Tag: Secondary

NFL analyst: Minkah Fitzpatrick may be best safety in NFL

Former Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is making a lot of noise in the NFL and one anayst thinks he may be on top of the league.

NFL Network analyst Adam Rank joined his colleagues to discuss which secondary reigns supreme in the league for the 2020 season. While there were a few teams mentioned, Rank names the Pittsburgh Steelers as his pick, and believes former Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick is a main reason way.

Minkah, who was drafted in the 2018 NFL draft early in the first round by the Miami Dolphins, found his groove in year No. 2 in the league, after requesting a trade out of Miami.

His move to Pittsburgh brought him stability at a position in an easy-to-learn system, the Steelers decided to use him exclusively at safety, whereas the Dolphins had him bounce around the secondary.

Rank, who claimed he believes Pittsburgh has the best defensive secondary in the NFL had this to say:

“The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best secondary in football,” says Rank. “I say this even with Terrell Edmunds still entrenched at strong safety. He’s the Paul Roma of the Steelers’ Four Horsemen in the defensive backfield, which is led by safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. I know a lot of people were stunned when the Steelers offered a first-round pick for Fitzpatrick, but he’s proven to be a worthy investment. If he isn’t the best safety in the game, he’s clearly in the conversation.”

The “worthy investment” was receiving Fitzpatrick and a 2020 fourth-round pick in exchange for 2020 first and fifth round picks, as well as a 2021 sixth-round selection.

Rank also mentions that Fitzpatrick must be in the conversation for the best safety in the NFL, and one must wonder if the same would be said about the former Alabama star if he stayed put in Miami.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Minkah Fitzpatrick as he continues to traverse his way to NFL stardom.

 

 

New Dolphins hype video will have you ready to see secondary in action

New Dolphins hype video will have you ready to see secondary in action

The Miami Dolphins secondary is going to look like a whole new unit after the 2020 offseason. Miami spent aggressively to upgrade the pieces in the back-end of the defense; which figures to be the team’s identity given the investments made and the background of several key coaches — including Brian Flores and new defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.

And, to celebrate the Dolphins’ vision of a fearsome secondary, the Dolphins’ media team dropped a fantastic hype video to celebrate the “monsters” prowling around in the secondary for Miami. We guarantee you’ll be ready for some Miami Dolphins football after seeing what the team has cooked up.

Some of the best defenses and defensive units over time have earned themselves nicknames. The most recent universal nickname for a defensive group is Seattle’s ‘Legion of Boom’, which brought headaches to opposing offenses each week in the mid-2010s. In a perfect world, Miami’s core identity in the secondary leads to play worthy of a nickname of their own — in which case there’s probably significant team success ahead. The NFL, now more than ever, is a passing league. Miami seems to have embraced the value of coverage over the value of pass rush — with both units touting the same endgame of shutting down opposing quarterbacks.

After years of Cameron Wake and a cast of complimentary players around him here in Miami, perhaps this is the right move to upgrade the Dolphins’ defense and finally get them to a point where they can consistently rank among the league’s better coverage defenses. We’ll get our first taste of the Dolphins in just over seven weeks — as the NFL’s season is scheduled to open on Thursday night seven weeks from today.

Texas DB announces departure from football program

Texas cornerback Kobe Boyce will no longer participate in football.

Mental health is extremely important at every stage of life. Continue reading “Texas DB announces departure from football program”

Justin Strnad’s adaptability will help him earn playing time with Broncos

Justin Strnad will likely see playing time as a rookie in passing situations.

Todd Davis is expected to serve as one of the Broncos’ starting inside linebackers this season but he probably won’t see much playing time in obvious passing downs. Last year, safety Will Parks served as one of Davis’ replacements on defense for passing situations.

This year, rookie linebacker Justin Strnad will be among the players competing for a rotational coverage job on defense.

“With Justin, you’re going to see the speed and explosion to the players that are in the coverage areas whether it be DBs or linebackers,” defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said on June 11. “He brings that coverage element and the adaptability to match up with some great offenses in our division.”

He’s listed as a linebacker on the roster but Strnad might play more like a coverage safety for Denver this season.

“I feel very comfortable in pass-coverage,” Strnad said on April 25. “I played safety in high school, so it’s something I’ve been doing for a long time.”

Strnad, who was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round of this year’s NFL draft, totaled 244 tackles, eight sacks, 10 pass breakups and four interceptions during his time at Wake Forest. He’ll look to make an immediate impact in Denver as a rotational linebacker in 2020.

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Should the Dolphins consider playing Byron Jones at safety?

Should the Dolphins consider playing Byron Jones at safety?

