Miami Dolphins: Will Allen still needs to prove his durability to fend off young corners - Sun Sentinel
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Dolphins CB Allen still auditioning
Veteran needs to prove his durability while young DBs like Carroll nip at his heels
August 24, 2011 | By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel
DAVIE ??? — Dolphins veteran [Will Allen]e|/nfl/players/5469 has 15 career interceptions, or two more than the eight other cornerbacks in camp combined, but he knows that coaches' memories are short.
"You can't show a coach you can do it from the training room,'' said Allen, 33, who expects to make his preseason debut Saturday night against Tampa Bay after being slowed by a strained hamstring.
"I've been around this league long enough to know what these games mean. No matter what you do throughout this league you always have to show the coaches you still can play, whether it's a young guy or old guy.''
Allen, who missed one game from 2004 to 2008, played just six games in 2009 and none last year due to a knee injury.
"I tell the team this all the time, it's a show-me game,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. "I got to see it on the practice field; I got to see it in the game. It took me two days out here with [Jason Taylor] to figure out once he got here in pads he's still got it.
"Will wouldn't be upset with me for saying this, it's just I need to see it and, more importantly, Will needs to see it. He needs to know that he can go into the game and do this at the rate that Will was able to do.''
Beyond starting corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis, Allen's absence has opened the door for young defensive backs such as rookie Jimmy Wilson, Nate Ness and Nolan Carroll to possibly steal his job in obvious passing situations.
"I don't necessarily have to make big plays every time, but just do your job and try to stay consistent,'' said Carroll, a fifth-round pick last year who had an interception and two breakups in 13 games before a concussion ended his rookie year.
"Ever since I got here, Will and I talk every day, bouncing ideas off him. I don't see it as competition, just helping each other out.''
Carroll averaged 24.3 yards on 27 kickoffs last year but isn't in that role for now with rookies Phillip Livas and Clyde Gates getting long looks as return men.
"I wouldn't call him a ballhawk, but he's made some plays on the football, some pass break-ups,'' Sparano said. "I would see Nolan in the course of a ballgame being able to play some plays at corner for us, particularly when we get into like nickel-and-dime stuff.
"He has a role, and all of a sudden he plays 20-something plays on special teams and now maybe you got a 40-play guy and that's helpful."
Sparano changing ways
Sparano told Yahoo.com that after having just six plays of 40 yards or more last year, "I spent a lot of time looking at myself in the mirror, knowing that I need to make the change … we couldn't crawl down the field anymore,'' especially in the AFC East.
His players are enjoying the attacking style of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll .
"We'd much rather gain big chunks of yards at once instead of going 3, 3, 3,'' said guard Richie Incognito . "You run downfield more, but you're not snapping your head against the wall every play.
"I think we've got the base information down now and are learning the nuances, all the exceptions to the rules and all the trickerations.''
ETC…
Rookie back Daniel Thomas said that Sparano told him to, "stop tippy-toeing,'' and aggressively hit the holes.
Sparano also said that newly signed back Larry Johnson was familiar with the offense after meeting with running backs coach Jeff Nixon for three hours Tuesday.
"He naturally bounced something today, that natural runners do, which was a good thing, so I'm anxious to see him when the light goes on,'' Sparano said. …
Tight end Mickey Shuler returned to practice, while running back Lex Hilliard remained sidelined.
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