Phin Phanatic
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Miami Dolphins Draft: A safety that’s safe. How Fitzpatrick fits

By Travis Richardson

STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Keith Mixon
STARKVILLE, MS - NOVEMBER 11: Keith Mixon /
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Despite the depth chart Safety position logjam, Fitzpatrick is the perfect fit for Miami and answers a big question regarding how we defend the slot.

I committed a sin.

I purchased Avenger tickets weeks ago while spacing that they fell on the day of the first round. The movie starts at 7:00 MST, Dolphins make their selection at 7:10. Buzz, buzz, buzz, ring, ding, ding, buzz. My phone is exploding. I leave the theater immediately, look at my phone and the first text reads: “I’m confused.”

There are lots of confused phin fans today. Why are we using a lottery pick on a position that we have two solid starters that we are paying handsomely? Why are we not getting a linebacker, a DT, or an offensive playmaker? Surely these are heavier needs than a safety.

Before we get into the grit of this pick, let’s play a game. Let’s list all of the attributes we need in a linebacker. For those who read my first-round mock, I listed them: “physicality, range, nastiness, and, leadership.” Why? I literally sleep to the screams at Gronk, Kelce, and every @#$%ing speed slot receiver that ate our linebackers for lunch. It’s not just the Dolphins. Exploitation of nickel backs is more popular than Nickelback in the 00’s, and the Dolphins were the number one victims. Tight ends feasted on our secondary like it was Denny’s endless pancakes.

Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook (87) makes a catch as Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) looks on during the first half of the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sunday, November 5, 2017. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post)
Oakland Raiders tight end Jared Cook (87) makes a catch as Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) looks on during the first half of the game between the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Sunday, November 5, 2017. (Andres Leiva / The Palm Beach Post) /

So, let’s take the label of Safety away from Minkah and see if he checks our boxes. Physicality, check. Range, minus coverage of outside sprinters, check. Nastiness, check. Leadership, double check. The Dolphins have just drafted the best nickel back that I can remember. He has the size to cover Gronk, the speed to cover Hill, and the ball awareness to play close to the line and stop a runner.

Minkah Fitzpatrick is not a flex safety. He isn’t a replacement. He isn’t putting any of our safety’s out of a job. He also is going to be getting 90% of snaps.
How does Fitzpatrick fit our team? HE IS THE ANSWER. He will play where we need him to and teams will have to be honest. He has the size, speed, and strength to do what we ask. His talent level is off the charts. Our slot disasters are gone.

Put down your depth charts and ignore the position label. Minkah is literally the defender we need. He will be a day one starter and he will continue to be one until Gase puts him on special teams and

blows his knee out in the first pre-season game.

I just committed my second sin.

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