The Miami Dolphins Spotlight

Week 6 game predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:13:39 -0500

These are my game picks. You know the drill.

Last week's record: 9-5
Season record: 44-30 (59.4%)

Bears over Falcons - Is Kyle Orton for real? I don't know, but the Bears are playing some good football right now.

Panthers over Buccaneers - Somewhat of a toss-up between two division rivals, but I like the direction Carolina is heading.

Redskins over Rams - The Rams haven't given anyone a reason to pick them. Ever.

Colts over Ravens - Even when the Colts have won, they haven't looked very impressive. Still, you have to imagine Peyton Manning will be able to do more against a great defense than Flacco can handle.

Dolphins over Texans - I've been wrong with all four of my Dolphins picks this season, but if they play like they have lately they should beat Houston.

Vikings over Lions - the Lions are pretty much a mess right now, and the Vikings should have any problems scoring enough points to win.

Saints over Raiders - I'm not sure JaMarcus Russell and Co. can keep up with the Saints' offense.

Jets over Bengals - I'm not even thinking about picking the Bengals until they prove they can win a game.

Broncos over Jaguars - Both teams have had their share of unimpressive/lucky wins lately and this feels like a toss-up to me.

Eagles over 49ers - Might be a close game, but even without Westbrook I think the Eagles pull it out.

Packers over Seahawks - I almost want to go with the upset pick here (if you could call it that) but I think Rodgers and the Packers get back on track.

Cowboys over Cardinals - Could end up being a shootout, especially with the Cowboys' secondary injuries.

Chargers over Patriots - Not the stellar matchup you would have thought before the season began, is it?

Giants over Browns - I think the Super Bowl champs continue to roll.

LB Marc Magro signed to practice squad, LB Tyson Smith released

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:47:56 -0500

The Dolphins made a practice squad swap of inside linebackers yesterday, releasing Tyson Smith and signing Marc Magro. A West Virginia alum, Magro was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent this offseason and spent time on the Rams' practice squad last month.

Also this week, the Dolphins released practice squad defensive tackle Anthony Toribio and re-signed cornerback Will Billingsley, only to reverse the move three days later.

Tyson Smith

An undrafted free agent out of Iowa State in 2005, Smith has spent time with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. He spent time on Dallas' practice squad last season (hence the connection to the Dolphins' staff) and attended training camp with the team before being released during final cuts. He had been on Miami's practice squad since the regular season began.

Marc Magro

After playing primarily on special teams and as a backup linebacker during his first three seasons at West Virginia, Magro earned the starting middle linebacker job with the Mountaineers as a senior in 2007. During the season, he recorded 64 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on his way to second-team All-Big East honors.

Prior to the 2008 NFL Draft, Magro posted a 4.82 40-yard dash and did 28 bench press reps of 225 pounds at his Pro Day. After going undrafted, he signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent.

Magro appeared in all four preseason games for the Rams in 2008 including a lone start in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. He recorded nine tackles (seven solo) and a pass deflection during the preseason but was waived by the team during final cuts. Magro was re-signed to the team's practice squad where he remained until his release on September 24.

Magro first worked out for the Dolphins on October 2 and was brought in again on October 6, after which time he was signed to the practice squad. He will wear No. 50, which was most recently worn by linebacker Edmond Miles in 2007 and during the 2008 preseason.

Analysis

All in all, this is a largely insignificant move by the Dolphins. Smith has bounced around the league for over three seasons now and has yet to establish himself on an active roster, while Magro is younger and might have more potential.

So what does Magro bring to the table? He has good size at 6-foot-3 and 246 pounds and is very strong, as indicated by his impressive 28 bench reps. He's an intelligent player, having earned multiple academic honors at West Virginia, and is widely regarded as a very hard worker.

The negatives? Magro lacks great speed or athleticism, doesn't have a ton of college starting experience and also lacks very impressive production at that level. He's a borderline NFL prospect that might not have much of a future in the league.

The fact Magro was released from the Rams' practice squad indicates he's hardly a good NFL prospect. At this point, he's only trying to prove he's a capable special teamer and even that hasn't got him onto an active roster yet. He'll serve as Miami's fourth inside linebacker in practice and allow Rob Ninkovich, who had been working inside recently, to stay outside more.

2008 Week 5 Recap: Chargers at Dolphins

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:34:48 -0500

Offense & Special Teams

Defense

Dolphins' Evolving Offense Remains a Two-Back Attack

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:15:27 -0500

Ronnie Brown was the Dolphins' brightest star in the Dolphins' 38-13 thrashing of the New England Patriots in Week 3, becoming the first player since before the Great Depression to rush for four touchdowns and throw for another. Not surprisingly, the third-year back was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

While Brown received all the attentions and the touchdowns last week, don't expect him to become the lone feature back in Miami. One must remember that Brown is still just half of the Dolphins' two-headed rushing attack that won't be going anywhere any time soon.

The Forgotten Back

The forgot man in the SportsCenter highlights, Ricky Williams has essentially matched Brown for production this season. The 31-year-old has carried the ball three more times than Brown this season and has just 11 fewer yards. The lone difference is his touchdown total, which still stands at zero compared to Brown's five.

Like Brown, Williams struggled in the first to games of the season, managing just 52 yards. (Brown posted only 48 during that span.) The Dolphins predictably struggled in both games, losing to the Jets in the season opener and getting routed by the Cardinals in Week 2.

But just like the entire team, Williams had a breakout game in Week 3. In addition to Brown's fine performance, Williams rushed for 98 yards on just 16 carries for an impressive 6.1-yard average while adding two receptions for 21 yards.

Brown might have been the only back to score for the Dolphins last week (and score he did) but Williams will continue to remain an equally important part of the Dolphins' offense. Barring injuries to either Brown or Williams, neither will get a significantly larger number of carries than the other in a give game.

The best thing about having two backs of Brown and Williams' caliber is it makes both better. There is no reason to wear either down to the point where their production drops. While defenses tire as the games go on, the presence of each back allows both to stay fresh late into games more than either would as a lone feature back.

While this might make for some inconsistent performances and frustrate fantasy owners, it is undoubtedly the best thing for the Dolphins.

Wildin' Out

The team's Week 3 matchup against the New England Patriots saw a new wrinkle added to the Dolphins' offense, and it was that which helped the Dolphins so quickly change their fortunes.

Using what is dubbed the "wildcat formation", the Patriots saw Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown in the shotgun at quarterback, fellow running back Ricky Williams in the slot, and quarterback Chad Pennington out wide at receiver.

The formation gave Dolphins multiple options. Taking the direct snap, Brown had the option to run it himself if he saw fit. Three of Brown's four rushing touchdowns were scored in this way.

Additionally, Brown had the option to hand off to Williams, who would be running toward Brown in motion prior to the snap. One such handoff resulted in Williams' longest run of the day at 28 yards.

In the third quarter, Brown took the direct snap and ran toward the left sideline, eventually unleashing a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano.

The execution was stellar, reminiscent of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones at Arkansas. The Dolphins were able to consistently move the ball up the field with ease as the Patriots struggled to adjust to this surprising new attack.

Of course, things will not always look so easy. Defenses will adjust, and the Dolphins will have to as well.

Moving left tackle Jake Long over to tight end on the right side worked like a charm against the Patriots and was a big part of Brown's 62-yard touchdown run. However, having your best linemen on one side of the line will not always work if the defense if the defense knows where you're going with the ball.

