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The Dolphins have good depth at a lot of positions as they prepare for the start of training camp, but it might be difficult to find a spot with more potential contributors than the secondary.
Just about every member of the 2014 secondary is back with the team, with the one notable exception being veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who decided to retire after he was released.
In addition, the Dolphins signed veterans Brice McCain
and Zack Bowman in free agency and then proceeded to spend three of their four fifth-round picks in the 2015 draft on defensive backs — safety Cedric Thompson, and cornerbacks Bobby McCain and Tony Lippett.
The Dolphins were hit hard by injuries in the secondary last season, as four of the nine veterans who ended the season on injured reserve were defensive backs. Who knows if they’ll have the same kind of bad luck in 2015, but they sure appear prepare to deal with setbacks if it does happen.
Beyond depth, the Dolphins also have a couple of premier players in the secondary with three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes and safety Reshad Jones.
For the summer, the biggest issue in the secondary will be having to make the tough decisions as to which players to keep on the 53-man roster because the Dolphins appear to have more NFL-caliber defensive backs than roster spots at that position.
BREAKING DOWN DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE BACKS
RETURNING VETERANS
• CB Walt Aikens (6-1, 210) — The 2014 fourth-round pick from Liberty University had an impressive spring after a rookie season during which he showed glimpses of intriguing potential. Making Aikens more valuable is his ability to line up either at cornerback or safety.
• CB Will Davis (5-11, 190) — Davis was able to get back to practice in the spring, a positive development considering his 2014 season ended prematurely because of a knee injury sustained in the Thursday night victory against the Buffalo Bills. The 2013 third-round pick is hoping this is the year he can make a significant contribution to the Dolphins defense.
• S Louis Delmas (5-11, 210) — Like Davis, Delmas was able to practice in the spring, a major development considering he sustained a torn ACL in early December. Delmas, who re-signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in the offseason, offers leadership and big-play ability in the back end.
• CB Brent Grimes (5-10, 190) — There’s not much to say about Grimes other than he made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons with the Dolphins and he came in at number 38 on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list for 2015. In short, the guy is a stud.
• CB Don Jones (5-11, 205) — Brought back after a brief stint with the New England Patriots, the 2013 seventh-round pick delivered on special teams for a second consecutive season.
• S Reshad Jones (6-1, 215) — If someone were to put together a list of Dolphins players poised to make their first Pro Bowl appearance, Jones might be at the top of that list. His play for most of the 2014 season was of that caliber, although he wasn’t eligible for the Pro Bowl because of his four-game NFL suspension to start the season. There’s little question he’s a key member of the defense.
• S Jordan Kovacs (5-10, 210) — Like Don Jones, Kovacs returned to the Dolphins midway through last season after a stint with another team (in his case the Philadelphia Eagles). Kovacs is a valuable special teams contributor.
• CB Sammy Seamster (6-0, 205) — Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens after final cuts, the rookie appeared on special teams in the opener against New England before sustaining a season-ending injury.
• CB Jamar Taylor (5-10, 200) — This could be a big year for Taylor, who is hoping to take Finnegan’s spot in the starting lineup. The 2013 second-round pick battled injuries during his first two seasons, but he looked very impressive in his first NFL start in the Thursday night victory against Buffalo.
• S Michael Thomas (5-11, 201) — Thomas is back for his second full season with the Dolphins and figures to play a prominent role again on special teams. Thomas, whose 2014 season ended prematurely because of a chest injury, also could contribute in extra-DB situations.
Please click on the link for the rest of the article.
The Dolphins have good depth at a lot of positions as they prepare for the start of training camp, but it might be difficult to find a spot with more potential contributors than the secondary.
Just about every member of the 2014 secondary is back with the team, with the one notable exception being veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who decided to retire after he was released.
In addition, the Dolphins signed veterans Brice McCain
and Zack Bowman in free agency and then proceeded to spend three of their four fifth-round picks in the 2015 draft on defensive backs — safety Cedric Thompson, and cornerbacks Bobby McCain and Tony Lippett. The Dolphins were hit hard by injuries in the secondary last season, as four of the nine veterans who ended the season on injured reserve were defensive backs. Who knows if they’ll have the same kind of bad luck in 2015, but they sure appear prepare to deal with setbacks if it does happen.
Beyond depth, the Dolphins also have a couple of premier players in the secondary with three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes
and safety Reshad Jones. For the summer, the biggest issue in the secondary will be having to make the tough decisions as to which players to keep on the 53-man roster because the Dolphins appear to have more NFL-caliber defensive backs than roster spots at that position.
BREAKING DOWN DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE BACKS
RETURNING VETERANS
• CB Walt Aikens
(6-1, 210) — The 2014 fourth-round pick from Liberty University had an impressive spring after a rookie season during which he showed glimpses of intriguing potential. Making Aikens more valuable is his ability to line up either at cornerback or safety. • CB Will Davis
(5-11, 190) — Davis was able to get back to practice in the spring, a positive development considering his 2014 season ended prematurely because of a knee injury sustained in the Thursday night victory against the Buffalo Bills. The 2013 third-round pick is hoping this is the year he can make a significant contribution to the Dolphins defense. • S Louis Delmas
(5-11, 210) — Like Davis, Delmas was able to practice in the spring, a major development considering he sustained a torn ACL in early December. Delmas, who re-signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in the offseason, offers leadership and big-play ability in the back end. • CB Brent Grimes (5-10, 190) — There’s not much to say about Grimes other than he made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons with the Dolphins and he came in at number 38 on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list for 2015. In short, the guy is a stud.
• CB Don Jones
(5-11, 205) — Brought back after a brief stint with the New England Patriots, the 2013 seventh-round pick delivered on special teams for a second consecutive season. • S Reshad Jones (6-1, 215) — If someone were to put together a list of Dolphins players poised to make their first Pro Bowl appearance, Jones might be at the top of that list. His play for most of the 2014 season was of that caliber, although he wasn’t eligible for the Pro Bowl because of his four-game NFL suspension to start the season. There’s little question he’s a key member of the defense.
• S Jordan Kovacs
(5-10, 210) — Like Don Jones, Kovacs returned to the Dolphins midway through last season after a stint with another team (in his case the Philadelphia Eagles). Kovacs is a valuable special teams contributor. • CB Sammy Seamster
(6-0, 205) — Claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens after final cuts, the rookie appeared on special teams in the opener against New England before sustaining a season-ending injury. • CB Jamar Taylor
(5-10, 200) — This could be a big year for Taylor, who is hoping to take Finnegan’s spot in the starting lineup. The 2013 second-round pick battled injuries during his first two seasons, but he looked very impressive in his first NFL start in the Thursday night victory against Buffalo. • S Michael Thomas
(5-11, 201) — Thomas is back for his second full season with the Dolphins and figures to play a prominent role again on special teams. Thomas, whose 2014 season ended prematurely because of a chest injury, also could contribute in extra-DB situations. Please click on the link for the rest of the article.
