Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Defense couldn’t handle pressure
Miami’s defense showed signs of promise during a trying 6-10 season. Most notably the run defense, a point of emphasis last offseason, improving from 30th in 2016 to 14th in 2017.
But in the end, the defense, which ranked 16th overall (335.7 yards allowed per game) just couldn’t withstand the tremendous pressure it had to endure playing alongside a struggling offense. They allowed a disappointing 24.6 points per game, 29th in the league.
The Dolphins had just one Pro Bowl selection – safety Reshad Jones – under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Burke.
The linebackers, who proved troublesome on and off the field, struggled to make plays against the run and pass.
The Dolphins had encouraging rookie performances at several positions. However, first-round pick Charles Harris, a defensive end, only had two sacks. Second-round pick Raekwon McMillan, a linebacker, missed the entire season with a knee injury.
Here’s a player-by-player breakdown of the defense:
Defensive line
Cameron Wake: Posted 10.5 sacks to record back-to-back double-digit sack seasons for the first time in his career. The veteran defensive end showed improvement against the run while remaining relentless as a pass rusher. Still one of the NFL’s most disruptive players. Contract
status: Signed through 2018.
Ndamukong Suh: Had another strong season at defensive tackle with 47 tackles (8 for losses), 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Frequently doubleteamed, he still anchored an improved run defense. Was among a handful of Dolphins players to make all 16 starts. Contract status: Signed through 2020.
Jordan Phillips: Had an improved season at defensive tackle
(16 tackles, two sacks, three passes defended), mostly because he showed consistency. Phillips had a midseason ankle injury that slowed his production, but he’s beginning to shed the “inconsistent” label he’s carried since college. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Andre Branch: Disappointing season with 23 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Branch, a six-year veteran defensive end, made 14 starts, which showed durability. But his production wasn’t at the expected level. He battled some injury issues during the season. Contract status: Signed through 2019.
Davon Godchaux: The rookie fifth-round pick from LSU was the surprise of Miami’s draft with 40 tackles and one forced fumble, while making five starts at defensive tackle. Was strong at the point of attack and was a big reason for improved run defense.
Contract status: Signed through 2020. Charles Harris: It was a disappointing season for the rookie first-round pick from Missouri. The pass-rushing defensive end had 19 tackles and two sacks but showed improvement against the run late in the season, and even made two starts. His big jump was playing on first and second downs, instead of exclusively on third downs. Contract status: Signed through 2020, team option for 2021.
Cameron Malveaux: Undrafted rookie defensive end had a good showing (5 tackles, 1 sack) after his late-season promotion from practice squad. Showed promise, but didn’t get enough playing time to make any determinations about his future. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Terrence Fede: Finished with 15 tackles and a fumble recovery, playing in all 16 games with no starts. Primarily a defensive end, but showed versatility late in the season by also sliding inside to play defensive tackle. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Gabe Wright: Had one tackle after a late-season promotion from the practice squad. The third-year defensive tackle also played previously for Detroit and Cleveland. Contract status: Signed through 2018. Linebacker
Kiko Alonso: Starting weakside linebacker was the team’s second-leading tackler with 115. He also had a sack, six tackles for losses, one pass defended and two forced fumbles. His pass coverage was shaky, especially late in the season. Still active and athletic, but not as much of a playmaker as he was in 2016. Contract status: Signed through 2020.
Lawrence Timmons: Starting strongside linebacker went AWOL before opener against Los Angeles Chargers and then served
one-game suspension. Ended the season with 84 tackles (third on team), five tackles for losses, three passes defended, but didn’t make enough impact plays. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Chase Allen: Undrafted rookie from Southern Illinois had 40 tackles (one for loss) and two forced fumbles. Big and athletic, the middle linebacker made four starts. Contract status: Signed through 2019.
Mike Hull: Third-year middle linebacker had 36 tackles, one tackle for a loss, and one fumble recovery. He made three starts early in the season, but eventually became a core special teams player after his playing time from scrimmage was reduced. Small frame remains his biggest limitation. Contract status: Exclusive rights free agent.
Neville Hewitt: Third-year player ended with one tackle and played in six games after being activated late in the season. Hewitt, an outside linebacker, battled a shoulder injury that also limited his role as a core special teams player. Contract status: Restricted free agent. Stephone Anthony: Had 14 tackles, one for loss, after eventually finding a role as a nickel linebacker, as well as a core special teams player. Anthony, acquired from New Orleans for a fifthround pick, got off to a slow start and played in eight games. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Defensive backs
Cordrea Tankersley: Rookie third-round cornerback from Clemson made 11 starts and had 31 tackles, one for a loss, and seven passes defended. It was a successful season by most accounts. He still needs work, but is off to a good start. Contract status: Signed through 2020.