For that reason, the Dolphins will have to keep finding new things to do out of the wildcat formation. They must show that they can, and will, do various things out of the formation with a high level of success.

The Dolphins will need to give Brown the option to go to all sides of the field. They need to vary where Ricky begins in the formation so his direction of motion changes too. They need to continue to run the occasional pass out of the formation to keep the secondary on their heels.

Additionally, the Dolphins need to continue to execute in other facets of their offense. As affective as the wildcat formation can be, it can only be so if opponents have more to worry about.

Head coach Tony Sparano was quoted as saying the team's utilization of this formation was "just the tip of the iceberg." If the Dolphins want to continue to have success out of the formation and on offense altogether, that will have to be the case.

Week 5 game predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:28:28 -0500

Pretty decent week last week as I got 9 of 13 picks right. Hopefully I can keep it up.

Last week's record: 9-4
Season record: 35-25

Packers over Falcons - Things could get interesting if Aaron Rodgers is unable to go, but Green Bay is still the better team and has to be the pick.

Titans over Ravens - A very good matchup between two great defenses, but the difference is the Titans have a veteran at quarterback and the Ravens have a rookie. I'm not sure Joe Flacco will be able to put up enough points to pull out a win.

Chargers over Dolphins - If San Diego plays like it did against Oakland and Miami plays like it did against New England, this game could be close. But I still have to be cautious and wait to see if Miami's outburst was a fluke.

Colts over Texans - It's about time the Colts really got things going, isn't it?

Giants over Seahawks - The Super Bowl champs are playing well and have to be the pick until they lose.

Eagles over Redskins - There's simply no way to know the outcome of a game between NFC East opponents. Going with the home team didn't work for me with Dallas-Washington, but I'm gonna do it again here.

Panthers over Chiefs - The Chiefs pulled an impractical upset against the Broncos, but I'm not convinced and you shouldn't be either.

Bears over Lions - Matt Millen may be gone, but the team he's built is still in place. Chicago's playing well and should beat their division foes.

Broncos over Buccaneers - The Bucs are playing well, but I expect Denver to rebound from its embarrassing loss to Kansas City.

Bills over Cardinals - Despite being 4-0, the Bills haven't been too impressive in their last two wins against Oakland and St. Louis. Even though I'm picking Buffalo, it wouldn't surprise me to see Warner and the Cardinals put up too many points for Buffalo to handle.

Cowboys over Bengals - Cincinnati is just lost right now. The Cowboys should have no problem with them.

Patriots over 49ers - This team is clearly not the same without Brady, but Belichick is too good a coach to his team get embarrassed two weeks in a row.

Jaguars over Steelers - It should be a close game, but Ben Roethlisberger is banged up and the Steelers' running backs are dropping like flies. I have to go with Jacksonville.

Saints over Vikings - Adrian Peterson should have a field day with the Saints' run defense, but I still think New Orleans puts up too many points for the Vikings to handle.

Week 4 game predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:49:45 -0500

After an awful week in Week 2 when I got only six right, I at least rebounded somewhat with 11 right last week. Of course, I did miss the Dolphins pick for the third straight week, as last week was the first time I'd picked them to lose this season. I can't win there.

Last week's record: 11-5
Season record: 26-21

Note: I changed my pick from Cincinnati to Cleveland prior to Sunday's games due to Carson Palmer's injury.

Browns over Bengals - The Browns have their problems, but Derek Anderson should be able to outplay a Bengals team that will be without Carson Palmer.

Packers over Buccaneers - In the Battle of the Bays, I think the one from up north is simply the better team.

Panthers over Falcons - The Panthers will rebound from their first loss of the season.

Titans over Vikings - A tough game to call because you don't know which Minnesota team will show up, but Tennessee is very good right now and better at quarterback than they've been in a few years.

Jaguars over Texans - Houston's quarterback situation is messy and the Jaguars are the better team.

Broncos over Chiefs - They're playing the Chiefs. Enough said.

Saints over 49ers - The Saints played the Broncos well last week and I see them winning the shootout this time around.

Jets over Cardinals - A tough pick between two good offenses, so I have to go with the home team.

Chargers over Raiders - I just can't see the Raiders' offense keeping up.

Bills over Rams - The Bills made it close last week against Oakland, but they'd have no excuse for losing to St. Louis.

Cowboys over Redskins - Divisional games like this are always tough, but Dallas is playing as well as anyone right now.

Eagles over Bears - Not to go all Joe Morgan on you, but I don't think the Bears are consistent enough to beat the Eagles.

Steelers over Ravens - The Steelers rebound on Monday night against the rookie Joe Flacco.

Dolphins sign TE Haynos, waive RB Parmele; make practice squad moves

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:26:04 -0500

Despite dominating the New England Patriots in Week 3, the Dolphins continue to shuffle their roster leading into their bye week. On the active roster, the team waived rookie running back Jalen Parmele and signed tight end Joey Haynos off the practice squad of the Green Bay Packers.

Additionally, the Dolphins released tight end Drew Atchison and cornerback Will Billingsley from their practice squad. Former Jets guard Matt McChesney was added to the practice squad yesterday, while Parmele was re-signed to the practice squad today after clearing waivers.

Joey Haynos

An undrafted free agent out of Maryland, Haynos caught five passes for 51 yards with the Packers during the 2008 preseason. However, he lost out to third-round pick Jermichael Finley for the No. 3 tight end job and was waived at the end of the preseason. (Haynos was not necessarily outplayed, as it was reported that the only thing saving Finley from being cut was his draft status.) Haynos was re-signed to the practice squad the following day and spent the first three weeks of the regular season there.

Haynos gives the Dolphins three tight ends for the second time this season. The team initially carried three to begin the season with Sean Ryan filling that spot for the season opener before being waived on September 12. (For the record, Ryan has since signed with the Saints.) The Dolphins went with two tight ends against the Cardinals and Patriots.

Because Haynos was signed off the Packers' practice squad, he must remain on the Dolphins' active roster for the next three weeks. He will serve as the No. 3 tight end behind Anthony Fasano and David Martin and will wear No. 81, which was previously worn by a tight end the Dolphins should never have released.

As far as a scouting report goes, Haynos has excellent size (6-foot-8, 270 pounds) with good hands (his 30 receptions were second most on the Terps in 2007.) He's a solid blocker but needs to refine his technique and get more experience.

Practice squad moves

As expected, the Dolphins re-signed Parmele to their practice squad a day after waiving him. It's little surprise to see Parmele cut here, as the rookie sixth-rounder was inactive for the team's first three games of the season and buried on the depth chart behind Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Patrick Cobbs.

Parmele is a strong candidate to be promoted to the active roster at some point this season, regardless of injury to other backs. The Dolphins now have two running backs on the practice squad as Parmele joins fellow sixth-rounder Lex Hilliard, who has been on the practice squad since the regular season began.

To make room for Parmele, the Dolphins released cornerback Will Billingsley from the practice squad. Billingsley was the obvious odd man out in a six-man race for the five cornerback spots in the preseason. He could be re-signed to the practice squad at some point, but isn't close to getting on an active roster.

New to the organization is practice squad guard Matt McChesney. He replaces tight end Drew Atchison on the practice squad, who was signed last week but became expendable with the addition of a third tight end (Haynos) to the active roster.

