Revamped Secondary to Pay Dividends?

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Gotta say I love the direction Vance Joseph is taking with the secondary bringing in physical guys who can press. The Dolphins should have three new starters in the revamped secondary.

I loved Brent Grimes in Miami, but it was hard to watch him give up 3-7 inches on wide receivers. He could have perfect coverage against some of the bigger receivers and just be out-muscled for the ball. The Dolphins tiny secondary was a huge problem and the scheme didn't help.

Byron Maxwell was very good in Seattle and I expect he'll flourish here. Isa Abdul-Quddus is a player Miami feels is on the rise. Reshad Jones is one of the better safeties in the NFL.

The question mark is rookie Xavien Howard and how quickly he can adjust to the NFL. Howard has all the physical tools you look for in the position, but has lacked consistency. That is the job of the coaching staff to help him consistently reach the level of his highlight tape.

I'm still intrigued by Tony Lippett, who is a competitive, high effort guy. Bobby McCain is another player with potential in the slot. Ifo Ekpre Olomu is the wildcard in the slot. He was excellent at Oregon, but is coming off a major injury.

It's a work in progress, but I think the secondary is headed in the right direction. I'm not ready yet to call it a team strength, but on paper it certainly looks stronger than last year.

 

[NoblePhin]

Also worth mentioning is Michael Thomas in the slot, guy is a solid tackler and has good size as well. I think overall the scheme change is the most important "acquisition" we've brought in because it really meshes with our front 7. For the life of me I don't understand how philbin and coyle could bring out the same off man scheme to go with our pressure every week. What good is bringing heavy pressure with corners 8 yards off the receivers? Now we have long and big physical corners, a pro bowl safety, a fast hard hitting FS, and some depth to go along with our front. I think our press cover 2 is the most ideal package, but its really all hinging on Alonso to come back to form to be that rangy player he used to be; if he can't drop back in coverage and cover that deep center then time to play some robber with Jones helping out and that is where Howard better be ready to play man coverage deep because thats where the balls going. As for LBs, I like Jenkins in coverage, and Misi is decent but don't ask him to cover for long. Having a good pressure up front is going to help all of them and using the Wide 9 will help with keeping the qb in the pocket and on his heels.

 

[ITS!MATEO]

Abdul-Quddus is definitely an upgrade from what Miami had the past 2 seasons, but we'll see by how much.

I see Lippett getting way more playing time than Howard.

Also, can't forget about Ifo. If that kid is healthy then look out because he's the most talented DB on the roster. Has CB1 potential.

 

[theFreak41]

I'd still feel better about the secondary if we brought in Leon Hall, which I think we will, but I agree with the general sentiment. Physical corners and a scheme that utilizes them, fits our up front pressure far better. Disruption...

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Also worth mentioning is Michael Thomas in the slot, guy is a solid tackler and has good size as well. I think overall the scheme change is the most important "acquisition" we've brought in because it really meshes with our front 7. For the life of me I don't understand how philbin and coyle could bring out the same off man scheme to go with our pressure every week. What good is bringing heavy pressure with corners 8 yards off the receivers? Now we have long and big physical corners, a pro bowl safety, a fast hard hitting FS, and some depth to go along with our front. I think our press cover 2 is the most ideal package, but its really all hinging on Alonso to come back to form to be that rangy player he used to be; if he can't drop back in coverage and cover that deep center then time to play some robber with Jones helping out and that is where Howard better be ready to play man coverage deep because thats where the balls going. As for LBs, I like Jenkins in coverage, and Misi is decent but don't ask him to cover for long. Having a good pressure up front is going to help all of them and using the Wide 9 will help with keeping the qb in the pocket and on his heels.

I think Alonso is the key to the entire defense. Huge upgrade there if he's healthy, but if not it's the same weak unit Miami had last year. Agree on Howard. I think he'll go through some growing pains and the team will just have to live with it.

