Jul
3
There are a lot of questions surrounding the Miami Dolphins at cornerback.
The questions aren’t at the very top, where Miami has an elite corner in Brent Grimes. Everyone after him is still a major mystery due to youth and inexperience.
There has been a lot of turnover at the cornerback position for the Dolphins (but not enough of them have been caused), as the Dolphins’ only starting corner from last season that remains is Grimes. In the last two seasons, there have been five different starting corners on the other side (Dimitri Patterson, Nolan Carroll, Cortland Finnegan, Jamar Taylor and R.J. Stanford).
In the slot, Jimmy Wilson had been the starter, but he left via free agency. He shared that role at times as well with other corners as he’s been called upon to play safety as well.
This makes this position the perfect one to do a depth chart breakdown. We’ll be looking at every corner currently on Miami’s roster, their chances of getting major playing time as well as their chances of being on Miami’s final 53-man roster.
We’ll also look at where they are on the depth chart as of today, with the knowledge that during training camp and the preseason this is all subject to change.
Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
The Starters
LCB: Brent Grimes
This is not a mystery to anyone, as barring injury, Brent Grimes is Miami’s No. 1 corner.
Grimes was ranked at No. 38 in the NFL 100 by NFL Network, and it’s easy to see why as he turned in a marvelous season with five interceptions and a touchdown while also doing well against the run.
Paul Sancya/Associated Press
However, I hate to be that guy who brings up unpleasantness, but there are some rather troubling trends afoot that hopefully were more indicative of Grimes being the top guy covering the opposition’s top receiver, mixed in with the secondary’s overall breakdown last season after the loss of Louis Delmas.
First off, Grimes didn’t record his first interception until Week 4 against the Oakland Raiders. The secondary as a whole started off slow (due to Reshad Jones’ four-game suspension to start the season), so you could attribute that to that factor. However, Grimes’ most famous interception in Detroit also doubled as his final interception of the season.
You’ll remember that was in Week 10, during Miami’s ninth game of the season.
Secondly, if you look at Pro Football Focus, Grimes’ grade goes on a downward slope after Week 10, with the low point coming in Week 16 against Minnesota when he graded out at minus-2.9. For the season, Grimes graded out overall at 0.5, but in pass coverage he ended with a grade of minus-2.5.
Finally, as we dig deeper into the analytical realm, Grimes’ passer rating allowed was 84.8 while being targeted 95 times, allowing seven touchdowns.
A lot of this has to do with the fact Miami only really had their starting secondary for the middle third of the season (when the whole unit, the defense, and the team itself was at its best), but such trends do show the potential for further decline in 2015.
Despite these trends, Grimes is still an elite cornerback with tremendous athleticism and a leader on defense.
RCB: Jamar Taylor
Here’s where the real questions begin for the Dolphins at secondary.
Jamar Taylor got a chance at starting for the Dolphins last season when Cortland Finnegan got hurt, and he was adequate while he played. A great tackler, Taylor is still looking for his first NFL interception, and he has been slowed down by injuries since the start of his career.
For now, Taylor’s the second starter, but that’s a battle worth watching.
Don Wright/Associated Press
NCB: Brice McCain
This could turn out being one of the best signings Miami made during free agency last year.
Brice McCain replaced Jimmy Wilson as Miami’s nickelback, the position he held in Pittsburgh last season when he recorded 26 tackles and three interceptions. McCain also held quarterbacks to a passer rating of 72.5 in 51 targets and had only one touchdown scored against him.
It would seem like McCain wouldn’t be competing for a starting job, but he actually will be. He should be favored by plenty, but don’t underestimate the rookies behind him.
The Reserves
Alan Diaz/Associated Press
Will Davis
Like Jamar Taylor, Will Davis is entering his third year in the league, and it’s time for him to take the next step.
Davis. like Taylor, can blame injuries for his slow start to his career, as a knee injury prematurely ended Davis’ 2014 campaign.
The comeback for Davis might take some time, as it was a torn ACL he suffered, and those take a while to come back from. It doesn’t help he suffered the injury in November. However, Davis has been a full participant in minicamp, and he is “feeling good” while out there.
Bobby McCain
Lynne Sladky/Associated Press
Bobby McCain will be an interesting name to keep an eye out for in training camp, as he has an outside shot at unseating Brice McCain for the starting nickelback slot.
The fifth-round pick out of Memphis was lauded for his toughness by assistant general manager Eric Stokes, who cited McCain’s “Unbelievable charisma and personality” while praising him to Fox Sports Florida’s Surya Fernandez.
At 5’9″, McCain isn’t the biggest dog in the fight, but he could be the meanest, which might be enough to at the very least get some playing time.
Zack Bowman
In hopes of adding depth to a very shallow position, Miami signed former Giant Zack Bowman via free agency back in April.
Bowman did most of his work with New York on special teams, and while that should remain the case with the Dolphins, Bowman will have an opportunity to get some playing time at corner and could compete for a starting job.
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Tony Lippett
The most intriguing name on the roster at corner is Tony Lippett, a converted wide receiver drafted in the fifth round out of Michigan State.
While I don’t see Lippett competing for a starting job in 2015, he should make the roster even though he can be best described as a project.
So far though, Lippett has made excellent progress, as in minicamp he’s earned the praise of coaches for looking sharp in coverage, with head coach Joe Philbin lauding Lippett (per Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post) for being “in the right place at the right time”, and he said Lippett has “learned the system pretty well” despite his inexperience in games.
The article points out how in one practice, Lippett recorded three interceptions, but Lippet himself will tell you for now, “technique is the main thing I’m learning.”
Likely Out/Practice Squad
Sammy Seamster
Right now the most likely Dolphin cornerback to not make it through training camp is former Raven Sammy Seamster.
Seamster joined the Dolphins last season after training camp, but he spent most of his time on the bench, playing in only two games on special teams.
Seamster‘s special teams play will likely decide if he hangs on to the roster or not, as Miami did spend two of their fifth-round picks on cornerbacks and seem fairly high on both.
Advanced Stats provided by Pro Football Focus unless otherwise noted.
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