A converted defensive tackle, the 26-year-old McChesney was signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado in 2005 but did not make the team. He was signed to the Jets' practice squad late during the 2005 season and promoted to the active roster in December, seeing action in three games and recording three tackles.

In 2006, the Jets converted McChesney to the offensive line and began working him at guard. He spent the 2006 season on the practice squad and was an All-NFL Europa selection for the Frankfurt Galaxy during the 2007 offseason. McChesney spent the 2007 season on the NFL Europa Non-Football Injury list and was waived by the Jets at the conclusion of the preseason in 2008.

McChesney is a project and has never seen an NFL active roster since moving to the offensive line. As the Dolphins currently have 10 offensive lineman, there's no guarantee McChesney sees the active roster any time soon. He will wear No. 60 in practice, which was worn by offensive lineman Mike Byrne during camp.

2008 Week 3 Recap: Dolphins at Patriots

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:23:27 -0500

Offense & Special Teams

Defense

Rodney Harrison calls Ricky Williams' block "dirty"

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:09:57 -0500

I plan on having a recap video up here either today or tomorrow, but I just had to post this. Apparently, the block Ricky Williams made on Mike Vrabel during Ronnie Brown's 62-yard touchdown run is being called a dirty play by Rodney Harrison. Unbelievable. Harrison is easily the dirtiest player in the NFL, and has the audacity to call Williams dirty for what I consider a damn good block? Ridiculous.

Week 3 Game Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:17:14 -0500

I'm back once again to do my NFL game predictions, despite by ridiculously embarrassing performance picking games last week. I'm out to prove that was a fluke!

Last week's record: 6-9
Season record: 15-16

Falcons over Chiefs - The Falcons came back down to earth last week after their Week 1 win, but they shouldn't have a hard time handling the lowly Chiefs.

Patriots over Dolphins - Note to self: never pick Miami again you moron.

Bills over Raiders - As much as I hate to admit it, the 2-0 Bills are good. Plus, the Raiders are their easiest opponent yet.

Giants over Bengals - If I had a nickel for every time the Bengals burned me after I picked them over the last few years...I'd have close to a dollar. You have to figure Carson Palmer and Co. will turn it around, but not against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Buccaneers over Bears - The Bears blew a big lead against Carolina last week and I don't see them rebounding.

Titans over Texans - Another week without Vince Young, another good chance to win.

Redskins over Cardinals - Not to take anything away from Arizona, but the Dolphins were just awful last week. The Redskins provide a much more formidable opponent.

Panthers over Vikings - The undefeated Panthers get Steve Smith back against the winless Vikings.

Broncos over Saints - The Broncos are playing great right now, and the Saints just aren't playing up to their potential.

Lions over 49ers - Stopping Frank Gore will be tough, but the Niners are still a poor team and the Lions should be able to beat them.

Seahawks over Rams - I wouldn't pick the Rams to beat USC right now.

Eagles over Steelers - An absolutely outstanding matchup and complete toss-up.

Colts over Jaguars - The Jaguars always make it a game, but I think the Colts continue to build momentum.

Browns over Ravens - I can't think of anything to say about this one. So I didn't.

Cowboys over Packers - Another excellent matchup and a tough call, but I predict the Cowboys continue to roll.

Chargers over Jets - Even if LT can't play, the Chargers should secure their first win against the Jets.

Week 2 Game Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:30:34 -0500

These are my Week 2 game predictions. Hence the title. And the following content.

Last week's record: 9-7
Season record: 9-7

Packers over Lions - Detroit got manhandled by a poor Atlanta team in Week 1, and Green Bay is a lot better.

Saints over Redskins - I don't think Jason Campbell can keep up with the Saints' offense, even minus Marques Colston.

Chiefs over Raiders - What an awful matchup. It's a toss-up between two bad teams, but Oakland just looked too bad on Monday night to justify picking.

Bears over Panthers - A tough matchup between two teams that upset better ones in Week 1. I saw Matt Forte carries the Bears to another win.

Giants over Rams - The Rams aren't even a shadow of their former selves and Eli Manning should have a field day.

Jaguars over Bills - Yes, I'm sorely underrating the Bills. Screw it.

Colts over Vikings - a tough matchup between teams with different strengths, but I can't see Peyton dropping two games in a row.

Bengals over Titans - Kerry Collins might actually be an upgrade for Tennessee, but I'm predicting the Bengals rebound.

Falcons over Buccaneers - Do I believe Atlanta is for real? Not necessarily. That said, I'm not impressed with Tampa Bay either and their quarterback situation is shaky.

Seahawks over 49ers - I don't care if every receiver the Seahawks have is injured, there is no reason to lose to the J.T. O'Sullivan-led Niners.

Chargers over Broncos - What an awesome divisional matchup. Denver plays absolutely great in Week 1 and the Chargers lost to a team they should have beaten, but I think San Diego pulls it out.

Patriots over Jets - I don't care who the quarterback is, the Patriots are the better team. The Jets weren't that impressive against a bad team in Week 1.

Dolphins over Cardinals - Biased? Absolutely. If the matchup is close enough, then I can't help but pick my team. The Dolphins' shaky secondary will have to keep Arizona's wideouts in check to do it though and that will not be easy.

Steelers over Browns - Cleveland's a good team, but Pittsburgh is better.

Cowboys over Eagles - An absolutely outstanding matchup and a complete toss-up. I'm going with Dallas but really it's 50/50.

TE Atchison signed to practice squad, T Heerspink released

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:11:20 -0500

The same day the team added offensive lineman Kirk Barton to the active roster off waivers, the Dolphins made a practice squad move by signing tight end Drew Atchison and releasing offensive tackle Daren Heerspink.

An undrafted rookie out of Portland State, Heerspink worked at tackle for the Dolphins in the preseason but was waived during final cuts. He spent the first week of the regular season on the practice squad.

Background

Atchison, 23, caught 34 passes for 475 yards and a team-high six touchdowns as a senior at William & Mary. He was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game following the season.

The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Atchison was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. He played in all four preseason games for the Cowboys, catching two passes for 24 yards in the finale against Minnesota.

Atchison was waived by the Cowboys during final cuts on August 30 and was a free agent until being signed by Miami on September 11. He will wear No. 46 in Miami, vacated by recently released fullback Boomer Grigsby.

Analysis

Although Atchison came from the Cowboys, there's no direct connection to the Dolphins' organization since he only arrived in Dallas in April. Still, it makes sense that both organizations have interest in similar players. Atchison isn't blessed with great athleticism, but he's a very smart player and has prototypical tight end size.

With the release of tight end Sean Ryan, Atchison is currently the third tight end in the organization after active roster players Anthony Fasano and David Martin. Of course, fullback Casey Cramer also has tight end experience and Atchison lacks NFL experience of any kind so he might not be close to joining the active roster. His status on the team is day by day.

OT Barton claimed from Bears, TE Ryan released

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:04:31 -0500

The Dolphins added more depth to their offensive line today, claiming rookie offensive tackle Kirk Barton off waivers from the Chicago Bears. To make room for Barton on the roster, the team released tight end Sean Ryan.

Sean Ryan

A fifth-round pick by the Cowboys out of Boston College in 2004, Ryan played two seasons in Dallas before being traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2006 season. He played for the Jets through the 2007 season before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2008. During his first four NFL seasons, Ryan played in 35 games and caught nine passes for 90 yards.

