Miami Dolphins: 4 Players that need to step up on defense in 2018

The Miami Dolphins are coming off a disappointing season and will look to get back on track in 2018. In order for that to happen some players will need to step up.

The Miami Dolphins 2017 campaign didn’t go as many had hoped it would. With that said, they still have most of the pieces that led to such high expectations following their 2016 playoff appearance.

They have lost a few cogs and added others, but overall the talent balances out. However, with the loss of a guys like Jarvis Landry and Ndamukong Suh, other guys will have to step up.

Now focusing on the defense, these four players will have to take that next step in the 2018 NFL season in order for the team to be successful.

DT Jordan Phillips

Let’s start with the most obvious option filling the biggest shoes, both literally and figuratively. With Suh moving on to the Los Angeles Rams, there is a massive hole right in the middle of the Dolphins defense. No one expects Phillips to play quite at that level. Suh is one of the best defensive tackles of this generation and is simply better than Phillips could ever be. With that said, Phillips can be much better than he’s been and will have to be in 2018.

We’ve seen flashes of brilliance from the big man out of Oklahoma, but he will need to prove he can be consistently excellent. His upside was never in question when he was drafted and, if you watch him week in and week out, it’s clear why. However, consistency and work ethic were the questions that surrounded him and his work ethic this summer will show more than ever. Hopefully that’s a good thing and I think it will be.

If he can play at the consistently high level that he’s capable of, it will go a long way in easing the loss of Suh and helping improve the Miami run defense. The 6-6, 333-pounder should be able to eat up blockers and push the line backwards. It’s time for him to meet his potential this season.