Everything sounds open-ended for Miami Dolphins linebackers

[DKphin]

Kiko Alonso could be inside or outside next season. (Allen Eyestone/The Post)

PHOENIX—The Dolphins shelled out serious money to keep Kiko Alonso and bring in Lawrence Timmons, but they haven’t told any of their linebackers what position they’ll be playing in 2017.
Gase said he and defensive coordinator Matt Burke are currently deciding whether they want to stick with having a strong-side and weak-side linebacker or change to playing right and left outside linebackers.
“We just have to see where our bodies are heading into the spring and training camp and make those decisions,” Gase said. “When you play nickel, everybody’s going to play Mike at some point.”

http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...ds-open-ended-for-miami-dolphins-linebackers/

 

[Sons Of Shula]

What I've suspected all along.

Timmons has never played in a scheme like ours and Alonso has never played any of the outside positions. They're going to have to wait til camp and maybe even pre-season to see how they fit and what they want to do.

This defense . . .

 

[hoops]

they aren't fooling anyone

you can say like gase did everyone will play mike etc but that's just coach speak stuff cause based on how teams line up against you you sometimes end up with your nickel weak as the "mike" etc...

 

[BennySwella]

We need a true Mike on this team. Kiko is not that but he is good in there. This draft should be linebacker heavy for us and we should definitely look at any remaining udfa's to sign afterward because our depth is horrid at every linebacker position and is easily the weakest unit on the entire team other than FB or safety.

We need lots of linebacker competition to push the guys we drafted before like Hewitt and the rest of the scrubs holding up roster spots.

 

[claytonduper]

This may be a very naïve comment:

Can we not use our LB's like interchangeable chess pieces and use these guys based on what is advantageous for us in terms of matchups and teams we are playing? At some point these guys have to play with instincts and just play football (shoot the gap, shed blockers and make the tackle)

 

[Sons Of Shula]

This may be a very naïve comment:

Can we not use our LB's like interchangeable chess pieces and use these guys based on what is advantageous for us in terms of matchups and teams we are playing? At some point these guys have to play with instincts and just play football (shoot the gap, shed blockers and make the tackle)

Not at all.

Just like we use left and right CBs (as opposed to fieldside vs boundary, strong vs weak, or #1 vs #2) the same can be done with our outside LBs like was said in the article. We hardly ever blitz our LBs and the outside backers have virtually the same assignments vs the run.

 

[gregorygrant83]

What I've suspected all along.

Timmons has never played in a scheme like ours and Alonso has never played any of the outside positions. They're going to have to wait til camp and maybe even pre-season to see how they fit and what they want to do.

This defense . . .

I thought Alonso played outside most of the time with the Eagles?

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I thought Alonso played outside most of the time with the Eagles?

They wanted to move him there, instead they made a better choice and got rid of him.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Not at all.

Just like we use left and right CBs (as opposed to fieldside vs boundary, strong vs weak, or #1 vs #2) the same can be done with our outside LBs like was said in the article. We hardly ever blitz our LBs and the outside backers have virtually the same assignments vs the run.

To add to this, it's why we also use interchangeable safeties in Cover 2. You could just about split this defense down the middle and the positions mirror each other.

The exception is the middle backer and what is required of him. He must be stout vs the inside run b/w the guards, but have the range to scrap down outside the tackles. He also must be able to cover the middle and the speed to carry it deep as well. It's why I am not a fan of Alonso. He's an average Mike at best.

 

[Danny]

I'm starting to wonder if T.J. Watt could be the pick at 22 depending on who's there. I believe 5 DE's will be gone at least top 20. We need a pass rusher for sure. This guy can play OLB on early downs and rush at End on passing downs. Instead of reaching he could help out at two spots?

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/t.j.-watt?id=2558064

Ozzy rules!!

 

[hoops]

They replaced kiko cause of his health issues

And they screwed up when thy replaced him with mychal kendricks...

Theres a reason that guy is always bantered about in trade...he.not.very.good.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

I'm starting to wonder if T.J. Watt could be the pick at 22 depending on who's there. I believe 5 DE's will be gone at least top 20. We need a pass rusher for sure. This guy can play OLB on early downs and rush at End on passing downs. Instead of reaching he could help out at two spots?!

Besides being overrated we don't do that in our scheme and he's a non-fit.

 

[hoops]

A tj watt pick is a lot about upside...his is athletic upside and polish...tacos for instance isnt athletic upside but taking full advantage of the tools he has which for his size dont kid yourselves are very high end

If you like safe you arent gonna like either

Me im 2 years down the road what do i have mindset

Cause either out the gate is gonna have to compete for snaps but so is a jordan willis or a derek barnett...the only guys you put in pen over our in house options out the gate are myles garrett and solomon thomas and scuttlebutt is they are going top 2...although i think a qb could upset the apple cart at 2 before its said and done just cause teams reach for qbs

 

[BlueFin]

Jordan Willis!

 

[AquaXI]

This may be a very naïve comment:

Can we not use our LB's like interchangeable chess pieces and use these guys based on what is advantageous for us in terms of matchups and teams we are playing? At some point these guys have to play with instincts and just play football (shoot the gap, shed blockers and make the tackle)

Exactly! I hate this they dont fit the scheme excuse. Be a football player!