After being signed by the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in February, Ryan beat out Justin Peelle for the Dolphins' third tight end spot. He played in the team's season opener against the Jets on September 7.

Kirk Barton

The latest addition to the Dolphins' offensive line, Barton was drafted by the Bears in the seventh round (247th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. A first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior in 2007, Barton was a four-year starter at right tackle for the Buckeyes.

Barton signed a four-year contract with the Bears on May 30. He made the team out of training camp and was serving as the Bears' backup right tackle behind starter John Tait. Barton made his NFL debut in a reserve role against the Indianapolis Colts in the season opener, but was waived this past week after the team re-signed veteran tackle Fred Miller.

The Dolphins were reportedly the only team to claim Barton, who likely would have been re-signed to the Bears' practice squad if he had cleared waivers. He will wear No. 76 for the Dolphins, which was worn by lineman Steve McKinney during the preseason.

Analysis

The loss of Ryan isn't much of a loss at all and it really isn't a move of any consequence. He's a pure blocking tight end who was the No. 3 guy behind David Martin and Anthony Fasano and therefore wasn't going to see much time on offense. Recent addition Casey Cramer also has tight end experience and would likely play on the line in three-tight end sets. Ryan could be brought back at a later date if needed.

The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Barton lacks elite athleticism, he's got good strength, intelligence and sound fundamentals and footwork. He may project as more of a No. 3 tackle than a starter.

Dolphins fans shouldn't get too excited about this addition, as Barton was on the roster bubble in Chicago and might not ever develop into a starter. To be honest, while he was serving as the backup right tackle in Chicago it would not surprise me one bit to see him shifted inside to guard. He might be more suited inside and as Nate Garner is currently backing up Vernon Carey at right tackle the move could give Barton a chance to compete at the right guard spot vacated by the injury Donald Thomas. It would not surprise me to see Barton backing up Evan Mathis, who I feel will eventually win the starting right guard job over Ike Ndukwe.

G Thomas placed on IR; FB Grigsby waived; FB Cramer and OL Mathis signed

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:47:09 -0500

Just one week into the regular season, the Dolphins have lost their first significant player of the year in rookie guard Donald Thomas. The 2008 sixth-rounder was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered against the Jets. Meanwhile, the Dolphins added former Panthers guard Evan Mathis to replace him and swapped Boomer Grigsby for Casey Cramer at fullback.

In order to keep things organized, I'm going to separate this article into a Thomas/Mathis section and a Grigsby/Cramer section. I think it epic, life-changing organization.

Thomas/Mathis

One of the best stories coming out of camp, the raw but talented Donald Thomas ran away with the team's right guard job despite being a sixth-round pick. He took over the job early in camp and never looked back, while rookie fourth-rounder Shawn Murphy was on the roster bubble all the way through the preseason.

Thomas suffered an ankle injury early in the team's Week 1 contest against the New York Jets but was able to play through the pain. Though he was on crutches and wearing a protective boot Monday, Thomas said it was just precautionary and expressed optimism not only about playing in Week 2 but practicing by Wednesday. However, a Scout.com report late Monday night reported that Thomas could be lost for the season and that proved accurate the following day when he was officially placed on injured reserve.

I spoke to Donald and while he was understandably disappointed, he expressed confidence he'd be back next year healthy and competing. Unfortunately, he was unable to elaborate on why he seemed so optimistic about the injury just a day before it ended his season; it certainly was an interesting series of events. Thomas has a bright future ahead of him and it's disappointing to see him suffer such a setback this early in his career.

This is an unfortunate blow to a Dolphins offensive line that is sorely lacking depth. Ike Ndukwe will reportedly step in at right guard, though I suspect this might not last. Ndukwe has been serving as the backup left tackle (though he actually could back up every position) and I don't really consider him starter material. I wouldn't be surprised to see rookie fourth-rounder Shawn Murphy, recent waiver claim Andy Alleman or the newly signed Evan Mathis - all of whom have more upside than Ndukwe - eventually push for the job. Mathis, in particular, is intriguing and is the most likely given that Murphy is backing up left guard and Alleman center.

Just who is Evan Mathis? The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Mathis was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in third round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Alabama. A first-team All-SEC selection in 2004, the 26-year-old Mathis appeared in nine games his rookie season with no starts. He started all 15 games in which he played for Carolina in 2006, but appeared in just one game last season. Mathis was released by the team during final cuts two weeks ago.

Mathis also has more connections to the Dolphins' organization than Henry VIII had wives! (Little historical humor for ya there. That's how we do it here: combine football with education.) First, Mathis is the nephew of former Dolphins tackle Bob Baumhower, who was selected to five Pro Bowls for the team between 1977 and 1986. Mathis worked also with both Dolphins offensive coordinator Dan Henning and offensive line coach Mike Maser in Carolina. Additionally, he played with starting left guard Justin Smiley when both were at Alabama from 2001-2003.

Mathis will wear No. 73 in Miami, which was most recently worn by undrafted rookie offensive tackle Dan Gore in training camp.

Grigsby/Cramer

Some fans were surprised when Boomer Grigsby beat out Reagan Mauia for the team's starting fullback job during the preseason. While I predicted before camp that Mauia would win the job, it became obvious early on that Grigsby was far out-performing the incumbent. Grigsby did just about everything better during the preseason, and the team made the right choice in choosing him over Mauia.

Despite beating out the only other fullback on the Dolphins roster during the preseason, Grigsby's grasp on the starting gig was apparently not safe at all. Just one game into the regular season, the Dolphins have parted ways with the converted Kansas City linebacker in favor of Casey Cramer.

The move comes two days after Dolphins running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown combined for 47 yards on 16 carries in the season opener. The biggest hole in Grigsby's game always had been his blocking, as he was a solid pass catcher and is a terrific special teams player.

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Cramer was a good receiving tight end at Dartmouth, hauling in 72 passes for 1,017 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior in 2002. However, he has just two receptions for eight yards in 27 career NFL games. He was drafted by the Buccaneers in 2004 but did not make the team. After bouncing around some practice squads, he saw active roter time with the Carolina Panthers in 2004-2005 and then the Tennessee Titans in 2006-2007. He was released by the Titans on August 30 during final cuts.

What's the scouting report on Cramer? Well, his totally unbiased agent had this to say:

"He's a Dartmouth graduate, very intelligent, and will have the playbook down pat by Sunday morning. He's tough, smart, a good pass-catcher, a good blocker and excellent special teams player.''

Fantastic.

Despite the agent's expected confidence, Cramer's status on the team is no safer than Grigsby's and he's just the latest guy being given a chance to earn the fullback job long-term. He has experience at both fullback and tight end, though he will definitely be working at fullback as that's where the hole is on the team. He's also a given to play on special teams in the same capacity as Grigsby. Hopefully, Cramer will nail down the fullback job and improve the running game. It is by no means a given, however, as Cramer has never had a starting gig in four career years. There could easily be a revolving door at fullback this season.

Cramer will make his Dolphins debut against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday sporting No. 30, which was most recently worn by cornerback Chris Roberson during the preseason.

2008 Week 1 Recap: Jets at Dolphins

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:47:47 -0500

These were up yesterday (Tuesday) but I've been busy with school. For future reference, you can check my YouTube profile if I don't post about them here. Enjoy!

