FLORIDA SPORTS BUZZ
Dolphins' cornerbacks are summer surprise
Posted on Wed, Jul. 23, 2008
BY BARRY JACKSON
With training camp opening Saturday, the Dolphins' top four cornerbacks to end 2007 not only have survived the offseason overhaul -- to the surprise of some -- but also have a good chance to remain the Fins' top four corners this season, unless
Nate Jones,
Joey Thomas or an August/September addition breaks through.
Two factors contributed. No. 1: The Dolphins liked their cornerbacks more than they anticipated. No. 2: A 1-15 team can't be upgraded everywhere in one offseason.
''I'm very excited what we have in the secondary,'' general manager Jeff Ireland said. '' Will Allen and all those guys looked really good'' this offseason.
Though the cornerbacks aren't big playmakers, ESPN.com's KC Joyner relayed one surprising stat: Last year, three Dolphins ranked among the NFL's top 20 cornerbacks in completion percentage against.
Of the 72 passes thrown against Allen, 35 had a positive result for the offense (either a reception or defensive penalty), placing Allen eighth-best with a 51.4 percent success rate.
Travis Daniels -- back at cornerback after a stint at safety -- and Michael Lehan tied for 19th-best at 47.4 percent, Joyner said, though when Daniels was beaten it was glaring. (The 10.9 yards-per-attempt against Daniels ranked among the NFL's worst.) Lehan, off an ankle injury, hopes to be ready this weekend.
But Andre' Goodman, who played well in 2006, was 91st of 95 cornerbacks ranked with a 24.2 percent success rate (25 bad results in 33 passing plays he defended). The good news: Goodman -- first-team with Allen in May/June practices -- had a second shoulder operation in January and feels ``a lot better. I couldn't have gone through another year like last year. I wasn't effective whatsoever.''
But Joyner also said Dolphins cornerbacks dropped 10 ''near interceptions'' last year, double the five they picked off. That includes eight drops by Allen, who has just three picks in the past four years. ''This scheme allows you to make more turnovers, and my stats don't show enough of them,'' Allen said, vowing that will change.
Said Goodman: ''Interceptions we've been in position to make, either the receivers come down with it or we drop it. That's not something you learn. Either we have it or we don't.'' If this group doesn't produce, figure on cornerback being a top priority next spring.
CHATTER
• One of the best moves the Marlins did not make was dealing center fielder Cody Ross, who has greatly exceeded internal expectations after drawing several trade inquiries this year. (Even an opposing scout casually mentioned trade interest to Ross.) ''You get labels that are tough to get off, and it [angered] me when people said I couldn't hit right-handers or play center field, because I do both,'' he said.
''I know who the future center fielder is here [ Cameron Maybin]. Larry Beinfest is clear on that. But even if Cameron is, I can play all three outfield positions.'' Ross will get a big raise in arbitration. . . . Former starter Mark Hendrickson was not happy about being passed over for Tuesday's start that went to Rick VandenHurk, expressing ''disappointment'' and noting he had ``a bad month of June, but a good April and May.''
• Early sentiment among some UM people is that Colin McCarthy, Darryl Sharpton and Glenn Cook are favorites to start at linebacker (with Sean Spence and Arthur Brown pushing hard), and nobody would be surprised if Marcus Forston starts at defensive tackle at some point alongside projected defensive line starters Antonio Dixon, Eric Moncur and Allen Bailey. Believe the hype on Bailey, one UM official says. . . . With the Toms Rivers, N.J., prosecutor awaiting a review by a grand jury, UM hasn't decided what to do with linebacker Zach Kane, accused of hitting someone with a bottle at a party.
• Recruiting buzz: American High defensive end Olivier Vernon, a UM oral commitment, said last weekend's visit to an FSU camp ''opened up my eyes a little more'' and that the battle for him is now ''completely wide open'' among UM, FSU, USF and Alabama. . . . Elite Palmetto High running back Jaamal Berry said he is leaning strongly toward Ohio State.
• One rival executive said the available centers are so bad that the Heat is better off with an undersized front line of Udonis Haslem, Shawn Marion and Michael Beasley, supplemented by Alonzo Mourning (by January) and small doses of Mark Blount. ''Is it conventional? No,'' coach Erik Spoelstra said. But ''teams have gone in the direction of playing smaller.'' . . . The Heat is open to using Dorell Wright in a sign-and-trade.
• The Panthers offered defenseman Jay Bouwmeester more than $5 million annually in a multiyear deal but have doubts if he wants to play here long-term. His agent said he's preparing for a July 29 arbitration hearing, and he then would be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
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