had [last year – two in 15 games]. He had a lot of impact.

“He was a better run defender than I remember him. He’s really grown in that. As a pass rusher, he has a lot of activity in and around the quarterback [last year]. He was producing a little more than people realize in terms of quarterback pressures [in Pittsburgh and Kansas City last season]. I’m pumped about where he’s at.”

It certainly is true that Ingram hasn’t been as present in the sack column in recent seasons. In fact, he hasn’t recorded more than two sacks in a season since the 2019 campaign. Still, there’s no reason to believe that he doesn’t have a fair amount of gas left in the tank at 33 years old.

As for the Dolphins, defense has been a strength for the team for quite a few years. There’s a ton of talent on that side of the ball and impact players at every level.

The hope is that the offense will be able to pick up the pace this season. If it can do that while Ingram and the defense maintain a high level of play, the Dolphins should be challenging for a playoff spot once again this season.