With all of the offensive players finished with their NFL Combine workouts, now is the time for the defensive side of the ball to shine in Indianapolis. Day three of on-field workouts at the NFL Combine marks the time for the defensive line and linebackers — which the Dolphins will certainly have their eye on as they look to boost their pass rush and provide more depth on the second level.
Here are a few linebackers that could be key for the Dolphins in April:
Evan Weaver – California
This former Cal Bear is always in the right place at the right time. He is always in on tackles and just seems to be mentally prepared every play. He is not the most athletic, but he takes good angles to the ball and is relentless making tackles. He is not a guy that will test through the roof, but he can improve his stock even more with decent testing.
Troy Dye – Oregon
Dye is a long limbed linebacker with sideline to sideline ability. Dye always seemed to have the Oregon Ducks defense lined up and ready for every play. Dye should test fairly well in the pre-draft process. He’s a versatile linebacker with no questions about his work ethic. Dye revealed this week that he played his final 4 games on a torn meniscus — so you know he’s tough, too.
Zack Baun – Wisconsin
Baun could be considered a “tweener”, but really he is more of a versatile linebacker. He will play standing up, but can also mix into coverage and rush the passer. At Wisconsin, Baun was used like a Swiss-army knife. He was used all over the field to blitz the quarterback, rush from a stand up position and even put his hand in the dirt. That ability to move all over is extremely valuable and fits what the Dolphins have already on defense.
