Dolphins explain decision to bypass signing former Pro Bowl cornerbacks, stick with youth

During what most would describe as a highly successful offseason, the Dolphins have left themselves open to second-guessing in at least one key area: cornerback.

Even with Byron Jones missing the first four games because of offseason leg surgery, the Dolphins opted not to add former Pro Bowl cornerbacks Joe Haden or Chris Harris and instead decided to move forward with Nik Needham, Noah Igbinoghene, Keion Crossen, rookie Kader Kohou and safety Elijah Campbell as their cornerbacks behind Xavien Howard.

“I think those guys are quality,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “I know the names don’t get you guys juiced up, but when you watch their play they give you quality play on the field.”

In the Dolphins’ defense, they signed veteran Mackensie Alexander earlier in the camp, but he sustained a season-ending injury days later.

Why the subsequent decision to bypass adding a veteran with Pro Bowl pedigree and instead stick with Igbinoghene, Crossen, Kohou and Campbell - at least two of whom should play a lot on Sunday against the Patriots? McDaniel explained it this way:

“They may be young and new to the Miami Dolphin fan base. Because we were going through some injury stuff in the offseason, we got more opportunity to coach and evaluate and see our young nucleus of defensive backs, which was the driving force behind [making no move for a veteran corner in the past two weeks].

“They’re very veteran to us in regard to capabilities, strengths, weaknesses. We were pretty fortunate in the process to get those opportunities to evaluate all those guys. We got to see them in every single defensive structure, coverage, responsibility and getting extensive time in the preseason.

“There was a lot of value that collective group offered us. You weigh that against who is out there and see if you want to go down that road. We feel we have enough NFL players that best served” not going outside at this time.

Needham did not appear to be practicing on Monday but was running sprints. He has been nursing a minor injury.

Igbinoghene struggled at times during camp and allowed three passes thrown against him in the Raiders game to be caught, for 34 yards. But he played well in the preseason finale against the Eagles.

Crossen, signed mostly for his special teams prowess, did generally good work at cornerback in camp and preseason. He played just two percent of the Giants’ defensive snaps last season.

Kohou impressed the team throughout preseason, earning a spot on the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie.

And Campbell, who had two interceptions in preseason, has been working exclusively at cornerback in the past week.

McDaniel has declined to say who will enter the season as the No. 3 cornerback behind Howard and Needham, noting that could be based on game-specific matchups.

Whoever it is assuredly will be targeted by New England, Baltimore, Buffalo and Cincinnati during the four games that Jones misses.

THIS AND THAT

▪ Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who had his appendix removed two weeks ago, was back at practice and running well. So was Jaylen Waddle, who has been nursing a lower body injury. Third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson was the only player missing from practice for reasons not given.

▪ What can fans expect from McDaniel be as a play-caller? “You will see someone doing their best to adjust to the defense while playing to the strengths of our players.”

▪ McDaniel likes having four running backs (plus fullback Alec Ingold on the 53) because “you want them to be as fresh as possible.”

▪ Left tackle Terron Armstead likes this group of Dolphins edge rushers:

“Trey Flowers has always been an impressive player; he’s a Super Bowl champion. I’m a big fan of Melvin Ingram. Always has been my whole career. He one of the top three guys in the league.

“Jaelan Phillips, too. The things that he’s done especially in the last two weeks, you can see the game starting to slow down for him. Athletically he’s a freak. He’s made in a lab, so just to watch his progression, I’m excited to see him continue to evolve as a pass rusher, learning more, seeing things better. We’ve got some guys that can get after the passer.”

That group also includes Andrew Van Ginkel, whose status for the opener is in question after having his appendix removed.

McDaniel, noting that defensive line and edge positions are his favorites, said “the more quality guys you have, the fresher they can play, the more issues they give you offensively because now you’re preparing for six different pass rush moves instead of two. You would have to talk me out of not trying to pitch to Chris Grier to draft a defensive lineman or edge every year because it’s that valuable.”

▪ Xavien Howard -- who has great respect for emerging teammate Jevon Holland and his blossoming talents - mentioned last week that Holland will get on his back when Howard makes a mistake or is not in the right position - which surprised Howard but doesn’t at all bother him.

Holland, asked why he feels comfortable doing that, said: “I hold myself to a higher standard and I want them to understand that I hold them to a higher standard as well. I’m not going to necessarily not say something to somebody based on their status.

“I see him as my teammate and I want him to coach me as hard as I coach him. I’m going to take everything that he says, and I hope that he will do the same for me. Of course it’s always love from me, and he knows that.”

McDaniel said of Holland: “It blows my mind that he’s a second-year 22-year-old.”

▪ The Dolphins have beaten the Patriots in their past three matchups. And per ESPN’s stats and information department and beat writer Mike Reiss, a Bill Belichick Patriots team has never lost four in a row to the same opponent since he became the team’s coach in 2000.

▪ Asked about facing Belichick, McDaniel: “Can there be a larger disparity in career won/loss total? It would be a bigger deal if coach Belichick and I were on the field doing an Oklahoma drill; I don’t foresee that happening. I don’t think fans would pay for that. [He’s] arguably the best coach of all time.”

▪ The Patriots - trying to acclimate to the heat here - are flying to South Florida on Tuesday to practice several days at Palm Beach Atlantic. “It makes sense what the Patriots are doing,” McDaniel said.