Miami Dolphins
Depth Chart
QB -Matt Moore, Pat Devlin
RB - Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas
FB - Charles Clay
WR - Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Clyde Gates, Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace
TE - Anthony Fasano
OT - Jake Long, Marc Colombo, Nate Garner, Ryan Cook, Will Barker
OG - Richie Incognito, John Jerry, Ray Feinga
C - Mike Pouncey
DE - Cameron Wake, Jared Odrick
DT - Randy Starks, Tony McDaniel
OLB - Karlos Dansby, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik
MLB - Kevin Burnett, Austin Spitler
CB - Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Nolan Carroll, Jimmy Wilson
FS - Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons
SS - Yeremiah Bell
K - Dan Carpenter
P - Brandon Fields
LS - John Denney
Reserve/Future Contracts: RB Marcus Thigpen, WR Chris Hogan, DL Isaako Aaitui, LB Jonathan Freeny, CB Vince Agnew, CB Marcus Brown, CB Jonathan Wade, S Anderson Russell
Restricted Free Agents: TE Jeron Mastrud, OT Lydon Murtha, DL Ryan Baker
Unrestricted Free Agents: QB Chad Henne, QB JP Losman, RB Lex Hilliard, RB Steve Slaton, OT Vernon Carey, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, DL Kendall Langford, DL Phillip Merling, DL Igor Olshansky, DL Paul Solai, DL Jason Taylor (Retired), CB Will Allen, S Tyrone Culver
2011 Recap (6-10)
The Dolphins started the season 0-7, barely putting up a fight offensively under Chad Henne. Then when the season was hopelessly loss, Matt Moore stepped in and played really well, the offense caught fire, and the team finished 6-3. Alas, the life of a Dolphins fan. Even when we win we lose. Winning meaningless games for a lame duck and then fired head coach accomplished nothing except taking Miami out of the running for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
Key Free Agents
I see no one on the list that Miami will be dying to bring back. Paul Solai and Kendall Langford have been good starters for the Dolphins 3-4 front, but new coach Joe Philbin has decided to change to the 4-3, even though Miami's defense played really well and had the personnel for a good 3-4 front. Ah well, a new coach wants to show who's boss by making the guys fit his scheme, not the other way around. So both of those guys will probably be allowed to walk. As will long time starter Vernon Carey.
Will Allen and Tyrone Culver could be resigned for secondary depth.
Biggest Needs
Thanks to the Dolphins switching to the 4-3, it creates a few holes. Miami now needs someone to rush the passer opposite Cameron Wake and someone to play outside linebacker with Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett. Additionally, the team needs help all over the secondary. A starter across Vontae Davis at cornerback, and a young strong safety to take over for Yeremiah Bell in a year or two.
There are just as many needs on offense. Only Jake Long and Mike Pouncey are long term solutions on the offensive line. A right tackle is team need number one, as Marc Colombo was dreadful last year. An upgrade at tight end would be a nice luxury. And of course, we cannot forget the quarterback position. Matt Moore had a nice handful of games, but he is not a long term answer by any means.
Possible Free Agent Targets
Assuming the Dolphins let Solai walk, and before any cuts, they are approximately 8 million dollars under the cap. Take away 4 of that for rookies, and they have about 4 million to work with. The team has added big time names the last three seasons; Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby, Reggie Bush. They will push hard to add another big name this off season.
QB Peyton Manning, Colts. There seem to be new reports coming out about Manning every hour, so it is impossible to know what to believe. Owner Stephen Ross has to be infatuated with the idea of adding Manning to his team. Of course, his courtship could end up the same way as when he openly gushed over Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher. Ross is basically a very rich clown, who guys use as leverage and never really take seriously. If the neck checks out Miami should be able to sign him to an incentive laden contract. Then cut some guys to bring Manning's entourage with him. Mainly Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark if he is cut.
QB Matt Flynn, Packers. Perhaps a more realistic alternative is Matt Flynn. He played under Joe Philbin in Green Bay and had amazing numbers in very limited playing time. As a Dolphins fan, this would basically be another Daunte Culpepper, AJ Feeley, John Beck, Chad Henne to me. But whatever, this is what I have come to expect. I would rather see them trade three first round picks to the Rams for Robert Griffin III.
