Dolphins Monday Talking Points: Will Channing Crowder be ready?

Whither Channing Crowder? That was the question being asked when Crowder was nowhere to be seen at Sunday’s workout, and coach Tony Sparano offered little insight into the matter when asked. That’s where we start our Monday talking points: 1. Channing Crowder’s uncertain status is looming large as the regular season approaches. When Sparano was asked by our Ben Volin if he had any concern that Crowder wouldn’t be ready for the season opener in 13 days, he replied, “Ah, I don’t know right now.” When Volin asked as a followup if he’s preparing for that possiblity, Sparano replied, “Not at this particular second, no.” It wasn’t all that long ago that Will Allen disappeared from practice, and next thing we knew he had undergone surgery on the same right knee that underwent an ACL repair last fall. Crowder’s absence now can only fuel speculation that he’s off to see some specialist about whatever it is that’s keeping him off the field (and again, Sparano has offered no specifics there either). The good news is all of this is Tim Dobbins is a reliable replacement for Crowder. Next up after Dobbins is the trio of Micah Johnson, Austin Spitler and J.D. Folsom, none of whom have played in an NFL game. The fact outside ‘backer Charlie Anderson got some work inside against the Falcons only fuels the speculation that Crowder may not return anytime soon. 2. Second-year corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis are headed in opposite directions. Smith was a bona fide rookie sensation at this point last year; in the final preseason game at New Orleans he made a spectacular one-handed interception and locked down his starting spot at left corner. At

the same point, Davis was struggling to learn his responsibilities and only rarely got on the field while backing up Allen. Friday’s game against Atlanta demonstrated just how much that dynamic has changed. While Smith was benched early for an unspecified team violation and should have gotten burned on an out-and-up pattern for a touchdown by Roddy White if Matt Ryan hadn’t overthrown him, Davis was the Dolphins’ best defensive player, making seven tackles including one for a loss, defending three passes and forcing a fumble. Smith isn’t in jeopardy of losing his job anytime soon, what with newcomer Benny Sapp figured as the nickel back and Allen trying to come back from his recent surgery in time for the opener. But he needs to pick it up with Miami facing some top-notch quarterbacks early in the year. 3. Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan’s defensive wizardry won’t be unveiled until the opener at Buffalo. Linebacker Karlos Dansby said Sunday that nobody should be concerned about the Dolphins’ lack of a pass rush because the defense isn’t going to show what it’s got until the season starts. “We were flying around in practice today, though,” said Dansby. That was after the 30-minute window the media is given to watch practice, so exactly what they did and how remains an in-house secret. Dansby is confident that everything will work out fine, and knowing Nolan’s track record it’s hard to disagree. Still, you have to wonder how well a unit this young will execute when it finally gets to open up its bag of tricks under the pressure of its first regular-season game.

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Dolphins Monday Talking Points: Will Channing Crowder be ready?

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