Dolphins at Jaguars: Thoughts & Observations (Defense/Special Teams)

Here are my continued thoughts and observations from the Dolphins-Jaguars game, once again broken up by position.

Defensive line

• Jason Ferguson's a great player at the interior defensive line spot. His acquisition was huge for the Dolphins because finding a capable starting nose tackle was a keep component in running the 3-4 defense.
• Meanwhile, backup nose tackle Paul Soliai showed some play-making ability as well, forcing a Maurice Jones-Drew fumble at the goal line. I hate to keep repeating myself, but Soliai has the physical tools to be a great nose tackle and if he puts some effort into it (which it sounds like he has this camp) he'll get there.
• Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling look of starting at the end spots immediately Langford in particular is a hell of a player. Both players do a great job of disrupting things at the line of scrimmage. As much as I liked him in free agency, I'm quite frankly not even sure the Randy Starks signing was necessary at this point. He'll figure into the rotation and he's capable of playing all three line positions, but right now he's still just a really expensive backup.
• I'd like it if there were a backup spot on this team for Rodrique Wright, but I'm not sure that's the case.

Linebacker

• Channing Crowder is separating himself as the leader on defense. He leads both vocally and by example. Dolphins fans won't forget Zach Thomas, but Crowder is a better player for this scheme and will excel.
• Akin Ayodele should definitely start over Reggie Torbor. Torbor's a fine backup, but Ayodele's got the defense down from his time in Dallas. He had a great diving pass deflection as well.
• I still don't consider Matt Roth an ideal player in the team's 3-4 scheme, but outside linebacker is where he belongs in it as opposed to end. With Charlie Anderson dinged and unproven, Roth might be the best option to start opposite Joey Porter this season. Quentin Moses will still get his chances though.

Cornerback

• With Lehan missing a lot of time in camp due to an ankle injury, André Goodman has made a strong case for starting opposite Will Allen with some good plays downfield. The secondary isn't great, but if the Dolphins' line plays well they won't have to be.
• Joey Thomas, a guy I've predicted will secure the final cornerback spot, had a very nice interception of former Dolphin Cleo Lemon, while Nathan Jones struggled in coverage. I don't believe Jones is in danger of being cut though.
• Things got pretty ugly late in the game for the secondary. Fortunately, the guys that were playing are bottom-of-the-roster types that won't make the regular season roster.

Safety

• Yeremiah Bell is a monster out there. Anyone that appreciates football would be be interested in seeing what Bell could do in a full season.
• Jason Allen was solid once again, but I won't be sold until I see him through a season.
• Chris Crocker isn't very impressive, but neither is Renaldo Hill. Tie for the roster spot goes to Crocker.
  
• Keith Davis nearly made a bonehead play trying to recover Jones-Drew's fumble in the end zone. Let it go out of bounds and take the possession!

Special teams

• Rookie placekicker Dan Carpenter was a perfect 4-for-4 and is 6-for-6 in the preseason. As long as he keeps this up, you won't hear me complain anymore about cutting Jay Feely.
• Various Dolphins beat writers have nailed it when they said during camp that punter Brandon Fields can really boom them, but takes a long time to get them off. The blocking better be good.

Conclusion

More important than the win itself, the best thing to take from this game is how well the Dolphins' first- and second-teams played. Preseason or not, the Dolphins' starters far outplayed the Jaguars' starters for a half of football. It doesn't mean the Dolphins are contenders or even that they're going to win many regular season games, but it certainly looks like things are heading in the right direction.

Updated Thoughts/Observations/Predictions (defense)

Here are my updated thoughts and observations for the defensive side of the ball. I'm not trying to break any news here, but really just collect my thoughts and point out what has changed in my view two weeks into camp.

Defensive end

• I loved Kendall Langford as a prospect before he was drafted, I loved when we picked him and I love what I'm hearing about him now. The experimentation with standing up Roth and Holliday has given Langford a lot of time with the first-team defense and he's impressed Sparano quite a bit. He's a perfect 3-4 end.
• Speaking of Roth and Holliday, I really hope that all this stuff about them standing up is just a little practice in case of an emergency in-game. All you need to know about Holliday playing linebacker you can find out in one of Channing Crowder's interviews on the official website. If Holliday gets pressed into a role that calls for him to go into coverage, we're screwed.
  
• I'm disappointed with how slowly Randy Starks has come along; he was a guy I really wanted before free agency began. I still think once he gets used to the 3-4 he's going to be a quality starter, as he's still very young for a four-year vet.