DE Robert Mathis, Colts. Mathis has already expressed interest in Miami and it makes sense. He can still get to the quarterback and could play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 if Miami decides to keep some of that defense in their game plan. He is in his 30's but the way he plays the game, he should be effective for another few years.
CB William Middleton, Jaguars. Middleton quietly had a good season for Jacksonville. He could be a relatively cheap signing with upside, and could start opposite Davis for the Dolphins. He is also at an age where he should continue to improve.
OT Kareem McKenzie, Giants. OT Anthony Collins, Bengals. OT Jeff Backus, Lions. There are a few veteran right tackles available in free agency who could hold down the right side for a year or two.
Possible Draft Targets
Depending on the results of a coin flip, the Dolphins will either pick at #8 or #9 when the draft rolls around.
OT Riley Reiff, Iowa. Mike Mayock ranks Reiff over Matt Kalil for some unknown reason, so mock drafts have been moving Reiff way up their boards. I think he will be available at this spot. You don't take a guy in the top five unless you are 100% sure he will hold down your blind side for the next 12 years. Reiff may have to play right tackle at the next level. Miami has a monster need there, though. A bookend duo of Reiff and Jake Long would be spectacular.
OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford. If Reiff is off the board or they prefer Martin instead, they should grab him. Like Reiff, he projects as a right tackle at the next level.
DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina. On talent alone, Coples is a top five player in this draft. But he has a reputation as being indifferent and coasting through games. Still, you can't teach 6'6, 285 with the speed and strength this guy has. With the Dolphins moving to a 4-3, they could really use a guy like this to chase down Tom Brady twice a year.
OG David DeCastro, Stanford. The top ten is very high for a guard, but I have seen my team take a kick returner this high before, so anything is possible. Also, they took a center in the top 20 just last year. What we do know is that DeCastro is a stud inside, and one of the best interior line prospects to come along in years.
Depth Chart
QB -Matt Moore, Pat Devlin
RB - Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas
FB - Charles Clay
WR - Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline, Davone Bess, Clyde Gates, Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace
TE - Anthony Fasano
OT - Jake Long, Marc Colombo, Nate Garner, Ryan Cook, Will Barker
OG - Richie Incognito, John Jerry, Ray Feinga
C - Mike Pouncey
DE - Cameron Wake, Jared Odrick
DT - Randy Starks, Tony McDaniel
OLB - Karlos Dansby, Koa Misi, Jason Trusnik
MLB - Kevin Burnett, Austin Spitler
CB - Vontae Davis, Sean Smith, Nolan Carroll, Jimmy Wilson
FS - Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons
SS - Yeremiah Bell
K - Dan Carpenter
P - Brandon Fields
LS - John Denney
Reserve/Future Contracts: RB Marcus Thigpen, WR Chris Hogan, DL Isaako Aaitui, LB Jonathan Freeny, CB Vince Agnew, CB Marcus Brown, CB Jonathan Wade, S Anderson Russell
Restricted Free Agents: TE Jeron Mastrud, OT Lydon Murtha, DL Ryan Baker
Unrestricted Free Agents: QB Chad Henne, QB JP Losman, RB Lex Hilliard, RB Steve Slaton, OT Vernon Carey, DL Ikaika Alama-Francis, DL Kendall Langford, DL Phillip Merling, DL Igor Olshansky, DL Paul Solai, DL Jason Taylor (Retired), CB Will Allen, S Tyrone Culver
2011 Recap (6-10)
The Dolphins started the season 0-7, barely putting up a fight offensively under Chad Henne. Then when the season was hopelessly loss, Matt Moore stepped in and played really well, the offense caught fire, and the team finished 6-3. Alas, the life of a Dolphins fan. Even when we win we lose. Winning meaningless games for a lame duck and then fired head coach accomplished nothing except taking Miami out of the running for Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.
