They may be called a secondary, but the Miami Dolphins’ defensive backs have been first in command. Led by pro bowler Xavien Howard, the Miami Dolphins’ backup cornerbacks have shown just how important it is to make the most of your opportunity. Through the last three weeks, we have seen some excellent play from guys such as Keion Crossen, Noah Igbinoghene, and Justin Bethel. Whenever an injury bug plagues a secondary, it can be tough to make the necessary changes in coverage, and miss matches are much more likely. In the case of the Dolphins, we have seen  2nd and 3rd string cornerbacks hold their own against solid number-one receivers. Last week against the Vikings, Noah Igbinoghene showed some significant improvement, most noticeably in the way he brought his head around on contested catches. In the previous three games, the Dolphins have improved in pass defense, only allowing 196.3 yards per game, which is well under the season average. So how are the Dolphin’s defensive backs getting it done? Let’s go over some of the stars of Miami’s no-name secondary.

The first introduction goes to the player that sealed a gritty Sunday night victory for the Dolphins, Noah Igbinoghene. All Dolphin fans know Noah very well and probably have had some critical thoughts toward him. There is no question that Noah has stepped his game up in the last two weeks. Noah made two huge pass deflections in the game vs. the Vikings that kept Miami alive. In his Sunday night showing against the Steelers, we saw some early mistakes, mainly against Pickens, but he didn’t waiver and finished the game with four total tackles and a game-winning interception. The credit may have to go to cornerback coach Sam Madison. I believe Noah’s rejuvenated spirit has been mainly fueled by the coaching and leadership of Madison and the rest of the secondary. I expect Noah to continue to start for at least another two weeks as the Dolphins await Byron Jones’ return. In the meantime, I hope Noah can continue progressing toward the 1st round cornerback we expected him to be.

Another player who claimed an interception on Sunday night was Justin Bethel. Justin has been a bright spot for the Dolphins. The once special teamer and situational defensive back have now been pushed into the starting lineup after Needham’s season-ending injury. On Sunday Night, Justin put together nine combined tackles and an interception. He was excellent in coverage and made it difficult for Kenny Pickett to push the ball. Justin originally spent most of his career in Arizona and New England, where his special team play got him to 3 pro bowls. There is no question that Bethel can play in the position for the Miami Dolphins and help further improve the depth of the position. Expect to see plenty more of Bethel in the coming weeks.

Last but certainly not least is Kader Kohou. The once undrafted cornerback from Texas A&M-Commerce is now someone the Dolphins are eager to get back on the field. Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to see him in action the last couple of weeks, but we know the impact he has made. From his forced fumble against the Patriots to extremely tight slot coverage, Kader has displayed excellent rookie potential. In the five games Kader has played, he has combined for 21 tackles and two tackles for loss. The slot is where he is most comfortable, and he has the attributes of a quick slot cornerback. We know he can stay with his receiver and deliver hard hits across the middle. If Kader can come back this week against the Lions, the Miami Dolphins’ secondary will get a little stronger on the inside.

Those were just some of the names of Miami’s no-name secondary. Other guys, such as Keion Crossen and Elijah Campbell, have also stepped in and made an impact for Miami. Resiliency is vital in the NFL, and the Dolphin’s secondary may be the most resilient group. The Dolphins’ secondary will return this weekend as they take on the Detroit Lions.

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