Connor Zilisch holds Aric Almirola at bay for Stage 2 win
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Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Miami Dolphins' secondary gets makeover, remains team's biggest concern entering camp
(Editor's note: This concludes our summer series on the Miami Dolphins. Each entry breaks down a specific position group, examining how the 2024 unit performed. what's expected in 2025 and, finally, concluding which group is better, the 2024 version or 2025.) Perhaps no position group will be under more scrutiny during Dolphins training camp than the secondary. The unit underwent massive changes since the end of the 2024 season and its performance will be a key to how strong the defense will be in 2025. HOPE SPRINS ETERNAL: Dolphins training camp opening: 5 reasons for optimism Last year's defensive backs Kader Kohou Jalen Ramsey Jevon Holland Jordan Poyer Elijah Campbell Ethan Bonner Patrick McMorris Siran Neal Storm Duck Cam Smith Kendall Fuller How they performed The Dolphins were ninth against the pass last season, but as you'll see, the cast of characters is changing considerably. Miami had just 10 interceptions in 2024 and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has made creating turnovers a priority. Duck was a pleasant surprise – call him 2024's answer to Kader Kohou, who suddenly is among the most experienced players in Miami's secondary. Smith continued to struggle with fitness and playing time. This year's defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick Kohou Kendall Sheffield Ashtyn Davis Campbell Artie Burns Smith Ifeatu Melifonwu Bonner Dante Trader Jr. McMorris Jason Marshall Jr. Jordan Colbert John Saunders Jr. Duck Isaiah Johnson Ryan Cooper Jr. B.J. Adams Ethan Robinson Jason Maitre Outlook The Dolphins added Davis, Melifonwu and Burns in free agency. But they lost Holland. Then they traded away Ramsey for a familiar face in Fitzpatrick, which, at least as far as the secondary is concerned, offered a net gain of zero established vets in the defensive backfield. Holland didn't have his best year last season and, although he was a good player for Miami overall, his career didn't hit the high note some expected it to. He hasn't, for example, made a single Pro Bowl. The Dolphins lost experience with Fuller and Poyer gone, but Poyer in particular was disappointing last season. So put it all together and the talent lost should not be overstated. Having said that, where are the replacements or reinforcements? For various reasons, Davis, Melifonwu and Burns made four starts combined for their teams last season. They had two interceptions combined. The No. 1 reason to be concerned about this team is the secondary, and it's not even close. The offense should score points, but can the defense stop people from doing the same? Can the Dolphins really be optimistic facing Josh Allen (twice), Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels with a patchwork secondary? Bottom line: Last year's model or this year's? Last year. Clearly. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins 2025 hopes revolve around new faces at defensive back
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Fox News
NASCAR Ponders Unique Elements Of New Course On Naval Base
CORONADO, Calif. — As Ben Kennedy described the roughly three-mile course where NASCAR Cup Series cars will weave through Naval Base Coronado next year, he mentioned elements that don't sound typical of a NASCAR course. There will be a turn by the aircraft carrier. Maybe some by helicopters and F-18s. Another turn onto the tarmac of the naval base, a tarmac area that could include a chicane or some esses (quick, multiple turns). Kennedy, NASCAR's chief venue officer, doesn't have the course finalized yet. He's having drivers work through a variety of elements on iRacing, the racing game simulator that has helped NASCAR work on designs for street courses and other track reconfigurations. The June 19-21 race weekend next year will be NASCAR's first on a military base and will coincide with the 250th anniversary celebration of the U.S. Navy. "You have the tarmac, which is as wide as you want to make it," Kennedy said while standing near the top of the base's control tower. "And then a lot of the roads and streets that we drove in this morning, they're five or six lanes wide. So this is going to create for some really good passing zones." Kennedy says there will probably be 10 to 15 turns on what will be a relatively flat course, with a slight decline on the frontstretch and a slight incline when they get to the road by the bay. "I don't know all the challenges they're going to face with the location," said seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, who will possibly compete in the event, as he grew up in the San Diego area. "I'm highly confident we're going to have an incredible venue, incredible backdrop and great racing." Drivers who visited the base on Wednesday didn't seem too concerned about the design of the track. "I have heard a rumor that on one of the straightaways, we will be going by a couple aircraft carriers, so that's going to be hard not to pay attention to going by those on the sea," said 2023 Cup champion Ryan Blaney. "I don't have any expectations. I know it's going to be a great layout and a great course and just a special place to be able to go run here at such a famous base. "I'm honestly really honored that they are having us and letting us do what we're going to do. And I think it's going to be a heck of a time. I'm incredibly excited about it." All three NASCAR national series will compete on the track, with the course finalized sometime this fall. "I have no clue," said 2021 Cup champion Kyle Larson. "I haven't seen any drawing or anything of anything yet. But I don't really care what the course is. I'm just happy that we're doing this. "It's going to be a fun event no matter what. It's a beautiful part of the country. You're racing on a Navy base. This is pretty surreal." Larson indicated that they won't know how the track will race until they race. "A lot of times, the weirder and crazier the tracks are, the better racing we have," Larson said. "When we think things aren't going to be right, it creates chaos and whatnot. ... We could build an oval right here. We can build a road course. I don't care. "I'm just glad that we're here racing on this base, and it should be fun." One thing that probably won't be possible (and won't be a goal) is to design a course that could limit the dominance of Shane van Gisbergen, who has won the last three road courses this year. The three-time Supercars champion has won at Mexico (where he battled stomach issues), the Chicago street course and Sonoma in the last couple of months. "Food poisoning still won't get the job done so we've just all got to get better," Blaney quipped. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
USA Today
8 hours ago
- USA Today
Jimmie Johnson addresses possibility of NASCAR Cup races beyond 2026
Jimmie Johnson competed in the 2025 Daytona 500 and Coca-Cola 600 but hasn't been on track in the NASCAR Cup Series since late May. The Coca-Cola 600 represented Johnson's 700th Cup Series start, which prompted rumors of a possible retirement. So, what's the latest on the seven-time Cup Series champion's plans for 2026 and beyond? Johnson spoke to the media after NASCAR announced a street course in San Diego next year and was asked by NBC Sports about his future plans. According to the Legacy Motor Club owner, he doesn't want to stop anytime soon. "I want to keep going,' Johnson said when speaking to the media through NBC Sports. 'I want to stay in a car. I think it's good for us. We're hopeful to have a third charter. Need to start building a team. There's a chance that I run more races next year if we have a third charter on the docket and have a sponsor to bring along, team members to groom, a crew chief to get reps, a driver to get reps. There's a lot of scenarios that are in play. I'm hopeful I can keep going...I have more years in me. I want to keep going.' Johnson is optimistic about Legacy Motor Club's future, and a third charter could provide him with an opportunity to compete in more Cup Series events in 2026. Johnson says he has "more years" in NASCAR, and if that comes to frution, many people will be excited to see him continue his racing career. More: Legacy Motor Club reveals status on expanding NASCAR program in 2026