Key Free Agents
I see no one on the list that Miami will be dying to bring back. Paul Solai and Kendall Langford have been good starters for the Dolphins 3-4 front, but new coach Joe Philbin has decided to change to the 4-3, even though Miami's defense played really well and had the personnel for a good 3-4 front. Ah well, a new coach wants to show who's boss by making the guys fit his scheme, not the other way around. So both of those guys will probably be allowed to walk. As will long time starter Vernon Carey.
Will Allen and Tyrone Culver could be resigned for secondary depth.
Biggest Needs
Thanks to the Dolphins switching to the 4-3, it creates a few holes. Miami now needs someone to rush the passer opposite Cameron Wake and someone to play outside linebacker with Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett. Additionally, the team needs help all over the secondary. A starter across Vontae Davis at cornerback, and a young strong safety to take over for Yeremiah Bell in a year or two.
There are just as many needs on offense. Only Jake Long and Mike Pouncey are long term solutions on the offensive line. A right tackle is team need number one, as Marc Colombo was dreadful last year. An upgrade at tight end would be a nice luxury. And of course, we cannot forget the quarterback position. Matt Moore had a nice handful of games, but he is not a long term answer by any means.
Possible Free Agent Targets
Assuming the Dolphins let Solai walk, and before any cuts, they are approximately 8 million dollars under the cap. Take away 4 of that for rookies, and they have about 4 million to work with. The team has added big time names the last three seasons; Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby, Reggie Bush. They will push hard to add another big name this off season.
QB Peyton Manning, Colts. There seem to be new reports coming out about Manning every hour, so it is impossible to know what to believe. Owner Stephen Ross has to be infatuated with the idea of adding Manning to his team. Of course, his courtship could end up the same way as when he openly gushed over Jim Harbaugh and Jeff Fisher. Ross is basically a very rich clown, who guys use as leverage and never really take seriously. If the neck checks out Miami should be able to sign him to an incentive laden contract. Then cut some guys to bring Manning's entourage with him. Mainly Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark if he is cut.
QB Matt Flynn, Packers. Perhaps a more realistic alternative is Matt Flynn. He played under Joe Philbin in Green Bay and had amazing numbers in very limited playing time. As a Dolphins fan, this would basically be another Daunte Culpepper, AJ Feeley, John Beck, Chad Henne to me. But whatever, this is what I have come to expect. I would rather see them trade three first round picks to the Rams for Robert Griffin III.
DE Robert Mathis, Colts. Mathis has already expressed interest in Miami and it makes sense. He can still get to the quarterback and could play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 if Miami decides to keep some of that defense in their game plan. He is in his 30's but the way he plays the game, he should be effective for another few years.
CB William Middleton, Jaguars. Middleton quietly had a good season for Jacksonville. He could be a relatively cheap signing with upside, and could start opposite Davis for the Dolphins. He is also at an age where he should continue to improve.
OT Kareem McKenzie, Giants. OT Anthony Collins, Bengals. OT Jeff Backus, Lions. There are a few veteran right tackles available in free agency who could hold down the right side for a year or two.
Possible Draft Targets
Depending on the results of a coin flip, the Dolphins will either pick at #8 or #9 when the draft rolls around.
OT Riley Reiff, Iowa. Mike Mayock ranks Reiff over Matt Kalil for some unknown reason, so mock drafts have been moving Reiff way up their boards. I think he will be available at this spot. You don't take a guy in the top five unless you are 100% sure he will hold down your blind side for the next 12 years. Reiff may have to play right tackle at the next level. Miami has a monster need there, though. A bookend duo of Reiff and Jake Long would be spectacular.
OT Jonathan Martin, Stanford. If Reiff is off the board or they prefer Martin instead, they should grab him. Like Reiff, he projects as a right tackle at the next level.
DE Quinton Coples, North Carolina. On talent alone, Coples is a top five player in this draft. But he has a reputation as being indifferent and coasting through games. Still, you can't teach 6'6, 285 with the speed and strength this guy has. With the Dolphins moving to a 4-3, they could really use a guy like this to chase down Tom Brady twice a year.
OG David DeCastro, Stanford. The top ten is very high for a guard, but I have seen my team take a kick returner this high before, so anything is possible. Also, they took a center in the top 20 just last year. What we do know is that DeCastro is a stud inside, and one of the best interior line prospects to come along in years.
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