The biggest news to come out of Xavien Howard’s Thursday farewell appearance on local radio was that he absolutely, positively will not be returning to the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
But Howard said something just as interesting late in his segment on WQAM 560’s Joe Rose Show about his usage during his one year playing for ex-Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Xavien Howard Dishes on Ex-Miami Dolphins DC
Rose asked Howard his thoughts on 2023 teammate Jalen Ramsey’s tweet about Fangio after Howard’s release last month.
In Ramsey’s farewell post, he wrote: “I won’t ever forgive dude for not utilizing our full skillset!”
Shid be crazy how stuff plays out sometimes but 1 thing ikno fa sho is that it was an honor teaming up with the GREATEST corner in @MiamiDolphins History in my opinion… ❌🔒
(I won’t ever forgive dude for not utilizing our full skillset!) pic.twitter.com/yoYlTLcnP6
— Jalen Ramsey (@jalenramsey) February 23, 2024
Translation? Fangio misused arguably the most talented cornerback tandem in the league.
Here was Howard’s response:
“Man, it was cool. It was something different. I’ve played with a lot of different coordinators. It was like, ever since I’ve been with the Dolphins, any DC I’ve had, I’ve been a press corner, ever since I’ve been in the league.
“I’ve been a good press corner. It was totally different. I was playing off this year a lot. That wasn’t my best thing I do. It was a totally different game, but in my head, I wasn’t even thinking [about it].
“This is the defense that everybody around the league is playing. I felt like it wasn’t my best of being productive this year, but I showed the league that I can play off and I can play zone. This wasn’t the defense I’ve been in. I had to be able to show them that I can play off, play zone.”
Howard didn’t have the splash plays under Fangio that he produced earlier in his career, but he was still effective.
Quarterbacks completed just 62.9% of their passes against him with a 6.8 yards per target average and an 81.3 passer rating.
“I’m a very humble guy,” Howard said. “I was thinking team-first. … I was cool with it, because we were winning. Hopefully I go to a team that uses me right.”
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Among the teams that have his interest? His hometown Houston Texans, where he would be reunited with fellow 2016 Dolphins draft pick Laremy Tunsil.
“That’s my guy,” Howard said. “Me and L.T. always talk. I wouldn’t mind seeing myself back at home. It would be easy for me, I already have a crib up there. They have a good young team up there. I wouldn’t mind.”
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