Kiko Alonso Eyes a Productive Comeback Season
By Steve Boland
Kiko Alonso had one of the most productive, defensive rookie seasons in NFL history. Now three seasons and two teams later, he finds himself eager to reach that level of productivity once again.
Alonso recorded 159 total tackles during this rookie season, one of the highest totals ever recorded by a linebacker in their first season. Following his torn ACL injury in 2014 and the subsequent season in Philadelphia, he has not been the same player. His production declined to only 43 total tackles in 2015 over 11 games played.
Buffalo was quick to give up on him after the injury and he was thrown into a defensive system that hindered his playing ability. Alonso’s success with the Bills can be attributed to his role in the defensive system. In the 4-3 scheme Buffalo played, he had the ability to freely roam and play directly into the flow of the play.
Philadelphia’s former defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, implemented a 3-4 scheme which forced Alonso into a very systematic playing style, converting him into a nickel linebacker where he predominantly took the field on passing downs.
He lost his starting role in the switch and never regained the job after struggling in a defense that hindered his playing ability.
Seemingly, one of the incentives to joining Philadelphia was the ability to reunite with Chip Kelly, who he played for during Kelly’s final years at Oregon. However, Kelly’s heavy offensive focus did not allow much attention to Alonso and the Eagles’ defense, which consequently struggled during Alonso’s time there.
Now in Miami, Alonso has another Oregon reunion, this time with a player in Dion Jordan. Alonso has remained friends with Jordan since the two were drafted as the two were the core of Oregon’s defense and played together over the same tenure in college.
The two share many commonalities in football, and unfortunately both endured rocky starts to their NFL careers. Should he be reinstated, Dion Jordan can rekindle his on-field success with Alonso and supplement Miami’s defense as a flex linebacker/defensive linemen.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is keeping the 4-3 defense in Miami, and enabling Alonso to have the freedom of movement at middle linebacker to foster his attacking style of defense, and consistently move to the flow of the play.
Freedom to the players has been a theme under Adam Gase’s regime, as he has given Tannehill the same privileges on the other side of the ball. These benefits are a testament to his goal of giving more power to the players out on the field.
This season, Alonso is receiving more power than he ever has. He will be the starting middle linebacker, calling plays at the core of Miami’s defense. Miami’s linebacker group now features a crew of injury riddled players during the 2015 season in Jelani Jenkins and Koa Misi. Though, now all healthy, Alonso eyes top-notch production for himself and his fellow backers.
"“I think the sky is the limit in this group.” – Kiko Alonso"
Each has individually proven they can perform and produce on defense. The question is now to see whether they can form into a cohesive unit behind Alonso’s leadership and become a stalwart force together on defense.