New Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio hardly blitzes. Until he does and it wins the game.

MIAMI GARDENS — Blitz less. Win more.

That's the philosophy of new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

For four years, three under Brian Flores and one under Josh Boyer, Miami was one of the most frequently-blitzing teams in the NFL. Last year, the Dolphins routinely blitzed and routinely failed at it.

Last Sunday, in an upset of the Chargers, Miami blitzed only seven times, or on 19 percent of downs.

That made Miami the 26th-most frequent blitzing team in the NFL in Week 1.

Fangio, the wily veteran, explained blitz rate success increases as frequency declines.

"Somewhat of a surprise element," Fangio, the first-year Dolphins defensive coordinator, said. "They don't get over protection conscious with the protections and keeping people, extra blockers, in."

Miami had three sacks in the second half, including two on blitzes from Kader Kohou and Justin Bethel.

In the third quarter, Kohou blitzed from a slot corner position and nailed Justin Herbert down to the Chargers' 1 on a 3rd-and-1.

"You have to target the high shoulder," Kohou said this week. "You don't want to go in there full speed because they're coached up to avoid blitzes. They'll try to spin out of it."

Kohou did a great job of acting like everything was totally normal - until the moment it wasn't.

"Just your body language," Kohou said. "Like don't be eager to like keep looking inside because that's when they pick up their stuff. Just act like you're just looking straight at the receiver. You're not going to go any faster if you don't."

Very late in the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, Fangio blitzed the sixth Miami defensive back, Justin Bethel, on a fourth down.

That was totally unexpected. And Bethel and Jaelan Phillips combined to sack Herbert and end the game.

"Great call," linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said. "We needed at that time, a little bit of a changeup at that time of the game. And it's just, I think it's a savvy coach making a really good call."

Bethel played only nine defensive snaps. But Fangio dialed it up and, in part because he hardly blitzed all game, it was the element of surprise.

"That was a pressure that, you know, we hadn't shown up to that point," Fangio explained. "So I just thought it was a good time to call."

This week, the Dolphins face the Patriots, coached by legendary Bill Belichick, of course.

Patriots, Bill Belichick, blitz third-most in Week 1

Last week, the Pats blitzed on 42 percent of downs, 16 times, which was third-most in the NFL.

Guard Robert Hunt explained that the Patriots system has remained very similar for years.

"We were watching film and it was so grainy I have no no idea what year it's from," Hunt said. "Same system just different players doing a really good job of what they do."

Hunt acknowledged the Patriots will add wrinkles. Miami is hoping that practicing against the Patriots system in recent years will help. They will also have a system of "alerts" to activate based on film study tells.

Vikings, Brian Flores, blitz the most in Week 1

In Week 1, the Vikings defense blitzed on 53 percent of downs, 20 times, which led the NFL.

Minnesota, its defense coached by former Miami coach Brian Flores, had one sack.

The Vikings (and Patriots) lost.

There are pros and cons to every strategy. Dolphins players are buying into this new one - selective blitzing.

"When you blitz and send the whole house, the DBs are like left on an island," Kohou said. "It's a big field. If they pick up the blitz, they're going to have a lot of room and make a lot of catches. No matter how good you are at coverage."

Added Hunt: "With a system like Fangio, you don't really know when it's coming or where it's coming."

Joe Schad is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on social media platforms @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio plans to very selectively blitz.