Dolphins linebacker Tindall offers candid assessment of rookie season and where he stands

Rookie Channing Tindall arrived in Miami off a 5 ½ sack season for Georgia and a national championship run culminating in a sterling performance in the title game against Alabama, when Tindall spied quarterback Bryce Young, had eight tackles and a sack and tantalized NFL evaluators with his speed and instincts.

That turned out to be his last meaningful defensive action of 2022.

Tindall’s rookie season in Miami was largely forgettable, featuring only nine snaps on defense, 167 on special teams and three tackles in 16 games.

And the Dolphins seemingly are no closer to knowing whether the third-round pick can eventually become an effective starting inside linebacker. He admitted recently that it took him a while to master the playbook.

“The NFL playbook is very different from a college playbook,” Tindall said. “It took me a while to grasp it. I feel I’m in a good spot now. Even to this day, there’s stuff that’s confusing to me. Around midseason that’s when I started picking it up.”

The Dolphins have said he didn’t play because he was behind three solid veterans - Jerome Baker, Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley.

But there was more to it than that.

Tindall said he sometimes moved too quickly in games or practice without giving himself enough time to process what the offense was doing.

“Sometimes I tend to move a little too fast,” he said. “Move too fast instead of letting everything play out.”

And linebackers coach Anthony Campanile has implored him to “use my hands more” often and more effectively.

“I like going downhill but I don’t always use my hands,” Tindall said.

Listed at 6-2 and 232 pounds, Tindall said he needs to get stronger this offseason because “these linemen are big and fast.”

When the Dolphins drafted him, the hope was that he would become, at the very least, an effective pass-rusher with the potential for a more expanded role. But coaches decided against creating a special pass rush package for him, something that likely will be revisited this offseason with a new defensive coordinator (Vic Fangio).

“His measurables are just stupid: 4.47 [in the 40 yard dash] , 42 vertical, 11 broad,” ESPN analyst and former Eagles personnel executive Louis Riddick said after the draft. “This guy, if he does make a mistake with his initial footwork, he is going to make up for it because he can absolutely fly. These Georgia linebackers get off blocks.

“He can blitz, he can cover. He can play the mike, he can play the will, he can blitz. This kid, right here, I don’t understand [why he fell to the 102nd overall pick]. I know people don’t values linebackers, but this kid is a good player.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay said: “He’s not great at coverage because of change of direction skills; he doesn’t have great re-direct skills. But you get him on a straight line, he’s as fast as probably any linebacker in this class. He was also really good at spying quarterbacks when he came in the game.”

The Dolphins had Tindall spy Bears quarterback Justin Fields early in their Nov. 6 game, but abandoned that after five snaps, and Tindall never played another defensive snap the rest of the season.

Was not playing more on defense a disappointment to him?

“I’m OK,” he said. “This year was a learning experience. I really enjoyed my year, learning what it takes to be an NFL player and have a routine on this level. I know what it takes now so I’m going to do everything I need to do. I’m good with where I’m at right now.”

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said: “We’re excited for his future in terms of developing, which we kind of expected that this year he would be more of a special teams guy.”

Tindall said he studies NFL linebackers that have similar bodies - Zach Cunningham, Darius Leonard and Fred Warner.

And he appreciates the help he received from each of the team’s veterans inside linebackers.

“Every inside linebacker we have here helped me to some degree with something,” he said.

“Jerome works with me on a routine and staying consistent with everything you do, from going in the hot tub to getting extra meeting time to making a schedule,” he said. “E-Rob helps me with little tips from a playbook standpoint. It’s more schematic. Our coach will explain it a certain way. But going to him, he will explain it in a dummy way so I’’ll be able to understand it.

“Duke is serious with everything. He calms me down, keeps me in my right mindset when I get frustration.”

Tindall said he doesn’t know for sure if his college pass rush moves will translate to the NFL but “I’m positive whatever I need to do I’m going to do and that includes pass rush.”

A year mostly on the bench hasn’t seemed to diminish his confidence.

He said his goal is to be a “an All Pro, [enter] the Hall of Fame. Whatever you ask me to do, pass rush, defending the block or covering, all three are my strengths. I can be just as good as any linebacker out there. I can be just as good as all of them.”

This is the first in a series on several Dolphins coming off their rookie seasons.