Xavien Howard: Second-year cornerback started all 16 games and had 48 tackles (tied for fourth on team) to go along with teambest four interceptions and one touchdown. Sometimes called upon to shadow opponents’ No. 1 receiver. He started slowly but finished strongly. Contract status: Signed through 2019.
Reshad Jones: Starting strong safety made his second Pro Bowl after recording team-best 122 tackles (5 for a loss), 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, five passes defended, three fumble recoveries and two touchdowns. Still a hardhitting force as eighth man in the box. Played more free safety than previous years. Contract status: Signed through 2021.
T.J. McDonald: Started eight games at safety after serving an eight-game NFL-issued suspension. Ended with 45 tackles (three for a loss), one interception, and three passes defended. Had strong showing overall. Played more free safety than previous
years. Contract status: Signed through 2021.
Bobby McCain: Started all 16 games at nickel cornerback and ended with 48 tackles (2 for a loss), one sack, two interceptions and seven passes defended. Solid season all around. Highlight was interception vs. Tom Brady. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Torry McTyer: Undrafted rookie cornerback from NevadaLas Vegas was pressed into action for one game late in the season. Ended with two tackles. Appeared in seven games, mostly as a special teams player. Contract status: Signed through 2019.
Jordan Lucas: Second-year cornerback/safety appeared in 11 games, mostly as a core special teams player. Still hasn’t found a way to get on the field from scrimmage, but made more of a contribution overall than last season. Contract status: Exclusive rights free agent.
Alterraun Verner: Veteran cornerback appeared in 15 games, making two starts, and had 15 tackles, four passes defended and one forced fumble. Played mostly as special teams player, but played OK from scrimmage overall.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Trae Elston: Second-year undrafted safety from Auburn has bounced around. He was signed by Miami for season finale after being waived by Buffalo and Philadelphia. Appeared in 13 games for Buffalo, making one start, and had 18 tackles and one interception. Contract status: Exclusive rights free agent.
Injured reserve
William Hayes: Veteran defensive end did a good job fulfilling his role as a run stopper, recording 19 tackles (3 for loss) and one sack. He was a big reason for the improved run defense. He was sidelined by a back injury after 10 games. Contract status:
Unrestricted free agent.
Vincent Taylor: Rookie sixthround defensive tackle did a nice job in spot duty, but eventually went down with knee injury late in the season. Had 18 tackles (1 for a loss), one pass defended and two blocked kicks. Nice debut overall. Contract status: Signed through 2020.
Raekwon McMillan: Rookie second-round pick sustained a knee injury in preseason and missed the entire season. Expected to make a full recovery and enter training camp as the starting middle linebacker. Contract status: Signed through 2020.
Tony Lippett: Promising 2015 draftee showed promise at cornerback in 2016, making 13 starts, but sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in training camp and didn’t play in 2017. Figures to compete for starting job in 2018. Contract status: Signed through 2018.
Nate Allen: Veteran safety ended with 20 tackles and one pass defended in seven games, all starts. He eventually went down with a calf injury, but was likely going to be replaced as a starter by McDonald. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Michael Thomas: A special teams captain, he had 27 tackles and one pass defended playing mostly special teams with spot duty from scrimmage. Maintained value with ability to play free safety, strong safety and nickel cornerback. Contract
status: Unrestricted free agent.
Specialists
John Denney: Veteran long snapper performed flawlessly once again. A leader of the special teams unit, he’s about as good as they come in the NFL. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Matt Haack: Undrafted rookie punter was a bit of a surprise winning the job out of training camp. Performed reasonably well, averaging 44.5 yards per punt (11th in NFL) but he had his rookie moments. Still, a promising showing overall. Contract status: Signed through 2019.
Cody Parkey: Veteran kicker won the job in training camp and performed well by going 21 of 23 on field goals and 26 of 29 on extra points. The field-goal success rate (91.3 percent) ties a franchise record (Jay Feeley, 2007). And he was clutch in late-game situations. Contract status: Unrestricted free agent.
Free agency terms: Unrestricted free agent — Four or more years of accrued service (at least six games on active roster) and expiring contract; Restricted free agent — Three years of accrued service and expiring contract; Exclusive rights free agent — Two or fewer years of accrued service and expiring contract.