Nose tackle

• The acquisition of Jason Ferguson was an invaluable one. We were sorely lacking a starting nose tackle before he arrived and he's filling the void perfectly. He's also going to push center Samson Satele to be even better.
• One thing I was pleased to hear was a comment from Channing Crowder about how second-year man Paul Soliai had lot a lot of weight, had come into camp tearing people up and had really impressed. Good to see from a guy that couldn't beat out Steve Fifita for the No. 2 job last year, since Soliai has prototypical nose tackle size.

Linebacker

• The loss of Jason Taylor as an outside pass rusher will hurt, but it was the best move for both parties. JT wanted out and the team is trying to get younger. They got good value for him and the draft picks will be here beyond the final two years of Jason's career he would have wasted in Miami.
  
• The battle to replace Taylor between Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses and possibly Junior Glymph will be an interesting one to watch. Joey Porter will be productive on the opposite side and I'm confident that Anderson or Moses (or possibly both) will be able to be excel in the starting role. As an avid SEC follower, I'm a big Moses fan and think he has quite a lot of potential, so I'd love to see him grab the job. For this season, it might be best to rotate a few guys at the position.
• Even though Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor will be under contract next season at inside linebacker, I think Channing Crowder is going to earn an extension with his play this year. Unlike Zach Thomas, Crowder fits wonderfully in the Dolphins' new defense scheme. I have a feeling this is the year he takes it to the next level, and if that's the case I think the front office will lock him up long-term.

Cornerback

• Michael Lehan's slow progress with his ankle injury is a concern, especially given how thin our secondary is. Whether or not he ends up on the PUP list during the regular season will determine if an extra corner makes the team following the preseason. (No one let Travis Daniels near him, or he might injure him further to save himself from being cut.)
  
• On the plus side, it sounds like ex-Cowboy Nathan Jones is having a quality camp and should be able to fill the nickel role.
• Beyond that, however, there's little talent. Injuries here will screw this team.
  

Safety

• My prediction regarding the free safety spot hasn't changed one bit. I think Jason Allen locks up the starting job, Chris Crocker earns the backup gig and Renaldo Hill gets the boot.
• I'm really excited to see what Yeremiah Bell can do with a full year of starting. He'll obviously need to stay healthy, but if he can I think he'll surprise some people that don't follow the Dolphins. He could start for quite a few teams in the league.
  

Undrafted NT Robertson retires

Not long after the draft, I went on record and said that if I had to put money on one undrafted rookie making the Dolphins' active roster, it'd be Virginia Tech nose tackle Kory Robertson. It's a good thing I didn't actually put money on it, because my pick has already decided to call it a career before his career even began.

The Palm Beach Post reported today that Robertson has retired.

Robertson is the second player in as many years to leave the Dolphins not long after signing as an undrafted free agent. In 2007, Clemson offensive tackle Marion Dukes called it quits in August after signing with the team following the draft. It is not a completely uncommon occurrence at this time of year, as undrafted rookies face very tough uphill battles to sustain a career in the pros.

While the loss of Robertson is hardly detrimental, it does make the Dolphins' depth nose tackle even thinner than it was before. Jason Ferguson is a lock to start, but second-year man Paul Soliai was a disappointment as a rookie and is far from a lock to make the team. Undrafted rookie Anthony Toribio of Carson-Newman is the only other nose tackle on the roster at this point. As you'll recall, the Dolphins recently waived Steve Fifita, who was ahead of Soliai on the depth chart during the 2007 season.

My sources tell me agent acquisition Randy Starks is getting some reps at the nose tackle spot, as one would expect with Miami's depth there. While Starks is probably a better fit at end in the 3-4 and is working primarily from there so far, he would likely be a better replacement for Ferguson than any of Miami's other current options. Starks will probably open the season starting at end, but should Ferguson go down don't be surprised if Starks slides over.

Former Dolphin update

Because I enjoy following the league as a whole, and tend to be the guy to answer other Dolphins fans' questions of "Whatever happened to that guy?", I like to keep you guys up to date on the movements of former Dolphins.

Cornerback Will Poole, originally drafted by the Dolphins out of USC in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, has re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. Poole appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins as a rookie in '04, recording 31 tackles and five pass deflections. He was a first-round talent who likely would have developed into a starter for the Dolphins had he stayed healthy, but his career has been derailed by knee injuries and he has yet to really bounce back.

Poole spent 2005 and 2006 on injured reserve and was subsequently let go by the Dolphins. He was picked up by the Chiefs in July of 2007, but failed to make the team's final roster. He spent less than a week on the Toronto Argonauts' practice squad in October before being a released.