Part I

Part II

Week 1 Game Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:11:50 -0500

In an attempt to have more general NFL content on the blog, I've decided I'm going to add weekly predictions of NFL games accompanied by brief explanations. It's quick and easy, just like me. Here we go.

Last week's record: n/a
Season record: n/a

Giants over Redskins - The Giants may have lost some pieces this their Super Bowl run, but I think Eli and Co. will come out strong.

Bengals over Ravens - I simply don't see Joe Flacco being able keep up with Carson Palmer in a shootout.

Jaguars over Titans - Never been a fan of Vince Young, never will. The Jags can handle him.

Dolphins over Jets - Is this a biased pick? Probably. That being said, I think the matchup is close enough that the Dolphins have a decent shot to pull it out. If healthy, they'll be solid.

Patriots over Chiefs - this isn't even close. The Patriots would beat the chiefs if they played only backups.

Saints over Buccaneers - a tough divisional matchup, but I like New Orleans' offense to win this one.

Eagles over Rams - Steven Jackson might be rusty and the Eagles are just a much better all-around team.

Steelers over Texans - we're all waiting for the Texans to break out, but the Steelers are superior.

Lions over Falcons - Brent Grimes and Chris Houston will be on Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. It could get ugly.

Seahawks over Bills - I'm not sold on Trent Edwards yet.

Chargers over Panthers - the absence of Steve Smith will only make this a more uneven matchup.

Cardinals over 49ers - San Francisco's quarterback situation will doom them this year. There's not a starter among the bunch.

Cowboys over Browns - Possibly one of the best and most intriguing matchups of the weekend. It could go either way, but I like Dallas a lot.

Colts over Bears - Peyton Manning will simply score too much for the Bears' offense to match.

Packers over Vikings - another good matchup that could go either way. It's a toss-up.

Broncos over Raiders - Oakland has a lot of young potential on offense, but I don't think it's there yet.

2008 NFL Awards and Standings Predictions

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:19:00 -0500

Taking a break from the Miami Dolphins theme, I thought I'd throw out my predictions for this year's NFL standings and individual awards. So.... here they are.

(Playoff seeds in parentheses...just like this sentence.)

AFC East
1. New England Patriots (2)
2. New York Jets
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Buffalo Bills

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (4)
2. Cleveland Browns (5)
3. Cincinnati Bengals
4. Baltimore Ravens

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (1)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (6)
3. Tennessee Titans
4. Houston Texans

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers (3)
2. Denver Broncos
3. Oakland Raiders
4. Kansas City Chiefs

NFC East
1. Dallas Cowboys (1)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (5)
3. New York Giants
4. Washington Redskins

NFC North
1. Green Bay Packers (3)
2. Minnesota Vikings (6)
3. Chicago Bears
4. Detroit Lions

NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints (2)
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3. Carolina Panthers
4. Atlanta Falcons

NFC West
1. Seattle Seahawks (4)
2. St. Louis Rams
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. San Francisco 49ers

Wild Card Round
Chargers (3) over Jaguars (6)
Steelers (4) over Browns (5)
Packers (3) over Vikings (6)
Eagles (4) over Seahawks (5)

Divisional Round
Colts (1) over Steelers (4)
Chargers (3) over Patriots (2)
Cowboys (1) over Eagles (4)
Saints (2) over Packers (3)

Conference Championships
Chargers (3) over Colts (1)
Cowboys (1) over Saints (2)

Super Bowl
Chargers over Cowboys

Super Bowl MVP
LaDainian Tomlinson

NFL MVP
LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers

Offensive Player of the Year
Randy Moss, Patriots

Defensive Player of the Year
Jared Allen, Vikings

Offensive Rookie of the Year
Matt Ryan, Falcons

Defensive Rookie of the Year
Jerod Mayo, Patriots

Coach of the Year
Wade Phillips, Cowboys

Safety Culver rids into Miami; Mauia finds a new gig

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:09:30 -0500

The Dolphins swapped one former Packer for another yesterday, releasing cornerback Joey Thomas and signing Tyrone Culver. The 25-year-old Culver had been released by the Packers during final cuts.

Background

A third-round pick by the Packers in 2004, Thomas has also played for the New Orleans Saints and attended training camp with the Dallas Cowboys last year. In Miami, Thomas intercepted a Cleo Lemon pass in the preseason and initially survived final cuts as the fifth cornerback over Will Billingsley.

In 49 games at Fresno State, the 6-1, 210-pound Culver recorded 199 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions. Drafted by the Packers in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, he appeared in 14 games as a rookie and recorded nine tackles and one pass deflection. After spending all of the 2007 season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, Culver tied for fourth in the team in the 2008 preseason with 15 tackles. He lost the backup free safety job to Charlie Peprah and was released on Aug. 30 during final cuts.

Analysis

Thomas had a solid preseason but he was never entirely secure on the roster, so it's not too surprising to see him cut here. He could be brought back if the Dolphins needed corner help, but three of their safeties (Chris Crocker, Jason Allen, Renaldo Hill) have plenty of corner experience so having four won't be a huge issue. Thomas has been a disappointment since entering the league as a third-rounder and might not have much of a future in the league beyond camp body/potential backup.

I see the Culver signing as a solid but not entirely significant one. Culver doesn't have great speed but he's extremely smart and has been called a "coach on the field." A solid all-around player, he'll probably start off on special teams but could push first-round disappointment Jason Allen for playing time eventually. Allen lost the starting free safety gig to Chris Crocker in the preseason and will likely be working primarily on special teams himself.

Mauia inks with Bengals

In former Dolphins news, recently released fullback Reagan Mauia was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. The team's starting fullback, Jeremi Johnson, was placed on injured reserve the same day. Mauia will initially back up Daniel Coats for Cincinnati, though if he could ever become more consistent and utilize his physical tools he could be something more. He's a pure blocker and not a threat with the ball in any way.

Dolphins cut three players, claim three off waivers

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:15:00 -0500

Everyone knew the Dolphins' roster wasn't finalized even after Saturday's cut down to 53, and that was confirmed the following day when the Dolphins made three transactions involving six players. The team waived wide receiver Anthony Armstrong, offensive lineman Trey Darilek and linebacker Rob Ninkovich while claiming three players off waivers - wide receiver Brandon London (Giants) and offensive lineman Andy Alleman (Saints) and Nate Garner (Jets).

The Odd Men Out

Armstrong was signed during training camp as a member of arena league's Dallas Desperados. He impressed the staff with his deep-play ability in camp and finished the preseason with six catches for 61 yards. He was the sixth and final receiver on the roster before his release.
Darilek, who attended training camp with the Cowboys in 2007 before heading to the CFL, opened camp as the starting right guard, worked some at tackle and played the final two preseason games at center.
Ninkovich spent last season with the Dolphins after being claimed off waivers from the Saints. He was productive this preseason at outside linebacker, recording eight tackles and two sacks.

The Newcomers

Undrafted out of UMass in 2007, wide receiver Brandon London spent his first season on the Giants' practice squad and received a Super Bowl ring when the Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. In the 2008 preseason, London finished third on the team in receptions (7) and fourth in yards (86). He will wear No. 17 in Miami, which was most recently worn by undrafted receiver John Dunlap in camp.
Alleman began his college career as a defensive end at Pitt before transferring to Akron and making the switch to the offensive line. He was selected in the third round by the Saints in 2007 but was inactive for 15 games his rookie season. (He dressed but did not play in the other.) Alleman will wear No. 57 in Miami, most recently worn by linebacker Titus Brown in camp.
The lone drafted player among Miami's claims, offensive tackle Nate Garner was selected by the Jets in the seventh round this year out of Arkansas. He will wear No. 75 in Miami, which was most recently worn by undrafted guard Matt Spanos in camp.

