SB Nation - Tony McDaniel

Six questions to ponder with six games left

Matty I — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 05:46:41 -0000

Don't look now, naysayers. After a rough 0-3 start, the Dolphins are not only back at .500 for the first time in 2009, but are also within just one game of the AFC wildcard leaders. Even better news for Dolphin fans? Miami still has to play three of the teams who are ahead of them in the wildcard race - as well as one remaining shot at the division leading Patriots.

It's still going to be a tough climb, however. There are some big challenges that lay ahead for these Dolphins. So to prepare for these six games, let's highlight six critical questions that the Dolphins face.

Can Ricky handle the increased workload over the next month and a half?
After the terrible news last week about Ronnie Brown's injury, many of us were wondering if Ricky Williams would be able to step into the lead role in Miami's backfield and be as effective as he's been the past two seasons as the number two guy. On Thursday, Ricky answered that question by showing proving that he's still as capable a starter as he's ever been, rushing for 119 yards and scoring three touchdowns. But can he sustain this kind of production?

Against the Panthers, Williams received 22 carries. And that came on the heels of a 20 carry performance just 4 days earlier against the Buccaneers. That is a lot of carries for a 32 year old back. No - he's not your typical 32 year old running back and doesn't have the mileage that most 32 year olds have on them. But keep in mind that Ricky's season high in carries last season was only 16 (back in week three against New England). And if you want to know when the last time Ricky had at least 20 carries prior to the game against Tampa Bay? You'd have to go all the way back to New Year's Day on 2006, when he closed out the '05 regular season with a 28 carry, 108 yard performance in New England.

It's a lot to ask Williams to carry the rock 20-25 times per game over these remaining six games. At the same time, the Dolphins don't really have much of a choice.

How much will the Dolphins miss Ferg?
While nothing has been confirmed, it's expected that nose tackle Jason Ferguson will miss the remainder of the season with an injured right knee he sustained against the Panthers last week. Needless to say, this is a huge loss (no pun intended). A 3-4 defense is only as good as it's nose tackle performs. And Ferguson leaves a large void for Miami to fill (again, no pun intended).

This season, Ferguson has only missed one game. That day in New England, the Patriots averaged 4.5 yards per carry on the ground against a defensive line anchored by Paul Soliai in the middle. Soliai, meanwhile, has missed the last two weeks with his own injury issues. Outside of those two, the Dolphins don't have a real nose tackle to step in. Tony Sparano said that he would expect to play Tony McDaniel (6'7, 305) and Randy Starks (6'3, 305) at the nose if needed. Last year against the Ravens in the regular season, Starks did have to man the nose tackle position once Ferguson left the game with an injury (Soliai was suspended by the team for the game). While he wasn't terrible, the Ravens did run for 139 yards.

It will be interesting to see how this coaching staff attempts to make up for the rumored loss of Ferguson as we head down the home stretch.

Can the Dolphins beat a team that's better than they are?
Don't get all angry with me here. But you might need to take off those aqua colored glasses for a moment here. The way I see the season playing out, it will take at least 10 wins in the AFC to make the playoffs. For the Dolphins to get to that mark, they'll obviously have to win five of their remaining six. That means beating either the Patriots or Steelers - two teams who are ("homer-ism" aside) better than the Dolphins are.

The good news here is that both of these games are at home in Miami. The Dolphins have also played the Patriots tough once already this year. But let's be real for a moment - the Dolphins have not beaten a single team in 2009 that is better than they are. They've come close - tough losses at home to both of the undefeated teams (Colts and Saints). But a loss is still a loss. You can even make the case that Miami didn't beat a more talented team in 2008, either, despite winning 11 games. After all, they lost to the Ravens twice and to the eventual NFC Champion Cardinals. They did split with the Patriots, though.

To make the playoffs, the Dolphins will have to not just play these more talented teams tough - they will have to win at least one of those games.

Will the rookie wall be a problem?
Some people think that the idea of the "rookie wall" is nothing more than a term created by the media. But if you NFL head coaches about it, I'd bet most would say that the wall is real - and it can be problematic.

