I think the secondary in the new defence Brian Flores will adapt, will relay heavily on the secondary due to personnel packages and assignments. I also believe the secondary has the biggest potential to improve, to what level is a different question.
This could have been a selling point of Miami to Flores. It would be a logical opportunity for Flores given the potential of the secondary and the importance of the secondary in his scheme or a pitch by Flores at his interview. Which if I were Ross I would have been all on board as it makes too much sense to pass up on someones plan when the pieces are already potentially in place. A defensive plan, which may I add stopped the No1 and No2 offences in the biggest game and second biggest game of the season. Which the secondary played a massive part in the wins.
Starters
X - Elite or top 3 CB1
(When was last time we truly had a player who was top 3 in his position? Cam Wake in his prime or Jake Long maybe) Lyndsay think highly of him
Fitz - Slot CB Currently Elite/Potentially top 3 FS Currently Average/Potentially Elie
PFF think of him highly. Could really light it up if he can concentrate on Slot CB and maybe FS. He even said in interview he felt unprepared last year. That is signs of dreadful coaching and Matt Burke thinking too much out of the box and try tricking teams with the wide 9 or even worse he knew it was a failed system with limited success but knew no other coaching method? Not to mention not playing Fitz with any other thought of blocking holes to win now but potentially halting the development of one of out best prospects in years. One word dreadful
McCain - Potentially above average FS/Currently Good slot CB
Either play him in slot or hope he can train as a FS. In the slot he has proven to be able to play at a good standard just don't play him on the boundary. If Fitz can master FS then these two can interchangeable, good move by Flores and staff, its worth at least a try. There is no reason to believe he cant develop into an above average FS, lets keep expectations realistic. He would only have to be an above average FS with the ability of the two mentioned above the secondary is starting to take shape.
Jones - Above average SS
Jones has been injured lately put is still capable creating turnovers and playing with the best of them but is only going to be slower next year and he was a liability in certain coverages last year. If the game plan can mask these weakness then we are looking solid from a personnel stand point.
Rowe - Potentially Good CB2
The wild card of the pack. Has the potential to be a good CB2 but oftinjured. At the minimum he can be a good CB2 for a few games. Which gives us time to see what the defence looks like with a competent CB2 and if we need to upgrade next season.
Tankersley - Potentially above average CB2 - Potentially good back up
He had a promising rookie campaign but lost confidence last year. Nothing a good coaching team cant fix.
Smith -Potentially average FS
Hasn't really done much of note in the regular season and now has his best opportunity.
Wiltz - Potentially good back up CB3
The coaches must have seen something in him they liked. Another slot corner which could push McCain full time to FS. More depth
Davies - Potentially good CB4
Played better than McTyer and Armstrong. Enough to get interested over.
McTyer and Armstrong need to prove something before they prove to have better potential than the UDFA and AAF guys
UDFA - With so many players there is a higher chance that at least 1 makes a serviceable back up.
AAF - These proved to play well in the AAF against what you would guess is mainly practice squad cast offs so they are good practice players. They are in a way like extra UDFA.
That is a lot of talent in the starting 5 and a lot of potential in the rest of the secondary and not as much of a down grade to SS as you would have first thought. Due to the potential of the names listed above there is no doubt that at least one will turn into a good back up. If we can do that every off season then we'll be on the right track.
Brain Flores will concentrate on the defence while Caldwell steps in on the offence. Good move a rookie head coach sticks to what he knows. We have chosen the right mans plans and he chose the right roster, we are in a situation to win, when I don't know. I have no fears for the defence and in particular the secondary.
This could have been a selling point of Miami to Flores. It would be a logical opportunity for Flores given the potential of the secondary and the importance of the secondary in his scheme or a pitch by Flores at his interview. Which if I were Ross I would have been all on board as it makes too much sense to pass up on someones plan when the pieces are already potentially in place. A defensive plan, which may I add stopped the No1 and No2 offences in the biggest game and second biggest game of the season. Which the secondary played a massive part in the wins.
Starters
X - Elite or top 3 CB1
(When was last time we truly had a player who was top 3 in his position? Cam Wake in his prime or Jake Long maybe) Lyndsay think highly of him
Fitz - Slot CB Currently Elite/Potentially top 3 FS Currently Average/Potentially Elie
PFF think of him highly. Could really light it up if he can concentrate on Slot CB and maybe FS. He even said in interview he felt unprepared last year. That is signs of dreadful coaching and Matt Burke thinking too much out of the box and try tricking teams with the wide 9 or even worse he knew it was a failed system with limited success but knew no other coaching method? Not to mention not playing Fitz with any other thought of blocking holes to win now but potentially halting the development of one of out best prospects in years. One word dreadful
McCain - Potentially above average FS/Currently Good slot CB
Either play him in slot or hope he can train as a FS. In the slot he has proven to be able to play at a good standard just don't play him on the boundary. If Fitz can master FS then these two can interchangeable, good move by Flores and staff, its worth at least a try. There is no reason to believe he cant develop into an above average FS, lets keep expectations realistic. He would only have to be an above average FS with the ability of the two mentioned above the secondary is starting to take shape.
Jones - Above average SS
Jones has been injured lately put is still capable creating turnovers and playing with the best of them but is only going to be slower next year and he was a liability in certain coverages last year. If the game plan can mask these weakness then we are looking solid from a personnel stand point.
Rowe - Potentially Good CB2
The wild card of the pack. Has the potential to be a good CB2 but oftinjured. At the minimum he can be a good CB2 for a few games. Which gives us time to see what the defence looks like with a competent CB2 and if we need to upgrade next season.
Tankersley - Potentially above average CB2 - Potentially good back up
He had a promising rookie campaign but lost confidence last year. Nothing a good coaching team cant fix.
Smith -Potentially average FS
Hasn't really done much of note in the regular season and now has his best opportunity.
Wiltz - Potentially good back up CB3
The coaches must have seen something in him they liked. Another slot corner which could push McCain full time to FS. More depth
Davies - Potentially good CB4
Played better than McTyer and Armstrong. Enough to get interested over.
McTyer and Armstrong need to prove something before they prove to have better potential than the UDFA and AAF guys
UDFA - With so many players there is a higher chance that at least 1 makes a serviceable back up.
AAF - These proved to play well in the AAF against what you would guess is mainly practice squad cast offs so they are good practice players. They are in a way like extra UDFA.
That is a lot of talent in the starting 5 and a lot of potential in the rest of the secondary and not as much of a down grade to SS as you would have first thought. Due to the potential of the names listed above there is no doubt that at least one will turn into a good back up. If we can do that every off season then we'll be on the right track.
Brain Flores will concentrate on the defence while Caldwell steps in on the offence. Good move a rookie head coach sticks to what he knows. We have chosen the right mans plans and he chose the right roster, we are in a situation to win, when I don't know. I have no fears for the defence and in particular the secondary.
