How do the Miami Dolphins plan to defend Calvin Johnson now that he's
healthy and ready to return after missing three games with a high ankle sprain?
"We tried to see if Dwyane Wade wanted to come and join us for a weekend," Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle joked Wednesday, according to transcripts provided by the team. "No, he's rare. There's a few guys we see every year, and we've seen some early in the season, but certainly, there are very few players in the league of his size, athleticism. It's a big challenge, but we are going to do our best."
The Dolphins don't have much experience defending Johnson, who has played Miami just once in his career. But they have done a good job against most of the pass catchers they've faced this year.
Bills rookie Sammy Watkins (eight catches, 117 yards) and the Green Bay Packers' Jordy Nelson (9-107) are the only opposing receivers to top 100 yards against the Dolphins this year, and Miami lost both of those games. The Dolphins (5-3) rank second in the league against the pass (201.1 yards per game).
The Dolphins also
have former Lions safety Louis Delmas in their secondary. Delmas said Tuesday that he "pretty much lost every" time he went against Johnson in practice the previous four years, and Johnson said Wednesday that he remembers their matchups the "same way."
"No, I look forward to going against him," Johnson said. "He's having a good year, good to see him doing well where he's at."