The Dolphins rely on two rookies to start at cornerback - which is always risky. Making things worse is that the Dolphins face three of the top five passing offenses over their remaining five games. Yup - just in time for that "rookie wall" to rear its ugly head. In college, these kids will only play about 12 games in a season - maybe 13. And in the month of December, these kids will play - at most - two games. They'll have a lot of rest in between games in December, as well. In the NFL, there is no rest in December. That's the time to put up or shut up as teams make their playoff pushes.

For the Dolphins, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith cannot afford to go through any kind of rookie wall. Hopefully their offseason training has prepared them well to close out a season strong.

Can we see more Wake?
Ever since the John Beck debacle, I try my best not to "anoint" a player too early in their careers. But like Cameron Wake rushing off the edge, I'm coming around quickly. After picking up three more quarterback hurries on just 10 snaps against the Panthers, Wake leads the Dolphins in hurries with 15 - on just 100 total defensive snaps.

Now I know we can't just steal Joey Porter's reps after his outstanding game against Carolina last week. But maybe we should cut into Charlie Anderson's 20 to 25 snaps per game to give Wake some more opportunities. He always seems to be causing havoc on the field when he's out there. So why not unleash him a little bit more and see what happens?

Can Henne win a game on his own?
It's not secret that the Dolphins want to run the football. So teams will continue to stack the box against Miami's offense and force the young Chad Henne to beat them through the air with an average (at best) receiving group. That means there's likely going to come a point in time this season in which Henne will be asked to win the game himself through the air.

Some might argue that he did just that back in his second career start against the Jets. Sure, he was a critical part of that big Monday night win - throwing for 240 yards and two touchdowns. But let's not forget that Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams also combined for 142 yards on the ground, Ronnie threw for 21 more, and on that final game-winning drive, Henne only completed 3 passes (though two of those were on 3rd down).

Now I'm not saying Henne can't win a game on his own at this stage of his development. But he hasn't had to yet. It's likely, though, that some point during these final six games, he will indeed be asked to do so.

Dolphins Mid-Season Review: Shifting expectations

Matty I — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:15:18 -0000

by Lynne Sladky - AP

Can this head coach/quarterback (Sparano/Henne) duo eventually do what the greatest head coach/quarterback (Shula/Marino) duo in team history couldn't do?

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We've officially hit the halfway point of the 2009 Miami Dolphins season and are now a season and a half into the Bill Parcells-Jeff Ireland-Tony Sparano era in Miami. Considering where we were when the "trifecta" took over, nobody should be disappointed about where this team is in terms of the long haul. With that said, of course, it's difficult to not be disappointed with Miami's current 3-5 record.

In this league, you are what your record says you are. That's generally true. But in the grand scheme of things, the Dolphins are much more than just an average run-of-the-mill 3-5 football team.

A shift in expectations

Entering the season, I was among the many who declared we wouldn't just be satisfied with an 8-8 or 9-7 season because of the "tougher schedule" the Dolphins faced in '09 as compared to '08. I wanted to be a playoff team once again and I honestly thought this team could pull it off. But lo and behold, wouldn't you know that it was indeed these "tough games" that have dug the Dolphins into a deep hole in the AFC playoff picture.

Now I'm not saying that I'm giving up on the playoffs in 2009. In fact, if the Dolphins take care of their next three games (against Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Buffalo) and they get a little help from New England's tougher opponents (@ Indianapolis and @ New Orleans), the Patriots could potentially be heading down to Miami on December 6 with a 7-4 record to face the 6-5 Dolphins. While those are a ton of "ifs" that must break in favor of Miami, it's not totally out of question.

With that said, my own personal expectations have shifted. I'm no longer as concerned with making the playoffs in 2009. If the Dolphins somehow pull it off and reach the postseason, that's terrific. But if they don't, that's fine too. Why? Because injuries and a lack of talent at critical positions have made me more concerned with developing this team for the long haul - not just for the immediate future.

The injuries to Chad Pennington and Will Allen, in particular, have changed what this season means to the Dolphins. I'd say that most fans would agree. But it's been these losses to teams like the Colts, Saints, and Patriots that have made me realize that this Dolphins team just isn't ready to really compete with their talent level. However, the strides that this franchise has made since the 2007 disaster are remarkable.

