LB Kiko Alonso ‘flying around and making plays’

DAVIE — Through two games this season, Kiko Alonso is beginning to look like the dynamic defensive playmaker he was in 2016.

The Miami Dolphins linebacker was stellar on Sunday, notching a career-high 13 tackles and two forced fumbles in the team’s 20-12 win over the New York Jets.

“It was probably one of the more productive games I’ve seen by a linebacker,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said Wednesday. “He was all over the place. I thought he did a great job of hustling to the football, good job of getting the ball out, he had some really good hits. He was assignment sound.”

While Alonso recorded 115 tackles and two forced fumbles last season, he wasn’t able to quite match his production from the previous years when he was a turnover machine. In addition to 115 tackles as well in 2016, he totaled four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown.

The sixth-year pro said nothing has changed with his routine from last season.

“I’m just trying to fly around and make plays,” Alonso said. “That’s what I’m trying to do every week. I feel like you run to the ball, good things happen.

“Turnovers are one of our biggest emphasis on defense. We’ve had three in both games, so that’s critical.”

In addition to his playmaking, he’s also served as a mentor to the Dolphins other two starting linebackers — Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker. For both players, 2018 marks their first NFL game experience. McMillan sat out all of last season with a knee injury, while Baker is in his rookie season.

“I’ve played a lot of ball,” Alonso said. “I’ve got a lot of advice I can give them so I’m just trying to help them . ... The more reps, the better they’re going to get.”

Gase said he’s been impressed with what he’s seen out of Alonso and the young linebackers.

“It’s really been good with him and the two young guys,” Gase said. “They’re developing a chemistry.”

“He was all over the place. I thought he did a great job of hustling to the football.”

Adam Gase, Dolphins coach

CHARLES TRAINOR JR/MIAMI HERALD Miami’s Kiko Alonso (47) and T.J. McDonald celebrate a fumble recovery against the New York Jets on Sunday. The Dolphins had three takeaways.