In a tough AFC East Division where everyone keeps yelling “Brady, Brady, Brady”, there are other teams and other players to be more concerned about, like who is actually playing ball on week one?
The Miami Dolphins will be ready, and they plan on sending a clear message to the league. That message is “WE MATTER”. But do they really? They won’t if they don’t sure up that secondary.
This is a team that left some things on the field in 2014 allowing 27 TDs through the air. For some that is an acceptable number but if your offense only scored 27 via air and your D is giving up the exact same number via the friendly skies of Miami, then it is a challenge to make it out of the Division and into the playoffs, especially when guys like Tom Brady are smashing teams for 34 TDs though the air. Now that I have pointed out one of the problems in Miami, let’s take a closer look at the culprits.
Pro-Bowler Brent Grimes is pulling his weight in interceptions with five and one pick-six in 2014 but who else is balling out in this unit? Cortland Finnegan announced his retirement after only playing in 12 games last season. He had no INTs, 8 pass defenses and only one forced fumble.
So that leaves Jamar Taylor who stepped in last season and did decent. The third-year player didn’t put much up on a stat sheet but he showed promise. Enough promise to give him an edge coming into this offseason according to James Walker of ESPN who said:
“Taylor, a former 2013 second-round pick, earned some valuable experience at the end of the 2014 season when he started three games in place of injured former cornerback Cortland Finnegan. Taylor held his own and that provided some momentum and confidence to carry into this season.”
He is currently leading all CBs in the competition this year (other than Grimes of course) for the starting gig. If he can beat out seasoned vet Zack Bowman and second year player Walt Aikens (1 INT in 2014 vs OAK), the job is his. Bowman has experience on his side and 12 logged career interceptions since 2008. With his age, you have to wonder if they brought him in for more of his leadership and ability to mentor the young players, but I’m sure he’ll tell you he is here to compete with the “young bucks”.
I have a feeling Brice McCain is going to fit in well as a nickel CB in this defense and with his smaller 5’9 frame, he will match up well against the smaller slot receivers in the east such as Julian Edelman (5-10), Marquise Goodwin (5-9) and Jeremy Kerley (5-9). The same could be said for rookie Bobby McCain, who seems to always be around the ball in the right position to make things happen.
It is still early. Training camp has just begun and Dolphins fans are anxious to see this unit perform better than last years middle of the pack 14 INTs. They seriously have to consider the competition and raise the bar. In the east, that bar is Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, who have a yearly reservation atop of the AFC east. If they have any aspirations of getting there they must simply pull more balls out of the air.
Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.
