Dolphins coach Adam Gase happy with Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso; Todd Bowles remembers working with Doug Pederson

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso both spent one year with the Eagles, and their time in Philadelphia will be remembered most for failing to live up to their high-profile billings. But Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase believes that both Maxwell and Alonso will perform better in South Florida than in South Philadelphia.

Maxwell, who was the Eagles' top cornerback last season, could fit into that same role with the Dolphins. He played better than his reputation indicated last season, although his performance did not reflect one of the five highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. Gase said he's not concerned with whether Maxwell is the No. 1 or No. 2 cornerback for the Dolphins, but he remembers what made Maxwell attractive to the Eagles in the first place.

"I feel like Byron is going to fit well what we're going to do on defense," Gase said Tuesday at the league meetings. "He'll be able to do more of what he's done in the past, when he had success. I've competed against him a couple times when he was in Seattle. He challenged us, and we had some pretty good receivers. I feel really good about him coming in. I can feel his excitement."

As for Alonso, the linebacker never looked completely healthy last season in his first year off an ACL tear. He missed time for arthroscopic surgery, too, after re-injuring his knee in Week 2. The Dolphins are banking on Alonso becoming healthier in 2016.

"Coming off his injury, we feel good about him being another year removed from that," Gase said. "We see a guy who runs well, that he hits and strikes. He's going to fit into what we do really well. Him being back in a 4-3 defense, that probably suits him a little bit better. We're really excited to get this guy in our program, and having that kind of speed at linebacker is going to be huge."

BOWLES ON PEDERSON

New York Jets coach Todd Bowles was on the Eagles' coaching staff with Pederson in 2012 and left with a favorable impression of the Eagles coach.

"I've known Doug pretty good," Bowles said. "Doug's a great guy. Very smart. Very intelligent. I think he'll be a good head coach."

He said Pederson's intelligence and experience with Andy Reid will help Pederson in Philadelphia. Bowles spent only one year with Reid, but that exposed him to some of the benefits of Reid's coaching tree.

"Obviously integrity and standing up a leading a group of men, the year I was there was the toughest year he was there, but he stood up every day and addressed them the right way and he led them going forward," Bowles said. "I have great respect for him for that."

Bowles and Pederson are both former players. They are two of eight coaches who played in the NFL. Bowles said the game has changed since they played, but there is still a benefit.

"It helps a little bit, because you get the culture down a little bit," Bowles said. "But again, you're upstairs. You're not down there as much as you used to be. But you understand things that are going on."