The Phins defensive front seven may have a shock cut or two
The 2020 Miami Dolphins are stuffed with new players and many of them Brian Flores intends to become starters sooner rather than later. Nearly every position on the team has serious competition. In fact, there is so much real competition that Miami might end up with a few surprise cuts by the end of Training Camp. When you go over the number of expected roster spots and players currently on the roster, the Phins front seven of the defense could get some surprises cuts entering Week 1 of the Regular Season. — Advice for College Athletes on How to Become a Bookie.
Breaking down the numbers of roster spots
Last season, the Miami Dolphins opened up the 2019 Season with 24 defensive players on the 53 man roster. Of those defenders, 13 were defensive linemen and linebackers. By season’s close, the Phins 53 man roster had 15 in the box players. You can figure that will be the range of front seven players kept this season. So, with 23 front seven players on the roster now, there’s a chance that a veteran or two could find themselves on the chopping block.
Then there is Josh Rosen. I just don’t see Miami cutting or trading him given the impact of the position and price paid. Having a third QB on the roster, two kickers, and long snapper means there are 49 roster spots to split between the offense and defense. I’m betting with the pay per heads services that they go with 25 offensive players and 24 on the defense.
So, Miami will carry 10 or 11 players in the secondary and 13 or 14 in the front seven. I think given Howard’s balky knee, Flores will go with 11 coverage players.
Front Seven players who will be on the 53 man roster come what may
Christian Wilkins, Kyle Van Noy, Emmanuel Ogbah, Shaq Lawson, Davon Godchaux, and Raekwon Davis are certain to be on the roster barring injury. While not as certain as the above, Vince Biegel, Zach Sieler, and Curtis Weaver are expected to make it as well. That’s 9 defenders already allocated to the front seven: 4 DTs, 3 DEs, and 2 LBs.
So, what about the obvious names left off the above list? This is where the numbers game comes in.
These are the front runner for the final 4 to 5 spots:
- LB Jerome Baker: PFF grade of 46.1 OVR / 39.1 Run D/ 54.2 Pass Rush/ and 58.9 Cov
- LB Sam Eguavoen: PFF grade of 50.6 OVR/ 40.6 Run D/ 56.9 Pass Rush/ and 62.3 Cov
- ILB Raekwon McMillan: PFF grade of 63.9 OVR/ 77.0 Run D/ 62.6 Pass Rush/ and 43.3 Cov
- DE Jason Strowbridge: Rookie 5th RD pick
- LB Andrew Van Ginkel: PFF grade of 58.2 OVR / 57.6 Run D/ 62.6 Pass Rush/ and 67.7 Cov
And these are the contenders:
- LB James Crawford: PFF grade of 62.8 OVR / 61.5 Run D/ 55.6 Pass Rush / and 61.1 Cov
- LB Kamu Grugier-Hill: PFF grade of 60.1 OVR / 67.3 Run D/ 52.2 Pass Rush / and 57.0 Cov
- ILB Calvin Munson: PFF grade of 61.1 OVR / 61.3 Run D/ 52.4 Pass Rush/ and 61.7 Cov
- LB Elandon Roberts: PFF grade of 62.8 OVR/ 61.5 Run D/ 55.6 Pass Rush/ and 61.1 Cov
The chance are one of the above won’t make the 53 man roster
Van Ginkel played well enough in 2019 to give him another season of evaluation even if he has a down Training Camp. Also, he is excellent in coverage and has good size. Strowbridge is a 5th RD pick and an injection of youth at a somewhat thinner position. They both have pretty good odds of sticking.
But, when you just look at the production and not the names, you’d say that Baker, Eguavoen, and McMillan are on the outside looking in. McMillan and Baker have strong flaws in their game where Eguavoen is meh all around. In 2019, McMillan was excellent in his run defense between the tackle, while Baker didn’t do anything special and was very poor in run defense. Of course, Baker is the far better athlete and has two years left on his contract, while McMillan is a huge liability in pass defense and will be a Free Agent in 2021. Eguavoen was solid in coverage and it was his first season in the NFL, so maybe that’s an edge?
Baker and Eguavoen fit a specific physical prototype of the small and somewhat ‘short” LB, 6’2” 215 lbs and 6’0” 227 lbs, respectively. It appears that Kamu Grugier-Hill (6’2” 230 lbs) and Elandon Roberts (6’0” 238 lbs) are Baker and Eguavoen’s direct competition. McMillian (6’2” 248 lbs) is right now the backup to Van Noy (6’3” 250 lbs). The battle McMillan will have is with Munson (6’0” 243 lbs) for the backup ILB. I liked what I saw from Munson last season. While nothing special, he’s consistent and well-rounded, perfect for a backup role.
Wrapping it up
I don’t see both Baker and Eguavoen returning. Eguavoen seems the most likely to go, unless Baker looks the same as last year. Then, as crazy as it may sound, both could be on the hotseat. Right now, McMillan is a one dimensional player and while a great kid, I don’t see him fitting, unless they keep him as depth for run stop on the edge if there are defensive end issues. Even still, Van Ginkel can fill that role and he can cover.
I’m not saying all three will get cut–not at all! But, I think the chances are pretty good that at least one won’t make the Phins Week 1 roster because the numbers just aren’t in their favor. Go Phins!!! — The Benefits of Using Pay Per Head Software.
