MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins are preparing cornerback Chris Johnson to play both slot (aka nickel) cornerback as well as outside cornerback.
And for any rookie, that would be a challenge.
“Coming here and actually learning the zone drops and learning the different kinds of coverages,” Johnson said after the Dolphins’ third mandatory minicamp practice last week. “As you know, it’s not easy, but I’m getting it done. You know what I mean? And like you said, Coach (Jeff) Hafley being able to put me in that position just says he views me as a very important player.”
Miami selected Johnson in the first round to start.
JuJu Brents and Jason Marshall are probably two of the three best cornerbacks on the roster at this time and they are both better suited to play outside.
Marshall has taken a step forward since Miami has shifted his focus from inside to outside this spring.
This means, as Hafley has said, Johnson could be in the slot when the team is utilizing three or more cornerbacks.
“It’s really just the newness of playing nickel for me, at least at this level,” Johnson said. “All the corner stuff is pretty straightforward and easy, corner is corner. But going into nickel, you have a lot of different responsibilities than just covering the outside receiver. So really just being able to balance those two and then remembering which position I’m playing on the field.”
Position versatility and flexibility of several players on the Dolphins should be an advantage for Hafley, who is also the defensive play-caller.
“I think he’s done a really nice job,” Hafley said of Johnson. “He is very instinctual. He sees the game very fast. He works really hard in the meeting rooms. He’s super athletic, has really good coverage ability. He’s been able to get his hand on the football. And we’ve asked him to do a lot, and he’s handled it very, very well.”
At some point, Johnson is going to hope that he can think less and react more.
“Very important to not be a robot out there,” Johnson said. “I feel like that’s something that all the players, all the coaches are kind of putting out there. Don’t be a robot, you don’t gotta do exactly what the sheet says. Because sometimes your raw instincts are just gonna take over.”
Johnson is one of 13 Dolphins draft picks and it’s clear he’s a rookie in the group.
On a rookies group text chat, Johnson said he’s most active and Trey Moore is least active.
“I’m like, ‘Yo, like, Let’s go get some food or something,’ ” Johnson said.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins rookie Chris Johnson says learning two positions ‘not easy.’
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
