Miami Dolphins: Can Channing Tindall Be A Quick Fix At Linebacker?

The Miami Dolphins have a gaping hole at linebacker that they hope Channing Tindall can fill very quickly.

It’s been a wild offseason for the Miami Dolphins. From bringing in Mike McDaniel to be their head coach, to trading for Tyreek Hill, and getting Terron Armstead to be their left tackle, things could look very different in 2022 for the offense.

The defense looks pretty strong too. The secondary should be among the NFL’s best, especially if second-year safety Jevon Holland takes another jump. All eyes will be on Jaelan Phillips in year two as well, and Emmanuel Ogbah has been terrific on the edge.

One area that has some questions is the linebacker position. Under Brian Flores, the Miami Dolphins went the route of adding former Patriots to help shore up the position. Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts got a chance down in Miami with little success. Raekwon McMillan, a former day two pick, ended up getting traded, and a fellow Buckeye, Jerome Baker, has often been the coverage linebacker rather than a true MIKE.

With very few picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Dolphins went the linebacker route as early as they could, selecting one at pick 102 in Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall. Tindall was part of a three-man rotation at Georgia in 2021, and while he didn’t start a game because of Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, he got plenty of snaps, and made an impact with 67 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks.

On film, you see the makings of a potential future at the MIKE position. His run and chase ability speaks for itself, and he can cover ground to either sideline in a very short time. Tindall plays a physical brand of football while also being sound as a tackler in space. He possesses the power to take on blocks and has the functional athleticism to dip around blocks and get creative.

It will likely take some time for him as a processor between the tackles (along with skirting blocks against more refined offensive linemen) but Channing Tindall can be a quick fix for the Miami Dolphins with his athleticism and coverage skills alone. He should be able to play a role in year one, especially with the help he has in front of him and in the secondary.