Fast and physical: The new standard for Miami’s inside linebackers

The Miami Dolphins remodeled the linebacking core for Anthony Weaver’s defense.

The Miami Dolphins navigated roster turnover and limited cap space but still found a way to remodel the linebacker group following the 2023 season. Miami moved on from linebacker Jerome Baker, who exceeded 100 total tackles in three of six seasons, just one year after replacing multi-year captain Elandon Roberts with David Long Jr.

Long spent his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans before racking up a career-high 113 total tackles and a forced fumble while starting all 17 games for the Dolphins. After starting five games last season, Duke Riley remains on the roster, and former Cleveland Browns captain Anthony Walker Jr. will be in the mix. Still, Jordyn Brooks projects to start next to Long after signing a three-year deal worth $26 million in March.

“Fast and physical,” Long said earlier this month when describing what to expect from Miami’s inside linebackers. “[Brooks] hits hard just like me. I think we play well off each other.

“But as far as our playstyle, he’s calm and instinctive, some similarities to me. So I think it’s going to be great.”

A former first-round pick, Brooks appeared in 49 games over the last three seasons. His 2023 campaign featured 111 total tackles, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Opposing quarterbacks completed 56 of 67 pass attempts when targetting Brooks but he didn’t allow a touchdown, according to PFF.

Miami’s defense forced 27 turnovers and allowed less than 100 rushing yards per game with Vic Fangio calling the shots at defensive coordinator last season. Fangio is now with the Philadelphia Eagles and former Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach Anthony Weaver was hired to lead the defense.

“I feel like we all see the style that he’s trying to implement in the defense and everybody is taking to it,” Long said. “It’s similar to me – I get a lot of it is turnover from Tennessee a little bit. So in my opinion it’s not that difficult to grasp it. A lot of this stuff throughout the league is the same, just different terminology. Once you get the bases of these defenses down it all kind of just turns over and overlaps. That’s the good thing.

“The good thing is we’re all here [during offseason workouts] so we can all learn at the same time and help each other. I think that’s the best thing working for us right now.”