---------- Post added at 09:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 AM ----------

Abdul-Quddus is definitely an upgrade from what Miami had the past 2 seasons, but we'll see by how much.

I see Lippett getting way more playing time than Howard.

Also, can't forget about Ifo. If that kid is healthy then look out because he's the most talented DB on the roster. Has CB1 potential.

Yeah, I was really excited when Miami took Ifo. Loved him in college and he certainly could be a factor. I still wouldn't be surprised if the Dolphins signed Leon Hall for a season and slowly work in Howard. Lippett is interesting and showed some ability.

 

[BenchFiedler]

We also upgraded in name lenght... Not sure how Ifo Ekpre Olomu & Abdul-Quddus will fit in a t-shirt

 

[TKAllDay]

I am cautiously optimistic Please tell me we finally have hit on 2x boundry corners

 

[Kdawg954]

I am cautiously optimistic Please tell me we finally have hit on 2x boundry corners

They are very scheme specific, but both have the traits to be good CBs for Vance Joseph.

I think Maxwell will be a solid CB, just worried about the rook.

 

[fishfanmiami]

While Maxwell and the rook will be more physical I think their style requires safety help. The down side of our new defense maybe having to keep a safety or even two deep and taking them out of run support. I believe that's cover 2 or Tampa 2. Neither corner is capable of one on one coverage of the other teams alpha receiver.

I don't know the schemes like some of you guys do so someone tell me why I'm wrong.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

While Maxwell and the rook will be more physical I think their style requires safety help. The down side of our new defense maybe have to keep a safety or even two deep and taking them out of run support. I believe that's cover 2 or Tampa 2. I don't know the schemes like some of you guys do so someone tell me why I'm wrong.

You're right on. But while Rashad Jones may not be utilized in run support as much as he has been in the past, the basics of the Cover 2 zone require the CB's to be involved in the outside containment of the run game, which given their physical nature compared to the smaller CB's of the Dolphin's past is not a stretch to ask of them.

 

[BennySwella]

We need more help in the secondary. An injury to Reshad Jones or any starter would be devastating. We have no depth in the secondary or LB core. An injury to either unit would hinder the team... at least according to last years players... let us first see what these new draftees are made of. I am hanging my hat on the hope that this regime may be better personnel evaluaters... meaning many of our supposed holes may have already been filled.

 

[hoops]

With the way howard looks in vertical coverage you damn well better stop the run or you are gonna come out of that cover 2 and hes gonna get murdered in single high

After watching all of howards tape multiple times id bump that up to a top 75 value on length size and on hip fluidity and ease of transition and on scheme fit but that vertical coverage keeps it from going any higher

Theres not a lot of projection in terms of press here...which is something i like...its the ideal fit press and cover 2 for his skillset but would be nice if he had better long speed and quick acceleration to recover

If the qb reads the release and gets the right coverage looks hes gonna let her rip vs this corner plenty...expect this to be progression numero uno off pa vertical...8 in the box we going after it

To hide that lack of vertical speed and recovery teach the backwards half bucket

 

[Sons Of Shula]

x

 

[hoops]

Your best bet is to get the opposition behind the sticks...something miami was in all year on o...then you can hide more of your weaknesses and not get so many good looks for the o off pa etc

Expect teams to attack over the corners and in front of the safeties outside the #s in cover 2... As sir said the honey hole...also cover 2 pre snap looks are easy reads for the qb as to where to go with the football provided they dont run route depths/combinations right into the coverage

They see you helping with the safeties too much vertical down the perimeter they gonna run a tight end vertical down the seam from a tight or flex and squeeze your safeties and test your middle lbs drop depth range

Get them behind the sticks or prepare to be exploited by any qb who makes high end pre snap reads

 

[hoops]

I dont like when i can see a guy do everything right at the los and get a good jam and even reroute a guy and yet still 40 plus yards down the field hes trailing by a step or more and trying to arm bar air

Thats a bad recipe

This should be interesting for sure

In off he needs to stay lower in his pedal (coachable)