With linebacker, here’s what we know:
### Who starts alongside Jelani Jenkins and Koa Misi? The Dolphins say that decision won’t be made for a long time.
“Probably midway to the latter part of training camp before we’re settled on who the top three guys are,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said.
### The Dolphins are looking closely at two potential starting groups: Misi in the middle, flanked by Jenkins and Chris McCain; or Kelvin Sheppard in the middle, paired with Jenkins and Misi.
For now, they’re giving a lot of first-team snaps to McCain.
But “the message I’ve given to all of them is the best three guys will play,” linebackers coach Mark Duffner said.
### The Dolphins expect to have only two linebackers on the field more than half the time, as they did the second half of last season. So the importance of the third starter shouldn’t be overstated.
### Besides working with the starters at strong-side linebacker (a position handled by Philip Wheeler last year), McCain also is being used to potentially fill the Dion Jordan defensive end role on third downs. It’s a big jump in responsibility for a player who logged just 46 defensive snaps last season.
“He’s got true linebacker skills,” Duffner said, noting that McCain played outside linebacker in a 4-3 at California. He had 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 24 games there before being dismissed from the team for reasons that have never been disclosed.
“He’s got very good pass rush upside,” Duffner added.
But how good is he against run?
“Hard to say yet,” Duffner said. “Because he’s lanky, people have some questions about that. We’ll see when he gets pads on. With his length and stature [6-5, 250 pounds], that allows for a lot of good things to happen.”
Former Dolphins linebacker and WINZ Dolphins analyst Kim Bokamperputs it this way: “Is he a pass rusher or an every down linebacker? That’s the question for me.”
### There are several key people inside the Dolphins who like Sheppard, even though he couldn’t retain starting positions long-term in Buffalo (which drafted him in the third round out of LSU in 2011 and later traded him) or Indianapolis, which chose not to bring him back after one season (2013).
Pro Football Focus graded him below average overall among starting inside linebackers and especially poor against the run (bottom 20 percent) when he started 15 games for Buffalo in 2012 and seven for the Colts in 2013.
But Duffner said “he’s a fireball in terms of what he’s doing on the field and the weight room. Really excited what he brings.”
### After replacing injured Dannell Ellerbe midway through last season's opener, Jenkins was something of a revelation, with 110 tackles (22nd in the league), 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
The flip side: PFF rated him 24th of 40 linebackers --- seventh in coverage but just 36th against the run.
Jenkins was part of the defense that was steamrolled on the ground in several late-season games, and Jenkins conceded recently that he must “eliminate errors. I'm in position where if I do make an error, it's a big play.” He also said he must “keep my eyes where they're supposed to be in man coverage.”
Duffner is challenging Jenkins: “I want to see him take a step forward as a productive player and aware player.”
### Misi said “nothing is set in stone” about what position he’ll play.
In his first year at middle linebacker last season, PFF rated Misi 12th of 60 inside linebackers. But he missed five games, meaning he has been sidelined 12 games in his five-year career.
The Dolphins explored middle linebackers this offseason, but the Jets’ David Harris never made it to free agency; Mason Foster said Miami finished second behind Chicago in the pursuit for him; and the Dolphins passed on new Patriot Brandon Spikes because of vulnerabilities in pass coverage.
### The Dolphins have given some first-team outside linebacker snaps to Spencer Paysinger, who has 14 starts in four seasons, including one for the Giants last season.
“He has cover skills but he’s marginal to poor vs. the run,” an NFC scout said. “Doesn’t have the strength to play the run well. Good special teams player.”
### Jordan Tripp, who played just nine defensive snaps as a rookie, “has had a great camp,” Coyle said. Duffner also mentioned that Tripp has really come along.
Also, Duffner said the Dolphins had draft-able grades on the four linebackers they signed after the draft, all of whom ranked in the top 14 in the NCAA in tackles last season: Penn State’s Mike Hull (the Big 10 linebacker of the year), Cincinnati’s Jeff Luc, Marshall’s Neville Hewitt and Utah State’s Zach Vigil.
“We were very fortunate to get all four; all are hungry, competitive guys, highly heralded,” Duffner said.
With Luc, “you see physicality, really good movement skills… Hull has a knack for being around the football. He’s made a big play in every practice.”