The Miami Dolphins’ secondary is very much the identity of this football team in 2020. The Dolphins, with several big-money contracts invested into the likes of Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, boast an embarrassment of riches on the backend — the latest reminder that head coach Brian Flores is a disciple of the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick. With the Dolphins’ personnel on the back end, the team figures to be well aligned to handle matchups in coverage week in and week out.

But one spot does linger for the Dolphins as something of a sore spot in the secondary — if for no other reason than because there’s no proven commodity there.

Free safety.

For many football fans, free safety is viewed as a premiere position — the opportunity to roam the back end of the defense and hunt the football can be a key role in generating turnovers. But for the Dolphins, there is offered no firm answer on if that void can be filled. Bobby McCain is currently scheduled to serve in that role for the defense, but he only has 9 games of experience playing the position, which came in 2019 for Flores and company and led to a fair share of ups and downs.

Could another cornerback step into the role? Could the Dolphins take advantage of their superior depth at corner and shift someone else to play at free safety? One other member of the Dolphins’ secondary does have free safety experience — and it is one of their newest contributors, Byron Jones.

Jones spent two of his seasons in Dallas playing safety between the 2016 and 2017 seasons; an experiment that ended ahead of the 2018 season with the addition of Kris Richard (former finalist for the Dolphins’ head coaching vacancy in 2019). Jones logged each of his two career interceptions over those two seasons, but he ultimately was charged with playing closer to the line of scrimmage as time went on. That misuse of his talent helped prompt the move to cornerback full time.

Could the Dolphins charge Jones with playing free safety? Sure, they could. And in any given week, you may see Jones take some reps in space. But to ask him to play there permanently would temper his value for the Dolphins and be a mis-managed opportunity; especially considering what the cost was to secure Jones’ services. Don’t expect Jones to be a possible replacement at free safety in the long-term, because the Dolphins’ system is going to lean heavily on press man coverage to interrupt the timing of opposing passing offenses. Jones’ length and athleticism are most valuable to the team serving as one-half of a lockdown duo on the outside.

And in the meantime, the team will likely call on an interchangeable collection of secondary defenders to serve as the free safety at any given time — as the more looks and personnel Miami can throw at opposing coaches, the harder it will be to scheme up who is responsible for what in the Dolphins’ secondary.

Texans safety Justin Reid says coach D’Anton Lynn brings ‘wealth of knowledge’ to secondary

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid is pleased with the promotion of secondary coach D’Anton Lynn as the assistant brings a “wealth of knowledge.”

The Houston Texans have shaken up their coaching staff in 2020 by simply promoting guys already on the staff.

One such case was assistant secondary coach D’Anton Lynn taking over for Anthony Midget to become the new secondary coach for the Texans.

“He has a wealth of knowledge on different schemes and how to teach it different ways,” safety Justin Reid said via the Houston Chronicle. “With coach Weaver being the new [defensive coordinator], that brought a lot of new, interesting twists and material to our defense that a lot of guys are excited about.”

One of the new twists that the Texans defense will debut is a more aggressive style of play and a freeing up of players to make more plays on the ball.

Though Reid has been partial towards Lynn since the Texans drafted him in the third round in 2018, Reid says he had a “great relationship” with Midget, who now coaches defensive backs for the Tennessee Titans. However, Lynn, son of Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, is the assistant he would spend time with.

“Really coach Lynn was the guy I always talked ball with,” said Reid. “He would break down things in ways that really made sense to each guy and communicated well.”

Reid has demonstrated playmaking abilities as a defensive back. In his two seasons with Houston, the former Stanford Cardinal has intercepted five passes, including returning one for a touchdown, forced a fumble, recovered three others, and broken up 15 passes.

The Texans finished last season tied with Washington for the 15th-most takeaways in the league with 22. Eight of the top 10 teams in takeaways made the playoffs. If the Texans can find ways to get more possessions for their offense, it could be one of the final nudges Houston needs to make a deeper run in the playoffs.

Should the Seahawks trade for Jets safety Jamal Adams?

Jamal Adams would be a considerable upgrade for a leaky secondary, should the Seattle Seahawks trade for the Jets safety?

One of the NFL’s premier defenders could be on the move sooner than later. Star New York Jets safety Jamal Adams officially requested a trade on Thursday.

Adams has frequently been at odds with the Jets during his tenure in New York, often leading to speculation about his overall happiness in the Big Apple. Trade rumors were floated throughout the 2019 season, and now it seems they have come to fruition.

Of course, this begs the question, should Seahawks general manager John Schneider get on the phone with the Jets about acquiring Adams?

For the past two seasons, and especially in 2019, Seattle’s secondary has been a considerable liability. Once the backbone of the defense, the secondary has turned into an Achilles Heel. Quarterbacks routinely exposed the secondary, which ultimately proved to be fatal for Seattle last year.

