When the Dolphins signed Brice McCain in March, Joe Philbin made clear that they viewed him as a slot cornerback. Five months later, McCain is immersed in a close battle with Jamar Taylor for the starting cornerback job opposite Brent Grimes.
So what exactly changed to make the Dolphins conclude that he’s capable of more than merely slot duties?
“He has played good football since he’s been here,” Philbin said today. “He’s competitive. He’s got good recovery speed. He’s picked up the system well. He’s going to get opportunities to show if he’s the second-best, third-best, whatever it may be. We will take all the body of work, preseason practices and games, and see who’s the best.”
McCain, who intercepted a Josh Freeman pass during Monday’s practice, said it sells him short to refer to him as merely a slot corner.
“I do take offense to that because I can play outside as well,” said McCain, who is Miami’s shortest cornerback at 5-9. “I’ve been playing outside my whole life. I played outside in college [Utah]. That’s what got me here. In Houston, I started outside [before Wade Phillips was hired].
“When you have quickness, you can put yourself in position to make yourself bigger. A tall corner, if you’re always behind the guy, how can you jump? How can you use your height if you’re always trailing and never can catch up with a guy? My speed and quickness and my jumping ability really help me out.”
Taylor took the first team snaps on the boundary on Monday, with McCain in the slot. But McCain, who had three interceptions for Pittsburgh in 2014, said afterward that he and Taylor continue to alternate in those roles.
“They can’t lose with whatever they go with because we’re both talented guys,” McCain said, adding that he expects to move to the slot in clear-cut passing situations even if he starts on the boundary.
### Some Dolphins practice stuff Part 1 from Monday: In addition to DeVante Parker and Don Jones, five others missed practice: Koa Misi (calf), Kenny Stills (calf), Jay Ajayi (hamstring), Shamiel Gary (shoulder) and Christion Jones (hamstring)….
Andrew Franks hit five of six field goals, including a 56-yarder… Jacques McClendon and Billy Turner split first-team snaps at right guard.... What caused the brief skirmish between Ja’Wuan James and Kendall Montgomery? James threw Montgomery to the ground in a blocking drill. Montgomery lost his helmet and got up swinging. James then swung before Mike Pouncey came over and order was eventually restored.
### Dolphins practice stuff Part 2: Gerrell Robinson, battling for the No. 3 tight end job, continues to show flashes. He caught a 20-yard TD pass from Matt Moore…. Brent Grimes picked off Ryan Tannehill in the end zone…. LaRon Byrd had a terrific 10-yard catch from Matt Moore in the end zone, beating Tony Lippett… Sam Brenner worked ahead of JD Walton in the center hierarchy behind Mike Pouncey….
Jordan Kovacs, an underdog in the battle for the fifth safety job, had an interception on Matt Moore…. Terrence Fede recovered a fumble on a handoff. He makes at least one impactful play every day....
Jordan Cameron had an impressive catch, from Tannehill, over Michael Thomas…. Greg Jennings and Michael Preston dropped passes. But Preston also caught a few, including a 20-yarder from Moore, as he continues his uphill struggle to make the roster (which seems unlikely barring injury)…. Tannehill’s deep ball throw to Rishard Matthews was barely beyond his grasp…. LaMichael James continued to look fast and shifty on several carries… Bobby McCain had a sack on a blitz
Philbin’s assessment of his backup defensive line: “I though the two ends have really been consistent throughout camp. Derrick Shelby and Terrence Fede have really played at a high level.
“CJ Mosley has come along the last couple days. We’ve seen some flash plays out of Jordan Phillips.... We need some more consistency, particularly out of the inside guys.”