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)

Holy analysis videos, Batman!

I've finally got some analysis videos up for you on Miami's new roster additions. Here are videos on the signings of Justin Smiley, Ernest Wilford, Charlie Anderson, and Sean Ryan, as well as the acquisition of Jason Ferguson. The rest should come today. Enjoy!

Smiley & Wilford:


Ferguson:


Ryan & Anderson:


Related articles:
-2008 Offseason Preview: Wide Receivers
-2008 Offseason Preview: Tight Ends
-2008 Offseason Preview: Centers & Guards
-Every free agent with Parcells/Ireland history

One-line analysis and update on team's free agents

Since it's going to take a few hours to get some videos done and uploaded, I've decided to provide a little one-sentence analysis on each of Miami's additions. I should have at least three videos up tonight.

• OG Justin Smiley (49ers) - Great addition of a talented young blocker that fills a huge need on the offensive line.
  
• TE Sean Ryan (Jets) - Solid blocker to compete for a backup job.
  
• LB Reggie Torbor (Giants) - Good third linebacker that can start if necessary.
• DT Jason Ferguson (Cowboys) - Not a long-term fix, but came at a good price and fills an immediate need.
  
• DE Randy Starks (Titans) - talented, young player that should fit well at end in the 3-4.
  
• WR Ernest Wilford (Jaguars) - Underrated player that adds experience, reliability and provides a good complement to Ginn.
  
• QB Josh McCown (Raiders) - Sufficient short-term fix at quarterback until a long-term guy emerges or is found.
  
• LB Charlie Anderson (Texans) - Excellent special teams guy that will provide depth at inside linebacker.

Also, here is an update on Miami's own free agents this offseason:

Unrestricted Free Agents

• SS Yeremiah Bell
• RB Jesse Chatman
• OG Rex Hadnot
• CB Michael Lehan (re-signed)
• QB Cleo Lemon (Jaguars)
• OG Chris Liwienski
• OG Gene Mruczkowski
• LB Derrick Pope
• OT Mike Rosenthal
• FS Lance Schulters
• LB Donnie Spragan
• SS Travares Tillman

Restricted Free Agents

• RB Samkon Gado (not tendered)
• OL Cory Lekkerkerker (not tendered)

Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

• WR Greg Camarillo (tendered)
• RB Patrick Cobbs (tendered)
• OG Ike Ndukwe (tendered)
• DL Chase Page (not tendered)

Because they were not tendered contracts, Gado, Lekkerkerker, and Page are now unrestricted free agents and can sign with any team.

Three or four videos coming at ya today!

With the dust finally starting to settle on Miami's initial free agency shopping spree, I can finally get out some analysis videos on some of the moves. I'll be doing three or four today, so I'll probably get the acquisitions of Justin Smiley, Jason Ferguson and Ernest Wilford today. So keep checking back and I'll have some first-class analysis coming at ya!

Dolphins add Wilford, Starks

I am proud to say that the Dolphins have signed two players I discussed in my offseason preview videos - Jaguars wide receiver Ernest Wilford and Titans defensive tackle Randy Starks.

Miami has certainly been the hottest team early in free agency, signing Wilford, Starks, Justin Smiley, Sean Ryan, Reggie Torbor and acquiring Jason Ferguson via trade. Quarterback Josh McCown and linebacker Calvin Pace could soon be on the way.

Because Miami's actions have been so rapid thus far, it would be tough for me to dish out videos on every signing today. So what I'm going to do is pace myself over the next 2-3 days and release videos on each signing in the basic order they were first reported. I figure Miami can't keep adding players at this pace, so it should be easy to catch up over the weekend.

In the meantime, I'll still be posting here whenever there is news. Personally, I'm loving what Miami is doing and I think we're heading in the right direction. Go Dolphins!

Dolphins sign Ryan, Torbor; acquire Ferguson

The roster revamp of the Dolphins is continuing at a rapid pace, as the Dolphins have now added four new players since free agency began today. In addition to Justin Smiley, the Dolphins have signed tight end Matt Ryan and linebacker Reggie Torbor. The team has also acquired nose tackle Jason Ferguson from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a 2009 sixth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round picks in 2008.

Furthermore, the Dolphins are hosting quarterback Josh McCown (Raiders), linebacker Calvin Pace (Cardinals) and defensive lineman Randy Starks (Titans). Video analysis on every signing will be up today, so keep checking back!