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Maxwell: Dolphins' secondary can be Legion of Boom

The last time we saw the Miami Dolphins, their secondary was chasing after Antonio Brown in a debilitating wild-card round loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Miami's defensive backs watched the Steelers wide receiver run roughshod over them in the first quarter, allowing the most receiving yards in a first quarter (119) since 1969. Pittsburgh's hot start persisted and sent the Dolphins into the offseason with a number of questions on the back end.

This week, Byron Maxwell answered them. When asked at the Dolphins Cancer Challenge on Friday night what the future held for a Miami secondary that was publicly undressed in Pittsburgh, the former Seahawks cornerback was optimistic.

"We can be talked about how they talked about us in Seattle," Maxwell said, per the Palm Beach Post. "We've just got to find a nickname.

"We've got to run with it. But we've got to put it on the field first. We definitely have the making of something -- we can be something great."

Suggesting the Dolphins could replicate the dominance of the Seahawks' legendary Legion of Boom is a tall task from Maxwell. After all, outside of the veteran cornerback, who joined the Dolphins in the offseason via trade from Philadelphia, Miami's secondary is still an unknown entity.

The Dolphins' defensive backs suffered numerous injuries last season, contributing to the breakdown in the Steel City. Maxwell missed the Dolphins' final three games with an ankle injury; promising safety Isa Abdul-Quddus missed the final two with a neck injury; and fellow safety Reshad Jones was sidelined for half the season with a shoulder injury.

In place of the injured, Miami saw inspiring play from young cornerbacks in Xavien Howard, Tony Lippett and Bobby McCain, players who will provide necessary depth for the Dolphins in 2017.

But whether the whole unit, under newly promoted defensive coordinator and former linebackers coach Matt Burke, can stay healthy, support the stacked defensive line and improve from 15th in the league to "Legion"-level play remains to be seen.

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