Tag: Bobby McCain

Miami Dolphins 2020 training camp preview: Safeties

Miami Dolphins 2020 training camp preview: Safeties

In just over three weeks, the Miami Dolphins will open training camp for the 2020 season ahead — and with it face the prospect of building upon a promising “foundation” year. The Dolphins surprised everyone last season with a 5-4 stretch to finish the year and promptly followed suit by nailing down one of the most prolific college quarterbacks in recent history, plus a slew of new faces to add to the team.

The Dolphins will hold camp this year with fan enthusiasm as high as it has been in quite some time. But amid the restrictions of this offseason due to the ongoing health crisis, can the Dolphins rise to the challenge? We’ll be taking a look at each position group for the Dolphins ahead of the start of training camp and exploring which storylines are most pressing to monitor as Miami looks to improve in Year 2 under Brian Flores.

Here are the Dolphins’ key storylines in training camp amid the safety group.

Is Bobby McCain a long-term option at free safety?

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

McCain was the team’s surprise solution to their free safety dilemma last offseason — transitioning from nickel cornerback to safety for the first time in his career. The results were mixed. Before an injury sent McCain to injured reserve for the second half of the season, his coverage was inconsistent and his tackling was troublesome. How bad was the tackling? McCain was credited with missing 10 tackles last season — equivalent to nearly 30% of his total attempts.

For a player who serves as the “last line of defense”, such a high rate of poor challenges can’t become normalized or accepted. McCain will need to shine better as a tackler and be more instinctive in free coverage if he’s going to be Miami’s long-term solution.

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Dolphins safety Bobby McCain ready to play where he’s needed

Dolphins safety Bobby McCain ready to play where he’s needed

Miami Dolphins defensive back Bobby McCain spent the first four years of his NFL career manning the cornerback position. McCain, who was charged with playing both boundary cornerback and nickel cornerback throughout the course of those seasons, found himself in a new role under Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores in 2019 — free safety. And after 9 games and a shoulder injury that put McCain on the shelf, speculation began to arise about whether or not McCain was destined to move back to cornerback after reinforcements came onto the roster.

First came free agency and then the 2020 NFL Draft — and Miami did the exact opposite in adding several key cornerbacks to the mix with premium assets. CB Byron Jones was given a record-setting contract in free agency, while the team also decided to use their third and final 1st-round draft selection on a nickel corner, Noah Igbinoghene out of Auburn.

That presumably leaves McCain as the man on the back end at free safety — as Miami’s only other addition to that group was to draft Texas safety Brandon Jones in the 3rd-round of the draft. And, according to McCain, it’s all the same. He just wants to play football.

“I’m a guy that can play any place in the backfield. With practice and with time, everyone gets better,” McCain told the South Florida media during a conference call on Thursday.

“It’s not my decision to make decisions. My job is to just play football. I love playing football and I love doing what I do, and I’m able to do it all.”

Doing it all for McCain this season will likely include match-up specific reps in the slot – but the free safety job is McCain’s to lose. Miami has no other apparent serious contenders for the position and McCain is technically an incumbent at free safety after the experiment first started last season. Here’s hoping those extra reps from 2019 can serve as a foundation for McCain playing his best ball yet in 2020. He’ll have the help around him in Miami’s secondary to make it happen — that much is for certain.

Who are some candidates to play nickel corner for Dolphins in 2020?

Who are some candidates to play nickel corner for Dolphins in 2020?

The Miami Dolphins secondary is looking mighty different these days. Between the return of a healthy Xavien Howard and the addition of Byron Jones to the mix, the Dolphins are going to have a drastically different coverage group when the 2020 season kicks off as compared to the one we last saw in December 2019. But with all that change does comes some questions. If the Dolphins choose to keep Bobby McCain as the team’s starting free safety, who else can the Dolphins call upon to play the nickel corner role?

Here are some of the prime candidates.

Dolphins’ Nik Needham

Cost: Nothing

Needham was one of the the “feel good” stories for the Dolphins in 2019. He entered camp as an undrafted free agent and, after struggling through the preseason, eventually worked his way into a starting role — and played well. But with Howard and Jones now in the building, Needham’s best case scenario feels like manning the nickel. His short area quickness would be well suited here — the question is if the Dolphins like his ceiling here.

Dolphins’ Bobby McCain

Cost: Drafting a free safety

The good news? The Dolphins know exactly what they’ve got in Bobby McCain at nickel — he held the position for several years before last year’s transition to safety. If the Dolphins land another option at free safety, the team could upgrade two spots at once.

