Griz90
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FROM THE PALM BEACH POST:
If the Dolphins current starting linebacker corps of Koa Misi, Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler don’t improve their tackling, a lineup change could be coming.
And if that happens, rookie fifth-round draft choice Jordan Tripp could have a realistic opportunity to work his way into a starting role.
Tripp was an outside linebacker at Montana but the Dolphins have been working him at both middle and outside linebacker with the Dolphins. The team has been putting an emphasis on middle linebacker because they believe he can excel there.
“Nobody has nailed down a spot as far as I’m concerned,” Dolphins linebackers coach Mark Duffner told the Palm Beach Post. “Tackling is something we’re certainly putting a priority on. You can’t play defense if you cant tackle — it’s probably our No. 1 fundamental that has to be done.”
Miami’s starting linebackers played just one drive in Friday’s preseason loss to Atlanta and it didn’t go well. Wheeler, who struggled with missed tackles last year, was the game’s second-lowest graded player by Pro Football Focus. He was ranked as the NFL’s worst outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense last season.
Although all the spots could be up for grabs, Wheeler would seem like the most logical player to be replaced if the team can’t solve it’s tackling woes.
If Wheeler, Miami’s starting strong side linebacker, is removed from the starting lineup the team could go in a couple of directions. They could start second-year linebacker Jelani Jenkins or Tripp on the strong side and keep Misi at middle linebacker.
Or they could move Misi back to the strong side (where he excelled last year) and make Tripp the middle linebacker.
Duffner said it’s not unfathomable to think a linebacker from a small school could start as a rookie. Justin Durant, out of Hampton, started for Duffner as a rookie in Jacksonville in 2007 although he was a more highly hyped college prospect and was drafted in the second round.
“I’m not as overly concerned about that, the small school or not,” Duffner said. “They had to be highly competitive where they were.”
The Dolphins played Tripp at middle and outside linebacker in base and sub packages on Friday. Playing against both Atlanta’s second and third team units, Tripp graded as the team’s fourth-best player. He graded especially well in run defense and was solid in pass coverage.
“He had the most multiple roles of any player in the game and the game plan was to see if he could handle those responsibilities,” Duffner said. “The good news about it is that he didn’t back down from it. He’s a highly competitive guy and he did see reps against their second group. It didn’t appear like it’s too big for him right now and we’re going to continue to see his ability to make plays.”
Tripp considered his debut performance “good” but said he left a few plays on the field including a potential interception late in the game.
He said he feels comfortable as a middle linebacker.
“I love the system,” Tripp said. “The more comfortable I get, the faster I’m going to play.”
Of course, there’s the money factor. Ellerbe ($6 million) and Wheeler ($5 million) are among the team’s highest paid players this season and the team might find it tough to bench such highly paid players.
But both players could be released after the 2014 season with a relatively small cap hit, and if the tackling issues continue, the team could decide to make a lineup change this season regardless of the salaries.
Duffner said he also likes the development of undrafted rookie linebacker Chris McCain.
“He’s got real good athletic ability for a rookie and he’s got length,” Duffner said. “So far he’s distinguished himself with some flash making plays in practice. We need more consistency out of all our players, him being one of them. But he’s got some versatility that’s valuable for the team.”
If the Dolphins current starting linebacker corps of Koa Misi, Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler don’t improve their tackling, a lineup change could be coming.
And if that happens, rookie fifth-round draft choice Jordan Tripp could have a realistic opportunity to work his way into a starting role.
Tripp was an outside linebacker at Montana but the Dolphins have been working him at both middle and outside linebacker with the Dolphins. The team has been putting an emphasis on middle linebacker because they believe he can excel there.
“Nobody has nailed down a spot as far as I’m concerned,” Dolphins linebackers coach Mark Duffner told the Palm Beach Post. “Tackling is something we’re certainly putting a priority on. You can’t play defense if you cant tackle — it’s probably our No. 1 fundamental that has to be done.”
Miami’s starting linebackers played just one drive in Friday’s preseason loss to Atlanta and it didn’t go well. Wheeler, who struggled with missed tackles last year, was the game’s second-lowest graded player by Pro Football Focus. He was ranked as the NFL’s worst outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense last season.
Although all the spots could be up for grabs, Wheeler would seem like the most logical player to be replaced if the team can’t solve it’s tackling woes.
If Wheeler, Miami’s starting strong side linebacker, is removed from the starting lineup the team could go in a couple of directions. They could start second-year linebacker Jelani Jenkins or Tripp on the strong side and keep Misi at middle linebacker.
Or they could move Misi back to the strong side (where he excelled last year) and make Tripp the middle linebacker.
Duffner said it’s not unfathomable to think a linebacker from a small school could start as a rookie. Justin Durant, out of Hampton, started for Duffner as a rookie in Jacksonville in 2007 although he was a more highly hyped college prospect and was drafted in the second round.
“I’m not as overly concerned about that, the small school or not,” Duffner said. “They had to be highly competitive where they were.”
The Dolphins played Tripp at middle and outside linebacker in base and sub packages on Friday. Playing against both Atlanta’s second and third team units, Tripp graded as the team’s fourth-best player. He graded especially well in run defense and was solid in pass coverage.
“He had the most multiple roles of any player in the game and the game plan was to see if he could handle those responsibilities,” Duffner said. “The good news about it is that he didn’t back down from it. He’s a highly competitive guy and he did see reps against their second group. It didn’t appear like it’s too big for him right now and we’re going to continue to see his ability to make plays.”
Tripp considered his debut performance “good” but said he left a few plays on the field including a potential interception late in the game.
He said he feels comfortable as a middle linebacker.
“I love the system,” Tripp said. “The more comfortable I get, the faster I’m going to play.”
Of course, there’s the money factor. Ellerbe ($6 million) and Wheeler ($5 million) are among the team’s highest paid players this season and the team might find it tough to bench such highly paid players.
But both players could be released after the 2014 season with a relatively small cap hit, and if the tackling issues continue, the team could decide to make a lineup change this season regardless of the salaries.
Duffner said he also likes the development of undrafted rookie linebacker Chris McCain.
“He’s got real good athletic ability for a rookie and he’s got length,” Duffner said. “So far he’s distinguished himself with some flash making plays in practice. We need more consistency out of all our players, him being one of them. But he’s got some versatility that’s valuable for the team.”
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