Insight offered on battle for Dolphins No. 3 to 6 cornerback jobs. And a Phillips update

On any list of Dolphins concerns this season, this question would be on it: Are the Dolphins good enough in the third through sixth cornerback spots?

Four reliable players must emerge from a group including Kader Kohou, Ethan Bonner, Cam Smith, Nik Needham, former Bills special teams player Siran Neal and undrafted rookies Jason Maitre, Storm Duck and Isaiah Johnson.

So when general manager Chris Grier were to ask cornerbacks coach Matthew Araujo if he believes the team has enough at three through six, what would he say?

“One hundred percent,” said Araujo, who was promoted to replace Sam Madison as cornerbacks coach. “The talent we have, the development we’ve shown. We are playing against the top offense every single day and every single guy on our roster is making plays consistently and going back and forth.”

Whether the Dolphins need to add another accomplished veteran behind starters Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller must play out in the weeks ahead. For now, Araujo asserts that the young players competing behind them are plenty good enough. His feedback on each:

▪ On Ethan Bonner, the second-year undrafted player:

“Bonner has done an absolutely amazing job with everything. The main thing for him is we’ve continued to progress his technique. He’s made incredible strides. I can’t even tell you what his ceiling is because he’s getting better every day and I don’t see that slowing down.”

▪ On Kader Kohou, who went from having a 80.7 passer rating as a rookie to 133.4 last season:

“The same player is there. My whole thing is nothing changed about him with his football ability [from 2022 to 2023]. It actually improved. So what else can we do to build that confidence when we get on the field so we are making those plays and anticipating and doing what is needed to be successful.”

Araujo evaluated Kohou’s 2022 and 2023 play and has made adjustments in his technique.

“Between the offseason and training camp, that’s the time we can spend in analyzing it and making those adjustments to make him more efficient in his movements,” Araujo said. “We definitely have taken a look at his technique and improved it, not because it’s poor but because it’s part of the process.”

▪ On 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, who has been sidelined with an undisclosed lower body injury, with Mike McDaniel projecting a return at some point in August:

“Cam is so natural at everything with being a defensive back,” Araujo said. “It comes natural to him. The way he sees the game is through a natural defensive back lens. He plays with anticipation. He can play calm within his technique to look on the other side of the ball and sees what they’re telling him and be able to make plays off that. That alone gives him an advantage.

“But his footwork, his transition skills, his ball skills, just the confidence he has in himself is what you need in a defensive back, he has all of that naturally. We are just fine tuning that so he can go apply it in and out against great talent. Everything he needs is there.”

Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said Smith was playing some of his best football before his injury on Sunday.

▪ Araujo said Needham is in the mix for the nickel corner job and also at safety: “That’s what he has built his career on, being that swiss army knife.”

▪ On the three undrafted rookie corners:

“You’ve see Storm Duck make a handful of plays in each practice, making plays on the ball. Isaiah Johnson is getting his hands on guys; he’s done a great job developing his line of scrimmage skills.

“Maitre, whether he’s at nickel, fitting the run, playing in zone drops, playing man coverage, he’s made a bunch of plays too. Those three guys have been great additions.”

PHILLIPS UPDATE

Though he remains on the physically unable to perform list, Jaelan Phillips has made great progress in his return from a Nov. 24 torn Achilles tendon.

He was hitting the stationery sled on the sideline during Thursday’s practice, and Weaver said his speed is back.

“I’ve learned that he is an absolute freak,” Weaver said. “He is a specimen of a human being. He is a phenomenal person. And he is chomping at the bit to get out there on the field and play. So super excited. Mike [McDaniel] showed a clip today of just how fast he was running in his rehab program. So let’s just say we got excited seeing those numbers.”

And what were those numbers?

“Faster than I’ve ever seen a dude that big run, let’s say that,” Weaver said.

That’s important, but being able to cut and change directions after an Achilles’ injury is also critical. He was also seen doing some lateral work on Friday, which is encouraging and opens up the possibility that he could practice before training camp ends.

Outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow said of Phillips: “We’re trying to do as much as we can to simulate what we see on the field without being on the field. You have conversations with [Phillips] and it feels like he’s been through 10 practices. He’s [that] locked in. incredible leader and trying to find ways to get himself ready without stepping foot in the field.”