Come November, the Dolphins will have a decision to make.
Depending on when the NFL schedules Miami’s bye, T.J. McDonald will return from suspension in either Week 9 or 10.
When he does, the Dolphins will have three (or possibly four, depending on the draft) starting-caliber safeties.
One is Reshad Jones, who, assuming he is indeed fully recovered from the significant shoulder injury that spoiled his 2016 season, will be on the field every single play.
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So that leaves 65 or so snaps per game to divvy up between McDonald and Nate Allen, two new Dolphins signed in the past month.
So what’s Matt Burke’s plan? That needs to play out during the offseason and training camp. It’s a safe bet that whoever practices better will play more.
Plus, if McDonald — who’s suspended the season’s first eight games for violating the league’s substance abuse police — messes up again, the point will be moot. The Dolphins have a zero tolerance policy with him.
But for the sake of argument (it’s April, the time for conjecture), let’s posit that both players stay healthy and out of trouble.
If so, both players will bring their own strengths to the defense, as these highlights, ably compiled by Dolphins blogger extraordinaire Max Himmelrich, demonstrate.
@AdamHBeasley Here's a pretty good snap for Nate Allen. Reads Rivers and breaks on the WR to help make sure the pass isn't completed along the sideline. pic.twitter.com/iZKtdujrq2
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley Allen is another safety who can help vs. the run. Really good play for him down in the box - doesn't overpursue, makes the smart decision. pic.twitter.com/Fv0lfpWJao
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley Allen loses Kelce up the seam in a MASSIVE moment during the game. This was something we've seen from him a lot, but it isn't all bad. pic.twitter.com/3WqLaETzkA
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley Another big play given up, this time due to some T.Y Hilton induced ankle breakage. pic.twitter.com/jDhPER6aSG
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley McDonald is the more interesting signing between the two safeties. Rams used him a ton down on the edge against the run, often paid off. pic.twitter.com/StQ7TmMBZg
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley McDonald spent a ton of time playing shallow in coverage - seems comfortable playing this role against slot WRs or TEs. pic.twitter.com/QmqDzRTM0Q
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley Another example of McDonald playing down in the box, but this time he's able to wrap up LeSean McCoy in the backfield. pic.twitter.com/WDh5du1AFa
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
@AdamHBeasley Favorite play from McDonald: Flexes out to cover Graham up the seam 1-on-1 (!!!), then baits Brees into a bad decision for an INT. pic.twitter.com/Z2VnhnLjUl
— Max Himmelrich (@HimmelrichNFL) April 3, 2017
Tale of the tape
▪ T.J. McDonald. Age: 26. Height: 6-2. Weight: 217. Games played: 53. Games started: 53. Tackles: 218. Interceptions: 4. Passes defensed: 17.
▪ Nate Allen. Age: 29. Height: 6-0. Weight: 210. Games played: 93. Games started: 76. Tackles: 368. Interceptions: 13. Passes defensed: 34.
Max’s take: “McDonald is the much better player. Nate Allen will get beat once a game for a terrible play, but can be solid outside of that. Best situation is to have Allen and McDonald rotating, but it seems like the best use for McDonald is to enhance the run D and shallow coverages, then occasionally drop into deep coverage.”
Adam H. Beasley: 305-376-3565, @AdamHBeasley
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