Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
New Dolphins
Omar Kelly discusses top newcomers.
Every offseason NFL teams reinvent themselves with the moves they make in the free agency and the draft.
The Miami Dolphins had an active offseason — primarily on defense — with the goal of following up last season’s surprising playoff run with another trip to the postseason.
At least six of Miami’s newcomers are projected as starters heading into training camp next month. Here’s a breakdown of the top-10 new faces who could make significant contributions for the Dolphins this season:
Linebacker Lawrence Timmons:
The Pittsburgh Steelers traditionally let their aging veterans finish their careers elsewhere, and that’s how Miami ended up with this former Pro Bowler. Last season, Timmons contributed 114 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2.5 sacks, and forced a fumble. If the Dolphins get that type of production from the 31-year-old, he’ll be well worth the two-year, $12 million deal Miami signed him to.
Safety Nate Allen:
The Dolphins signed Allen to a one-year, $3.4 million deal to serve as a stopgap player at safety after losing Isa Abdul-Quddus to a possibly career-ending neck injury, which led to his release. Allen hasn’t been a full-time starter for two years because of injuries, and the youth movement the Oakland Raiders embarked on. Allen, who has 13 interceptions in his seven seasons, does possess the range necessary to play with Reshad Jones.
Tight end Julius Thomas:
There was drastic difference between Thomas when he played with Peyton Manning in Denver, and when he played with Blake Bortles in Jacksonville the past two years. The Dolphins are hoping he’ll regain his Pro Bowl form and be a red-zone threat for Ryan Tannehill. Thomas and Tannehill didn’t develop any chemistry during Miami’s organized team activities and minicamp. Thomas caught 30 passes for 281 yards and
scored four touchdowns in the nine games he played for the Jaguars last season. He’ll need to contribute more than that to be worth his $5.6 million salary in 2017 and earn the $6.6 million he’s due in 2018.
Offensive guard Ted Larsen:
Larsen, an eight year veteran who has started 65 of the 102 NFL games he has played, doesn’t appear to have a challenger for the starting left guard spot. Maybe that changes when rookie Isaac Asiata, the former Utah standout, settles in and Mike Pouncey’s return allows Kraig Urbik to move from center to guard. But for now Larsen, whose strength is his run blocking, is the man to beat.
Defensive end William Hayes:
Hayes has spent the past 10 seasons establishing himself as one of the NFL’s best edge setting ends, so his presence should help the Dolphins defend the run better than last year’s awful 4.8 yards allowed per carry average. Hayes, who had 43 tackles and five sacks last season for the Los Angeles Rams, has started 24 games the past three seasons. He’s expected to share the left end duties with Cameron Wake and could potentially move inside on third downs.
Defensive end Charles Harris:
Miami’s first-round pick had an impactful spring, consistently creating pressure and hurries on quarterbacks, and the Dolphins are hoping that continues once the pads come on. But for Harris, who registered 18 sacks in three seasons at Missouri, to be viewed as anything more than a pass-rushing specialist he’ll need to learn how to set the edge.
Linebacker Raekwon McMillan:
The Dolphins selected the former Ohio State standout in the second round hoping that he would emerge as an immediate starter to pair with Timmons and Kiko Alonso. That would require McMillan, who had 275 career tackles for the Buckeyes, to showcase adequate playing range and play with the intensity that’s required in the NFL.
Safety T.J. McDonald:
McDonald has started every NFL game he’s played in the past four years, so don’t be surprised if he emerges as a starter once his eight-game suspension is over. McDonald is big (6-2, 217 pounds) and physical, which indicates that he’s an in-the-box safety, which is how he had been used with the Rams. Figuring out a way to make his game work with Jones could be complicated.
Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley:
The two-year starter at Clemson has experience playing both press and off coverage, and has a knack for producing turnovers (nine interceptions in two seasons), which explains why Miami selected him in the third round. He’ll likely spend his rookie season learning Miami’s defense and working on his fundamentals because at time he gets sloppy with his technique. But there’s a good chance Tankersley could emerge as a rookie contributor if Byron Maxwell or Tony Lippett suffer an injury setback.
Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux:
Godchaux, the Dolphins’ fifthround pick, possesses decent technique and uses his hands well. He’s adept at shedding blocks, which makes him ideal as a onegap penetrator. He needs to learn to play with more power, to anchor the line of scrimmage, and shed a few bad habits he developed at LSU. However, expect Godchaux to be the frontrunner to handle a 15-snap-per-game role as a backup. But he’ll need to beat out fellow rookie Vincent Taylor, and veterans like Nick Williams, Julius Warmsley and Lawrence Okoye to earn that role.