The Dolphins have signed a Hidden Gem
(a “bow” man, get it?)
The Dolphins have just signed former New York Giants Cornerback Zack Bowman, who has the potential to be an under the radar steal. Bowman is no stranger to the NFL, having played in the league for 7 years, and is no spring chicken at 30 years old, but he is a fierce competitor who has fought for playing time his entire career. (Random side note Michael Crabtree just signed with the Raiders, so you can scratch him off the list of available wide receivers, however that is a good thing, because his personality is not a good fit for this coaching staff.)
Last season he was not able to start for the Giants, because he could not beat out Prince Amukamara and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, however those are two very good cornerbacks, so that is not a knock on Bowman’s ability. Even though he did not start last season, he was still able to get his fair share of playing time with 450 snaps, and was able to pick off two passes and post 6 passes defended. (He can also play on the special teams unit.)
The other six seasons he played on the Chicago Bears and was used in a similar manner as a situational player, because the Bears were stacked at cornerback as well. In his 6 seasons with the Bears he was able to come away with 10 interceptions and 6 of those came in the 2009 season. He has proved throughout his career to be a big, physical and aggressive cornerback at 6’1”, 200 pounds, that has a nose for the football.
Now he will continue his career with another chance to start, but will need to beat out the other fellow Miami cornerbacks, namely Brice McCain, Jamar Taylor and Will Davis. As the old saying goes, competition breeds performance, and this group looks to now finally have a lot of hungry players that will be competing for a starting job. The recent additions of Bowman and McCain, who are both feisty and aggressive cornerbacks will undoubtedly help the entire cornerback group better achieve their potential.
A lot of the sportsbooks are saying Bowman was arguably one of the best corners remaining on the market. I like this signing because he plays a position that the Dolphins need to improve, and he is a hardworking football player that will add more toughness to this team. This off-season, the Dolphins have definitely added more tough hard nosed football players, which is a good recipe for a playoff team. What do the rest of the Miami Dolphin News fans think about the phins latest player signing?
So this and not signing a starting caliber WR in FA points to find taking a WR at #14.
I like how Hickey is selectively putting this team together. But at some point we need to address our Oline because I believe this team will be another 8-8 team with the offensive line we currently have. We can’t keep expecting Tannehill as tough as he is to keep taking the hits that he has been taking in his first 3 years. At some point he would end up injured. For the Dolphins this offseason has been a B+ but with a solid draft it would make it a solid A. In the J.Ireland era we could never say that.
Rich, this team was 8-8 last year,,,, do you think we are better now than before (and thats before the draft)? I believe so, and that alone could have won us 2 or more games, thus getting us into the playoffs, with the current O-Line we have. O-Line does need at least one more starting caliber guard, unless it is Scherff does not need to be in the first or second rounds.
IF we don’t get Schreff than there are a handful of starting caliber guards that can be had in the 2nd or 3rd round
We will be drafting at least one Guard, and after the Draft we still may pick up Connelly from the Pats
Good signing for several reasons. The first being special teams, the second being corner or nickel. I believe that the job is Taylor’s to lose, but if he misses any time due to injury his paying time would be significantly reduced, as well as his long term future w/the team.
There is a theme with the signing of the 2 CBs, McCain & Bowman, these players are accountable, meaning they are on the field, missing very little if any time. They have very little injury history, a theme they did not take into account last year.
Good players, make good teams, mix in a couple great players and you have a formula for greatness!!!
McCain and Bowman are also tough and are going to work their butts off
100% agree Jimmy, I really like how this roster is shaping up.
I like the signing
I agree it takes the need to draft a CB in the first 2 rounds away
We can now get one in the 5th round
Plus it allows us to go after 3 offensive players with our first 3 picks
Ralph, I like the thought about 3 offensive players w/the first 3 picks, but I do think there may be a Lber in one of the first two rounds.
I think we def need a lb in the first 3 picks, probably also a guard and WR
McKinney might be there in round 2 for us and I think he is a solid fit, even to start as a two down run stopper until his pass coverage develops. Making sure we shore up the run protects are massive investment in Suh. Would be a great pick considering he was once projected to us at #14.
I like McKinney and in the second would be nice value
I agree this signing definitely means CB is a much lower need now in the draft
This drops the CB need from important to prudent, but now hopefully we can target a guy like IEO who dropped because of injury or even more of a project, like the ones Hickey likes to find late in the draft, and develop. I like this guy’s measurables because it will be nice not to field three corners 5″10 and under (Grimes, Finnegan, and Wilson) especially against some teams with tall receivers. Don’t forget who is back in our division but playing against us. Brandon Marshall and Decker are both in the 6’4″ range which we know in red zone coverage we can rely on Dion Jordan to cover a tall body, but you need to have at least one tall corner. Aikens I believe is 6’1″, hopefully he makes some strides this year as well. We need somebody to step up opposite Grimes like Jenkins stepped up at LB last year.
How can you say he is a gem when he has never beaten out any of the players in front of him?
Hidden gem, because all the guys he could not beat out are very very good corners. In 2009 he had 6 interceptions, this guy can play
Yelp! I would agree maybe he is the answer to the corner back playing opposite Grimes etc.