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Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph believes that bigger is better at CB

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The Miami Dolphins have spent this offseason adding cornerbacks with length, and it was intentionally done because new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph believes that bigger is better in his secondary.
Joseph, who is entering his first season as an NFL defensive coordinator, wants his cornerbacks to be tall, athletic, physical, and to have long arms.
"The receivers in the league are getting much bigger now. Obviously, you look for good players first. If they have the size you want its prototype," Joseph said Saturday on the second day of Dolphins rookie minicamp. "But you want guys who can cover first. Quickness, ball skills, good lateral movement. The size is extra."
And that's exactly what the Dolphins added this offseason when Miami traded for Byron Maxwell, and last week by drafting Baylor's Xavien Howard in the second round and Penn State safety Jordan Lucas, who Miami will move back to cornerback, in the sixth.
Both rookie defensive backs are a little over six feet tall, which is a shift from previous Dolphins' blueprints for the position.
Joseph does admit that size doesn't always mean good movement skills. Many of the NFL's bigger cornerbacks are stiff, and usually clutch and hold speedy receivers to keep the offensive players from getting loose behind them. Howard had that problem at Baylor, but Joseph doesn't seem too worried.
"He's a second-round pick. When you're drafting guys in the second round you're hoping they have size and [good] movement, and [Howard] does," Joseph said. "He's a six foot guy with 5-10 corner movement skills. That's special."
According to a league source, the Dolphins targeted Maxwell in this offseason's trade with the Philadelphia Eagles because they felt he'd help Miami's defense match up with New York's Brandon Marshall and Buffalo's Sammy Watkins, two of bigger receivers in the NFL, who happen to be in Miami's division.
The Dolphins plan to utilize these new bigger cornerbacks in a press-zone scheme, which allows the cornerbacks to be physical at the line of scrimmage with the receivers, but then drop back into zone coverage.
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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-dolphins/fl-dolphins-0508-20160507-story.html
 
The new philosophy and the talent brought in should really pay off for Miami. Credit the front office for almost completely revamping the secondary with Jones as the only keeper. Will likely go through some growing pains with Howard, but that's the case for a lot of rookies.
 
As much as I liked Grimes, it drove me nuts that we kept putting another smurf (finnegan, the two losers we drafted in 2013, Brice McCain) on the other side.
 
Smegma

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"Joseph, who is entering his first season as an NFL defensive coordinator, wants his cornerbacks to be tall, athletic, physical, and to have long arms." I know there were rumors about bringing in Leon Hall for veteran leadership, but if the bigger CB is what Vance is looking for why isn't Antonio Cromartie on our wish list? The description fits Cromartie to a tee. We have the cap space and at this point any free agents can't be too expensive.
 
Perfect23 said:
I'm tired of hearing about Sean Smith, he was not that good with us neither was Vontae.
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You read me wrong. I was just saying that Smith is the tallest CB that I recall in a Dolphins uniform and length is one of Joseph's preferred attributes. I have never been sorry that we lost him when we did.
 
looking back, Marshall and Watkins' games really opened eyes. I hope we continue to add bodies like this. Joseph understands the types of WR's out there and is someone is finally addressing the kryptonite
 
Sir Funky XIII said:
A lot of coverage pressure will be put on the LB corp. A lot. The LB's cannot be susceptible to PA and they will be required to be very active in their broadened coverage zones along with the added responsibility of more traffic in their areas due to the following. In Press Man CB's align with inside leverage to force the WR to the sideline and use it to narrow the field. Now in Press Zone the CB's will align with outside leverage to funnel everything inside to the LB's. In general WR's take what is given to them based on the CB's alignment to get off the jam quickly and into their routes, especially if it's a timing pattern, but if the CB's fail in Press Zone and the WR can break outside early there's a lot of real estate to be had behind them along the sidelines.
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I think Hewitt and Alonzo are the only 2 LB's I trust in coverage. Jenkins is "on and off" and Misi is just Misi plus the injuries. In September, you might see Misi cut/traded because he is a waste of roster space IMO
 
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BenchFiedler said:
I think Hewitt and Alonzo are the only 2 LB's I trust in coverage. Jenkins is "on and off" and Misi is just Misi plus the injuries. In September, you might see Misi cut/traded because he is a waste of roster space IMO
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Not that im counting on him but if jordan returns he could really help in coverage. He used to run stride for stride with gronk and graham and made some very good plays vs them
 
It will be nice to see our DB's actually jamming a receiver at the line. I hated watching Coyles D where all the DB's lined up 10-15 yards off the line.
 
Dolphin Dave said:
It will be nice to see our DB's actually jamming a receiver at the line. I hated watching Coyles D where all the DB's lined up 10-15 yards off the line.
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especially when it was 3rd and 9 .....
 
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