Dolphins hope to have new safety net for Dallas
BY CARL KOTALA
FLORIDA TODAY
DAVIE - Lamont Thompson and Donovin Darius are trying to do this week what it usually takes players a full season or more to do -- learn the complicated Miami Dolphins defense.
"I made sure I stayed around one of the coaches, so that way whenever I had a question I could try to get an immediate answer and register all the information," Darius said. "It's coming along."
The big question, which won't be answered until Friday, is whether or not one or both of the team's new safeties will have absorbed enough of Miami's scheme to be ready to face the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's home opener.
Miami found itself in need of help at the safety spot when Yeremiah Bell, the team's best playmaker in the secondary, was lost for the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon in the Dolphins' season-opening loss to the Washington Redskins.
Rather than signing one player to fill Bell's role, the Dolphins decided to double up their efforts. Miami has veterans Renaldo Hill and Travares Tillman on the roster, but until Thompson and Darius arrived, the depth behind them consisted of special teams ace Cameron Worrell, undrafted free agent Courtney Bryan and practice squad player Tuff Harris, another undrafted free agent.
"We had, in our mind, the room to do it," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said. "It's early in the season and as physical as Yeremiah Bell was, we felt like bringing two guys in, that's a unique opportunity. We've got a lot of games left. Had it been later in the season, you never know which one of the two guys would be available if you had a problem, much less (if you could get) two of them.
"We still think both guys are good football players."
Thompson, 29, is in his sixth season. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound veteran started 45 consecutive games for the Tennessee Titans over the past four years, but was cut in training camp. He's known for being good in pass coverage and had nine interceptions and 20 passes defensed in his first five seasons.
"I was confident that I would be picked up, because I worked hard in training camp and showed some teams what I'm capable of doing in the preseason," Thompson said.
The 32-year-old Darius was known as a big hitter during his nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was cut in a surprise move prior to training camp. He signed with the Oakland Raiders, but was cut once again.
In what had to be an awkward meeting, the two men were on the same flight from Oakland to Miami for Tuesday's tryout. Neither man said there was any tension between them, but at the time, they thought they were trying out for one spot.
Imagine their surprise when they were both signed.
"I think we just hugged each other and thanked God," Thompson grinned.
While Thompson is younger, Darius has the early edge in terms of possible playing time Sunday because of his familiarity with Miami defensive coordinator Dom Capers' system. Capers was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator from 1999-2000.
"Some of it is (the same)," Darius said. "It's a lot different and a lot more complex because he plays a 3-4 here. When he was in Jacksonville, we played a lot of 4-3, kind of 5-2. There is some carryover, though."
With a Dallas offensive contingent that includes quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten and running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber coming to town, time is definitely of the essence for the Dolphins defense.
Help is on the way . . . at some point.
"Those guys are experienced," Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday said. "(They bring) leadership. Those guys have a lot of work ahead of them because of this defense . . . you see guys who've played in it for one or two years still struggling because of the complexity of it all. These guys have been around. In fact, I was just talking to Donovin. He's a smart guy. Hopefully, he'll pick up on it. He's got some good guys to help him with it.
"Hopefully, Yeremiah Bell will continue to be around. I've seen him in meetings and he has been helping these guys along. Hopefully, they'll catch on faster."
FLORIDA TODAY
DAVIE - Lamont Thompson and Donovin Darius are trying to do this week what it usually takes players a full season or more to do -- learn the complicated Miami Dolphins defense.
"I made sure I stayed around one of the coaches, so that way whenever I had a question I could try to get an immediate answer and register all the information," Darius said. "It's coming along."
The big question, which won't be answered until Friday, is whether or not one or both of the team's new safeties will have absorbed enough of Miami's scheme to be ready to face the Dallas Cowboys in Sunday's home opener.
Miami found itself in need of help at the safety spot when Yeremiah Bell, the team's best playmaker in the secondary, was lost for the season with a torn left Achilles' tendon in the Dolphins' season-opening loss to the Washington Redskins.
Rather than signing one player to fill Bell's role, the Dolphins decided to double up their efforts. Miami has veterans Renaldo Hill and Travares Tillman on the roster, but until Thompson and Darius arrived, the depth behind them consisted of special teams ace Cameron Worrell, undrafted free agent Courtney Bryan and practice squad player Tuff Harris, another undrafted free agent.
"We had, in our mind, the room to do it," Dolphins coach Cam Cameron said. "It's early in the season and as physical as Yeremiah Bell was, we felt like bringing two guys in, that's a unique opportunity. We've got a lot of games left. Had it been later in the season, you never know which one of the two guys would be available if you had a problem, much less (if you could get) two of them.
"We still think both guys are good football players."
Thompson, 29, is in his sixth season. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound veteran started 45 consecutive games for the Tennessee Titans over the past four years, but was cut in training camp. He's known for being good in pass coverage and had nine interceptions and 20 passes defensed in his first five seasons.
"I was confident that I would be picked up, because I worked hard in training camp and showed some teams what I'm capable of doing in the preseason," Thompson said.
The 32-year-old Darius was known as a big hitter during his nine seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was cut in a surprise move prior to training camp. He signed with the Oakland Raiders, but was cut once again.
In what had to be an awkward meeting, the two men were on the same flight from Oakland to Miami for Tuesday's tryout. Neither man said there was any tension between them, but at the time, they thought they were trying out for one spot.
Imagine their surprise when they were both signed.
"I think we just hugged each other and thanked God," Thompson grinned.
While Thompson is younger, Darius has the early edge in terms of possible playing time Sunday because of his familiarity with Miami defensive coordinator Dom Capers' system. Capers was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator from 1999-2000.
"Some of it is (the same)," Darius said. "It's a lot different and a lot more complex because he plays a 3-4 here. When he was in Jacksonville, we played a lot of 4-3, kind of 5-2. There is some carryover, though."
With a Dallas offensive contingent that includes quarterback Tony Romo, wide receiver Terrell Owens, tight end Jason Witten and running backs Julius Jones and Marion Barber coming to town, time is definitely of the essence for the Dolphins defense.
Help is on the way . . . at some point.
"Those guys are experienced," Dolphins defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday said. "(They bring) leadership. Those guys have a lot of work ahead of them because of this defense . . . you see guys who've played in it for one or two years still struggling because of the complexity of it all. These guys have been around. In fact, I was just talking to Donovin. He's a smart guy. Hopefully, he'll pick up on it. He's got some good guys to help him with it.
"Hopefully, Yeremiah Bell will continue to be around. I've seen him in meetings and he has been helping these guys along. Hopefully, they'll catch on faster."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:27 AM
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