Integration of young players

Want to know why I'm not as distraught as some other Dolphin fans seem to be about this 3-5 season? It's because of how the Dolphins are setting themselves up for the future. The coaches are doing something that you don't see too often - they are trusting a number of rookies and young players. And the result is that we're seeing tangible reasons of why we should be excited for the future of this franchise.

First and foremost, there's Chad Henne. As you all know, I was squarely on the "start Chad Pennington" bandwagon all offseason long. While I hate to see what happened to CP - he deserves better but his body continually lets him down - letting Henne play and gain experience has been huge, and will continue to be huge, for this franchise. Ffor the first time in a long time, fans, coaches, and the front office can all be excited about the quarterback position. Folks, I really think we've found "our guy."

Has he been great? No. Has he been terrible? No. Has he shown flashes of greatness? Yes. Think back to just his second career start when Henne put together one of the best fourth quarters a young quarterback has put together in recent memory.

Does he have a lot to work on? Of course. His accuracy is shaky at times. He holds the ball too long sometimes. At times, he runs backwards when pressure is closing in - especially when he's pressured on those designed roll-outs.

At the same time, I've seen just as many positives. I've seen that strong rocket arm. I've seen some perfectly thrown balls. I've seen a toughness to hang in the pocket and deliver a pass with pressure bearing down on him. I've seen him get back up after taking a nasty shot in the pocker - like Sunday's "roughing the passer" hit by Patrick Chung. Most of all, I've seen the poise and mental toughness necessary to lead a team in hostile situations. Sure, against both the Saints and Patriots, Henne was unable to lead a game-winning or game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter. But both times, it wasn't because Henne failed. His teammates failed him.

There's a lot to like about Henne, that's for sure. But there are also other young players with a lot to like.

You got two rookie corners who are being trusted to start. And neither of them have played poorly. Both Sean Smith and Vontae Davis have had their ups and downs. But there have been more positives than negatives and they will only continue to get better. Over the long haul, the Dolphins are set with their starting cornerbacks.

The offensive line is also set for the foreseeable future. Only one starter, Jake Grove, is over 28 years old. And two, Jake Long and Donald Thomas, are only 24 and in just their second season. The way an offensive line gets better is by playing together for a long time, and that's what we're going to see in Miami over the next few seasons.

The defensive line also suddenly has a nice young core to build around. Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, and Randy Starks all look like long-term contributors at defensive end for the Dolphins. And none of them are older than 25 years old (Starks). Tony McDaniel also looks like he could become a solid backup and he's only 24 himself.

The Dolphins also have other young contributors who could become major long-term factors. Chris Clemons and Tyrone Culver are two young safeties who will probably see more and more opportunities as the season goes on. Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are two young receivers who, ideally, would be very good complimentary receivers. Greg Camarillo is also relatively young and is looking more and more recovered from his knee surgery every week. I will continue to stand by my belief that Camarillo, once he's healthy, can be a starting #2 receiver in this league.

And let's not forget our favorite former CFL stand-out, pass rusher Cameron Wake. He's only 27 and has the potential to be a pass-rushing force for years to come. But he is still raw, which is probably why he hasn't seen the amount of snaps many would like him to see.

Clearly defined needs

One of the positives - if you can call it that - to come from Miami's 3-5 start has been how well defined this football team's needs have become. We all know what this team needs - some needs more pressing than others, of course.

Perhaps the most pressing need is at the wide receiver position. This offense will never be what it needs to be to get to that next level until they get a true "go-to" number one receiver. Opposing defenses have no reason to respect Miami's passing attack, allowing them to go all-out to stop the only real threat this offense has - their ground attack. But Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams will become less and less effective on the ground as teams continue to put eight, and sometimes even nine, in the box to shut them down. In all honesty, can you blame them? I'd do the same thing. None of these receivers would even scare me a little bit.

This need has been magnified even more the past few weeks, too. In their last two losses, the Dolphins have been within a touchdown and had possession of the ball with over three minutes left. But each time, the Dolphins failed to move the ball, thanks in large part to receivers who just can't make the plays necessary to win football games.

But there are other needs as well. The Dolphins need upgrades at both inside and outside linebacker. A play-making free safety is another obvious issue. And we saw on Sunday that Paul Soliai might not be anything better than a back-up nose tackle. He underwhelmed as a starter, replacing the injured and aging Jason Ferguson. So nose tackle is also a need.

