Channing Tindall Recognized for his Speed; Can He Get on the Fast Track to Success?

TINDALL FLASHES ATHLETIC ABILITY

That means the sparingly used linebacker showcased his athletic ability as a rookie.

Tindall, a starter on Georgia's national championship winning team, was viewed as one of the most athletic linebackers available in the 2022 NFL draft. 

He ran a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine, and was clocked with a 10-yard split of 1.55. He also has an impressive 42-inch vertical, and 10-foot-9  broad jump, which all are indicators that he's an upper-echelon athlete.

His athleticism was the main reason Miami made him the team's first pick in the 2022 draft, which was a class where the Dolphins had limited resources because of the Hill trade.

The biggest question moving forward is whether or not Tindall will blossom into a good linebacker in the next season or two?

Last season Tindall, who was mostly used on special teams, played nine snaps on defense, and contributed all of three tackles in the 16 games he played for the Dolphins.

It's difficult to say how much growth and development took place in his rookie season, or how the change in schemes, adjusting to Vic Fangio's style of playing a 3-4, will impact him. But the Dolphins hedged their bets when it came to addressing the linebacker position this offseason.

Miami signed former Tennessee Titans starter David Long Jr. to a two-year, $10 million deal, retained Jerome Baker, allowing a large portion of his contract to become guaranteed, and re-signed Duke Riley, who held a pass coverage role in Miami's defense the past two seasons.

For Tindall to get on the field, he'll need to utilize that "Hellcat speed" to make more plays in his second training camp. That's the only way he could potentially unseat one of those three linebackers if everyone stays healthy.

Mike McDaniel said coaches encouraged last year by the work they saw from Tindall as a member of the scout team, which gave Miami's first-team offense the opponent's defensive looks during the week.

“I’m expecting a big offseason and a big jump in Year 2. Channing knows that. He has that expectation for himself," McDaniel said at the NFL owners meeting earlier this spring. "He worked very diligently. But I think it’s a matter of him really being able to visualize, and really carry out all assignments within the defensive structure. I know he’s really mandating for himself to take another step."

WHAT IS CHANNING TINDALL'S UPSIDE?

During the draft evaluations it was made clear by talent evaluators that he would be a developmental project who required some time and patience.

Early into his rookie season his peers acknowledged he had plenty to learn. But his speed hints that he has the skill set to become a coverage specialist, potentially trailing tailbacks and covering tight ends downfield.

"He has average size and instincts for work between the tackles, but the pursuit speed and tackling talent to run and hit from sideline to sideline," Lance Zierlein wrote on his NFL.com draft breakdown. "Play recognition versus the run and pass should improve with additional playing time."

We'll soon learn if it improves enough to make Tindall a defensive contributor in 2023.