The Miami Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL offseason with plenty of needs. But based on how the Dolphins chose to attack building up the roster, the team apparently didn’t feel as though the safety position was one of the pressing issues to address. Miami did add new bodies to the safety room with the free agent signings of Kavon Frazier and Clayton Fejedelem and the drafting of Texas safety Brandon Jones in the 3rd-round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
But Miami, after losing standout defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick last season, will return the same two defenders for the starting safety positions: former New England Patriot Eric Rowe and Bobby McCain. Both players are not only returning starters, both are also former cornerbacks — giving the Dolphins ample coverage options depending on how teams choose to align or attack Miami with personnel. Miami’s decision to convert and retain both Rowe and McCain as former cornerbacks into starting safety roles extends well beyond just being able to play Cover-0 in pressure situations and trust your safeties are going to be able to stay attached in man to man.
“When guys have played multiple positions and they – especially at the safety position – (are) able to relive some of their corner days and some of the issues they may have had at that position and then communicate it and understand it from that perspective; I think that goes a long way,” said coach Brian Flores.
“It’s one thing to try to put yourself in those shoes. It’s another thing to have actually been in them; but the flip side of that is not a lot of corners have gone down in the box and played – had to fit the run game either – so there’s a learning curve and a learning process for guys who move from corner to safety or safety to linebacker or linebacker to d-line.”
Fitting the run game is a big piece of the puzzle for Rowe, too. Rowe, who met with the South Florida media earlier this month, specifically mentioned run fits as the biggest challenge of his move to safety last season.
“I didn’t really have to deal with run fits and all that (in the past), so when I made that transition, that was probably the most difficult thing, was knowing that I actually have a gap that I need to fit and it’s not like a corner has like the D-gap or the most outside gap. That’s easy,” said Rowe.
“Like there’s some plays I actually have to read o-linemen, watch the pull – that happens fast – and at the same time, focus on my tight end in case it’s a pass play. So that’s probably the most difficult thing for me, was trying to pick up on the run game, try to understand fronts because now I’ve got to understand what front is our d-end in or the d-line in.”
But the concessions Miami takes with inexperienced run fits can be bolstered when you add a physical tackler like Brandon Jones — and when you get more athletic on the second level of the defense. Those are two boxes the Dolphins did indeed check this offseason. And with the trade of LB Raekwon McMillan over the weekend, it appears as though the second level athleticism will offer even more sideline to sideline range and help make sure there are contested gaps across the board. McMillan, to his credit, was an excellent run defender between the tackles. But he becomes a player who stands out like a sore thumb when you’re able to get him into space.
And so, for the betterment of the entire unit, McMillan is off the Las Vegas and Rowe and McCain are free to feel their way through fits knowing the rest of the unit is a little quicker to flow. And, furthermore, their cornerback experience can allow for more effective communication on the back end of the secondary. So when teams run motion and force Miami to bump or slide their assignments, both safeties will understand conceptually what changes for the cornerbacks and can relay calls accordingly. Or, conversely, get bumped into a man coverage situation that wasn’t initially going to be theirs and feel comfortable that they can execute on an island.
The NFL is a pass-first league these days, and so the Dolphins are looking to keep up with the times. Their strategy in doing so will feature both former cornerbacks Rowe and McCain as critical pieces on the back end for their value in coverage execution and communication, first and foremost. Even if it comes at the expense of some natural instinct fitting the run. Coach Flores seems plenty optimistic they’ll get that part ironed out.
“At the end of the day I think both guys are working to improve. They’re working to get better and I’m pleased with both guys.”