Most Intriguing Training Camp Battles, No. 3: Placekicker

To say the battle between Jay Feely and Dan Carpenter intrigues me isn't really accurate. Rather, this battle worries me. It worries me because of the fact that it's even a battle at all.

As laughable as it is now, I actually had to defend replacing Olindo Mare with Jay Feely to Dolphins fans last offseason. As we all know, Feely was outstanding last season, setting the Dolphins' single-season field goal percentage record at 91.3. Meanwhile, Mare was horrible beyond words. (Though not beyond numbers, ones like 58.8 percent.)

Despite Feely's fantastic performance last season, it seems that Parcells doesn't take kindly to his outspoken nature in the media. I for one could not care less. If my kicker does as well as Feely did last year, he can go on profanity-laden tirades daily. But Parcells does not agree, and he's exerting his authority over arguably the Dolphins' MVP of the 2007 season.

Admittedly, Feely is not that strong on kickoffs and that is another reason for this competition. In 2007, he ranked 31st in the NFL in kickoff average and 15th in touchbacks. (Note: numbers exclude players with fewer than 10 kickoffs.) That being said, 90+ percent field goal kickers are hard to find, and it's a trade-off I'm willing to make.

With Dave Rayner having been released, the lone challenger is undrafted free agent Dan Carpenter. Carpenter has a hell of a leg with a career long field goals of 54-yards at the University of Montana. He progressed each of his four years in terms of field goal percentage, from 62.1 as a freshman, 66.7 as a sophomore, 80.0 a a junior and 82.6 as a senior. He also handled full-time punting duties his junior year.

The position(s): Placekicker

Number of spots: One

The contenders: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter

Predicted winner(s): Feely

Reason: Kickoff struggles or no, Feely was just too good last season to cut loose. Carpenter would have to blow him away in camp to earn the job, and that just does not seem likely. Carpenter would be a strong kickoff specialist, but I've never been a big fan of using two roster spots on kickers. If it's all that important, why not just have punter Brandon Fields, who also has a great leg, work at it?

Analysis Video: Kicker Dave Rayner signed

On March 12, the Dolphins signed placekicker Dave Rayner. Watch the following video for more info and analysis. Enjoy!

Updated depth chart and new jersey numbers

The Dolphins signed two more players today - safety Keith Davis and placekicker Dave Rayner. While I won't get to an analysis video of them until tomorrow, I've updated my projected depth chart to included them. It is now completely up-to-date. It can be viewed here.

Also, the Dolphins' official site has updated the team's roster and has added jersey numbers for all of the team's free agent additions. Here is a list of all the new/changed numbers:

#2 - Brandon Fields (changes from #4 to accommodate Josh McCown)
#4 - Josh McCown (takes Brandon Fields' old number)
#16 - Dave Rayner (most recently worn by practice squad wide receiver Marvin Allen)
#11 - Chandler Williams (changed from #18 to accommodate Ernest Wilford)
#18 - Ernest Wilford (takes Chandler Williams' old number)
#28 - Keith Davis (most recently worn by running back Jes se Chatman)
#56 - Charlie Anderson (most recently worn by linebacker Derrick Pope)
#59 - Reggie Torbor (most recently worn by linebacker Donnie Spragan)
#65 - Justin Smiley (most recently worn by offensive tackle Julius Wilson, who has switched to #78)
#84 - Ernest Wilford (most recently worn by wide receiver Chris Chambers)
#85 - David Kircus (most recently worn by tight end Jason Rader)
#89 - Sean Ryan (most recently worn by tight end Tim Massaquoi)
#94 - Randy Starks (most recently worn by defensive tackle Keith Traylor)
#95 - Jason Ferguson (most recently worn by defensive lineman Chase Page)

2008 Offseason Preview: Special Teams

As mentioned in my Dan Henning video, I will be doing a series of videos leading up to free agency on February 29. They will be released every 2-3 days and each will cover a group of positions on the Dolphins roster. This includes who the Dolphins have at those positions, who are their free agents, whether they need help or depth there, whether or not they may address the positions in free agency or the draft, and so on.

This video, on the Dolphins' special teams unit, is the first in the aforementioned series. So take a look and keep checking back for more videos like it as free agency and the draft creep closer.