Rookie McMillan vies for inside LB start
DAVIE — Raekwon McMillan appears to be in pole position in the race to become starting inside linebacker, but the Miami Dolphins’ second-round pick realizes the competition has just begun.
He also knows it won’t be easy to hold off Mike Hull, a three-year veteran who earned the nickname “Scrap” from his teammates for his tenacious approach to the game. In 2016, Hull started one game for Miami and totaled 33 tackles and one interception for the season.
Neville Hewitt, who contributed 57 tackles and one sack in 2017, is also in the mix to become the third linebacker, paired with Lawrence Timmons and Kiko Alonso as Miami’s starters. Hewitt started five games last season, but if he emerged as the starter, Timmons or Alonso would need to move back inside.
It appears the Dolphins want to avoid that, because they envision Timmons and Alonso serving as Miami’s outside linebacker, and the two who remain on the field in the nickel package.
McMillan’s experience playing on the inside at Ohio State, his status as an early draft pick, and his upside are the reasons it appears this is his job to lose now that Koa Misi has been placed on injured reserve.
“It’s definitely a goal of mine, but it’s a long-term goal,” McMillan said when asked about becoming a starter. “What I’ve got to focus on is getting better tomorrow and focusing on what I did wrong today.”
Hull split first team reps with McMillan during Thursday’s opening of training camp. However, McMillan, who registered 270 tackles, six sacks and one interception during his career with the Buckeyes, got all the base package work with the starters on Friday.
Coach Adam Gase has hinted the vacant starting spot will be filled based on preseason performances. That’s when McMillan’s ability to diagnose plays, getting the defense in the right alignment and situations, will be thoroughly evaluated.
“That’s why we drafted him. He’s really smart. That’s the least of my worries,” Gase said. “He does a good job of being vocal. He’s very clear. He knows what he’s doing. He’s going to make mistakes because that’s part of it; but a lot of the things are still done by Kiko [Alonso]. It’s not as big of a deal as a lot of people think.”
McMillan likes the fact he’s got experienced veterans to lean on during training camp.
“At Ohio State, I came in and I started as a freshman. So I was in early and I kind of built leadership early; but here, I don’t have to be that leader out there,” McMillan said. “They’ve already got leaders on the team – guys who have been in the league for five, six, seven, eight, nine or 10 years. So I don’t have to be that vocal leader out there. I just need to do my job and figure my stuff out first.”
The Dolphins defensive front dominated Friday’s practice, consistently getting into the backfield to stifle the offense . ... One of the few highlights from Friday’s practice was a touchdown pass that featured Ryan Tannehill finding Kenny Stills in the back of the end zone during 11-on-11s . ... Tight end Anthony Fasano participated in Friday’s session, a day after being excused from Thursday’s practice . ...
Rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley couldn’t finish practice because of dehydration . ... Kraig Urbik spent his second day as the offensive lineman who spent the most snaps as Miami’s starting center . ... Veteran cornerback Alterraun Verner, whom the team signed earlier this week, was limited in his team drills both days of camp.
Alonso stepped in front of a Tannehill pass during the first series of 11-on-11s and pulled down an interception in acrobatic fashion.
Jakeem Grant struggled fielding punts last season, and those issues eventually led to him losing the coaching staff ’s confidence.
While it is evident the former Texas Tech standout has worked on improving his hands, it is important to point out he was the only player fielding punts Friday who dropped two.