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Oct 31, 2009 9:12 pm US/Eastern
Dolphins To Face Jets With Young Secondary
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Wide receiver Braylon Edwards #17 of the New York Jets makes a touchdown catch over cornerback Will Allen #25 of the Miami Dolphins at Land Shark Stadium on October 12, 2009 in Miami, Florida
Doug Benc/Getty Images
After getting torched by another great passing team, the Dolphins now head into two crucial AFC East games against the Jets and the Patriots with two rookies manning the cornerback position. This comes after the Dolphins placed starting cornerback Will Allen on injured reserve due to a torn ACL. Allen suffered the injury during last Sunday's collapse against the Saints.
Allen, who has started every game this season at cornerback, was the Dolphins veteran presence on the outside. Sean Smith, the tall rookie corner out of Utah has been holding down one starting job at cornerback and played well, but fellow rookie Vontae Davis has been used sparingly, but will now be thrust into the lineup potentially facing receivers like Braylon Edwards, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker in the next two week.
The Fins will also have to fix their horrible defensive play across the middle of the field as New York brings future star tight end Dustin Keller to the mix, and New England brings tight end Benjamin Watson to the fold. Keller has the speed to burn the Dolphins constantly, like Dallas Clark did earlier in the season. Watson has the good hands of an Antonio Gates and can go right by the Dolphins safeties and linebackers.
Meanwhile, it looks like Ted Ginn, Jr. has finally worn out his welcome on the Dolphins roster. According to the website Profootballtalk.com, Ginn is likely to see his playing time reduced after dropping another key pass against the Saints last Sunday. Ginn's bobble opened up the floodgates in the second-half as Darren Sharper took off with the ball and scored a defensive touchdown for the Saints.
Profootballtalk.com also reported that ESPN's Chris Mortensen said if the trade deadline was this week instead of last week, Dolphins president Bill Parcells would likely offer the first-round bust to the Ravens. Cam Cameron, the Dolphins coach who mistakenly took Ginn with the ninth pick of the draft a few years ago, is the current offensive coordinator for the Ravens.
The Dolphins will likely use Davone Bess, Brian Hartline, Greg Camarillo, and possibly even Patrick Turner as a starting crop of receivers. Needless to say, Fins fans are now looking at next year's draft and starting to wonder if Parcells will finally pick a receiver in the first round of the draft, or go after a big name free agent to finally give Chad Henne a reliable target on the outside other than Bess.
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