DAVIE, Fla. -- It took 19 career games over nearly two seasons, but Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard got his first career interception in last week’s 35-9 win over the Denver Broncos.
But Howard wasn’t just satisfied with one pick after his long wait. So, he got a second interception off Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian, making it by far Howard’s best game of his young career.
“Just trusting yourself and taking chances,” Howard said. “[I’m] going out there and just playing, not thinking.”
The Dolphins waited for Howard to show his playmaking ability, and it appears he is turning the corner at the right time. Miami (5-7) needs to know if it has a No. 1 cornerback on its roster before heading into the offseason, when the team will have plenty of holes to fill. If Howard, a 2016 second-round pick, can prove he is ready for that role in the final month of the season, it will be one less box to check off for Miami’s front office.
The Dolphins put a lot of trust in Howard early. He started seven games as a rookie but his season was derailed by injuries. The team showed further confidence in Howard this October when Miami cut former No. 1 cornerback Byron Maxwell, leaving Howard and rookie third-round pick Cordrea Tankersley as the top players at the position.
Miami’s young pair has grown and the team appears to have bright future at the position. Last week, Howard particularly shined while facing a pair of quality receivers in Denver’s Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
“It’s great he finally got a couple of picks,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said of Howard. “It’s good to see him be aggressive and play confident. Those two [Broncos] receivers are not easy guys to defend.”
According to Gase, Howard made quality strides in recent practices and it’s showing up in games.
Howard credits his work in the film room and growth in terms of trusting his instincts. For example, on Howard’s pick-six he jumped an out route by Thomas to catch Siemian’s pass in stride for an easy touchdown return.
Howard would not say whether he feels he's turned the corner. His next assignment will be much tougher when Miami hosts future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady and the defending champion New England Patriots on “Monday Night Football.”
Facing Patriots receivers such as Brandin Cooks and Danny Amendola will provide another measuring stick for Howard.
“I’m taking it one game at a time and just going to grow from here,” Howard said. “Take it one game at a time and just doing my job.”