Breaking down the Dolphins’ roster battles on defense
Sizing up the Dolphins’ roster battles at each position on defense, while projecting a 25/25 offense/defense split (with a kicker, punter and long snapper) comprising the 53-man roster for purposes of this exercise:
DEFENSIVE LINE
Likely number: Seven or
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eight.
Who’s on the team: Christian
● Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, Adam Butler, Zach Sieler, Emanuel Ogbah.
Who’s on the bubble:
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Jason Strowbridge, Jonathan Ledbetter, John Jenkins, Benito Jones, Tyshun Render, Nick Coe, Jerome Johnson.
Comment: Wilkins and
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Davis will fill two starting spots when the Dolphins use a threeman line, with 1) either Ogbah alongside or 2) either Butler or Sieler paired with Wilkins and Davis, and Ogbah filling more of a standup outside linebacker role after Shaq Lawson’s departure in a trade with Houston.
Of course, rookie Jaelan Phillips also could play defensive end, his primary position at the University of Miami, though the Dolphins are using him primarily as a linebacker.
Butler started four games for the Patriots last season, while Sieler started eight for the Dolphins. Both will play a lot, and both have become capable rotational pass rushers. Butler had 15 sacks in four seasons for New England; Sieler had 3.5 last season.
If the Dolphins keep seven linemen, eight linebackers and 10 defensive backs, then there’s room for two among a group including Strowbridge (the second-year player who logged just 55 snaps as a rookie fifth-rounder), Jones (logged 47 snaps as an undrafted rookie), Jenkins (played 11 games for Chicago last season and has 28 NFL starts); Render and Coe (both 2020 practice squad players), Ledbetter (missed last season with an undisclosed injury) and the Indiana rookie Johnson.
Strowbridge looked good in the mandatory minicamp.
LINEBACKER
Likely number: Eight or
●
nine.
Who’s on the team: Jerome
● Baker, Benardrick McKinney, Andrew Van Ginkel and Phillips.
More likely than not:
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Vince Biegel, Brennan Scarlett, Duke Riley, Elandon Roberts.
At serious risk: Sam Eguavoen,
● Calvin Munson, Kylan Johnson.
Comment: This could be as
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simple as keeping the eight listed in the “who’s on the team” and “more likely than not” category. But there’s a reason why the four in the
“more likely than not” category aren’t automatics.
Biegel must prove he has his explosiveness back after last summer’s Achilles injury. If it is, he’s in line for a rotational spot, with a chance to build on his 2.5 sack, one-interception season in 2019, when his motor impressed everyone in 15 games and 10 starts. He’s back working fully.
Roberts, who started 11 games for Miami last season and played well from November through mid-December, must prove he hasn’t lost a step after the serious knee injury sustained in Week 16 against Las Vegas. He was an observer during the mandatory minicamp.
Riley — who started eight games for the Eagles last season and 24 in his four-year career — seems very likely to stick. The former third-rounder from LSU can play inside and outside linebacker.
Though Scarlett has modest sack numbers in Houston (5.5 in five years) he’s experienced (22 starts for the Texans) and competent against the run. If he has a good camp and preseason, he likely sticks.
Eguavoen went from a starter to a seldom-used backup last season (just 84 defensive snaps). Munson (46 defensive snaps) should by no means be ruled out; he has appeared in 18 games and started two under Flores and the team likes him enough to tender him this offseason.
SAFETY
Likely number: Four or
●
five.
Who’s on the team: Jevon
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Holland, Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones .( Jason McCourty could be counted here or at cornerback.)
Who’s on the bubble:
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Clayton Fejedelem, Nate Holley.
Long shot: Matt Cole.
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Comment: McCourty —
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who has played most of his career at cornerback — could factor into the equation at free safety if Holland isn’t deemed ready to be an every-down player immediately. McCourty played some safety for the Patriots last season.
The Dolphins believe Holland — who had nine interceptions combined for Oregon in 2018 and 2019 — is ready to assume a significant role immediately, which was the impetus for releasing Bobby McCain.
Jones should assume a larger role, too. The Dolphins like his speed, tackling ability (he had 62 as a rookie) and playmaking (he had a forced fumble and a sack on a blitz last season). But his coverage skills remain a question; Jones allowed a 108.6 passer rating in his coverage area, permitting 23 completions in 28 targets for 202 yards and a touchdown.
Fejedelem played just 14 snaps on defense last season and allowed the only pass thrown against him to be caught for 44 yards and a touchdown. But he’s valued on special teams. Keep in mind that his $2.25 million salary is nonguaranteed and his $2.5 million cap hit is eliminated if he’s cut.
Holley was signed to the 53man roster before the regular season finale last year and the Dolphins remain intrigued by a player who was the CFL’s Rookie of the Year in 2019. He had an interception in minicamp.
CORNERBACK
Likely number: Five or six.
●
Who’s on the team: Xavien
● Howard, Byron Jones, Noah Igbinoghene.
Who’s likely on the team:
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McCourty, Nik Needham, Justin Coleman.
Who’s facing longer odds:
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Jamal Perry, Trill Williams, Jaytlin Askew, Terrell Bonds, Javaris Davis, Tino Ellis.
Comment: Two interesting
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battles loom: Needham against Coleman for the nickel cornerback role and McCourty against
Igbinoghene for the No. 3 cornerback job.
The two newcomers — McCourty and Coleman — had two of the nine worst passer ratings against among all NFL cornerbacks last season.
Quarterbacks had a 135 passer rating against McCourty and
134 against Coleman (who played for the Lions). Needham permitted a 100.7 rating, a number that worsened considerably after he yielded three touchdown receptions in the finale against Buffalo after relinquishing none in the first 15 games.
The big issue at cornerback, of course, is Howard’s potential holdout — considered more likely than not — if the Dolphins don’t agree to pay him more. Howard, incidentally, allowed just a 53 passer rating in his coverage area last season, thanks in part to his 10 interceptions.
Jones permitted a bloated 117 passer rating but intercepted two passes late in the season.
Perry lost the nickel corner job to Needham a month into the season and played sparingly.
The Dolphins want another look at two second-year cornerbacks who were on their practice squad last season: Davis (Auburn) and Ellis (Maryland) — and the 5-8 Bonds, the Miami Central High alum who spent time on the Ravens’ practice squad the past two seasons.
Williams, the Syracuse rookie, has an outside chance to make the 53; some evaluators considered him a fifth- or sixth-round talent.
He has size (6-2) and decent ball skills and had an interception during minicamp.