Miami Dolphins most intense camp battles that are not being talked enough about
By Kevin Hood
During the 2019 season, Bobby McCain started at the free safety position until his week 11 injury. During that stretch, Bobby McCain racked up 446 snaps at the FS position. His 61.9 Overall PFF grade and 67.4 Coverage grade did not signal if he played a full 16 game season, a pro-bowl would be on the horizon. However, after his injury, both Adrian Colbert and Steven Parker stepped in and graded out very well.
The more impressive of the two was Steven Parker, the 2018 Undrafted free agent of the Rams picked up in the off-season. His PFF overall grade of 71.0 with a coverage grade of 70.5 showed promise. Miami moved Parker around the defense racking up 15 Tackles, three assists, and one run stop. He was targeted ten times, allowing seven receptions for 100 yards. Those three incompletions being two interceptions and a pass break up. If during the offseason, he can tighten up his coverage and work on his four missed tackles, he should figure into the Dolphins battle at free safety.
Adrian Colbert also had a promising 2019 season. After being drafted in the 7th round by the 49ers(229th overall), Colbert was no longer in the 49er’s long term plans. After Bobby McCain went down in week 11, Miami picked up Colbert. During 2019 Colbert had a 64.9 overall grade and 64.7 coverage grade.
During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins also drafted Texas Longhorn Brandon Jones. Given his ability to move around on the defense like all on the safeties on this list, makes him able to compete for the role. After reviewing the snaps from 2019, on this stood out, the coaching staff moves guy everywhere. That was Bradon Jones 2019 Texas season also. Grading out with a 74.3 overall grade Jones amassed 80 tackles, nine assists, 4.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, and two interceptions. This on-time high profile high school recruit was the No.1 safety and no. Nineteen recruits from scouts during the 2016 class.
Whoever comes out on top in this must-watch camp battle will have a substantial depth behind them.