Bobby McCain At Safety A Major Storyline

M.J.

5 years ago

Bobby McCain, like Fitzpatrick, will contribute inside, boundary, & top

Bobby McCain at Safety is a BIG news story for many reasons.

Obviously, the elephant in the room is this move spells trouble of some sort for Reshad Jones who struggles to play deep because he lacks speed and is undisciplined. Thumbing his nose at Coach Brian Flores only exasperates the situation.

While most commentary ‘ho-hummed’ Jones’ absence from OTAs, I blazed with both guns at his obvious selfish behavior. If Flores was anything he claimed himself and this team to be about, there had to be a consequence for Jones’ to place himself above the team. When Jones quit on Miami in 2018, Phins brass showed him loyalty by not withdrawing his guaranteed money from a breach of contract.

Jones repaid that kindness with an extra helping of “I”.

The moving McCain to safety is a bright neon sign that Jones isn’t bigger than the team. Or as Flores stated, “There are no sacred cows in football.” The once bright star of the Dolphins secondary is nearing an aqua pariah as he inches closer to the bench… or a trade.

Reshad Jones is the past… his relevance to the future diminishes daily

Really though, as crazy as it sounds, the Jones ‘drama’ is just a sideshow in this news story. There are far more important parts of this story beyond an aging and selfish star.

While the freelancing Jones is now in a crowded box with disciplined Fitzpatrick and McDonald, even if he minded his ‘P’s & Q’s’, he could never have filled the role of Single-High Safety. It’s this role that has been in desperate need in South Florida… and even more desperate with the new scheme.

According to McCain, “Being a nickel you have to drop back and be responsible for some half coverages, but this is my first time.”

McCain at Safety brings many positives to the Dolphins defense. His intelligence and speed, along with some experience deep, makes him a very viable option as a Single-High Safety. Beyond some growing pains, McCain should do well splitting time at the top of the defense with Minkah, and, to a lesser degree, McDonald. But this will be just one role for McCain.

Flores said of Bobby McCain, “I think he’s smart enough definitely to move around.”

This will give Miami at least three highly flexible pieces this season to create complications for opposing offenses: Fitzpatrick, McCain, and Wilkins. You can bet with the best pay per head software like Ace Per Head that for a defense seeking to be ‘multiple’, this is a big advantage.

The Phins defense suffered hard up the gut and over the top… they are slowly patching those holes up

Quality play at the top of the defense and especially in Single-High role is critical to a ‘bend but don’t break style’ of play. It’s even more critical since this new defense wants to run man press coverage. The lack of any quality play at this important role has been a major issue since the loss of Isa Abdul-Quddus in 2016. In hindsight, what an excellent addition Quddus was… and what a setback for this defense his career-ending injury ended up being. Good guy and player lost too soon.

The expectation was that Minkah Fitzpatrick would fill that role, and he might still on occasion, but beyond him, there was nothing else… until this move. Injuries forced Minkah elsewhere in 2018. McCain now offers depth as well as the potential of impact play at the position. Also, pigeonholing Fitzpatrick in a single role both limit Fitzpatrick’s talents and the defenses ability to be ‘multiple’.

Above all, the most critical aspect of this story revolves around Brian Flores

Flores has painted himself as a man of principles and character. He has also talked about the essence of his team is sacrifice, toughness, intelligence, and humility.

By moving McCain to Safety Flores is showing the walk with the talk. Saying a star player needs to earn his spot is one thing. Making it happen is another.

How long has the tail wagged the dog in Miami?

Gase presented himself as a coach of gumption with the likes of Dallas Thomas. Moving on from Ajayi showed something too. He earned my respect there. But when push came to shove with Timmons, Cutler, and Jones, he buckled under pressure, need, and relationship.

Jones didn’t like the idea of being rotated out and decided to quit last year in the Jets game. Flores is making Jones relive the event on a grander scale now. Nice touch of ‘Groundhog Day’ justice, I say. Also, this is a sign that Flores has the resolve to make the hard, but right and smart decision. This move took vision, forethought, and resolve. Yes, it’s early and Gase showed ‘something-something’ early… but this was the only negative storyline so far and Flores attacked it instead of burying his head in the sand.

Would you expect anything less from Flores’ mentor, Bill Belichick? Maybe this apple won’t fall as far from the tree as the rest of his pupils?

McCain is the type of player the future needs to be built on… not Jones.

Phinsnews liked the McCain extension last year a lot. If he can perform as well at Safety as he did at Nickel in 2018, the extension will be a slam dunk. Add in the possible purge of a bad apple and a coach with brains and stones… good news keeps coming in my eyes. All curses get broken at some point… don’t they? Go Phins!!!

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