Got it covered

CB Xavien Howard’s growth impresses Gase

Xavien Howard makes strong showing.

DAVIE — Xavien Howard’s growth and development become more apparent each day the Miami Dolphins’ second-year cornerback is on the field. At times he covers like a blanket. At other times he’s able to make a read and jump a route. And he’s always willing to come up and lay some lumber on a ball carrier on a running play.

“We see a lot of good things in practice,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said of Howard. “We see tight coverage, it’s really hard to throw the ball on him.

“I just want it to transfer over to the game. He’s got to trust his training and what he’s been doing every day, and when we get in a game and he sees the same thing, I want him to play the same.”

Howard, the 2016 second-round pick from Baylor, seems on his way.

He had the signature play of the intrasquad scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium, when he had an interception return for a touchdown against quarterback Matt Moore.

It was an example of how Howard wants to play the entire season.

“I’ve got to trust my read,” he said. “I just can’t be second-guessing. That’s a minute late when you can pick the ball off.

“You just can’t second-guess. If you see that, you see what you see, so you’ve just got to stick to your gut, to what you’re feeling on that.”

Howard, who starts on the right side, opposite fellow cornerback Byron Maxwell, could develop into one of the Dolphins’ best defensive playmakers this season.

“We see tight coverage, it’s really hard to throw the ball on him.” Adam Gase, Dolphins’ coach, on Xavien Howard’s performance in practice

Granted, that’s a tough lineup to crack considering there’s defensive end Cameron Wake, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Reshad Jones and linebackers Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons.

But Howard has the skill set to be on such a path.

To make sure he takes advantage of every opportunity coming his way, Howard again worked during the offseason with “The Footwork King,” a.k.a. Rischad Whitfield, the highly renowned Houston-based trainer who has worked with NFL stars such as Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell and former Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson.

Howard has also studied film of veteran NFL cornerbacks, such as Seattle’s Richard Sherman, Kansas City’s Marcus Peters and Arizona’s Patrick Peterson. He said he tries to learn a little something from each player.

About Peterson: “He’s an athlete,” Howard said. “I like his one-on-one skills. That’s the kind of guy I am — I’m in the dude’s face, I want to put my hands on him and stuff like that. He’s an athlete.

“Richard Sherman, he’s got some good stuff, but he’s more of like a zone corner. I like my man corners that get in a dude’s face and put his hands on him.” And Peters … “He’s a ball hawk,” Howard said. “Everywhere the ball goes, him and Eric Berry are over there. They’re ball hawks over there. I want to bring that to my game.”

Gase likes the direction Howard is headed. He’s seen him grow mentally, most of all.

“I think his confidence is really the No. 1 thing I’ve noticed, where he’s recognizing certain formations, routes, stems,” Gase said.

“The thing is when you’re a rookie you’re just trying to figure out what you actually have to do. Now he’s been able to take that next step. It helps him really tighten up the coverage and jump a few routes every once in a while.”

Howard likes where he is regarding his development.

“I feel confident,” he said. “I’ve just got to learn. There’s stuff that I can do, like big receivers, I can be more patient with, little receivers I can’t be that much patient with them because they’re quick.

“So it’s different depending on the receiver you’re guarding. You have to know what you can do and what you can’t do against them.”

By the way, there’s one more thing to know about Howard, who missed more than half the season last year with a knee injury, He had 40 tackles as a rookie, which ranked fifth among defensive backs. Although he’s valued for his coverage skills, he loves contact.

“I’ll tackle somebody,” Howard said. “A lot of people think cornerbacks don’t like to tackle, but I’ll put my nose in it.”

TAIMY ALVAREZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Miami Dolphins corners Xavien Howard, right, works against Tony Lippett during drills Monday morning. Howard likes to play press man coverage and get in his wide receiver’s face.

RANDY VAZQUEZ/STAFF FILE PHOTO Xavien Howard was fifth in the league in tackles among cornerbacks last season despite the fact he missed more than half the schedule.