If you close your eyes at a Miami Dolphins practice, listen for the big hit, and then open your eyes, I can almost guarantee linebacker David Long Jr. will be the one who delivered the blow.
Long, last season’s leading tackler with 113, is physical. He absolutely loves contact. Long is aggressive, a headbanger, a thumper.
That’s why Long is No. 1 on my list of Dolphins players I’d want by my side if I was walking down a dark alley.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is probably No. 2.
Cornerback Kader Kohou might be No. 3.
Linebacker Duke Riley could be a candidate, too.
I’m not sure who I’d choose after that, but I have a pretty good idea, and they’re all newcomers, not returnees.
Who would you choose?
With Monday’s training camp practice being the first in pads, that’s one thing I’m looking for this training camp. Who are the dawgs? Who has that so-called killer instinct?
It’s something I’d challenge you to figure out this preseason — think about the three players you’d want by your side walking down the proverbial dark alley.
For the 2024 Miami Dolphins, it’s a still-developing list.
To me, developing that meanness, that punch-you-in-the-mouth attitude, is one of the last pieces to the puzzle for this Dolphins team.
I’ve written about this previously.
In May, weeks before safety Jordan Poyer made his comment about the Dolphins being likely to “fold” if you hit them in the mouth, I asked Long to identify the dawgs on this defense, the aggressive guys, the headbangers.
“We’ve still got the same dawgs that you’ve seen last year and I’m sure more will come along,” he said, “but we can’t just give that name out so loosely.
“Players have got to go earn that.”
Agreed.
The 2022 and 2023 Miami Dolphins weren’t especially tough or aggressive.
In fact, they were well-known to be finesse teams.
They were speedy, not tough.
They were friendly, not angry.
They were always smiling, rarely scowling.
They’d get cute on third and short. They’d throw the ball, they didn’t ram it down your throat with a physical run play.
The previous two Dolphins teams have been the friendliest, most pleasant, most mild-mannered NFL teams I’ve ever covered.
I’d like to see that change in 2024.
I’m not saying they need to become jerks. That doesn’t equate to toughness.
I’d just like to see the 2024 Dolphins show physicality, a tough mindset.
The problem is that the Dolphins lost some of their toughest players.
Last year safety DeShon Elliott would have been an easy choice as No. 2 as the Dolphins player I’d want by my side walking down a dark alley.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins or maybe right guard Rob Hunt might have been No. 3.
They’re all gone via free agency.
Admittedly, I don’t know linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. or center Aaron Brewer or tight end Jonnu Smith very well at this point, but from what I know about them already, they’re all top candidates to make the top 3.
Poyer and cornerback Siran Neal, the former Buffalo Bills, are also candidates for the top 3.
They’re all newcomers.
However, I’m confident they bring the right mentality. I really liked that about the offseason acquisitions when they signed. They have tough mindsets.
Now that the pads are on, we must see that mentality bear fruit.
Recall what Neal said in March about him and Poyer coming over from the Bills defense.
“We’re going to see how you act when we punch you in your mouth,” he said. “Once we did that, a lot of guys and a lot of teams backed off after a while. That’s one thing that South Florida has now with me and Poyer.”
Recall what Brewer said in March.
“I’m headhunting out there, “so if I can get my hands on you, I’m on you until I hear the whistle,” he said.
I like hearing that.
Look for evidence of that mentality from Brewer, and look for evidence that it’s spreading throughout the team.
If that mentality spreads, in a month or so you won’t have a problem identifying the 10 Dolphins you’d like to accompany you down a dark alley.
