Training Camp Preview: Corner Backs
By Brian Miller
If the Miami Dolphins safeties were suspect, the corner backs are not much better. Continuing with the TC preview, we examine the other half of the secondary that has as many questions if not more than the Fins Oline.
The Roster:
Shirdonya Mitchell – 1 year
Michael Lehan – 5
Derrick Johnson – 3
Travis Daniels – 3
Tuff Harris – Rook
Geoffrey Pope – Rook
Andre’ Goodman – 6
Will Allen – 7
Jason Allen – 2
The Dolphins situation:
"When the number one corner back on your roster is named Will Allen, you know there are problems with your unit. That is not a complete knock on Allen as he is consistent, but he comes nothing close to being a shut down corner, and he is still average. Jason Allen is coming off a rookie campaign that was beyond horrible and despite off-season changes made by Dom Capers, including having Allen play one spot, Allen has shown nothing in mini-camps. How bad has Allen been so far this year? The majority of big plays from the QBs in attendance in the mini-camps, got them by throwing against Allen."
Jason Allen: He held out last year, got caught in Sabans’ dog-house, only saw the field periodically as a result, could not grasp the complex language of the playbook, but did manage to get one of the 5 secondary interceptions. Big deal. Allen is poised to become a bust. He has a good attitude and is saying all the right things, but perhaps that is to boost his own confidence. He has yet to show anything of a player taken with a 16th overall draft pick. In mini-camps, this year, and after being moved completely to CB, Allen has been lost and burned.
He never possessed great breaking speed, but he could hit. He will throw his body into someone without thinking it over for a second. The problem is that he tends to be out of position that will then leave the safety fending for himself, if the safety is even in that coverage to begin with.
Allen will have to show that he is capable of intellectually playing at this level. This is not a “there they are go cover them” style of defense. It is complex with multiple reads and secondary stunts. Allen will make the team but that is only because Miami has invested a lot of money in him. That is not to say that Allen is too bad and should be cut, just that he won’t have to compete for the spot on the roster like some of the others will.
Allen needs another year to fully realize what benefits he will bring to this team, if any. Lets just hope we are not waiting until next year and having this same conversation.
Will Allen: Allen is the best CB on the roster based on play and consistency. He has some talent but he is nowhere near elite. He can keep up with many of the WRs in the league, but his age will start to catch up with him and he will start to lose some steps. It seems that he is starting to need some safety help with some routes.
Allen is guaranteed one of the starting CB spots if for no other reason there is a lack of serious talent to threaten him. With Andre’ Goodman down, the battle will likely be for the other side. Allen has the experience which will help him and the secondary system is one that allows Allen to use that experience.
Allen only had 43 tackles last year and 1 interception. He seriously needs to improve on those numbers, especially the latter.
Andre’ Goodman: Goodman showed some promise and would likely challenge Allen for the “best cb” on the roster, if he were healthy. Injured for portions of last year, and now, following a shoulder injury, it is unlikely that Goodman will be ready for the first game of the season, and will not be available for training camp.
Once again, the fact that the Dolphins have not really addressed the CB problem in free agency or with a blue chip CB in the draft, injuries such as Goodman’s are glaring.
There is no need to watch him in TC as he won’t be there. Should by some miracle he does play during the pre-season or for whatever reason makes it into a practice, the only thing you will be watching is whether or not he stays healthy. At some point Cameron is going to have to make moves on the roster and guys like Goodman and Olineman Joe Toledo, may find it hard to get back into the lineup. They could be destined for the IR. If they can’t make it back by a reasonable time.
Travis Daniels: This kid has so much promise and potential. It was thought by some that he would be a steal in the draft, but lack of consistent production and injuries has made Daniels yet another question mark. Now we will see if he can live up to the potential a lot of people thought he had, or if his bouts with injuries have taken away his confidence.
Daniels benefits the most from the Goodman injury as he should be seeing most of the 1st team snaps. The question is when? Will he be relegated to the nickel or dime packages or will Jason Allen?
