It’s Time To Consider Cam Smith
Photo Credit: Corey Petrine via USA TODAY Sports
When the Miami Dolphins sent a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the defense seemed to be perfectly in place. Xavien Howard would be the second option, and Kader Kohou would play in the slot. But Ramsey’s torn meniscus will take him out of games until likely December, and the lack of depth at the cornerback position has been exposed.
Right after Ramsey’s injury, the Dolphins were forced to sign veteran free-agent cornerback Eli Apple. He has been the CB3 but plays as a de facto boundary starter. Howard and Kohou start in base personnel. However, Vic Fangio uses nickel package most of the time. When that’s the case, Kohou moves to the slot, and Apple enters the lineup. That’s why Apple has played 82.58% of the defensive snaps — Howard and Kohou have played 98.71% each.
There isn’t a clear answer behind them, and Fangio doesn’t seem pleased with Apple’s performance so far.
“It’s always something we’re looking at,” Fangio said on Thursday. “Eli had a tough game, but he did contribute some good plays. We are considering all options.”
Over the first two games, Kohou is the only cornerback with a really good performance — 80.5 PFF grade. Howard is what he is. He has some negative plays freelancing, but that’s also what makes him special, and the playmaking ability is a differentiator. He’s had a 53.0 PFF grade because they prioritize down-to-down consistency, but that doesn’t mean Howard isn’t a valuable player. Apple, however, has been below average at best.
Justin Bethel is the only other player listed as a cornerback who has played defensive snaps this year (12.26%). He’s been good, with a 90.2 PFF grade in his limited appearances. However, most of Bethel’s snaps are at safety. He can probably be a decent slot option, but that would force Fangio to move Kohou to the boundary on a full-time basis.
If the Dolphins aren’t happy with Apple, there’s only one obvious answer: rookie Cam Smith. When Miami selected him with the 51st-overall pick in this year’s draft, the expectation was that he could eventually start. He hasn’t played a single defensive snap yet this season, mostly because of how complex Fangio’s scheme is, particularly for defensive backs. Nonetheless, the Dolphins’ coaching staff seems to be satisfied with his development.
“He is progressing every day. I like the way he is preparing,” said passing game coordinator and secondary coach Renaldo Hill. “He sits next to Jaylen (Ramsey) in every meeting so he’s asking good questions.”
Smith was not a perfect prospect, and that’s why he fell out of the first round. But, analyzing his draft profile, it’s clear how his skill set is a good fit for Fangio’s defense, and at the same time why it’s important to give him time to develop recognition skills in the NFL. Lance Zierlein, NFL.com’s draft analyst, wrote about Smith’s strengths and weaknesses:
“Smith lacks fluidity and acceleration to consistently press and run with speedy downfield targets. Also, he gives ground in his lateral transitions. However, he’s highly anticipatory with the vision and route recognition to shine from coverages allowing him to play with his eyes and feet forward.”
That’s exactly what Fangio asks his cornerbacks to do.
The other two cornerbacks on the 53-man roster are Kelvin Joseph, a third-year player acquired from the Dallas Cowboys via trade, and Parry Nickerson, signed off the street on August 6 to provide depth. The problem is, both players are almost exclusively special teamers, and there isn’t a clear path for them to play on defense.
A cornerback trio of Ramsey, Howard, and Kohou is more than enough for the Miami Dolphins to establish a solid unit and play at a high level in December and into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the rest of the roster is good enough to provide a margin for error, especially when the pass rush is as effective as it was against the New England Patriots last Sunday.
It’s understandable that Fangio is looking for a higher floor, trying to protect the defense while the offense wins games for the Dolphins. However, considering how high the ceiling is for this team and how many good pieces the roster has all around, another argument is that Fangio might bet on talent. Cam Smith may not be totally ready to play, but if Eli Apple hasn’t delivered solid performances either, Miami is running out of reasons to keep the young option off the field.
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