Miami Dolphins Quarter Grades: Linebackers

Jelani Jenkins.

The Miami Dolphins linebackers are getting a positive B grade because of Jelani Jenkins. The Dolphins linebackers were not looking good in preseason and many felt that the linebacker unit would be one of the worst on the team. After all GM Dennis Hickey did nothing to help the squad during the off-season or the draft. Entering the season with Danelle Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler was not gaining much favor with the fans.

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With Koa Misi taking over the middle of the group and Ellerbe moving outside it was thought that maybe the change would work. Unfortunately Misi went down in week one and Ellerbe was lost for the season and Phillip Wheeler missed two games and part of week one as well. In stepped Jason Trusnik, Jelani Jenkins, Jonathan Freeney, and Chris McCain. And the linebackers suddenly improved.

It’s as if no one bothered to tell the back-ups that they were not supposed to play well. Trusnik has struggled in some of his coverage assignments but for the most part has done very well. Freeney played well while he was starting and Chris McCain had to very solid games as well. But no one has played better than Jelani Jenkins. Not on the Dolphins and not very many in the NFL.

Jenkins is tied for 6th in the NFL among all linebackers in tackles and 8th in the league among all defensive players. He has 38 on the season and has been a huge surprise for a Dolphins team that needed someone to step up.

The fact that the unit has played well while missing all of their first team starters was not only surprising but also needed. They will now need to get better as they will have a very rough stretch of games in the next two months.

Final Grade: B+

What to expect in the next month?

With Phillip Wheeler now back and Koa Misi expected back the Dolphins linebackers should improve. Jelani Jenkins has played himself into a much larger role but the Dolphins still have him listed behind Jason Trusnik on the depth chart. It’s only a matter of time before he moves ahead of Trusnik full time. If Jenkins can continue his season at the level he is contributing now, the Dolphins won’t give a second thought to no bringing back Dannell Ellerbe. In fact they likely won’t now regardless.