Dolphins Position Preview: Secondary
With training camp hitting a major step with the start of practices in pads, let's update the secondary by examining the 2019 performance, the offseason changes on the roster and what to expect over the next few weeks.
PLAYERS AT POSITION ON THE ROSTER: CB Tae Hayes, CB Xavien Howard, CB Noah Igbinoghene, CB Byron Jones, CB Nik Needham, CB Jamal Perry, CB Eric Rowe, CB Ken Webster, DB Nate Brooks, DB Clayton Fejedelem, S Kavon Frazier, S Brandon Jones, S Bobby McCain, CB Picasso Nelson Jr., S Jeremiah Dinson, CB Deatrick Nichols
2020 TRANSACTIONS: Signed CB Rashard Causey to a futures contract (Jan. 3) ... released S Reshad Jones (March 18) ... waived CB Rashard Causey (March 18) ... CB Aqib Talib and S Walt Aikens became unrestricted free agents (March 18) ... declined to extend a qualifying offer to RFA S Adrian Colbert (March 18) ... re-signed S Adrian Colbert (March 20) ... signed DB Clayton Fejedelem as an unrestricted free agent from Cincinnati (March 20) ... signed CB Byron Jones as a UFA from Dallas (March 21) ... waived CB Linden Stephens (April 18) ... selected CB Noah Igbinoghene in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft (April 23) ... selected S Brandon Jones in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft (April 24) ... waived DB Montre Hartage (April 26) ... signed S Kavon Frazier as a UFA from Dallas (April 27) ... Claimed CB Javaris Davis off waivers from Kansas City (July 27) ... Waived CB Ryan Lewis (July 29) ... Claimed CB Picasso Nelson Jr. off waivers from Indianapolis (Aug. 3) ... Waived CB Cordrea Tankersley (Aug. 4) ... Waived non-football injury CB Javaris Davis (Aug. 6) ... Signed CB Deatrick Nichols (Aug. 13) ... Waived S Steven Parker (Aug. 13) ... Waived S Adrian Colbert (Aug. 16)
KEY 2019 STATS: Opponent TD passes 39 (32nd in NFL); interceptions 13 (27th in NFL); opponent passer rating 101.9 (29th in NFL); Eric Rowe 57.7 completion pct. when targeted, 81.0 opponent passer rating when targeted; Jamal Perry 63.6 completion pct. when targeted, 98.2 opponent passer rating; Nik Needham 58.1 completion pct. when targeted, 111.7 opponent passer rating
2019 RECAP: As was the case with a lot of positions on the Dolphins roster, there was an awful lot of turnover in the secondary, with some big names disappearing from the lineup. The Dolphins opened the season with a secondary of Minkah Fitzpatrick, Xavien Howard, Eric Rowe, Reshad Jones and Bobby McCain. By the time the regular season finale, Rowe was the only left on the active roster. Fitzpatrick, of course, was sent to Pittsburgh for a first-round pick after he requested a trade ostensibly because he didn't want to be moved around in the secondary. Jones, Howard and McCain all landed on injured reserve. All the changes paved the way for a lot of young players to get opportunities, and among those who stepped up were cornerback Nik Needham, nickel back Jomal Wiltz (now known as Jamal Perry) and safety Steven Parker, just to name three. But with so much youth in the secondary and a pass rush that was badly lacking, the pass defense struggled — as one would have expected. Things did end on a high note, though, when the Dolphins defeated the Patriots in that finale thanks in large part to Rowe's pick-six.
THE TOP CAMP STORYLINES: Of course, the first thing that jumps out is Howard and how he'll bounce back after having another knee procedure done last year because if he can return to his 2018 Pro Bowl form, then the Dolphins will have maybe the best one-two tandem in the NFL with him and Byron Jones. First-round pick Noah Igbinoghene has a chance to earn a major role as the nickel back as a rookie, but he's got the show the coaches in training camp he's ready for that assignment. The other position to watch is the safety spot that many are assuming will be handled by Bobby McCain because he's not only coming off a shoulder injury, but his performance last year reinforced the idea that he's better suited to play at cornerback, more specifically in the slot. The door seemed open for players like Parker or Adrian Colbert, but both of them were waived in a span of a couple of days this week. That might mean an increased role as a rookie for Brandon Jones, the third-round pick from the University of Texas.
PROJECTED OPENING-DAY STARTERS: The release of Parker and Colbert would seem to solidify McCain's standing as one of the starters in the secondary. The nickel corner job now might become the most wide open, though Perry/Wiltz had his problems in coverage last season and the Dolphins might want to go with Igbinoghene at that spot. Eric Rowe will start at the one safety spot, and the starters at cornerback on the outside will be Byron Jones and Howard, assuming Howard comes back from the knee injury that had start training camp on PUP.
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Alain Poupart has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989. You can follow him on Twitter at @apoupartFins.
