Defense tries to roll with punches
Changing linebacker lineups have hurt the unit’s performance
DAVIE — If you’ve been a Miami Dolphins linebacker this season, you’ve learned two things: expect the unexpected, and don’t get too giddy about personnel moves because they won’t last long.
It’s been that type of season for the Dolphins’ ever-changing linebacker unit. When it takes the field Sunday at New England, it could employ its fifth starting trio in 11 games this season.
“They’re kind of an interesting crew,” said defensive coordinator Matt Burke. “They’re pretty even-keeled straight across the board. Sometimes I want more of a reaction out of them than I get.
“They all just sort of shrug their shoulders.”
You don’t get much off-the-field emotion from the linebackers, who have struggled mightily against the pass recently after starting the season strong against the run.
“We don’t have too many rah-rah guys,” middle linebacker Mike Hull said. “We’re just guys who go out and get the job done.”
That’s debatable, but you understand the mentality.
Miami twice had high hopes for this unit — once when rookie second-round pick Raekwon McMillan was going to be in the middle flanked by veteran strongside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and veteran weakside linebacker Kiko Alonso, and again when the trio would have had veteran Rey Maualuga in the middle flanked by Timmons and Alonso.
But injuries, off-the-field drama and disappointment — one linebacker went AWOL, another was arrested and released — have been the story of the season.
A rotating crew of linebackers doesn’t seem to be a formula for success when
facing Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, tight end Rob Gronkowski and pass-catching running backs such as James White and Rex Burkhead.
Change, however, has been a constant for Dolphins linebackers.
Start with the season-ending knee injury to McMillan. Then recall Timmons going AWOL the night before the opener in Los Angeles. Top that with Maualuga, McMillan’s replacement, getting arrested last Saturday morning after an incident at a Miami nightclub.
Alonso has been the only consistent starter this season.
Miami has used three starting middle linebackers (Mike Hull, Maualuga and Chase Allen) and two starting strongside linebackers (Allen and Timmons).
Change could be reality again on Sunday, particularly in the middle where Chase Allen could get his second consecutive start, or they could opt for Hull to make his fourth start, and in the nickel package, where Stephone Anthony rotated with Timmons last week. But Anthony is suffering from a quadriceps injury that could keep him on the sidelines.
That could open the door for Neville Hewitt, who started five games last season. Hewitt, cut in September due largely to a shoulder injury, was signed to the practice squad last month and promoted to the 53-man roster Wednesday.
Although no one wants to admit it, the changing lineups likely have had an adverse effect on the unit’s performance.
The linebackers were an integral part of a run defense that allowed 294 yards rushing against Carolina two weeks ago, and 174 to Baltimore last month.
The linebackers also were part of a pass defense that allowed tight ends such as Oakland’s Jared Cook (eight receptions, 126 yards), Carolina’s Ed Dickson (three receptions, 33 yards) and Tampa Bay’s O.J. Howard (three receptions, 52 yards) to have success recently.
Individually, the linebackers have been inconsistent, contributing to the team’s poor defensive performances in recent weeks.
Timmons, the veteran free agent, has been solid this season (his 55 tackles are third on the team, and he has an outside shot at a sixth consecutive 100-tackle season), but he hasn’t had many impact plays.
Alonso, whose 69 tackles lead the team, has seemed especially vulnerable recently in coverage matchups with tight ends. But Burke defended his veteran leader.
“He probably had a couple of squirrelly busts last week,” Burke said, “but in general he’s done a really good job.”
The linebackers aren’t sure who will be on the field Sunday. Perhaps that’s why many of them appear to walk around emotionless, seemingly numb to the constantly churning lineup.