Sunday Dolphins Notebook: Coaching Staff, Baby News, and More

The Miami Dolphins scouting and coaching staffs will be in Indianapolis this week for the 2023 combine even as some teams start bypassing the annual event.

It's also possible that we'll have a finalized Dolphins coaching staff, since defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is the only addition for 2023 that's been made official.

The Dolphins also have hired Renaldo Hill as passing game coordinator and Joe Kasper as safeties coach, and the latest move involved a swap of assistant defensive line coaches with Kenny Baker replacing Derrick LeBlanc.

Baker comes over from Western Kentucky to work under D-line coach Austin Clark; LeBlanc left to become defensive line coach with the Arizona Cardinals for new head coach Jonathan Gannon.

The Dolphins also needed to find a new outside linebackers coach and a new assistant linebackers coach after firing Ty McKenzie and Steve Ferentz in mid-January.

Back to the combine, head coach Mike McDaniel is scheduled to have a press conference Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.

VAN GINKEL'S BIG OFFSEASON MOVE

Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in a few weeks, but we'll forgive him if he hasn't been focusing on that.

Van Ginkel's wife, Samantha, shared the news on Twitter on Saturday of their second child, a boy they named Ripken Kai — yes, Rip Van Ginkel.The

Our most exciting off-season yet! Welcome to the world, Rip 💙 you are the perfect addition to our family. @AndrewVanGinkel pic.twitter.com/mYKKFaEONN
— Sam Van Ginkel (@Sam_VanGinkel) February 25, 2023

The Van Ginkels also have an older, Leo Barrett.

While on the topic of family, Jevon Holland was a proud brother Saturday when he celebrated his sister reaching 1,000 career points for the San Jose State University women's basketball team.

Jada Holland reached the milestone while scoring a team-high 21 points to help SJSU defeat Fresno State, 73-66.

GOAT SHIT! @jadaholland12 LETS GOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/F4Gj3FXgsF
— Jev (@quickdrawjev) February 25, 2023

Jada Holland leads her team this season in minutes per game, scoring average and assists.

TERRON ARMSTEAD: "THE SKY'S THE LIMIT"

Dolphins Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead was back in New Orleans this past weekend serving as an honorary captain for the 2023 HBCU Legacy Bowl.

Armstead, of course, was a longtime member of the Saints before he signed with the Dolphins offseason and entered the NFL after playing at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

@HBCULegacyBowl today!! Excited to watch these young men compete and further their playing career to the next level! 💙 pic.twitter.com/4DJdPY8Gc4
— T. Stead 🎤🎧 (@T_Armstead72) February 25, 2023

During an interview with NFL Network at the game, Armstead discussed the 2023 prospects for the Dolphins.

“I like our chances,” Armstead said. "I think we got a really good opportunity to be special down in South Florida. The addition of Vic Fangio with the guys we have on that defense, we get our offense healthy, the sky’s the limit.”

CATCHING UP WITH FORMER DOLPHINS PLAYERS AND COACHES

If there's been a trend around the NFL early this offseason, it's former Dolphins coaches being hired as defensive coordinators.

Vance Joseph made it three already when Sean Payton hired him to be the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos, a team for which he served as head coach in 2017-18 after his one-year stint in Miami.

Joseph followed Matt Burke, hired by the Houston Texans, and Brian Flores, hired by the Minnesota Vikings.

They, of course, join Lou Anarumo, who will be back as Bengals DC after interviewing for the head-coaching opening for the Arizona Cardinals that went to Jonathan Gannon.

-- Meanwhile, long-snapper Taybor Pepper announced on Twitter — in his own very unique way — that he had signed a three-year contract extension. Pepper played for the Dolphins in 2019 before being released after the team selected long-snapper Blake Ferguson in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft.