Him being out has allowed Lippett to accelerate his development. I'm not at all upset that Howard missed all that time. It certainly helps answers some questions concerning the secondary come next year where most people on here were all clamoring for the Dolphins to draft another CB or two.
My only concern is the slot CB where McCain has all the physical tools but seems to be missing the most critical tool...the one between his ears.
I'm certainly happy with Lippett. He is proving he could be a good starter for a long time and you might be right that he will never see the field if Howard stays healthy. Now they are free to cut Maxwell this offseason to save money. Spend it on a better slot corner that's all this secondary needs when Jones is back