I am not arguing if it makes sense or not, I’m not sure anyone is.
I strongly believe that there are certain things Manny Diaz and his defensive coaches won’t compromise on (Diaz has hinted at this blatantly in interviews about his Texas days). I think he firmly believes in having guys who are alpha dogs beating the **** out of each other to get on the field. This team benched (or didn’t let him start) Gurvan “Nick Saban visited me with a helicopter” Hall for Robert Knowles who’s biggest attributes are experience and tackling. Robert Knowles might be slower than some of the linebackers.
CJ Henderson might be the best cover man in all of football. That doesn’t change the fact that CJ Henderson wakes up every morning and ****es himself when he sees his shadow. Diaz and his staff right or wrong put a huge emphasis on measuring guys in practice, always competing, and tackling. Henderson almost definitely half-asses tackling and taking on blocks in practice. He would either learn to play physically or he wouldn’t hit the field is how I see it.
How would a cornerback like that ever hit the field for Miami outside of injuries to starters?
How would that fit into a culture of supposed “dawgs” and “competitors” when a guy would be allowed to never compete and be gifted a starting role on a defense predicated on physicality and creating havoc?
Who was the last tissue paper soft player Manny Diaz played on defense?