Linebacking corps may be ready for some R&R By Joe Schad Palm Beach Post Staffff Writer
The Dolphins need a dynamic, explosive, play-making linebacker who can handle coverage, chase from sideline-to- sideline and fifinish with authority.
The Dolphins need a youngster like Roquan Smith, the linebacker from Georgia.
“My relentless pursuit,” Smith said while speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine in early March. “I believe in that. I was always taught, if you start something, finish.
And take advantage of every opportunity. And tomorrow is not promised. If it’s my last play that I ever play, how do I want to go out? So I feel like every play, I treat like it’s my last play. And I bust my tail like I don’t have a next play.”
Smith was dominant in the College Football Playoffs with 11 tackles in the semifinal win over Oklahoma and 13 tackles and one sack in the championship game loss to Alabama. But he was really dominant in the Southeastern Conference all season, totaling 137 tackles ( fifirst in the SEC), 14 for loss (third in the SEC), and 6.5 sacks.
“I feel like I can make a tremendous impact on
the defense, just with my play-making ability, my leadership qualities,” Smith said, “and everything that I possess, as a football player on and offff the fifield. I feel like that will defifinitely elevate any defense.”
Pairing someone with Smith’ s talents with second- year player Raekwon McMillan and veteran Kiko Alonso could change the complexion of Miami’s line- backing corps and its entire defense.
Roquan and Raek won sounds about right. They’re both young. And they both have excellent instincts.
“I feel like I’m very instinctual,” Smith said. “My IQ of the game and my sideline-to- sideline ability. My ability to strike guys. And make plays. I’m just a playmaker, if you ask me.”
According to a scouting report on NFL.com, Smith has: “Elite athletic ability, plus intelligence and an ability to be an effective cover linebacker on passing downs. While he’s a little undersized (6-foot-1, 236 pounds), he does have the quickness and speed to keep himself from being mauled. He was good in 2016, but great in 2017
and projects as a player who hasn’t tapped his full potential. Smith has Pro Bowl traits
and talent.”
The Dolphins are favored to spend their first-round draft choice Thursday night on an offensive player. Last year, Miami loaded up on defense. But if Miami were to go defense in the first round, linebacker would be a good bet.
“Great teams have great defensive players, more so at the linebacker position,” Smith said. “You can take control of a defense. Pretty much most of the time we’re the leaders of the defense. And you have to make a lot of plays. And all of the checks for a defense. Very good linebackers can defifinitely elevate defenses.”
Smith says he’s a student of the game. He has done lengthy research on snap counts. He believes his coverage strengths are a result
of preparation, which allows him to decode an opposing player’s plan when on
the fifield.
“Knowing the opponent, knowing what the opponent likes to do as well as just reading a running back’s hips and things like that because they can’t go anywhere without their hips. And I pretty much
know that,” he said. “They can do all this (Smith began shaking his head), but at the
end of the day it all comes down to their hips.”
Smith was considered an excellent leader at Georgia.
“Just a guy who truly cares about his teammates,” he said. “On and offff the fifield. Regardless of the situation. Always be there for them through adversity. Whether
they’re at their high or at their low. Someone you can
depend on. Someone that you know is committed on and offff the fifield and leads by example as well.”
Many scouts have compared Smith to Falcons linebacker Deion Jones because of their versatility, speed and athleticism. And Smith embraces the comparison.
“I defifinitely watch Deion Jones,” Smith said. “He plays for the Atlanta Falcons and from Athens, Georgia, it’s not very far. Actually just being able to watch a guy
like that who came into the league and was labeled as
undersized and you know he fought against a lot of obstacles and went over them and got through it. So he’s done a lot of good things for the Falcons. And made a Pro Bowl this year. So that speaks for itself.”