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We are currently making our way through the Miami Dolphins' 90-man offseason roster, breaking down last season for each player, as well as what could happen this year. Today, we continue today with a look at linebacker Koa Misi.
(Picture courtesy Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
2012 Review:
Koa Misi
| 2012 Stats | |
| Games | 14 |
| Starts | 14 |
| Sacks | 3.5 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Pass Defensed | 2 |
| Forced Fumbles | 2 |
| Recoveries | 0 |
| TDs | 0 |
| Tackles | 60 |
Misi's 2012 season was at least good enough for him to be the last starting linebacker standing from last year. Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett were both released at the start of free agency, with Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler brought in to replace them. Misi still has a job in South Florida.
Misi rebounded from a poor 2011 season to find his role in the 4-3 as an outside linebacker. He became a solid tackler in his third season, and seemed to catch up to the game.
Misi injured his ankle late in the season last year, forcing him to miss the final two games of the year. It was the second straight season Misi landed on IR, with a shoulder injury forcing him to miss four games in 2011.
Why he could improve in 2013:
Misi has improved in each of his seasons as an NFL, and there's no reason to think he won't again this year. Misi is the type of player every team needs - a solid player who may not make the spectacular play, but probably won't make a catastrophic mistake either.
The Dolphins coaches know what Misi brings to the field, and should put him in position to succeed this year.
Why he could regress in 2013:
Despite being the longest tenure of the Miami linebackers, Misi will still be the youngest of the three starters (second round pick in 2010), with Wheeler a third round pick in 2008 and Ellerbe an undrafted free agent in 2009. He clearly learned from Dansby and Burnett, but will now have to prove that growth we saw last year was not because Dansby and Burnett were covering for him.
Odds he will make the 53-man roster:
Misi is on the roster, and should be a starting outside linebacker. Theoretically, by the end of the year, Dion Jordan could be a starting linebacker (assuming he's not a defensive end), but Misi should be the starter at the start of the year.