With the starters out and lacking much behind them, it was expected to be ugly for the Miami Dolphins in their second preseason game of the season against the New York Giants. And for all intents and purposes, it was pretty brutal.
The Giants sat most of their starters as well, but veterans like Jameis Winston, Darius Slayton, and even former Dolphin Odell Beckham Jr. were out there for a considerable time. Given Miami's issues in the secondary, it came as no surprise that the former No. 1 pick Winston was able to have his way for much of the first half.
The true concern, though, was that quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Jake Haener were able to find success too. And in the end, true to his word, Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan saw enough to make at least one move -- and he didn't wait for the game to end to do it.
Miami Dolphins claim CB Jai'Onte' McMillan during halftime of loss to Giants
It's no secret that the Dolphins' secondary is one of the weakest position groups on the team. They have zero depth behind rookie Chris Johnson, former fifth-rounder Jason Marshall Jr., and veteran JuJu Brents. Moreover, the latter has had trouble staying healthy throughout his NFL career and is currently out as we speak. Brents is expected to be back in time for Week 1, but depending on him for a full season is a tough sell.
Against the Giants, Johnson and Marshall played sparingly in the first quarter. Once they were gone, it felt like the Giants couldn't miss. Miami's secondary had trouble covering New York's receivers for most of the night. By the end of the game, the Giants' quarterbacks had combined for 31 of 42 passing for 257 yards, with Winston running in a score as well from 11 yards out.
Recently, Sullivan appeared on "The Joe Rose Show," bluntly declaring that, "We will continue to churn the backend of this roster. Nobody will sit around comfortably." Apparently, that included during the games as well, as the Dolphins announced at halftime that they had claimed cornerback Ja'Onte' McMillan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts.
Whether the timing was just a coincidence or not, the message should be loud and clear to the locker room. Although expectations are not high for the Dolphins this season, "You better show up every day, or somebody's going to come take your job."
As for McMillan, he went undrafted this past draft cycle and signed with the Colts in early June. Although he was a late NFL signee, McMillan did appear in 55 total collegiate games during his time at TCU and Minnesota, so he comes with some level of experience. With the Golden Gophers, he considerably improved his tackling, while his coverage left much to be desired. Unfortunately for Miami, that's the primary concern they have with their current group.
In the end, though, McMillan was part of a crowded secondary in Indianapolis. Following the Colts' acquisition of tight end JJ Galbreath, it made sense for them to release McMillan to make room.
Even in a weakened room like Miami's, McMillan will have a tough time making the Dolphins' 53-man roster. Even if he succeeds, McMillan had better heed Sullivan's warning, or else it will be someone else coming to take his spot.
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