Rookie LB McMillan impressing as starter

DAVIE — Raekwon McMillan’s hold on the starting inside linebacker spot is getting firmer.

For the fourth consecutive day the former Ohio State standout took the bulk of the first team reps on the Miami Dolphins’ defense on Monday, and McMillan is even wearing the talking headset that the defense’s play-caller typically gets.

When McMillan is on the field, Miami’s 2017 secondround pick is responsible for calling out the play, making the pre-snap adjustments, and getting everyone lined up properly.

That’s a massive responsibility for a rookie.

“When I first came here in the spring, my head was spinning,” said McMillan, who is competing with Mike Hull for the vacancy at middle linebacker.

Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons are the Dolphins’ projected starters at outside linebacker, and will be Miami’s linebackers in the nickel package barring injuries. McMillan’s working to become the third linebacker who comes on the field in the defense’s base package.

“I [wasn’t] making the right calls. Coach is in my ear,” McMillan said. “Now it’s slowing down to me. I’ve got a fuller understanding after repping with the ones and twos. This is a blessing to be where I’m at.”

As the week has progressed McMillan has begun to play faster, and handles himself well during 1-on-1 drills, blitzing effectively and covering tailbacks out the backfield efficiently.

The defense’s veterans are learning to adjust to McMillan calling the plays, and have been easing him through the transition of life in the NFL.

“He’s not afraid to talk. He’s respectful. He understands where he’s at in his career compared to some of the guys, especially on his side of the ball,” head coach Adam Gase said. “He’s got a job to do. When it’s his time to do it, he does it the way he knows how to do it. He played at Ohio State. He’s played in some big games, and he’s dealt with a lot of guys that are playing in this league right now and I think he knows how to handle himself.”

When his former Ohio State teammates asked McMillan to compare his first week in an NFL camp to his college days he informed them that every snap in an NFL practice is like playing the best team in your conference on game day.

“I can only imagine how it is in a game,” said McMillan, who recorded 270 tackles, six sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles during his three seasons as a starter for the Buckeyes.

“As a rookie you’ve got to go hard at everything because you’re trying to prove to the coaches you’re worth what you’re worth, and that I can do everything I’m expected to do.”

Hull, a former Penn State standout entering his third season, served as the second-team inside linebacker Monday while Neville Hewitt and Deon Lacey manned the outside spots. However, Hull does get a handful of snaps with the first-team during every practice session.

Trevor Reilly, Brandon Watts and Chase Allen serve as Miami’s third-team linebackers, but depth in that unit remains an issue, especially following Lamin Barrow’s injury, which led to his release Sunday.