Miami's special teams Aikens' show now
Defensive back taking over key role following Thomas’ exit to Giants.
Editor’s Note: This continues a series spotlighting members of the team individually. In addition to reliving highlights and lowlights of the past season for each, we’ll provide analysis and criticism, plus take a look at how each player fits — or doesn’t fit — into the team’s plans for 2018.
The Dolphins say when they sliced up their salary cap, they quickly determined they could retain Walt Aikens or Michael Thomas — but not both players who contributed heavily to their success on special teams the past few years.
By choosing Aikens, they went with a player a year younger and $1.3 million cheaper over the next two years.
By not choosing Thomas, who they let go to the Giants, Miami lost the Pro Football Focus special teams player of the year who twice contended for the AFC special teams Pro Bowl slot.
So now it’s Aikens’ show, with every indication that he’ll be named successor to Thomas as special teams captain.
“I think Walt is a guy that we’re going to see really step up in a leadership role this year,” coach Adam Gase said. “I don’t know if anybody can really replace Mike as far as his leadership goes, and his ability to make plays was outstanding. He’s a tackling machine.”
There shouldn’t be much
doubt what the athletic Aikens can do as well. He caught fire late in the 2016 season, blocking a punt and returning it for a touchdown and scoring a defensive two-point conversion on a blocked extra point.
This season, Aikens will need to be a leader on Darren Rizzi’s revamped special-teams units. He seldom gets on the field on defense, which may continue to be the case in 2018.
Aikens has often worked at safety but admitted last year he was happy to be told he was moving to cornerback, his college position.
The Dolphins currently list him at both positions, but where his focus will be is murky because of all the changes in the secondary.
In addition to the firstround draft pick being spent on safety Minkah
‘I think Walt is a guy that we’re going to see really step up in a leadership role this year.’ Miami coach Adam Gase
Fitzpatrick, the Dolphins get cornerback Tony Lippett back from an Achilles injury and will tinker with safety T.J. McDonald at linebacker or as a hybrid player.