Free agent Logan Ryan

Cost: $10M per season

The Dolphins were linked to Ryan ahead of the start of free agency but, barring a move on an expensive contract (and WR Albert Wilson is the only one left that can clear significant space), it is difficult to see the math working out at this point in the game for Ryan to come play in Miami. Ryan would like $10M per season on the open market — he hasn’t found a willing suitor yet.

If he’s able to come down off his price a bit, perhaps the Dolphins could lock him in and “trade” him for Albert Wilson.

Notre Dame’s Troy Pride Jr

Cost: 56th/70th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Pride Jr. is a quick footed cornerback who brings great ball skills and some inside/outside versatility. That added versatility will come in useful in the Dolphins’ defense — but the Dolphins must be willing to use one of their premiere picks on a cornerback in order to get him in the building. With other needs across the roster, that’s no guarantee.

UCLA’s Darnay Holmes

Cost: 56th/70th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Holmes is a bit more physical than Pride Jr., but he’s also been more erratic with his play. Holmes played through injury in 2019, so don’t mind some of the ugly tape. But he, like Pride Jr., will cost Miami a Day 2 pick to get him on the roster.

Who are some candidates to play free safety for the Dolphins in 2020?

Who are some candidates to play free safety for the Dolphins in 2020?

The Miami Dolphins’ defense is well on the way to becoming a much more competitive unit in 2020. With several key additions to both the secondary and the front seven, Miami’s defense should provide head coach Brian Flores with much more ammunition to run a pressure oriented attack that dictates the pace of play to opposing offenses and not the other way around.

After a trying 2019 season, it was apparent that this was a must for Miami — and the team did not disappoint. But one looming piece of the defense remains unchecked.

Free safety.

The Dolphins currently have Bobby McCain pencilled into the starting role at free safety for 2020 after he played half of the 2019 season at the position after several years of manning the Dolphins’ nickel corner role. Is that a viable long-term answer? If not, who are some other candidates who could feasibly step up to man the island on the back end of Flores’ defense?

LSU’s Grant Delpit

Cost: 18th/26th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Delpit has all the special movement skills needed to be a huge success in Flores’ defense. He’s more dynamic and arguably more versatile than former Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, too. The issues with Delpit include tackling consistency (which was also a big issue for Fitzpatrick, if we’re being honest) and some lingering injures that impacted his play.

Minnesota’s Antoine Winfield Jr.

Cost: 26th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Winfield Jr’s range was in question prior to the 2020 NFL Combine, but Winfield Jr. ran in the 4.4’s in his 40-yard dash to help alleviate those concerns. He’s not as big as some of the other candidates, but he’s got a strong tie to Brian Flores thanks to his father, Antoine Winfield Sr.

Flores has said in the past that Winfield Sr. was his favorite defensive back.

California’s Ashtyn Davis

Cost: 56th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft

Davis also has an obvious connection to the Dolphins — his college position coach, Gerald Alexander, now holds a spot on Miami’s defensive coaching staff. Davis has a track background and has all the range necessary to play deep middle coverage on an island. If the Dolphins wants a “cheaper” draft option, this feels like the pick.

Dolphins’ Bobby McCain

Cost: Nothing

The appeal here is the Dolphins generally know what they’re getting — McCain gave them nearly half a season and has probably spent his offseason preparing to build on what he’s already experienced at safety. Staying put with McCain indicates the Dolphins feel he and the combination of investments elsewhere is a better final product.

Free Agent Damarious Randall

Cost: A short-term “prove it” contract

If the Dolphins want to tap into outside veterans, Randall feels like a good fit. Why? He’s played both corner and free safety throughout his time in the NFL with the Packers and Browns. And after surviving the first wave of free agency without a deal, the Dolphins aren’t likely looking at a big investment to lock him in.

No assurances Dolphins veterans won’t endure position changes in 2020

Miami Dolphins veterans aren’t guaranteed to avoid changing positions depending on the 2020 offseason, says Brian Flores.

The Miami Dolphins’ objective in 2020 is to build up the roster and look to add additional talent to the team. If 2019 was all about tearing down someone else’s bidding, 2020 is all about making a lasting impression on the next 5-10 years of Miami Dolphins football for Chris Grier and Brian Flores.

They’ll have ample opportunity, given the team’s wealth of salary cap space and over a dozen 2020 NFL draft selections at their disposal. Needless to say, it is an exciting time to be a fan of the team. But it’s also an exciting time to be a Miami Dolphin — as those who stayed behind and committed themselves to the process and culture put forth by head coach Brian Flores have reaped the benefits of, as Coach Flores would say, finding the joy in hard work.

