DOLPHIN’S CAMP UPDATE

Lots of new faces at Miami’s camp as one would expect.  The re-building has started for the Dolphins and players seem to be quite confident on the year ahead.  Today I will take a closer look at the offense and later this week the defense.

Quarterbacks

With the No. 1 starting job up for grabs, John Beck, Josh McCown, and Chad Henne each have not shown like they want it so far in camp.  Beck threw three Int’s in practice this week.  Meanwhile Henne has thrown a few also and has not looked to good.  McCown has looked the best out of all three, but that is not saying much.  Someone needs to step up and soon, otherwise the Dolphins could be playing musical quarterbacks this season.

Running Backs

This is one position of strength for the Dolphins.  Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are talking about being the first dual running backs to rush for 1000 yards each since Ernest Byner and Kevin Mack with the Cleveland Browns in 1985.  One thing standing in there way is health.  Can Ronnie Brown be 100% by the time regular season starts, and can Ricky stay healthy?  If the answer is yes, then I would say this can happen.  Afterall Miami will need to run the ball a lot this year since this is the best part of there offense.

Receivers

The talk of the camp so far has been Derek Hagan.  This guys has the talent to make the next step, but can he be consistent.  The knock always against him was he could catch the hard one but drop the easy ones.  So far in camp he is catching both and his work ethic has gotten a lot better.  Hagan enters camp third on the depth chart behind Ted Ginn Jr. and free agent aquistion Ernest Wilford.  Ginn needs to live up to being a high round pick and play with some passion.  Wilford should be a good possesion receiver and go to guy in key situations, with his sure hands. At tight end Anthony Fasano has been taking first team practice, but Justin Pelle and Aaron Halterman has been batling injuring thus far.  Still the job is Fasano’s to lose.

Offensive Line

With the first pick of the draft Miami chose Jake Long.  That alone pointed out this is a position that help is surely needed.  Four spots seem to be taken already with Long, Vernon Carey, Justin Smiley, and Samson Satele.  The guard spot is up for grabs beside Smiley, and Trey Danilek seems to have this almost shored up.  Rookies Shawn Murphy and Donald Thomas where both drafted to challenge for this spot, but have not shown much so far.  They will add some depth to the O-Line.  Tony Sparano knows the importance of a strong line and wants to settle on his five man unit soon so they have time to gel as a unit.  They key to the Dolphins having any success will start with this unit.  If this unit does not gel the Dolphins could be looking at another one win season.  Sparano knows this and has spent a lot of time thus far in camp on this making sure everything is on track.

To conclude, one thing that is relevant is the players are certainly confident at the prospects of the season. 

On another note rumours are swirling the Dolphins will sign recently cut Terry Glenn.  I for one hope this does not happen.  This guy is old and would be a distraction to the team.  After all the Dolphins are suppose to be in re-building mode. 

Be back on the weekend with a defensive breakdown.

Chris

Like this post? Share it »

Last post (s) by Chris Lee

• SENS GM AND HEAD COACH OUT THE DOOR? - January 7th, 2009
• RAVENS VS DOLPHINS PLAYOFF PREVIEW - January 1st, 2009
• CAN MIAMI PULL OFF THE UNTHINKABLE? - December 27th, 2008
• DOLPHINS CRUISE TO VICTORY IN TORONTO - December 7th, 2008
• DOLPHINS VS RAMS PREVIEW - November 29th, 2008