Dolphins Matt Burke has a lot of new toys for his defense
By Brian Miller
Linebackers
2017 – Kiko Alonso, Lawerence Timmons, Chase Allen, Mike Hull, Rey Maualuga, Stephone Anthony
2018 – Alonso, Allen, Anthony, Hull, Raekwon McMillan, Quentin Poling, Terrence Garvin, Jerome Baker
The Miami Dolphins recognized they had a problem at linebacker last year. It didn’t help the team or the unit when Timmons went AWOL to start the season and got suspended then never came close to the production he had with the Steelers.
It also didn’t help when free agent mid-season addition Maualuga got arrested after a bar fight the day before a game. It also didn’t help that the teams 2nd round draft pick tore his ACL on the first play of the teams pre-season game. And it was on the kick-off at that.
Finally it didn’t help when the team traded a mid-round draft pick for Anthony who never made even a minor impact.
The 2018 unit is going to look a lot different.
McMillan is expected back and should resume his role as the middle linebacker starter. The Dolphins added a solid veteran in Terrence Garvin who fits the Dolphins defensive scheme. Add the two rookies Jerome Baker and Quentin Poling and the Dolphins have added good potential and special teams players.
Miami is also high on Chase Allen and if he can turn the proverbial corner in 2018 the Dolphins linebackers could finally find themselves part of the overall solution instead of the problem.