Analysis

The most surprising cut of the three is Darilek. Not because Darilek was a good player, but because his versatility across the line had been so valued in camp. He worked plenty at guard and tackle and was most recently the second-team center behind Samson Satele. While Alleman, who will now backup Satele, easily has more upside that Darilek, I would have expected Ike Ndukwe to go before Darilek.

The release of Ninkovich is also somewhat of a surprise, albeit a minor one. Ninkovich did have a good camp and preseason, but he was nothing more than the third-string strong side linebacker and the team was sorely lacking offensive line depth. I do not believe Ninkovich is eligible for the practice squad, but I could be mistaken.

I had initially predicted Armstrong to be cut on Saturday, but it seems I was a day late. At his size (5-11, 175) there are durability concerns but he's got potential as a deep threat. He'll likely land on the practice squad.

I'm not going to claim to be an expert on the three players Miami claimed, because I am not. That being said, London does seem like a good pickup. He possesses good size at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, and it sounds as if he made a strong case to beat out perennial disappointment Sinorice Moss in New York. (Perhaps Moss' draft status saved him.) I don't expect London to contribute any time soon, as he's more of a project than anything. Neither he nor Greg Camarillo is secure on the roster.

I will admit it is curious that Alleman, a third-round pick last year, was unable to even get on the field his rookie season. (Hey, neither could their first-rounder, Robert Meahem.) That being said, we know he's a solid prospect as a former third-rounder and the fact that nearly a quarter of the teams in the NFL (including the Jets and Patriots) put in claims for him bodes well for us too. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Alleman will back up Satele at center and could develop into a reliable backup along the interior line.

I'm not saying it's the case, but realistically it's possible the claiming of Nate Garner from the Jets could be simply reconnaissance. Maybe the team does like the 6-foot-7, 310-pound Garner as a backup tackle and maybe they'll keep him, but there's no denying there is an advantage to bringing in a recently-released Jets player a week before we play them in the season opener. The Jets and Patriots do this kind of thing all the time trying to gain an edge on one another. Only time will tell how the Dolphins really view Garner, but don't be shocked if his tenure here following Week 1 is short. For now, he'll back up Vernon Carey at right tackle.

Dolphins trim roster to 53

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:08:37 -0500

The deadline for final cuts came and went this afternoon and the Dolphins parted ways with 17 players to get down to the 53-man limit. Keep in mind that although certain players did not get cut today, it does not mean they are safe for the regular season. The team is sure to add some players from other teams' cuts, which will push some more guys off the roster.

For now, here are the team's final cuts, along with some brief analysis.

CB Will Billingsley

Billingsley had intriguing physical tools but was way too raw to make the roster over the likes of Nathan Jones and Joey Thomas. He could be a project on the practice squad.

LB Titus Brown

Brown is a solid pass-rushing prospect but did not stand out in preseason. He too is a candidate for the practice squad.

S Courtney Bryan

Even with the release of Davis, Bryan didn't have a good chance to make the roster as Yeremiah Bell's backup. If the Dolphins don't add anyone else, a free safety like Renaldo Hill will probable double as a backup strong safety. As a Cameron signing with no practice squad eligibility, it seems unlikely he'll return to Miami.

C Mike Byrne

The writing was on the wall for my boy Byrne when he didn't play in the final two preseason games. Not surprisingly, I've been told he isn't in consideration for the practice squad right now.

WR Jayson Foster

Foster's size will always be a negative and he failed to make up for it with any impressive special teams play in the preseason. I expect he could make he practice squad, but if Armstrong gets cut in favor of a waiver claim, Armstrong would probably jump him in line for that.

LB Maurice Fountain

Fountain never really had a shot to make the team. He's had on great year in af2 and a barely notable year in the arena league. The talent just isn't there.

LB Junior Glymph

Glymph had a slight edge having been in camp with the Cowboys last season, but Rob Ninkovich easily outplayed him for a reserve outside linebacker spot. He'll probably continue to be a journeyman.

T Daren Heerspink

He may have been only one of four tackles on the roster, but he never showed enough to warrant an active roster spot. The Dolphins will look at other teams' cuts for tackle depth.

RB Lex Hilliard

Hilliard showed very little in the preseason, averaging 2.8 yards per carry in mop-up duty in the preseason. Fellow sixth-rounder Jalen Parmele made the team and is far and away the better prospect. I'm not even sure Hilliard has earned a roster spot at this point.

FB Reagan Mauia

Some fans (and EA Sports, who rated him an 89 in Madden 09) might be surprised, but I'm not. I had initially expected Mauia to make the team because of his upside, but Boomer Grigsby clearly outperformed Mauia in camp and preseason and this was clearly the right choice. Mauia is overrated as a blocker, he's not a good ball carrier, he can't catch the ball and he doesn't play special teams. Of course, he'll probably end up on the Patriots and rush for 100 yards against us.

LB Edmond Miles

This is one of the two cut I did not predict, though it's certainly not surprising. I had Miles making the roster solely because of his special teams play, but I fully realize he's very undersized for the scheme and understand this move completely. The Dolphins will look for a more appropriate backup inside. (Ahmad Brooks, please.)

TE Matthew Mulligan

Perhaps the least surprising cut of all. Mulligan entered camp as the sixth tight end and only moved up to fifth because Aaron Halterman went on injured reserve. A pure blocking tight end, I'm not sure he has a future in this league.

TE Justin Peelle

A surprise to some, Peelle was simply beat out by Ryan as the No. 3 tight end. Ryan showed good blocking skills in the preseason and even made a great touchdown catch against the Saints. Peelle will catch on somewhere else.

LB Kelly Poppinga

Another guy that really never had a prayer. Poppinga was invisible in the preseason and clearly is not older brother Brady, who starts for the Packers.

G/T Pedro Sosa

This might not be the end for Sosa in Miami. The most recent signing on the team, Sosa wasn't around long enough to contribute right away, but he should be a practice squad candidate and, if so, could be activated during the season.

G Matt Spanos

I initially had Spanos making the roster, but he was a guy I felt would be replaced by a waiver claim and wouldn't be around at the season opener. With Spanos already cut and only eight offensive linemen on the team, it seems another cut down survivor will get the axe instead of Spanos. He is a candidate for the practice squad, but I'd prefer Sosa.

DT Anthony Toribio

3-4 teams often only keep two nose tackles and Toribio had little chance of making the roster with Jason Ferguson and Paul Soliai ahead of him. His future in the league might not extend far behind this preseason.

Overall, the players that were cut that I did not predict were Edmond Miles and Matt Spanos. Making the team that I did not predict were Anthony Armstrong and Lionel Dotson. Other than that it seems I was right on, but then again there weren't many hard predictions here. It's the sign of a team that's really lacking depth and still rebuilding.

Of the guys that survived the final cuts, I'd consider these five the most likely to be cut in favor of outside players prior to the season opener:

1. Anthony Armstrong
2. Lionel Dotson
3. Quentin Moses
4. Rob Ninkovich
5. Ike Ndukwe

If I had to make one specific guess, I'd say that one of the sixth receivers (likely Armstrong) will be cut in favor of a ninth offensive lineman. There is no way the team goes into the regular season with only eight offensive lineman.

