Miami Dolphins: Depth no longer an issue at linebacker
The Miami Dolphins entered the season with almost no depth at linebacker, but that may no longer be the case.
After second-round pick Raekwon McMillan and Koa Misi were ruled out for the season prior to the year even starting, the Miami Dolphins were extremely thin at the linebacker position. However, they have addressed this issue and depth may no longer be an issue, at least it shouldn’t be in the near future.
Please do not make the mistake of thinking I’m saying the linebackers are good and they’ve solved the linebacking problem. They have not. With that said, they now have strong depth at the position despite not having great starters.
Assuming Lawrence Timmons returns to the team, and he can only be suspended for four games before a decision is made, they now have a nice rotation of capable bodies. I personally believe Timmons will be on the field within the next three weeks. Others believe he’ll never suit up for the team. We’ll see, as the opposing view is far from unreasonable.
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After making moves, Miami still doesn’t have a strong inside linebacker to start, but now has three legitimate bodies to rotate with Kiko Alonso and Timmons locked in as starters outside of them.
Although his skillset is limited, Mike Hull has proven he does have strengths as a linebacker and can be serviceable. You just have to keep big bodies off of him and coverage isn’t his thing either. Still, if he gets hold of a ball carrier, he can drag him down. Miami has recently acquired Rey Maualuga and Stephone Anthony to pair with him. Maualuga was signed as a free agent and Anthony acquired from the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round pick.
Maualuga is a tested veteran who may be aging, but has proven he can step in and be a thumper against the run. Unfortunately, he showed up out of shape and is still probably a week or two away from playing.
Anthony could be a steal as he appeared to be a square peg trying to be fit into a round hole in New Orleans. The 2015 first-rounder has flashed the upside that led him to be such a high pick and Adam Gase may have seen him as a perfect fit in South Beach. Again, it will probably be a week or two before he acclimates himself to the team.
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Dolphins fans need to be patient, but at the very least the team should have solid depth at their weakest position in the not too distant future. Timmons, Maualuga and Anthony should be a huge boost to the middle of the defense along with Hull. Now we just need that interior offensive line to hold up.