Dolphins' new safety: D will run more quarters, man

BY NICK ST. DENIS

New Dolphins defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle will base Miami's defense more out of the 4-3 this season, and Miami plans on giving its defensive players behind the defensive line more man-to-man responsibilities, at least according to a new Dolphin.

Safety Tyrell Johnson, who the Dolphins signed after releasing Yeremiah Bell, told the Finsiders that the Dolphins told him their defense would be based "more out of a quarters and just a mix of things."

“That excited me because that’s all I ran at Arkansas State was quarters and man,” Johnson said. "We didn’t really run much (cover) two, but with the Vikings that’s all we ran. It’s more of a Tampa 2 team.”

Johnson added that he's more than capable of effectively matching up against big receiving tight ends, who are becoming more prevalent among the league. Johnson will be facing the best receiving tight end tandem in the league in the Patriots' Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez duo twice a year.

'Phins add ex-Viking Johnson to defensive backfield

BY SEAN DONOVAN

Former Vikings safety Tyrell Johnson has agreed to terms with the Dolphins, according to the Miami Herald. The Dolphins have been kicking the tires on a few veteran safeties to try to solidify their defensive backfield after longtime Dolphin Yeremiah Bell was released last month.

It appeared that Miami had not ruled out bringing back Bell at a reduced price, but that now seems unlikely after they signed Johnson and defensive back Richard Marshall. Bell has reportedly drawn interest from the Eagles and the Patriots in free agency.

Johnson spent his first four seasons with the Vikings but had his 2011 season cut short by a hamstring injury that was serious enough to require surgery. He told the Miami Herald he was at "85 percent," and it's a possibility that he will not be a full participant in the team's OTAs later this month.