Dolphins CB Xavien Howard: ‘Sky’s the limit’ for secondary after addition of Ramsey

Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard knows the potential for Miami’s secondary after its high-profile addition this offseason.

“I feel like the sky’s the limit for the secondary,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t want to put nothing out there right now. We’ve still got to play. We still have to go through training camp and preseason, so there’s a lot of stuff that we have to go through.”

Miami made a blockbuster trade for All-Pro Jalen Ramsey days before free agency opened, forming a new cornerback tandem with Howard that could rival any in the league.

“I love [the acquisition of Ramsey],” Howard said. “I feel like we are definitely going to push each other and push everybody in the secondary. The whole defense, I would say. It’s going to start with us. I love it. I’m looking forward to competing.”

It wasn’t just the addition of Ramsey, though, that has many believing the Dolphins’ defense could be one of the league’s elite units. Miami signed inside linebacker David Long, along with safety DeShon Elliot and outside linebacker Malik Reed, and hired defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to tie it all together with a talented group of returning players.

Fangio’s scheme will mark a shift in philosophy, as Howard has excelled in man-to-man coverage as one of the NFL’s best cover corners. Fangio’s defense has consisted of significant rates of zone coverage.

“Even though it’s going to be different, I’m sure there’s going to be a couple of man [opportunities], especially with the guys on the outside,” Howard said, referring to teammates Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. “I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a challenge this year for me to learn something different and play in a new scheme. ...

“I get my eyes on the quarterback. It’ll be something different. I’m not looking at the quarterback. So, now I get my eyes on the quarterback and understand route concepts. I feel like it’ll help my game.”

Howard, who turns 29 in July, was named to his fourth Pro Bowl this past season but wasn’t satisfied with the honor.

“I really didn’t like it,” he said. “My expectations, I feel like [the season] wasn’t Pro Bowl caliber. Even though I made it, I was like ‘OK.’ But it made me even push harder. Like I don’t want to get in like that.”

A groin injury Howard sustained in the first month of the season limited his ability at times. But Howard said he is now healthy and ready to play up to his standard as one of the league’s best cornerbacks for a Dolphins team embracing expectations of Super Bowl contention.

“I’m healthy now. All I needed was some rest,” Howard said. “With a groin injury, week in and week out, especially playing defensive back and playing a lot of man (coverage), it put me down a little bit. But I’m better now. I feel like I’m going to do better this year also. I’m just ready for it. ...

“Since 2016, there have been a lot of changes since I’ve been here. I feel like we finally got a team that I feel like we can go further. Doing all the things we’ve been doing around here, I feel like this is a team that can go farther.”