Tankersley expecting to keep cornerback job
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.
DAVIE — Cornerback Cordrea Tankersley says he’s not looking over his shoulder. The Dolphins don’t want him to.
Tankersley said he considered it a “no-brainer” that “it’s my job to lose” — before coach Adam Gase said he wanted Tankersley to look at it that way.
It’s possible it will become more of a competition if and when Tony Lippett, the 2016 starter, rebounds after tearing his Achilles during the 2017 preseason. More on Lippett in a moment.
First, Tankersley. He never had time to catch his breath when making the leap from a big-time college program to the NFL, which is a luxury you’d prefer with cornerbacks. CB CORDREA TANKERSLEY
Height, weight: 6-1, 200
College: Clemson
Age: 24
Experience: Second NFL season, both with Dolphins
Acquired: Third-round pick in 2017
Contract: In second year of four-year, $3.2 million rookie contract Pro Football Focus rank: 93rd out of 121 2017 stats: Started 11 games; had 31 tackles and seven passes defensed
Notable moments: Broke up a Matt Ryan pass that Reshad
Jones intercepted with 47 seconds left to clinch a comeback win in Atlanta . ... Had six tackles and two passes defensed vs. Bucs. Gase gave a lukewarm review of what he saw last season: “It’s hard to say. I think he got better. I think there were times where he wishes he could go back and do some things different. But that’s the rookie year.” Now, it’s Year Two.
“My next step is to become one of the best corners in the league,” Tankersley said.
Xavien Howard has the other cornerback spot nailed down. The wild card is Lippett, the converted receiver who started 13 games in 2016 and had four interceptions.
Lippett clearly had a way to go in terms of health in the spring. Gase said the approach was to get Lippett “feeling as 100 percent as he possibly can for training camp.” Lippett wasn’t necessarily pointing toward getting his starting job back. It was too early for that.
“Right now, I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Lippett said. “Just getting better. Knocking off the rust.”
Lippett has gotten advice from ex-Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes, who overcame the same injury and made the Pro Bowl.