Daniels has the talent, as witnessed at LSU. He has shown periodic glimpses of that in the NFL. The problem is health. In some respects Daniels one of the interesting players to watch this TC on defense and perhaps next to J. Allen, the main secondary member. His play this TC will give us a good indication of whether or not the lingering effects of injury have taken their toll or if Daniels is ready to step up and become a solid, consistent, starter in the NFL.
Shirdonya Mitchell: If there is anything positive out of the CBs this year that could breath some excitement into the battles, it could be Shirdonya Mitchell. Fast. Mitchell ran a 4.29 40 prior to an ACL rupture before the 2005 draft. He was signed as an undrafted FA but never saw the field until last seasons finale against the Colts.
Mitchell was assigned to the NFL Europa league with the Frankfurt Galaxy and used his time wisely. After the season, Mitchell was named one of the leagues All-NFL Europa team members.
Mitchell needs a lot of practice to fully develop and as the TC goes by, he should be able to show enough to warrant keeping him on the team. He will battle for a spot, because he has not earned a spot. Yet it would be hard to imagine that after being cut and relegated to the practice squad that he can not make the 53 this year. If he can’t, he will not likely be on the practice squad. He will be cut and will move on somewhere else.
Mitchell benefits from playing behind guys that are surrounded with questions of their own. That benefit comes in the form of competition. He will get his chance to show that he belongs and show that he does in fact possess the talent to play at this level.
Keep an eye on this one, it could be interesting to see how this develops.
Michael Lehan: When I hear the name, I hear “illegal hands to the face”. The words out of the refs mouth in Pittsburgh. Opening game last season Thursday night. Steelers down, deep in their own territory, 3rd and long, a stop and Miami would be in position to completely take control. “illegal hands to the face”.
Lehan is one of those guys that has been around. He is entering his 5th season after being drafted by the Browns in round 5. Lehan is primarily a nickel/dime package CB. He started two games last year when Miami opened in a 5 DB set. He will once again be used in the same way.
He does not possess the talent to be a starting CB in this league outside of those packages and will find himself battling with the other CBs for a roster spot. His best attribute is his tenure in the NFL, but that will only get you so far.
His inability to cover the long ball, the fact that he tends to get his hands on the WR in routes and when the ball is closing in, means that Lehan poses a penalty problem that the Dolphins can not afford.
Lehan may not make this team unless he can show that he is head and shoulders above the younger guys. I am not so sure that he is.
Derrick Johnson: Johnson is entering his 3rd year in the NFL and is on his 4th team. Two years ago, Johnson was in SF, got released, signed with the Lions last year, got released, signed with the Falcons, got released, and this off-season joined Miami. Feel confident that he will make the team?
Johnson played in a total of 3 games last year but recorded 40 total tackles the year before in SF….last year, Will Allen recorded 43.
Johnson will compete for a roster spot with the young rooks and Mitchell. If he wants to make the team, he will have to likely show that he can contribute on special teams. It may be the only chance he gets.
Tuff Harris/Geoffrey Pope: Both of these guys come from smaller schools, Montana and Howard U respectively. Both have “A LOT” to work out and are likely thinking how great it is to be able to call home and tell their friends that they were signed and are in training camp. Special teams are the only way that these guys make the active roster and in all likelihood, they will see their names off the roster sheet within the first couple of cut-downs. In fact, should Miami decide to go after some of the remaining FAs, these are guys who could be cut to make roster spaces.
It sounds harsh, but unfortunately it is true. But here is hoping they surprise.
Outlook/predictions: The secondary is the real story of the Dolphins defense and will be the most scrutinized of the entire unit. Between CB and Safety, the Dolphins defenders have a tremendous amount of work to do. With Goodman being injured, I tend to think that Miami is not done signing guys for the secondary. Keep an eye on the waiver wire as the Fins could pick up someone quick should even a marginal but steady CB gets released.
Travis Daniels and Will Allen will be starting opposite each other. Provided both stay healthy. Jason Allen has just had too many problems with the mini-camps to believe at this point that he will enter the TC as the starter, and he may not be able to take it when he does get time. Nickel and dime packages for him.
Shirdonya Mitchell may be the one to keep an eye on, and he could see plenty of reps with the 2nd units as well as the added CB in the money packs.