Even quarterbacks like Andy Dalton and Matt Schaub both had over 400 yards passing when they played the Seahawks.

Adding Adams to the mix would go a long way to helping shore up a leaky secondary. Since entering the league in 2017, Adams has become one of the best at the position and is a game-changing talent.

Seattle does have decent safety depth with Quandre Diggs, Bradley McDougald, Ugo Amadi and Marquise Blair. However, McDougald is on the final year of his contract, while Amadi and Blair are still fighting for meaningful snaps. Pairing Adams with Diggs would be a considerable upgrade and be a suffocating duo.

Adams would likely come at a steep price, but if the Seahawks still see themselves as championship contenders then they need a secondary that will actually be a challenge for opponents in 2020.

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Texas DB Anthony Cook deletes tweet about not playing, players react

Confusion continues to increase as Texas defensive back Anthony Cook deletes his tweet about not playing another snap.

Thursday was an eventful day for the Texas secondary. Continue reading “Texas DB Anthony Cook deletes tweet about not playing, players react”

Safety Justin Reid represents the best cultivation of talent from within the Texans’ ranks

Houston Texans safety Justin Reid is the best example of talent that the club cultivated from within their own ranks.

There is something about the development of mid-round picks that makes them feel all the more authentic to the organization; as if the greatness blossoming on the gridiron each week is a result of the work that took place in the building and on the practice field.

Deshaun Watson was expected to be great wherever he went. Safety Justin Reid may be great this early in his career because he is with the Houston Texans.

According to Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com, Reid is the best example of homegrown talent on the Texans’ roster, and Rosenthal picked Reid to be the key for the Texans in 2020.

The lack of homegrown options on the Texans’ roster speaks to the overhaul and impatience of the Bill O’Brien regime. Reid, however, is a perfect fit for this exercise. A third-round pick in 2018, the safety has already emerged as one of the team’s leaders despite his age, winning the Ed Block Courage Award for his toughness playing through injury and his work in the community. A sure tackler who makes plays in coverage, Reid stands out because of his instincts and insane energy. He’s the type of player who gets you off your couch, something Houston’s secondary needs more of. If he played that well hurt, what can he do healthy?

The former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford has taken the reins as a leader in the secondary, a development that was occurring even in the 2019 offseason when then-free agent safety Tashaun Gipson was leaning on Reid to integrate into Romeo Crennel’s system.

If Reid produces a Pro Bowl season for the Texans in 2020, it will mean Houston’s young safety has had a season that could help the club retain its AFC South title for the third straight season.

Safety Michael Thomas will use 1st season with Texans to uplift his grieving family

Safety Michael Thomas says he is going to use his first season with the Houston Texans to uplift his family, which has suffered tragedies since 2019.

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Safety Michael Thomas carried the baggage of sorrow throughout his final season with the New York Giants.

In September of 2019, Thomas’ 30-year-old sister, NnZinga, who was three months older than the Pro Bowler, died after her battle with breast cancer.

The journey of personal tragedy came to an end the day before Mother’s Day of this year when Thomas and his family buried his mother, Bernadette, who spent the last years of her life struggling with post stroke symptoms and early Alzheimer’s.

Thomas is closing the book on the tragic last nine months and is writing a new volume in his life, one of celebration as he continues his NFL career with his hometown Houston Texans.

“To actually be here with my family in Houston, I think that’s going to be something that helps the healing process and I’m going to dedicate this season to them,” Thomas said. “Everything that I can do to help my family cope with it, and I know by playing in Houston that’s going to bring them joy just to be around me and everything. I’m going to use this season to uplift my family.”

The 30-year-old Nimitz High School product, not even with his Stanford education, can articulate the fulfillment of dreams it is to play for the Texans.

“I never even thought that this would be a dream come true for me until I actually signed,” said Thomas. “Just seeing all the love and appreciation I got from my family, friends I grew up with, people who have known me from just following my career from when I was playing at Nimitz.

“It was overwhelming, and then it hit me: ‘Wait. I’m really going to get a chance to play for the hometown team.’ I’m really going to get a chance to help this team win.”

The Houston Oilers moved in 1997 when Thomas was seven years old. The Texans did not restore Houston as an NFL city until 2002. By the time the Texans won their first playoff game, Thomas was graduating from Stanford with a sociology degree. Even over a thousand miles away on the West Coast, Thomas still recalled how much the Texans mean to Houston.

“I’m super excited for it, try to bring wins to this town,” said Thomas. “I know how much the Texans means to the city of Houston, the culture that we have here. Everybody is ride or die for them.”

Helping the Texans get into the NFL’s final four or further, while dedicating the entire season to his fallen loved ones, would be a memorable 2020 for Thomas.