My Predicted Training Camp/Pre-Season Battles, Part VI (S/CB) | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

My Predicted Training Camp/Pre-Season Battles, Part VI (S/CB)

Silverphin

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Last time I, I gave my views of the Offensive Linemen competition. (http://www.finheaven.com/boardvb2/showthread.php?t=143595). Now judging by the pattern of my threads, one would think I would make a thread about the defensive line. Not this time. The defensive tackle position, in my humble opinion, is the biggest mess both sides of the line of scrimmage. So, seeing how I need more research time so I can post properly about the defensive line, I'm going to post about the secondary.

Everybody remembers the secondary from last year. There were some bright spots (Sam Madison later in the year, Waiver Wire acquisition of Eddie Jackson, Yeremiah Bell, Lance Schulters, Travis Daniels, and Travares Tillman), and some not so bright spots (Reggie Howard, though he did have some good points). While the Dolphins did have some good players in secondary, we were lit up by Brooks Bollinger, J.P. Losman, and other quarterbacks who shouldn't even have touched us.

So this year, we did a little addition, and addition by subtraction.

During the start of the off-season, we waived Sam Madison (who I hated to see go), Reggue Howard (I'll say two compliments about him: That man can blitz and that man can sack!), and Tebucky Jones, along with letting restricted free agents Lance Schulters and Kiwaukee Thomas go.

As for addition, we signed cornerbacks Art Thomas, Andre' Goodman, Will Allen, and (later on during the OTA period) Michael Lehan, safeties Sideeq Shabazz, Deke Cooper, Jack Hunt (off of the practice squad), and defensive back Renaldo Hill (again, not to be confused with the Titans' cornerback Reynaldo Hill).

But our biggest acquisition fior the secondary was Jason Allen, our number 16 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft.

Safety

Locks to make the team: Jason Allen

Battlers at the position: Yeremiah Bell, Renaldo Hill, Travares Tillman, Deke Cooper.

Odd men out: Sideeq Shabazz, Jack Hunt, Norman LeJeune

Yeremiah Bell vs. Renaldo Hill vs. Travares Tillman vs. Deke Cooper vs. Jason Allen

My Analysis: I would make my analysis, but CK, in another thread, basically sums it up.


ckparrothead said:
I thought this would change under Saban...but I've not seen any changes to that setup as far as the specialization of safeties is concerned, for the most part. Yeremiah Bell openly switched between positions last year. Tebucky Jones and Lance Schulters played left and right pretty much just because that's where they've always played. The gaggle of guys we brought in this year do not seem especially specialized. While Jason Allen clearly has the speed to be a corner and so you think his range is best suited for right safety, he could also play left because he's such a stout and active tackler. Deke Cooper played both safety spots for the Jags. Renaldo Hill has cornerback size but tackles like a linebacker...and so we're not sure if he's working at left or right. Yeremiah Bell switched between spots in 2005, could do so again in 2006. The only guy that seems specialized toward one spot is Tillman but that specialization is by experience not by profile, because the reality is he's a highly athletic coverage guy (IMO).

I see our two safety positions as a mass of five guys all looking for two or three significant spots on the depth chart. I think all five are competing with all five, rather than 3 of them competing for right safety and 2 of them for left safety.
Click to expand...

My predicted winners: Jason Allen (Starter.... I think this one is a given), Yeremiah Bell (competing for starting spot), Travares Tillman (competing for starting spot), Renaldo Hill (competing for starting spot).

Winners get: Starting/Roster spot

Loser gets: Trip to free agency

The rest gets: Spot on the Practice Squad

Cornerback

Locks to make the team: Will Allen, Travis Daniels, Will Poole, Andre' Goodman

Battlers: Michael Lehan, Shirdonya Mitchell, Eddie Jackson

Odd men out: Art Thomas

Will Allen and Travis Daniels vs. Will Poole and Andre' Goodman

My analysis: What ww have here, is a battle. Right now, if the season started, Will Allen and Travis Daniels would be the starters. However, since the season isn't starting anytime soon, they will be getting major heat from Will Poole and Andre' Goodman. Poole was already complimented by Patrick Surtain. Andre' Goodman is also a very good corner in his own right, being a threat at the corner spot before he was benched (don't ask me why. Andre' Goodman is one of the reasons why I believe the Detroit front office is :rastanana:). Travis Daniel was a proven steal and Will Allen is also a great corner who can afford to pick off a few more passes than usual.

My predicted winners: I have none.

Winners get: Starting spots

Losers get: Back up spots.

Eddie Jackson vs. Shirdonya Mitchell vs. Michael Lehan

My analysis: Eddie Jackson was one of last years waiver wire acquisition. He wasn't in a lot of plays. But when he was, he made a most of it, like deflecting a crucial pass (Carolina, week 3). Shirdonya Mitchell, who was projected as a mid round pick in the 2005 draft, was injured during the combine, tearing his ACL (like fellow cornerback Will Pooke). He is very speedy, hitting 4.2's to 4.3's. Not to mention, he has the work ethic of Hulk Hogan (though he doesn't have the pistons of Hogan :lol: ). Then there is Michael Lehan. Provided, he hadn't scored a single interception during his career, his stats suggests he is, at worst, is a solid tackler.

