The next great NFL safety could be lurking in Miami. Or at least the next really good one.
Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel raves about Reshad Jones, a practice phenom who has yet to display such dominance in games that count. Last September, for example, Jones took what Kelly calls a “horrendous” angle on the Week One 99-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Wes Welker.
Benny Sapp paid for the mistake with his job, and Jones started in a total of 12 games.
Per Kelly, Jones says he has worked hard on improving his angles as he prepares for his third NFL season. “Now that I can do that I can be able to make more plays,” Jones said. “I can be on top of routes.”
Jones showed those skills throughout the offseason program, likely nailing down a starting job for 2012. New defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle wants to use safeties who can play the strong or the free position, so that the opposing offense won’t know which one will be handling which role on any given play. But it looks like, regardless of who the other safety is, Jones will be the leader.
“I made a big jump. I feel a lot more comfortable now that I know the defense,” Jones said. “I got some game experience last year and now I can run around out there and not think, just be able to make plays.”
Making plays. That’s something the Dolphins need badly. On both sides of the ball.