If healthy, McKinney will have a HUGE impact on the Phins Defense!
It’s easy to have missed how the lack of a quality Mike linebacker has hurt the Miami Dolphins defense over the years. The good news is with the addition of MLB Benardrick McKinney, it will be as obvious as the nose on Cyrano de Bergerac’s face what’s been lacking! Reverse engineering is a beautiful thing. No hype: McKinney’s trade for defensive end Shaq Lawson could end up being a regime-defining move for Chris Grier and Brian Flores.
If you couldn’t tell I’m high as a kite that’s high on crack! Let me tell you though, there’s PLENTY of reason to be this exuberant.
Phins have a Mike with heart, brain, and size
I was only vaguely familiar with McKinney’s play, but after a couple of hours of study, this video was my favorite. Check it out! Every indication says the Phins are getting a stud in the middle. While McKinney isn’t elite, the former Pro Bowler is very talented and is EXACTLY what Miami needs on defense. I mean like to a Tee!
Now, so I’m not heckled for being drunk on aqua-colored Gatorade, this move does come with some risk. McKinney is coming off a season-ending shoulder injury and a mediocre 2019 Season. The loss of Shaq Lawson is another consideration as well. Lawson had some real positive impact on the Phins’ excellent 2020 defense.
The injury I can’t speak much of as I’m not a doctor, but a shoulder injury to a physical Mike LB is never a good thing. Still, since the injury occurred early in the 2020 Season, McKinney has had plenty of time to rehab and recover. As for his down season in 2019, while it was his worst, it was still solid.
If McKinney can rebound the Phins defense looks to dominate
McKinney fits the mold of Patriots MLB Dont’a Hightower. Both are huge at 6’3”-ish and 260lbs-ish while running a mid 4.6 forty. Smart and physical players, they diagnose quickly, take on blocks, and still are solid in their sideline-to-sideline pursuit.
Miami hasn’t had this type of player at middle linebacker in ages.
Kiko Alonso was an impact player, but lacked discipline and size. Raekwon McMillan tried, but lacked the instinct and football IQ. Jerome Baker was the most recent fill-in, but he is too small and isn’t highly instinctual.
McKinney will lifting this defense in so many ways. I’ll break it down after some more study in an article another day…
Finding a quality Mike linebacker was one of my TOP priorities for this offseason! This move checks a crucial box in my list for a successful offseason. I’m so glad the Dolphins agreed and made it a key priority.
While nothing is guaranteed, this was one of the best moves available to fill this hole on the roster.
A round of applause for the Phins Front Office is in order!
I’m very proud and happy to tip my cap to Chris Grier once again because this is another winning move by the Dolphins. Go Phins!!!