Remember, the Miami's roster will not be finalized until the Jets and Dolphins square off on Sept. 7, so keep checking back for any roster moves the team makes over the next week.

QB Josh McCown traded to Panthers

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:39:42 -0500

Although the Dolphins have spent recent weeks shopping second-year quarterback John Beck around the league, it was veteran Josh McCown who was given the first ticket out of town. A day before final cuts, the Dolphins traded McCown to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in 2009.

Background

A third-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2002 out of Sam Houston State, McCown played four seasons for the Cardinals through the 2005 season. He spent the 2006 season as a backup in Detroit before heading to Oakland in 2007. During the first six years of his career, he completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 6,582 yards and 35 touchdowns along with 40 interceptions.

An unrestricted free agent in 2008, McCown was signed by the Dolphins to a two-year, $6.25 million contract with $2.5 million guaranteed. He was expected to compete for the starting job with 2007 second-rounder John Beck, but the arrival of free agent Chad Pennington and emergence of rookie Chad Henne pushed McCown down the depth chart. He did not appear in the team's final three preseason games.

Analysis

McCown was brought in this offseason to provide a veteran presence on a team that had none at quarterback, but Chad Pennington was an upgrade in that department and therefore made McCown expendable. McCown would have been relegated to third string this season if he were to make the squad at all, so it is good the team was able to get something in return. The compensation is likely in the area of a conditional seventh-rounder, as is often the case with these types of deals. If McCown were to be cut by Carolina prior to the regular season, Miami would likely get nothing. (I do, however, expect McCown will earn a roster spot over Brett Basanez.)

Dolphins fans have to be happy with this move because the organization was able to get something in return for a player that could very well have been cut. While it is true the team did pay $2.5 million guaranteed to a player they kept exactly six months, the team has plenty of cap space and the money is really a non-issue.

The trade of McCown leaves the team with three quarterbacks: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne and John Beck. Pennington and Henne are entrenched in the top two spots on the depth chart. Meanwhile, Beck's status is not totally secure even with the departure of McCown. Beck will remain with the team beyond tomorrow's final cuts, but I expect the Dolphins will still try to deal Beck and pull the trigger if they get what they deem enough in return. It would not surprise me to see Beck moved sometime between now and the trade deadline (usually in mid-October), so that is something to keep an eye on.

Final 53-Man Roster Predictions: Defense & Special Teams

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:13:49 -0500

This is the second part of my final roster predictions, with this entry covering the defense and special teams. As stated in my offensive predictions (as in predictions on offensive players, not predictions that are offensive), I am predicting the 53-man roster based only on the players currently with the franchise. I will note, when applicable, when a player is a candidate to get replaced by another team's cut.

Defensive end

In: Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, Vonnie Holliday, Randy Starks, Rodrique Wright
Out: Lionel Dotson

Not a ton of surprises here. Wright is the only real question mark, but he's had a good preseason and I like his potential and fit in the defense. The two high-drafted rookies have really impressed, Langford in particular. Meanwhile, seventh-round pick Dotson had been invisible prior to the Saints game and I think it's too little too late. He may, however, have earned himself a shot at the practice squad.

Nose tackle

In: Jason Ferguson, Paul Soliai
Out: Anthony Toribio

Ferguson is a lock as starter and is clearly a force in the interior line. Soliai has a ton of potential and has followed up a disappointing rookie season in 2007 with a strong camp and preseason. The team would be crazy to part ways with Soliai at this point, and you can be sure he'd be snatched up by a division rival immediately. Toribio, an undrafted rookie from Carson-Newman, has failed to stand out.

Outside linebacker

In: Joey Porter, Matt Roth, Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses, Rob Ninkovich
Out: Junior Glymph, Titus Brown, Maurice Fountain

If everyone had just listened to me from the beginning, Matt Roth could have been working at outside linebacker this whole time instead of just the last week or two! As it is, Roth is now the favorite to start on the strong side opposite Joey Porter. Behind those two, Quentin Moses and Charlie Anderson are not locks but will both make the team in my estimation. (Especially Moses, who I still feel has a ton of potential.) Ninkovich and Glymph are the favorites for a potential fifth and likely final outside linebacker spot and while Glymph has the Cowboys connection, Ninkovich has been more impressive in preseason which is why I'm giving him the nod. Brown hasn't stood out and Fountain, a recent addition, has very little pro experience.

Inside linebacker

In: Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, Edmond Miles
Out: Kelly Poppinga

Crowder and Ayodele are entrenched as starters and Torbor seems to be the top backup. Miles is undersized for the scheme, but he's a very good special teamer which is why I'm initially giving him a spot here. Granted, he could easily be replaced by another team's cut, or he could give way to a player at another position (strong safety perhaps?). Poppinga, the brother of Packers starter Brady, just hasn't shown much of anything.

Cornerback

In: Will Allen, Andre' Goodman, Michael Lehan, Nathan Jones, Joey Thomas
Out: Will Billingsley

Out of the six players the Dolphins have at the position, the five most likely to make the team are blatantly obvious. Billingsley is very inexperienced and raw and is more of practice squad material. Meanwhile, Allen and Goodman should start with Lehan seeing plenty of playing time as well. Thomas and Jones are both former Cowboys who can hold down the No. 4 and 5 jobs, though neither will be completely safe until the season opener.

Safety

In: Chris Crocker, Jason Allen, Renaldo Hill, Yeremiah Bell
Out: Courtney Bryan

It seems Chris Crocker has become the favorite to start at free safety, while Renaldo Hill has had a strong preseason while recovering from a torn ACL. Jason Allen has had his moments too, and while he hasn't totally earned a roster spot I think the team will keep him around and continue to develop him. As a former first-rounder, it wouldn't be ideal to cut him anyway.

With the surprise release of Keith Davis, Courtney Bryan is the lone backup to Yeremiah Bell at strong safety. I still don't think Bryan makes the team, and if Bell has a true backup (as opposed to one of the free safeties doubling as one) it will likely come from another team.

Special teams

In: Dan Carpenter, Brandon Fields, John Denney
Out: Olindo Mare, Matt Turk, Ed Perry

Okay, so none of these guys actually have competition on the team right now. There's nothing to predict here.

Players most likely to be replaced by other teams' cuts:
1. Edmond Miles
2. Joey Thomas
3. Nathan Jones
4. Rob Ninkovich
5. Rodrique Wright

Most likely practice squad candidates:
1. Will Billingsley
2. Anthony Toribio
3. Lionel Dotson
4. Titus Brown
5. Maurice Fountain

And so concludes my final roster predictions for the Miami Dolphins in 2008. We'll know within the next two days how on (or off) the mark I was, and regardless of how well I did I'll be here with all the details on Miami's cuts as well as their additions that likely follow.

Final 53-Man Roster Prediction: Offense

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:13:47 -0500

As the preseason comes to a close around the league, the Dolphins topped the New Orleans Saints Thursday night to finish a strong 3-1 in this year's exhibition series.

Over the next two days, all 32 teams will be forced to trim their 75-man rosters down to the regular season active roster limit of 53. The Dolphins are currently below the roster limit at 72 players, but that still leaves 19 to be trimmed by the August 30 deadline.

It should be noted that the Dolphins' final 53-man roster is not all with the team at present time. There is no doubt the team will scour the waiver wires looking to add depth and talent to the lower end of their roster.