My predicted winner: I'm going to go out on a limb and say... Shirdonya Mitchell.

Winner(s) get: Roster spot(s)

Loser(s) get: Take a guess....

Oh yeah, Art Thomas makes the practice squad if he shows enough in camp.
 
good post, I love these well written informative posts.

I really thought Will Poole would get more love even with his injury.

How does he look?........if anyone has seen any practices.
 
Sounds good to me. During camp I will be following this group closely. I'm really anxious to see how Poole and Shirdonya look.
I'm hoping J. Allen is the 2nd coming of Louis Oliver. I want a safety that makes recievers pay and gets in their heads.
 
I think Yeremiah Bell is going to be a guy who makes big plays. Jason Allen will be brought along and will get the nod but I dont see him as being the guy called on to make a play early in the season. He needs to season himself to the system. That is why I say Bell is the guy who will turn heads. He already has. He made key interceptions and sacks/fumble making plays. He is fast and he can play anything that Saban throws his way now. All the others are a bit behind on hte learning curve part other than Tillman.

At CB I see Daniels (obviously) and Will Allen starting. Will Poole cannot be correctly judged until we see him in preseason due to injury. Too much to find out yet. Mitchell is someone that I could see turning heads and maybe earning the nickel DB spot. But the system is really open to more than any of us really know. That is why I would love to be a squirrel at the practice facility with the ability to process information.
 
Another great piece man.


I think the secondary battle will be the most fun to watch. I mean this is the first time that we actually have good depth across the secondary backfield. I love it. :D
 
finfan54 said:
I think Yeremiah Bell is going to be a guy who makes big plays. Jason Allen will be brought along and will get the nod but I dont see him as being the guy called on to make a play early in the season. He needs to season himself to the system. That is why I say Bell is the guy who will turn heads. He already has. He made key interceptions and sacks/fumble making plays. He is fast and he can play anything that Saban throws his way now. All the others are a bit behind on hte learning curve part other than Tillman.

At CB I see Daniels (obviously) and Will Allen starting. Will Poole cannot be correctly judged until we see him in preseason due to injury. Too much to find out yet. Mitchell is someone that I could see turning heads and maybe earning the nickel DB spot. But the system is really open to more than any of us really know. That is why I would love to be a squirrel at the practice facility with the ability to process information.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of what I think unless Jason Allen can pull a Crowder and digest the the playbook as well as he did. I really think Bell is the best safety on the team right now until TC proves otherwise. The interesting thing about the corners is Will Poole was the penciled in starter last year until the injury. Howard couldn't fend off Daniels and now I'm wondering can Poole regain his form and starting position, then the other thing is, is Poole and Daniels better than W. Allen, even though the other cb's we have are decent guys, I actually think the best 3 today are Poole, Daniels and Allen. I went back and did some research on W. Allen after reading a lot of the guys post around here about him. While I liked some of what I found, mostly he hasn't lived up to potential yet...NOTE: I said YET. He might be one of those guys where the light finally comes on this year, unfortunately I find he's a little like howard was in Carolina when we brought him in. That's why I wonder if Poole and Daniels may not be our best corners right now.
 
Cornerback

Locks to make the team: Will Allen, Travis Daniels, Will Poole, Andre' Goodman

Battlers: Michael Lehan, Shirdonya Mitchell, Eddie Jackson

Odd men out: Art Thomas

Will Allen and Travis Daniels vs. Will Poole and Andre' Goodman

My analysis: What ww have here, is a battle. Right now, if the season started, Will Allen and Travis Daniels would be the starters. However, since the season isn't starting anytime soon, they will be getting major heat from Will Poole and Andre' Goodman. Poole was already complimented by Patrick Surtain. Andre' Goodman is also a very good corner in his own right, being a threat at the corner spot before he was benched (don't ask me why. Andre' Goodman is one of the reasons why I believe the Detroit front office is :rastanana:). Travis Daniel was a proven steal and Will Allen is also a great corner who can afford to pick off a few more passes than usual.

My predicted winners: I have none.

Winners get: Starting spots

Losers get: Back up spots.

Agree with most of your points. Agreed that right now front runners are Daniels and Allen. To be honest I need to read up more on Goodman but it sounds like Millen let another one get away like all bad GMs do. I appreciate your insight on him.

Daniels is a star in the making. His excellent college game carried on to the pro level. He will make a lot of teams look silly passing on him when he was drafted.
 
Ahhh. Factual based oppinions... Gotta love em
 
lotion said:
Sounds good to me. During camp I will be following this group closely. I'm really anxious to see how Poole and Shirdonya look.
I'm hoping J. Allen is the 2nd coming of Louis Oliver. I want a safety that makes recievers pay and gets in their heads.
Click to expand...

Cool. Remember to post some info.

With that said, I must remind you, Jason Allen said he does have a hit list. :D
 
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