The Secondary Situation

Last offseason, the Dolphins essentially ignored their secondary, choosing to allocate their resources to rebuilding up front. They decided to let the veteran defensive backs play and to reevaluate the position this offseason, when a handful of contracts at that spot would expire.

As the season played out, things obviously worked out pretty well for Miami, but it wasn't without a hitch. With Chris Crocker in the starting lineup for the first two games, it looked like it was going to be a very long season for the Dolphins defensive backs. However, after the embarrassment at the hands of Arizona, Renaldo Hill took over the free safety position, and that's when things started to fall into place. Will Allen continued his work as a high level corner, a healthy Yeremiah Bell starred and led the team in tackles, and even Andre Goodman came around when the team discovered his tremendous ability in man to man. The secondary was settled, and the Dolphins won the division.

However, with the entire secondary advancing in age, the Dolphins went into this offseason with a decision to make on 3/4 of their starting unit. Bell, Goodman, and Hill were all unrestricted free agents, and Will Allen's contract was set to expire next year. This was certainly all calculated last year, when the Trifecta likely assumed they would let the free agents go after the season, but the way these guys played down the stretch made that awfully difficult.

As for the safeties, on the strong side Yeremiah Bell left no decision to be made. He was everywhere around the ball last year and an absolute stud. Wisely, the Dolphins reupped with him for 4 years and 20 million dollars, with 10 of that guaranteed. He will hold down that position with style for the duration of his long-awaited and much-deserved contract, as long as he can stay healthy.

As for the free, though Renaldo Hill's emergence was what led to the turnaround, the truth is that he is no all-star. In fact, his only real standout quality is his superior communication skills. Thanks to those, he was able to organize the secondary and be a very effective player, but at the end of the day the Dolphins need somebody who can provide value above replacement in that role.

So, the Dolphins ended up going after Gibril Wilson, the league leader in tackles amongst defensive backs last year. Wilson, at the prime of his career at age 27, got a 5 year deal worth up to $27.5 million, with 8 of that guaranteed. The hope is that the one time Super Bowl champ can take over the free and become half of one of the finest safety tandems in the league.

You have got to love where the Dolphins stand at safety right now. They have two versatile guys who are tackling machines in the primes of their careers. From cover 2 to a zone blitz, the Dolphins safeties allow them a lot of freedom to be creative. As we look towards the future, expect big, cheap, young guys who can contribute on special teams, like 5th round draft pick Chris Clemons, to fill in behind our starters.

As we move to corner, the Dolphins had yet another decison to make, this one of the toughest of them all. Andre Goodman, creeping into his 30's, finally showed some ability down the stretch this year, and he did it in a big way. Goody became a blanket cover corner in man to man, and he stepped up huge in the division-clinching win against the Jets. Still, as good as Goodman was, we can't forget how bad he had been. Once a pass interference machine, though the flags slowed down, Goodman still never displayed a mastery of coverage in zone.

Eventually, the decision was made to let him go. The Broncos (who also grabbed Hill for 4 years and $10 million), overspent on Goodman, giving him 5 years and $25 million, but they also left Miami with a hole. Without Goodman, Will Allen remained the only viable starting corner on the team, and even he had only one year left on his contract.

The Dolphins decided to look for value in free agency when they went after Eric Green, most recently of the Super Bowl runner-up Cardinals. Green, at age 27, is an athletically gifted player in the prime of his career, the type that Parcells covets, but has not yet proven to be a starting calliber corner. With a 2 year, 6 million dollar contract, the Dolphins made a low risk investment, and Green will likely serve as a 3rd or 4th corner, an important position filled efficiently.

Nevertheless, with only a #1 and #3 corner locked down for 1 and 2 years, respectively, cornerback was the Dolphins greatest position of need heading into the draft. With a lot of money already locked up at safety and the need for an infusion of talent and youth, the Dolphins did not mess around. They drafted two corners in the first two rounds, and they expect these youngsters to come in and contribute early and often.

Vontae Davis, the muscular younger brother of 49er Vernon, was considered by many to be the best pure corner in the draft, and the Dolphins snatched him up with their first pick. Shortly thereafter, the Dolphins went after Sean Smith at the end of the 2nd round, the 6'3" giraffe surely brought in to counteract the Randy Mosses and T.O.'s of the AFC East. The Dolphins are hoping for both of these players to pan out as big and physical corners who receivers hate to play against, with the goal being that one of the two can start this year and that over time they handle the corner position a la Madison and Surtain, bringing stability to this important position down the road.

After an active offseason retooling the defensive backs, the Dolphins finally appear to be in great shape. Bell and Wilson have the potential to be a potent tandem at safety, morphing the emergency room unit of Cam Cameron's Dolphins into a bonafide strength. Likewise, Davis and Smith are being counted on to step up and fortify the defensive backfield for even longer. As for right now though, Green will provide depth, and Will Allen's deal has been extended to last 3 more years. Whether you look in terms of today or 3 years from today, as I always like to do, the Dolphins secondary is no longer rebuilding - it is built. The only question now is, Can it produce?