As it would be too difficult a task to predict a complete final roster including players added from the cuts of other teams, I am simply going to predict the 53-man roster based on the players currently with the franchise. I will note, when applicable, when a player on the team is a candidate to get replaced by another team's cut.

Quarterback

In: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne, John Beck
Out: Josh McCown

If there was ever a position to have a qualifier on a prediction, this is it. There is no question the team would love to trade Beck and if they can get something for him I think they'll jump at it. That would obviously change things and McCown would be the guy to stick as the No. 3 quarterback. I predict that if Beck can't be dealt, he'll stick around as he should have more trade value in the future than McCown would. If Beck is shipped off, McCown stays.

(Side note: You know what I'd like to see? Beck traded, McCown cut, and the Dolphins pick up Jets rookie fifth-rounder Erik Ainge, who could be the odd man out with Brett Favre, Kellen Clemens and Brett Ratliff.)

Running back

In: Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, Patrick Cobbs, Jalen Parmele
Out: Lex Hilliard

There are no guarantees with Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, as the first is one slip-up away from another lengthy suspension and the other is still recovering from a torn ACL. That is exactly why keeping four backs makes sense here, even if it's not preferred. Cobbs is a valued special teams guy and Parmele appears to have the makings of a good backup running back and spot starter. Hilliard has shown almost nothing that says he should make the team, so this should be an easy choice.

Fullback

In: Boomer Grigsby
Out: Reagan Mauia

So he can run through drywall. It's not that impressive, and it sure as hell doesn't make him a good football player. Reagan Mauia has been completely shown up by free agent signing Boomer Grigsby. Grigsby is a better blocker, better pass catcher and a superb special teamer. Sparano has heavily implied he prefers to keep only one fullback and likes one that can contribute in different areas. That says to me that Grigsby has the job and Mauia's out the door.

Wide receiver

In: Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, Ernest Wilford, Davone Bess, Greg Camarillo
Out: Anthony Armstrong, Jayson Foster

There really is only one question for me here, and it's the No. 5 spot. I think Ginn, Hagan, Wilford and Bess are locks, or at least close to it. I'm predicting Camarillo gets the No. 5 job because of his special teams play, though Armstrong has made a case for himself as late. Foster meanwhile hasn't shown nearly enough to warrant a spot. If the team kept six receivers, I'd choose Armstrong for the last spot, but I think five is the way to go and Armstrong heads to the practice squad.

Tight end

In: Anthony Fasano, David Martin, Sean Ryan
Out: Justin Peelle, Matthew Mulligan

I was uncertain this offseason about Martin making the team and to be honest I had hoped he would not. Unfortunately, it seems Sparano has declared him a lock along with the starter Fasano. That leaves one spot left (assuming the team keeps three) and that comes down to Peelle and Ryan. The latter is a Parcells boy and has shown strong blocking skills. He also had a great touchdown grab in the preseason finale. Peelle has been solid as well, coming back from a knee injury that hampered him early in camp. It seems to be a toss-up as to which one will make the team, so I'm going to go out on a minor limb and say Ryan will. That being said, the No. 3 tight end could be replaced before the regular season anyway.

Offensive line

In: Jake Long, Vernon Carey, Justin Smiley, Donald Thomas, Samson Satele, Trey Darilek, Shawn Murphy, Ike Ndukwe, Matt Spanos
Out: Mike Byrne, Pedro Sosa, Daren Heerspink

As I see it, there are six locks on the offensive line, and those players are the first six I listed above. (Long through Darilek). Darilek is the only non-starter lock, but I consider him one because of his versatility. Not only is he currently serving as backup center where he's played a ton the past two games, but he's also got tons of guard and tackle experience. That will get him to stick.

I figure you have three more spots left after that for a total of nine offensive lineman. Based on who is on the team presently, Murphy, Ndukwe and Spanos seem to be the most logical choices. Murphy because of his draft status, Ndukwe because he is the only backup left tackle (and has guard experience) and Spanos because he has been working as the sole No. 2 right guard before Pedro Sosa was added a few days back.

That being said, Ndukwe and Spanos will not be safe if they survive final cuts, because I would almost put money on them being replaced by players cut from other teams. As I said before, these predictions are based only on the Dolphins' current team and that is the sole reason Ndukwe and Spanos are considered "in" here. I'll be shocked if they are on the team come September 7.

Players most likely to be replaced by other teams' cuts:
1. Matt Spanos
2. Ike Ndukwe
3. Justin Peelle
4. Greg Camarillo

Most likely practice squad candidates:
1. Anthony Armstrong
2. Matt Spanos
3. Pedro Sosa
4. Daren Heerspink

Well, those are my predictions for the Dolphins' roster on offense. We have here a total of 25 players making the team, made up of three quarterbacks, four running backs, one fullback, five wide receivers, three tight ends and nine offensive linemen. That leaves 28 players for defense and special teams, so check out my next entry (it will be above this one on the blog) for those predictions!

SS Keith Davis released (no more details to come?)

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:44:48 -0500

With no further details coming out and all the Dolphins beat writers apparently convinced this is just a football move, I suppose it's time to cover the Keith Davis release here. As I'm sure you know by now, the Dolphins released Davis yesterday despite already being three men under the roster limit. Davis had been signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Cowboys this offseason.

Background

An undrafted free agent in 2002 out of San Jose State, Davis spent the first six years of his career with the Dallas Cowboys. (Technically, he was out of football in 2003, but whatever.) He started a career-high 15 games in 2005, but has primarily been a backup and special teams player where he has excelled. In 58 games (22 starts), Davis has recorded 132 tackles, three forced fumbles and five passes defensed.

Signed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract by the Dolphins this offseason, Davis had been listed as the No. 2 strong safety behind Yeremiah Bell and ahead of Courtney Bryan on the depth chart all training camp and preseason.

Analysis

The timing and circumstances surrounding this move are curious to say the least. Things to consider:

Davis had plenty of experience with Bill Parcells, which was clearly the reason he was brought in.
He was given a two-year, $3.5 million contract this offseason. Not starter money, but not exactly minimum salaries either.
Davis is a proven special teams player, which is a unit that has struggled for the Dolphins in recent years.
While not a starting-caliber player on defense, Davis has plenty of experience at both safety positions and is a suitable backup.
With Davis' departure, the only backup behind Yeremiah Bell at strong safety is second-year undrafted player Courtney Bryan, who has not stood out at all in the preseason.
Prior to Davis' release, the Dolphins had 72 players. This is three under the current 75-man roster limit, so there was no need to cut anyone at the time.

Davis was never a lock to make the team, but given his history with Parcells and Miami's safety depth I would have considered him a very good shot. Davis had not stood out on defense in the preseason, but his special teams play was good as always. Furthermore, Courtney Bryan hadn't showcased himself much either and in my view doesn't have much of an NFL career. I cannot see Davis' release meaning Bryan will make the team even if he is currently second and final strong safety on the roster at the moment.

What the move might mean is the Dolphins will keep Yeremiah Bell as the lone strong safety along with three free safeties in Chris Crocker, Jason Allen and Renaldo Hill. However, I don't consider any of those three good candidates to fill in for Bell at strong safety as they all lack the bulk to play the run as often as they would need to do. That is why I would expect the Dolphins to add another strong safety after final cuts and potentially keep five safeties total.