It goes without saying that the Miami Dolphins have made some major changes this offseason. As a result, they will be relying heavily on the remaining players that have shown potential in recent years.
Among the players Miami is hoping to see a big jump from is linebacker Kiko Alonso. According to Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post, linebackers coach Frank Bush feels Alonso did not exactly live up to expectations last season:
“I’d kind of say it was up and down,” Bush said. “I was expecting a lot more from him. I’m sure he expected more from me. He did what we thought he should do and he can play better. He can play better in coverage. Some of his tackling was suspect.”
The notion of Alonso falling short of expectations may seem a bit harsh. However, it appears Bush may be well-aware that he is capable of playing much better.
The Dolphins acquired Alonso via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2016 NFL season. He has since taken on an integral role in Miami's defense. Unfortunately, he has been unable to solidify himself as the clear-cut leader of this unit.
Alonso finished the 2017 campaign with 115 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles, and one pass defensed. He was also ranked as the 75th-best player at his position out of 100 by Pro Football Focus.
That said, this could be a bit of a deciding year for Alonso. The Dolphins have made it clear that they are not afraid to shed contracts they do not feel are beneficial toward their rebuild.
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