Following the first day of the Miami Dolphins‘ mandatory minicamp, head coach Mike McDaniel spoke to South Florida reporters about many topics, including third-year cornerback Cam Smith.
Selected as a developing defensive back out of South Carolina, the Dolphins need to get production out of Smith in year three. Smith’s first two seasons barely saw him hit the field.
As a rookie, Smith saw just 20 defensive snaps and last season he appeared in just six games, playing 134 snaps.
In limited action, it hasn’t been pretty. Smith has been targeted against 23 times so far in his two years and has allowed 18 receptions for a completion percentage of 78.3 and a quarterback rating of 101.6 with no interceptions or passes defended.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about the 2023 second-rounder’s development and how Smith could see more action in 2025.
“The starting point this offseason for all the players, and particularly younger players that are trying to establish themselves in the National Football League, is how we focus on the job at hand. So much of defensive back play, so much of defensive play particularly in coverage is something that I don’t hear anybody talk about – eye discipline,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel could be hinting to something and saying it without saying it.
“That from every play, how you align, your body posture, where your eyes are and your consistent variables that you can rely on when you’re having to think about other things, he has jumped into that full force. So he is getting real stuff out of every day,” McDaniel said of Smith.
While always fun to attempt to decipher the loquacious coach’s language, McDaniel could be alluding to daily preparation and practice needed for a pro.
“Why I say real is because practicing football without the focus that’s consistent with game day execution is like the difference between playing catch and running a route in an offense, it’s totally different.
“He is chopping wood. The end result, I wouldn’t want right now to get where we want to go, both the organization and the player. There’s much more work that needs to be built upon what he’s put in thus far, so we’re at a good spot in where we’re developing this year for him to perform and for his teammates to count on him,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel went on to essentially challenge Smith.
“It’s not only his job to get to this point, but to follow through without any sort of stepbacks and vigor and focus every day moving forward,” McDaniel said.
“We’ll see what he has in store based upon thus far this offseason. I think it’ll be a good day for Cam Smith today. I’ll let you tell him face to face if he followed through with his intent and deliberate nature that he’s done so far this offseason.”
The difference heading into the 2025 season as opposed to the last two is that he is not just a backup or depth player behind veteran starters such as Xavien Howard, Jalen Ramsey, and Kendall Fuller. In a room where he could be labeled as the top outside corner at the moment, the competition will be heavy this summer for one of the top two boundary cornerback jobs.
“I think the biggest thing is what we’ve captured this offseason that I prioritize over everything is really a competitive, get something out of the day, develop mindset.
“So each and every day is supremely important for those guys, because we’re competing every day, and we have to not only see how they start, but how they handle adversity that will come Week 1, 2, 3 and every game that exists moving forward,” McDaniel said.
Whether Smith steps up in season three remains to be seen. From McDaniel’s clear indication, nothing is guaranteed for him or any player in the cornerback room.
