The least talked about and most important Phins upgrade needed is Mike LB
There’s no doubt Miami has a bunch of needs this offseason, but one of the least talked about–and most needed- is middle linebacker. For years I’ve been pointing to the hole in the middle of the defense. Right from Raekwon McMillan’s first preseason game, I knew he wasn’t the answer.While Brian Flores played pretend for a season with McMillan and Elandon Roberts proved capable this year, the Phins don’t have the long term answer to this critical position on the roster.
This decade long problem must get fixed sooner rather than later.
Middle linebacker is the glue that binds a defense together
Jerome Baker tried the MLB spot last year. He was too small and doesn’t have the instincts to compensate. Kyle Van Noy played some snaps there as well, but he’s too slow and is better on the edge.
Despite his limitations, Elandon Roberts brought trigger quick instincts and a physicality long since seen at the Phins Mike backer. It was amazing how just his handful of impactful run stops for losses from roberts altered the course of games… and the season. It shows how critical it is to have quality play at the position. Roberts is coming off a serious knee injury though, so it’s questionable whether Roberts will be able to even be a stop-gap in 2021.
Remember when Zach Thomas made these types of plays routine game in and game out. Man do I miss watching him play! BTW: The Hall of Fame better not screw it up by denying Thomas again! Not so coincidentally, during Thomas time in Miami was the last time they had a truly elite defense, year-in and year-out.
Yes… Miami had an excellent defense this year thanks to a ridiculous amount of interceptions by Xavien Howard. No, I’m not saying a generational middle linebackers like Zach Thomas are falling from the trees. We can’t expect to find another Thomas anytime soon… or maybe ever. But, we also can’t expect that many interceptions every season. Also, Howard looks like he’s going to demand a big raise, so his time in Miami might be short.
Miami will have to make up that shortcoming somehow. Upgrading the Mike linebacker is the surest and best way to get it done.
Middle Linebacker isn’t an accessory position
While I’m not saying find Zach Thomas 2.0…
… There is a vast ocean of talent difference between Thomas and what has filled his shoes since he left. Miami can certainly do far better at finding a quality Mike LB than they have since Thomas left. At the very least, the Phins need to get at least a above average Mike LB with some sort of impactful talent to bring consistency to the defense. On the other hand, if Chris Grier can find a good one, this defense might become special.
The main key to a quality Mike linebacker: smart leadership through consistency. This is why Mikes wrack up so many tackles when they are good. Now, if you can add in some big plays along with that consistency then look out! And… if you can find a 3-down one who can cover, the sky’s the limit.
Unfortunately, the reality is that there doesn’t appear to be a generational middle linebacker in the 2021 Draft. Someone could shock the world of course.
At 6’3” 240 lbs, Penn State’s Micah Parsons has elite physical tools to be a generational player. The problem is his instincts are his weakness. It looks to be a better bet with the pay per head services that Parsons finds his home on the edge at the Sam. Things change, but his price tag will likely be high… to high if he doesn’t fill the Mike.
Nick Bolton is a very interesting prospect
Then there’s #32 Nick Bolton: short-armed, 6’0”, quick, although not blazing with elite instincts, smart, and vicious physicality. Parsons had me right off the bat… but, as I studied, Bolton stole my eye. Brains over beauty for my Mike LB!
I really enjoyed Bolton’s game against a much better team. He jumped off the tape all game long
Bolton grades well for success in the NFL
Smallish at 6’0”, but built like a fire hydrant at 230ish. Won’t run a great 40, but explodes in short area.
Good pass rusher, but only decent coverage skills. Can handle decent sized Zone coverage, though.
Elite smarts, instincts, physicality, and a quality tackler. He regularly shot gaps and made stops for a loss.
Will thrive in a 2-Gap scheme that will keep him clean with his burst and instincts. But, because his lack of size, a 1-Gap where he has to deal with too many blockers will restrict his success.
Bolton will likely go very early in the 2nd, or late in the 1st Round. Someone is going to find themselves a very good football player with Bolton. This is why I’d love a trade back with the 3rd Overall pick. That extra pick could very easily net Bolton for free.
But, if Miami doesn’t land Bolton, they must find a quality middle linebacker somewhere.
The draft should go by positional need – taking the best player from our list. They need to prioritize need by position and then create a list of players ranking them by skill at each position of need. As players are drafted you simply take them off your position list. I suspect that WR is the top positional requirement. It is possible that we take 2 first round picks at WR. For example, if Smith and Waddle were on the board, we might take both to give Tua receivers he played with at Alabama. I think the next need would be either RB, O-tackle or Mike LB. If a stud from your list is available in the second round at one of these positions, you take him. Let’s say, we find our most coveted running back available in the second round and we take him, then later one of our top O-line picks is taken by another team. We scratch him off the list and pray for a little luck in the third round.
