Dolphins’ young cornerbacks emerging, though one wasn’t sure he wanted to play CB

[AL R]

Some highlights of the article:

The Dolphins, not so long ago, had a promising pair of young cornerbacks, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, but regrettably and somewhat inexplicably parted ways with both.

Rookie Xavien Howard and second-year pro Tony Lippett have a long way to go before they can be considered on the level of Davis and Smith.

But Howard and Lippett at least have a chance to become what the Dolphins once thought they had in Davis and Smith, and once hoped they would have with second-day draft picks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis but ultimately did not – a pair of young, building-block corners.

Privately, the Dolphins believe Howard can be a legitimate No. 1 corner, a player with Pro Bowl potential.

“He was born to be a corner,” Maxwell has said of Howard. “He’s just athletic. It’s a natural gift.”

Lippett, meanwhile, is now tied for sixth in the NFL with four interceptions, and only three cornerbacks have more than that – San Diego’s Casey Hayward (seven), Buffalo’s Stephen Gilmore (five) and Kansas City’s Marcus Peters (five)

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/s...y-jackson/article121808708.html#storylink=cpy

 

[SabanHater]

was never a fan of S. Smith.

 

[AL R]

Also a note on Jenkins..

JENKINS SLOWED

Why didn’t linebacker Jelani Jenkins play at all in the second half against the Jets after playing 22 snaps in the first half?

Jenkins said because of his lingering knee injury, “it was difficult to slow down. I talked to [linebackers coach] Matt Burke and told him it was difficult to decelerate. The decision was made that I would only be used as needed in the second half.”

Does he regret playing?

“In hindsight, I could have made it worse but I’m glad I didn’t. I didn’t re-aggravate it.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/s...y-jackson/article121808708.html#storylink=cpy

 

[RZA]

Jenkins is only 24 but it seems his body is breaking down. He played really well two seasons ago but hasn't been the same, I'd keep him at the right price but only if he can get healthy.

 

[AL R]

Based on coaches comments, if they did keep him they would not plan on him playing full time/starter etc.. I think he is gone.

 

[Sirspud]

Getting rid of Vontae how we did is regrettable. The guy had the talent and definitely benefited from a change of scenery but that change of scenery wasn't necessary with proper coaching. There are worse coaches than Philbin, but one thing he wasn't was a leader of men, which is what you need to be as a head coach in the NFL. And the fact that we traded him get a pick in the "I've got picks and I've got money" draft, and we ended up having a disastrous draft where two different players drafted to be his replacement both busted along with most other players in those drafts, shows just how hard it is to replace talent you've jettisoned, all the while you're wasting picks to replace players you already had instead of spending picks to improve other areas. Sean Smith, on the other hand, I still don't regret not paying huge money to. I know the guy has been a respected performer in this league for a while, and been signed again as a big free agent, but he just felt like a prime example of Dolphins futility and choking in that era. The guy couldn't play the ball at all, like most non-Vontae members of that secondary, and when a pass did hit him in the hands he would drop it. He also had the ability to play well most of a game, then allow the game winning pass. He's a guy who can thrive as a cog in a good defense, but is miscast as the guy, which is how he wanted to be paid.

Xavien and Lippett athletically look pretty similar to Vontae and Smith, but I think they can be better pending health and of course no regression that sometimes happens to corners after they've had a couple failures.