Dolphin Digest – August 2019

AUGUST 6, 2019 Dolphin Digest 11

season in the NFL after a solid rookie year and a solid

performance in the spring. Fitzpatrick appears headed

for the role of nickel corner, though his versatility and

skill set could have him lining up just about anywhere

in the secondary.

MONTRE HARTAGE — Hartage will have a lot

of players to beat out if he hopes to make the active

roster, but the rookie free agent from Northwestern

showed promise in the spring. Keep an eye on him as

a candidate for the practice squad.

XAVIEN HOWARD — The Dolphins took care of

a big order of business in the offseason when they

signed Howard to a contract extension, and he then

went out and performed in practice as he always has.

As the Dolphins head into training camp, Howard is

one of the surest things on the team.

RESHAD JONES — The two-time Pro Bowl se-

lection drew a lot of attention in the spring for stay-

ing away from the team until the mandatory

minicamp, but he was in shape when he showed up

and what he missed were voluntary sessions. There

was uncertainty about Jones’ status throughout the

spring, not only because of his absence but because of

his contract and because of his refusal to enter a game

last season when he didn’t start. Jones’ contract

makes him difficult to trade, so the expectation

should be that he’ll be there in training camp and will

play a big role on defense again in the fall.

CHRIS LAMMONS — After joining the Dolphins

practice squad late last season, Lammons was signed

to a futures contract. He’s got some work on his hands

to be able to earn a roster spot.

BOBBY McCAIN — McCain has been a key con-

tributor in the secondary since 2015 and was re-

warded last June with a new four-year contract. He

should play a significant role again in 2019, though

it’ll be interesting to see where he’s used in training

camp after taking snaps at free safety in the spring.

T.J. McDONALD — Another member of the Dol-

phins’ deep group of safeties, McDonald likely will

find himself in a starting role again if Fitzpatrick in-

deed lines up as the nickel corner.

TORRY McTYER — McTyer enters an important

summer after getting the chance to get increased play-

ing time in his second season in 2018. McTyer had a

rather nondescript spring and will be battling with

several other young corners for a roster spot.

NIK NEEDHAM — Needham was a very good

cover corner at UTEP, but went undrafted in 2019 and

now finds himself needing a strong training camp

showing to attract the attention of the coaches.

ERIC ROWE — Perhaps the front-runner to team

up with Xavien Howard as the starting cornerbacks,

Rowe had his moments in the spring practices open to

the media but also gave up his share of completions.

Rowe has familiarity with the new defensive scheme,

but he needs to show consistency and give his

coaches some trust in him.

MAURICE SMITH — The former undrafted free

agent out of the University of Georgia has made con-

tributions each of the past two seasons, but will be

looking to make an impact of some sort in the sum-

mer to earn a roster spot.

CORDREA TANKERSLEY — Tankersley is at a

crossroads in his third training camp after starting 11

games as a rookie, losing playing time in his second

season before being injured and missing this spring

as he continued to work his way back. Tankersley,

though, has enough ability that the Dolphins used a

third-round pick on him in 2017, but he needs to step

up this summer when he makes his way back onto the

practice field.

JOMAL WILTZ — Wiltz is the X-factor at cor-

nerback after joining the team following two years on

the Patriots practice squad. Wiltz wasn’t perfect in the

spring, but he had at least one practice where he made

several plays and opened some eyes.

SPECIALISTS

LS JOHN DENNEY — Denney is back for his

15th training camp at the age of 40 and he’s still per-

forming at a high level, though the feeling persists

that the Dolphins will want to get younger at some

point.

LS WESLEY FARNSWORTH — Farnsworth is

the guy this year who will try to unseat Denney and

the assignment is pretty simple: Impress enough to

convince the Dolphins he can be the guy for years to

come.

P MATT HAACK — Haack has done some good

things for the Dolphins since becoming their punter in

2017 and the fact he’s left-footed doesn’t hurt. The

challenge is to keep working on his consistency,

which will be the goal in training camp as he looks to

fend off a challenge from rookie Stone Wilson.

K JASON SANDERS — It’s a testament to

Sanders’ brilliant rookie season that the Dolphins did-

n’t bring anybody to challenge Sanders for his job.

P STONE WILSON — The undrafted free agent from

Florida International University in Miami likely will

need to have a magnificent training camp and preseason

to be able to beat out Haack for the punting job.

Reshad Jones

USA TODAY Sports/STEVE MITCHELL