The ugly truth for Dolphins is that rounds 5, 6 & 7 are more difficult to draft in than the first two or three rounds. Hopefully, the bottom of our positional lists has some players we perceived as talented still there. Bellichick took Brady in round 5. I wouldn’t cry if the Dolphins traded a player and rounds 5, 6 and 7 for a third round pick in this year’s draft. Remember, there is always the unsigned free agent draft hunt after the NFL draft.
What you avoid is reaching for players in a premature round. Don’t draft a third round quarterback in the second round. Be patient. For example, I didn’t think we needed a QB this year. Some people were advocating trading up for Tua. I argued that Herbert was just as good a QB as Tua, so there was no need to panic. If anyone remembers, I liked Lamar Jackson, as did Mr. Ross, but we passed on him even though he was still on the board. It is an old story with the Dolphins.
The mike argument does not hold up due to higher need at other positions. The guy playing middle LB is doing an okay job. It is the same at RB. We need a bigger guy but not in the first round. The Laramy Tunsil pick is a ggod example of a draft day surprise. He was supposed to be off the board, but had problems. We drafted him and eventually turned him into a really good (not great) tackle. This years round 1- #3 pick is from the Tunsil trade. Good Job Dolphins!
Sorry for the late reply, Van… had a semi-impromptu biz trip that sucked this oldish man’s time and energy. I’m going to have to disagree with you. Mike LB is a critical need. Mike LB is key to defense, especially in run defense. We don’t have a good one… or even a competent one. We will struggle against the run unless we either fix the Mike or have tremendous talent on the DL. WR has gotten a bad wrap. Parker with Fitz was tremendous. Tua was just so poor in throwing players open that Parker took a big hit. Look at him in 2019 and the first half of 2020. Miami needs a good WR, but they can be had later and not just with the #3. I don’t like Smith at 3… he is so small. When he gets to the NFL the lack of size will hurt him… he is so thin and small. And really, Tua won’t throw him open as well unless he grows in that area and if he does, this will open up Parker. I’m not saying we don’t need a WR, but Mike is critical along with WR and maybe a Olinemen… or even another TE who can RB. We should go the route of the Pats with Gronk and Hernadez. Find an explosive WR to push the secondary back to add with Parker and the two TEs and a run game. Problem is Tua’s arm is so weak Defenses have zero fear of the deep ball. It floats. Tua has so much growth needed because of his injury that I just don’t want go all in with him. Just imagine after all these picks if Tua just can’t get back to full health and is only average?! This regime will implode. Talk is of Fitz going to NE… imagine if he does and does well and Tua can’t fully recover from his him?! This regime will die fast… it would be a total disaster. They must get a real plan B… they just must. Tua’s tape was ugly. Most was about him lack of velocity on the ball and lack of speed. This could change big time and Year 2 could be amazing… but, it could not. Then he still needs to work on other areas as well. I think his lack of arm strength might be polluting the other areas of his game with a lack of confidence. I’m trying to get this Tua vid out against the Bills… but it was a lot uglier than you remember. A Lot! Will his hip heal?! The answer could make or break this regime and his career… and the truth is no one knows how it will go not even Tua. They must get a plan B….
Agreed. We need a quality MLB. We also need to add to the depth of the D-Line too. Tua needs WR weapons on offense, and stud RB who is 230+ Lbs. can run and catch. Gaskin and Amed are good, but they don’t have the body types to handle 20+ carries in a game.
I’m not sure Bolton is on the Phins radar or the Mike is their 1st RD consideration. I still think they need a plan B at QB another OLmen, WR, interior DL, and two LB- a Mike a Sam. Van Noy has the edge and Baker the Will… that Mike is empty. They could fill it with a cheap vet and punt on the position till later. I just really loved Bolton’s game… and am tired of seeing poor NLB play. A lot of the run D issues come from poor Mike play. We’ve spent so many picks on the interior DL and OL… starting to get concerning that they still need to spend more. Another year of development could change that narrative though. I’m not totally sold on the RB. Our OL isn’t blocking well enough for that type of back to be successful. The little wiggly scat backs have had far more success behind our line than the big, 1-cuts. It’s going to be very interesting what goes down this draft.
