The phrase “next man up” is usually utilized in sports activities circles, and the Miami Dolphins cornerbacks have come to embody that saying.
It was identified Miami’s depth on the place can be examined from the beginning, when Byron Jones remained on the physically-unable-to-perform checklist because of offseason surgical procedure on his decrease left leg. Then, the accidents started mounting, and in Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, these “next men” that have been up prolonged additional down the depth chart.
Nik Needham was carted off the Hard Rock Stadium discipline Sunday, misplaced for the season to an Achilles damage. Keion Crossen exited with a knee damage, and Kader Kohou was already out with an indirect damage. So third-year cornerback Noah Igbinoghene obtained vital snaps for the second consecutive recreation, and particular teamer Justin Bethel was even referred to as upon to play protection for the primary time all season.
“What we have on the roster is what we have on the roster. We always say, ‘Next man up,’” mentioned defensive backs coach Sam Madison on Thursday, because the Dolphins haven’t opted to signal a free-agent cornerback forward of Sunday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. “These guys are doing an unbelievable job of understanding what we’re trying to get done. … We have guys that, just in case [they] need to go in there and get things done, we’ll plug and play.”
The Dolphins, whereas lucky that All-Pro Xavien Howard’s groin accidents now not look like a priority, may face one other week once they dig deep at cornerback. Jones doesn’t have an imminent return in sight. Needham’s out for the yr. Crossen missed Wednesday and Thursday practices, and Kohou’s indirect is limiting him within the undrafted rookie’s hope for a return.
“I didn’t even know what my oblique was until they told me I injured it,” mentioned Kohou, noting numerous actions the ache impacts. “You use it for like everything.”
Igbinoghene is certain to be focused closely Sunday as Howard probably takes one among Pittsburgh’s high three receivers in Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Chase Claypool. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins made that clear final week when he threw for receiver Adam Thielen on back-to-back passes when coated by Igbinoghene.
But Igbinoghene held his personal, deflecting each of these. Outside of the pass-interference penalty late within the first half, he had a stable exhibiting in his 31 defensive snaps.
“He’s kind of risen to the challenge,” defensive coordinator Josh Boyer mentioned. “He’s been very competitive. He’s been good at the line of scrimmage, and like all of our guys, we’re striving for consistency play in and play out.”
Said Madison: “He’s one of those guys that’s going to go out there and give it his all. He’s still learning the position, and I’m trying to give him all the little tools that he can to go out there and be — not perfect — but be in a position to make plays.”
Of Bethel’s first 13 defensive snaps as a Dolphin on Sunday, Madison mentioned: “He’s a professional. He’s been in this league. He’s been around it for a very long time. A majority of his career, he’s a special teams guy, but he understands everything that we want him to get done.”
Miami had 11 three-and-outs defensively in opposition to Minnesota because the Vikings have been held to 234 complete yards of offense.
But the Dolphins haven’t pressured any turnovers of their three-game dropping streak and haven’t had an interception, particularly, because the opening defensive collection of the season in opposition to the New England Patriots, when Howard tipped a go to the top zone for a decide from security Jevon Holland. Miami has 4 takeaways on the season and only one because the opener.
“Are we making attempts at turnovers? Are we punching at the ball? Are those things happening? Are we getting enough people to the ball?” Boyer poses as questions he asks his defenders to extend turnover manufacturing. “I might say we’ve had our alternatives the place we’ve been in place to catch the ball. We obtained to make these performs.
“Whether you bat balls at the line of scrimmage, you defend balls on a pass and you have other people running to the ball that have an opportunity for that tip ball, then that increases your odds. Those are things that we’re working on. … As long as we continue to do that, sooner or later, they’ll come.”
Kohou talked about that defensive backs can’t get overly keen on the lookout for interceptions, both, and have to stay to taking part in throughout the scheme. Madison famous he’s getting his cornerbacks to show their head round and assault the soccer when the ball is within the air.
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has thrown 4 interceptions in his 83 go makes an attempt this season, so going through the rookie passer may current a possibility.
With the revolving door at cornerback, the protection mixture of Holland and Brandon Jones has needed to keep in two-high protection greater than it has previously below Boyer.
“Helping those guys, helping them understand what we’re doing and calming them down and making them feel comfortable and play at a high level,” mentioned safeties coach Steve Gregory of what his unit can do to assist. “We just got to work together, communicate together and help each other out as best we can.”
Madison mentioned Needham had surgical procedure on his torn Achilles on Wednesday. The fourth-year cornerback instructed his place coach that he desires to stay concerned in conferences all through the season.
“He was a guy that could go and play corner, he could play star, he could play safety,” Madison mentioned, “and he’s going to be one of those pieces that we’re really going to miss.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
