An inside look at how Dolphins’ linebackers played, where they stand. And WR coach hired.
Over the next week, we’re taking a look at every player on the Dolphins roster, with revealing metrics, how they compared to others in the league, their contract status and whether they’re worth keeping.
In part 3 of a 7-part series, we examine the linebackers:
JEROME BAKER
▪ Contract status: Under contract the next two seasons, at $810,000 and $890,000.
▪ The big picture: Played competently as an everydown linebacker, but didn’t particularly excel in pass coverage or as a pass rusher, which was disappointing. Had 126 tackles (14th in the league), 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and capably handled the duties of communicating defensive calls to teammates. But Pro Football Focus rated him just 76th of 88 qualifying linebackers.
▪ The good: Baker is around the ball a lot, a diligent studier, a respected leader and durable. He played 1083 snaps, third most among all NFL linebackers. He missed only eight tackles while playing that enormous snap count, which easily places him in the top half of the league among linebackers in that missed tackle category.
▪ The not so good: Baker’s run-stop percentage of 6.9 (tackles that constitute a loss for the offense) ranked only 82nd of all 121 NFL linebackers who played in a game last season, per PFF… And PFF rated him only 88th of 121 in pass rush efficiency; he rushed the passer 120 times and had the 1.5 sacks and 15 pressures… His pass coverage numbers also weren’t as good as you would expect: 50 completions in 64 targets, for 557 yards, two touchdowns, one pick and a 106.8 rating in his coverage area.
▪ The future: Likely to return as a 2020 starter and could be a longterm piece, depending on how he plays. The Dolphins love the durability, speed, intelligence, leadership and intangibles. Baker said Brian Flores plans to make him a tape showing areas he must improve.
RAEKWON MCMILLAN
▪ Contract status: Under contract for one more season, at $1.1 million.
▪ The big picture: He was Miami’s best player on defense, according to PFF, which ranked him 33rd of 88 qualifying linebackers. Had 72 tackles in 13 games, including 12 starts.
▪ The good: Was 26th among all 121 NFL linebackers in run stop percentage, measuring tackles that constitute a bad play for the offense. These coaches wisely put him in pass coverage much less than the previous staff did, and so the damage was limited to 13 catches in 15 targets for 190 yards (118.8 passer rating in coverage area).
▪ The not so good: He doesn’t play a lot on passing downs, and improvement is still needed in both coverage and as a pass rusher (three pressures, no sacks in 42 pass rush chances).
▪ The big picture: McMillan was one of Miami’s better run defenders, and former coordinator Patrick Graham raved about his leadership. The Dolphins have interest in keeping him beyond 2020, but we’ll see if an extension materializes this year.
VINCE BIEGEL
▪ Contract status: Restricted free agent.
▪ The big picture: Morphed from special teams player in New Orleans to a serviceable (at times, better than that) starter with Miami, producing 59 tackles and 2.5 sacks and one interception in 15 games, including 10 starts.
▪ The good: He led Miami’s edge players with 33 quarterback pressures, which was 60th best in the league, per PFF. Coaches say his energy is an asset to the defense. Intercepted one of only four passes thrown in his coverage area (the other three were caught for 24 yards).
▪ The not so good: Graded out below average among edge players against the run (83rd of 147 in run stops) and missed eight tackles.
▪ The future: The Dolphins are interested in keeping him longterm. Biegel said his agent has been discussing a multiyear deal with the team.
ANDREW VAN GINKEL
▪ Contract status: Under contract three more seasons. Owed $585,000 next season.
▪ The big picture: The fifth-round rookie missed the first 10 games while on injured reserve, but flashed potential in December, collecting 15 tackles and a timely sack late in the Jets game.
▪ How he played: There were some good moments, but also four missed tackles in 198 defensive snaps, and only six pressures in 100 pass rush chances. His run-stopping metrics were slightly below average.
▪ The future: He will likely be on the team in 2020 - barring a bad offseason - and will be competing for a role as a rotational edge player.
SAM EGUAVOEN
▪ Contract status: Under contract for one more season, at $585,000.
▪ The big picture: Had 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 16 games, including six starts. And his playing time diminished as the season went along; he started Miami’s first four games but only twice since. PFF rated him 68th among 88 qualifying linebackers.
▪ How he played: Lost his starting job but finished relatively well, with two sacks in Miami’s final five games while being used more as a pass-rusher.
Miami entered excited about Eguavoen’s potential in coverage, but he was targeted only 17 times, with 13 completions for 110 yards (92.8 passer rating). PFF rated him poorly in the run game (119th of 121 linebackers in the run stop category) and he missed seven tackles.
▪ The future: Eguavoen proved he’s an NFL player after three years in the CFL but will need to improve in the run game and hold off newcomers to keep his roster spot in 2020. Here’s what he was told after the season.
TRENT HARRIS
▪ Contract status: Exclusive rights free agent, meaning Miami can maintain control by offering a minimum deal. That’s expected.
▪ The big picture: The former Miami Hurricane and Patriots practice squad player did nothing particularly notable for 14 weeks, then played very in the final two games (1.5 sacks, 11 tackles, a forced fumble). Started the final two games and three overall and finished the season with 22 tackles.
▪ How he played: If his first nine appearances were an indication, he would be a long shot to make the 2020 team. But if the final two are a harbinger, he could be competing for regular defensive snaps in 2020. Played 253 defensive snaps, including 101 in the passing game and had eight pressures. He allowed all four passes thrown against him to be caught for 72 yards and a TD.
▪ The future: By late in the season, Harris, an undrafted third-year player, had clearly surpassed Charles Harris, a first-round draft pick in his third year. Trent Harris figures to be tendered and return to compete for a job on the 53.
CHARLES HARRIS
▪ Contract status: One year left at $1.9 million.
▪ The big picture: Seemingly a lost cause at this point. Playing time plummeted; he had 23 tackles and half a sack - despite starting five games - and was a healthy scratch twice in December.
▪ How he played: Not well. PFF rated him 75th of 106 edge players overall, and he had just 14 pressures in 206 pass-rush chances. The good news: He missed only two tackles. Yay!
▪ The future: Odds are against him making the team in 2020 and he would need to shockingly blossom to have a future here beyond that.
The others: Calvin Munson and Jamal Davis (both late-season additions are exclusive rights free agents and could warrant a longer look); Deon Lacy (special teams staple who rarely played on defense is a restricted free agent); and linebackers Jake Carlock and Terrill Hanks, two undrafted rookies who spent the season on Miami’s practice squad.
WIDE RECEIVERS COACH NAMED
The Dolphins promoted quality control coach Josh Grizzard to wide receiver’s coach, replacing Karl Dorrell, who left for the head coaching job at the University of Colorado. Grizzard has worked as a Dolphins quality control coach for the past three seasons and worked closely with the wide receivers last season.
Before joining the Dolphins, he spent four years as a graduate assistant and quality control coach at Duke, working closely with quarterbacks.
Though the Dolphins did not hire an assistant head coach to replace Dorrell, special teams coach Danny Crossman and tight ends coach George Godsey will take on expanded roles.
Here’s part 1 of my series, with a look at each Dolphins offensive lineman.
Here’s part 2 of my series, with a look at each Dolphins receiver.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 3:17 PM.