The draft should go by positional need – taking the best player from our list. They need to prioritize need by position and then create a list of players ranking them by skill at each position of need. As players are drafted you simply take them off your position list. I suspect that WR is the top positional requirement. It is possible that we take 2 first round picks at WR. For example, if Smith and Waddle were on the board, we might take both to give Tua receivers he played with at Alabama. I think the next need would be either RB, O-tackle or Mike LB. If a stud from your list is available in the second round at one of these positions, you take him. Let’s say, we find our most coveted running back available in the second round and we take him, then later one of our top O-line picks is taken by another team. We scratch him off the list and pray for a little luck in the third round.
The ugly truth for Dolphins is that rounds 5, 6 & 7 are more difficult to draft in than the first two or three rounds. Hopefully, the bottom of our positional lists has some players we perceived as talented still there. Bellichick took Brady in round 5. I wouldn’t cry if the Dolphins traded a player and rounds 5, 6 and 7 for a third round pick in this year’s draft. Remember, there is always the unsigned free agent draft hunt after the NFL draft.
What you avoid is reaching for players in a premature round. Don’t draft a third round quarterback in the second round. Be patient. For example, I didn’t think we needed a QB this year. Some people were advocating trading up for Tua. I argued that Herbert was just as good a QB as Tua, so there was no need to panic. If anyone remembers, I liked Lamar Jackson, as did Mr. Ross, but we passed on him even though he was still on the board. It is an old story with the Dolphins.
The mike argument does not hold up due to higher need at other positions. The guy playing middle LB is doing an okay job. It is the same at RB. We need a bigger guy but not in the first round. The Laramy Tunsil pick is a ggod example of a draft day surprise. He was supposed to be off the board, but had problems. We drafted him and eventually turned him into a really good (not great) tackle. This years round 1- #3 pick is from the Tunsil trade. Good Job Dolphins!
Sorry for the late reply, Van… had a semi-impromptu biz trip that sucked this oldish man’s time and energy.
I’m going to have to disagree with you. Mike LB is a critical need. Mike LB is key to defense, especially in run defense. We don’t have a good one… or even a competent one. We will struggle against the run unless we either fix the Mike or have tremendous talent on the DL. WR has gotten a bad wrap. Parker with Fitz was tremendous. Tua was just so poor in throwing players open that Parker took a big hit. Look at him in 2019 and the first half of 2020. Miami needs a good WR, but they can be had later and not just with the #3. I don’t like Smith at 3… he is so small. When he gets to the NFL the lack of size will hurt him… he is so thin and small. And really, Tua won’t throw him open as well unless he grows in that area and if he does, this will open up Parker. I’m not saying we don’t need a WR, but Mike is critical along with WR and maybe a Olinemen… or even another TE who can RB. We should go the route of the Pats with Gronk and Hernadez. Find an explosive WR to push the secondary back to add with Parker and the two TEs and a run game. Problem is Tua’s arm is so weak Defenses have zero fear of the deep ball. It floats. Tua has so much growth needed because of his injury that I just don’t want go all in with him. Just imagine after all these picks if Tua just can’t get back to full health and is only average?! This regime will implode. Talk is of Fitz going to NE… imagine if he does and does well and Tua can’t fully recover from his him?! This regime will die fast… it would be a total disaster. They must get a real plan B… they just must. Tua’s tape was ugly. Most was about him lack of velocity on the ball and lack of speed. This could change big time and Year 2 could be amazing… but, it could not. Then he still needs to work on other areas as well. I think his lack of arm strength might be polluting the other areas of his game with a lack of confidence. I’m trying to get this Tua vid out against the Bills… but it was a lot uglier than you remember. A Lot! Will his hip heal?! The answer could make or break this regime and his career… and the truth is no one knows how it will go not even Tua. They must get a plan B….
MJ,
Agreed. We need a quality MLB. We also need to add to the depth of the D-Line too. Tua needs WR weapons on offense, and stud RB who is 230+ Lbs. can run and catch. Gaskin and Amed are good, but they don’t have the body types to handle 20+ carries in a game.
I’m not sure Bolton is on the Phins radar or the Mike is their 1st RD consideration. I still think they need a plan B at QB another OLmen, WR, interior DL, and two LB- a Mike a Sam. Van Noy has the edge and Baker the Will… that Mike is empty. They could fill it with a cheap vet and punt on the position till later. I just really loved Bolton’s game… and am tired of seeing poor NLB play. A lot of the run D issues come from poor Mike play. We’ve spent so many picks on the interior DL and OL… starting to get concerning that they still need to spend more. Another year of development could change that narrative though. I’m not totally sold on the RB. Our OL isn’t blocking well enough for that type of back to be successful. The little wiggly scat backs have had far more success behind our line than the big, 1-cuts. It’s going to be very interesting what goes down this draft.