What’s Going To Happen When Koa Misi Is Ready?

Jimmy Bourbon

8 years ago

Koa Misi is the only veteran Strongside Linebacker on the team

When not injured, Misi is excellent against the run

Linebacker Koa Misi has been with the Miami Dolphins for the past 7 seasons and has always been referred by each coaching regime as a reliable player that rarely makes mistakes. However, Misi has had trouble staying healthy, only completing one full season his Rookie year… and is actually still recovering from a season ending neck injury from last year.

Misi took a pay cut this offseason to stay with the team and was scheduled to be medically cleared in May. However, he didn’t participate in OTAs or minicamp. Considering that Misi is a veteran player, this may also be Coach Gase just being extra cautious and not wanting to risk Misi suffering any type of setbacks… we can hope.

It will be very interesting to see if Misi gets back on the field for mini-camp in July.

The Dolphins already have Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons penciled in as 2 of the 3 starting linebackers, which leaves one starter left to be confirmed.

Multiple bookmaker software programs like www.AcePerHead.com, are claiming that 2^nd round draft pick Raekwon McMillan is the odds on favorite to win the last starting linebacker position.

Misi is a tough veteran presence at OLB

But to complicate the prediction, McMillian had a rocky time in OTAs and the 3 day mini-camp. This could easily just be chalked up to being a Rookie and having to learn a brand new NFL playbook… again, we can hope. But to be fair, the pads have yet to come on, so it’s not entirely fair to judge a Rookie linebacker until we at least see him in pads. Yet it’s still a bit concerning that most sources were all agreeing that 3^rd year player Mike Hull was getting more first team snaps and looking more comfortable at the outside linebacker position then McMillian.

With all that being said, it looks like that third linebacker spot is definitely up for grabs, and considering that the coaching staff and team thinks very highly of Misi, it could really be his job to lose.

The key for Misi–as always–is going to be his health. This year it is even more precarious because he’s when dealing with a neck injury, being 100% healed before letting him back on the field is essential.

If Misi does get the green light to play, then it appears he’s going to be the front runner to win the last starting linebacker job.

Koa hasn’t been healthy since he was a rookie

Misi has never been a stud linebacker for us, however he has also never been the weak link in this unit. He’s a player that has a high football IQ, gives his best effort, and does want the coaches ask from him. This is a main reason why each coaching regime has liked him and kept him in the starting lineup. If he can actually get healthy–stay away from tackling head first please, for your own sake–then he may just be the perfect guy to put with Alonso and Timmons.

Alonso and Timmons are both considered more talented players and have the ability to make more impactful plays than Misi. But his steady play is an excellent complement to their more aggressive risk-taking style of play.

I’d prefer if Rookie McMillian won the starting spot–obviously–considering we used a second round draft pick on him. But Koa wouldn’t be a booby prize, either. Go Fins!!!

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