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...s-ummls-update-golden-heat-draft-marlins.html
### Who starts alongside Jelani Jenkins and Koa Misi? The Dolphins say that decision won’t be made for a long time.
“Probably midway to the latter part of training camp before we’re settled on who the top three guys are,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said.
### The Dolphins are looking closely at two potential starting groups: Misi in the middle, flanked by Jenkins and Chris McCain; or Kelvin Sheppard in the middle, paired with Jenkins and Misi.
For now, they’re giving a lot of first-team snaps to McCain.
But “the message I’ve given to all of them is the best three guys will play,” linebackers coach Mark Duffner said.
### The Dolphins expect to have only two linebackers on the field more than half the time, as they did the second half of last season. So the importance of the third starter shouldn’t be overstated.
### Besides working with the starters at strong-side linebacker (a position handled by Philip Wheeler last year), McCain also is being used to potentially fill the Dion Jordan defensive end role on third downs. It’s a big jump in responsibility for a player who logged just 46 defensive snaps last season.
“He’s got true linebacker skills,” Duffner said, noting that McCain played outside linebacker in a 4-3 at California. He had 14.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 24 games there before being dismissed from the team for reasons that have never been disclosed.
“He’s got very good pass rush upside,” Duffner added.
But how good is he against run?
“Hard to say yet,” Duffner said. “Because he’s lanky, people have some questions about that. We’ll see when he gets pads on. With his length and stature [6-5, 250 pounds], that allows for a lot of good things to happen.”
Former Dolphins linebacker and WINZ Dolphins analyst Kim Bokamperputs it this way: “Is he a pass rusher or an every down linebacker? That’s the question for me.”
### There are several key people inside the Dolphins who like Sheppard, even though he couldn’t retain starting positions long-term in Buffalo (which drafted him in the third round out of LSU in 2011 and later traded him) or Indianapolis, which chose not to bring him back after one season (2013).
Pro Football Focus graded him below average overall among starting inside linebackers and especially poor against the run (bottom 20 percent) when he started 15 games for Buffalo in 2012 and seven for the Colts in 2013.
But Duffner said “he’s a fireball in terms of what he’s doing on the field and the weight room. Really excited what he brings.”
### After replacing injured Dannell Ellerbe midway through last season's opener, Jenkins was something of a revelation, with 110 tackles (22nd in the league), 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
The flip side: PFF rated him 24th of 40 linebackers --- seventh in coverage but just 36th against the run.
Jenkins was part of the defense that was steamrolled on the ground in several late-season games, and Jenkins conceded recently that he must “eliminate errors. I'm in position where if I do make an error, it's a big play.” He also said he must “keep my eyes where they're supposed to be in man coverage.”
Duffner is challenging Jenkins: “I want to see him take a step forward as a productive player and aware player.”
### Misi said “nothing is set in stone” about what position he’ll play.
In his first year at middle linebacker last season, PFF rated Misi 12th of 60 inside linebackers. But he missed five games, meaning he has been sidelined 12 games in his five-year career.
The Dolphins explored middle linebackers this offseason, but the Jets’ David Harris never made it to free agency; Mason Foster said Miami finished second behind Chicago in the pursuit for him; and the Dolphins passed on new Patriot Brandon Spikes because of vulnerabilities in pass coverage.
### The Dolphins have given some first-team outside linebacker snaps to Spencer Paysinger, who has 14 starts in four seasons, including one for the Giants last season.
“He has cover skills but he’s marginal to poor vs. the run,” an NFC scout said. “Doesn’t have the strength to play the run well. Good special teams player.”
### Jordan Tripp, who played just nine defensive snaps as a rookie, “has had a great camp,” Coyle said. Duffner also mentioned that Tripp has really come along.
Also, Duffner said the Dolphins had draft-able grades on the four linebackers they signed after the draft, all of whom ranked in the top 14 in the NCAA in tackles last season: Penn State’s Mike Hull (the Big 10 linebacker of the year), Cincinnati’s Jeff Luc, Marshall’s Neville Hewitt and Utah State’s Zach Vigil.
“We were very fortunate to get all four; all are hungry, competitive guys, highly heralded,” Duffner said.
With Luc, “you see physicality, really good movement skills… Hull has a knack for being around the football. He’s made a big play in every practice.”
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...s-ummls-update-golden-heat-draft-marlins.html