But those who remain aren’t totally out of the woods yet. There will be more hardships, more challenges and more battles left ahead — and even the position where some key veterans are embarking on those battles is yet to be determined.

Tuesday morning, Brian Flores was asked whether or not the plan for key veteran players like offensive lineman Jesse Davis and defensive back Bobby McCain included one clear spot in the lineup or if continued cross-training and potential position changes were on the table.

Flores offered no guarantees.

“We know where they have played in the past and what they can do. Versatility is very important for us. It allows us to kind of (be fluid),” said Flores.

“This isn’t like a quarterback where you play one spot. When you play multiple positions, that’s a good thing.”

And so if Davis and/or McCain have any rooting interest in where they’d like to spend their 2020 season, they’d better keep a close eye peeled on Miami’s transaction wire and pull for no direct competition. And if the competition comes, they’d better strap up — because it’s going to be a heavy hitting training camp come the summer.

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Can Bobby McCain serve as Dolphins long-term answer at free safety?

Is veteran defensive back Bobby McCain a legit long-term answer at free safety for the Dolphins?

Miami Dolphins defensive back Bobby McCain was in a new role in 2019 — the long-time cornerback had previously known like in the nickel as a sub-package corner before being pressed into an extended role on the outside in 2018. But free safety? That’s a whole different ball game, yet that’s exactly where McCain was tasked with playing during the 9 games he suited up for the Dolphins in 2019.

The results? Well, they were mixed. McCain did log two interceptions in 9 games, including a strong play on the ball to jump a Dak Prescott pass in Week 3 against the Cowboys. But the consistency, as one might expect, wasn’t where you’d like it to be either. McCain had issues (Buffalo) getting over to close the “honey hole” in Cover 2 and the Dolphins were gouged for a few big plays due to inexperience in splitting routes from McCain on the back end.

McCain will turn 27 years old this August and has three years of control under his current contract — he figures to be a Dolphin for a while. But is free safety the play? Or would the Dolphins be better off to fill that role with someone else and move McCain back to his experienced role in the slot?

A hard and fast answer isn’t easy to come by at this point in time. If the Dolphins were to see safety Xavier McKinney or Grant Delpit fall to them in April’s 2020 NFL Draft and Miami felt it was good value, then absolutely — back to the slot it is for McCain and the Dolphins can let Nik Needham compete with whatever free agent signings and rookies are brought in for the starting role opposite Xavien Howard.

But if the value of other positions trumps free safety, Miami would also be just fine to let McCain reclaim the job. He’s got the ball skills and transitional quickness to make a full-time role as a free safety work. And in Brian Flores’ exotic defensive scheme, McCain would still be moved around enough to take advantage of his cover skills in man.

It’s the ultimate luxury option. If a better player becomes available, the Dolphins can make a move and get better at two spots. If not, McCain would only benefit from more reps at safety and the Dolphins will still get better there with more experience anyway.

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Dolphins place three on IR, including two defensive starters

The Miami Dolphins have placed Reshad Jones, Bobby McCain and Gary Jennings on injured reserve, ending their seasons.

The Miami Dolphins’ injury woes are back with a vengeance. Miami welcomed back several key players this past week ahead of Week 11’s loss to the Buffalo Bills, including OT Julien Davenport and long-time safety Reshad Jones. And just a few days after apparently getting fit and ready to play the final stretch of the season, Miami has seen their luck with health turn south once more.

The Dolphins announced yesterday that they’ve placed starting safeties Reshad Jones and Bobby McCain on injured reserve, the latest massive blow to Miami’s secondary — which is now missing four of their top five players entering the season. The duo joins Xavien Howard on injured reserve, plus the since traded away Minkah Fitzpatrick. The last man standing in the secondary is DB Eric Rowe, ironic given his own health battles in recent seasons with the Patriots.

Joining Jones and McCain is recently claimed wide receiver Gary Jennings, who suffered a shoulder injury in his first game with the Miami Dolphins.

Jennings’ loss won’t impact the team too significantly in 2019 but the loss of Jones and McCain looms large over Miami’s final 6 games as the team looks for additional wins to build momentum for 2020 and beyond. Without both starting safeties, the Dolphins’ pass defense will be even further stressed by all passing offenses along the way. Miami faces young quarterbacks in Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones and Ryan Finley yet this season — but the ability to make those passers uncomfortable without their best players in the secondary and minimal pass rush is going to pose a unique challenge for head coach Brian Flores and company.

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