See this team for what it is

As a fan, we all want to see our team win championships. Year in and year out, we all look through "aqua and orange colored glasses" and view our team as either championship caliber or playoff caliber. But let's be real - this team just isn't as talented as the league's elite teams. That's why it's so impressive that the Dolphins were able to play teams like the Colts, Saints, and Patriots and nearly knock them off. Is it frustrating to lose those games? Of course. But we need to see what these losses show.

The Dolphins played teams with superior talent and gave them all they can handle - with a number of rookies and second-year players being key contributors. That says a lot about where this team is.

It says a lot about this coaching staff. Say what you want about some of their questionable play-calling and their gameday decisions. But this staff knows how to prepare to play more talented football teams.

It also says a lot about the mental toughness of these players. Some young players will go into a shell and back down to the elite NFL teams. But not this group of guys. They battle. And they're only going to get better.

The future is bright, people. We just need to give this front office time to address those remaining needs and the young players on this team more time to mature. But we're clearly on the right path.

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Miami Dolphins Run Defense

John B — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:54:44 -0000

More photos » by J. Pat Carter - AP

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Miami ranks second in the league against the run, only surrendering 61 yards per game. The average against them is 2.9 yards per rush. This is going to be a tough team to get the run game going against, but the Jets' offensive line needs to start living up to its potential. The Dolphins are one of the rare teams to operate primarily out of a traditional 2 gap 3-4 defense. Every coach with such a scheme is from the Parcells-Belichick school. In this system, the linemen are responsible for tying up defensive linemen, holding the point of attack, clogging 2 gaps, and freeing others up to make plays. Other teams with a base 3-4 like the Jets want their linemen to pick a gap, win a matchup, penetrate, and make a play.

Former Jet Jason Ferguson anchors the middle. Paul Solai is his backup at nose tackle. This will probably be the area to watch in the run game. It's up to Nick Mangold to win battles up front by himself. He's certainly capable of doing so. If that happens, the other linemen get freed to hit the second level. It comes down to whether Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele can get off the blocks of Jets linemen. Advantage New York if that's the case. I'm sure we'll see plenty of 8 man fronts. Yeremiah Bell is strong in run support. If Mangold wins his battle, though, the Jets are going to be able to get the ground game going.

At end, Miami will rotate Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, Tony McDaniel, and Phillip Merling. Langford is the starter opposite the right side of New York's line, where the Jets like to run a lot. Damien Woody' status could be a key here. I know how much everybody loves Brandon Moore, but he's looked very ordinary when the man next to him hasn't been good. Moore has been something of a liability without a strong tackle like Kareem McKenzie or Woody. He hasn't been able to help compensate for weaker players like Adrien Jones and Anthony Clement.

It's also time for more Shonn Greene. Teams are stacking the box against the Jets. There hasn't been a ton of room to run. Get the physical rookie in there to grind out yardage.

Dolphins Training Camp: Henne's struggles top story of Monday

Matty I — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:15:08 -0000

More photos » by Alan Diaz - AP

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Week two of Miami Dolphins training camp began with two practices on Monday and the release of the first "team-released" depth chart. But it was quarterback play that highlighted Monday's action.

CHAD HENNE STRUGGLES
Following a solid, if unspectacular, performance in Saturday's team scrimmage, Chad Henne began week two of training camp with a disappointing day - particularly in the afternoon session on Monday. Henne, who has struggled all camp during one of Tony Sparano's favorite drills - the two-minute offense - had some ugly moments on Monday. Chris Clemons, the rookie safety out of Clemson, picked off Henne twice during Monday afternoon's practice - and nearly intercepted Henne a third time on a pass intended for Ricky Williams in the flat that would have resulted in a pick six for Clemons.

But it was Henne's inability to lead the two-minute offense - a theme of training camp thus far - that the Palm Beach Post provides play-by-play of. Play one, screen pass that is tipped away. Play two, pass broken up by two defenders. Play three, too far outside of intended receiver. Play four, the previously mentioned near pick by Clemons. Henne connects on the next four, though. And the following pass was also reportedly a great throw that Brian Hartline just couldn't come up with as he had Vontae Davis defending him well. And it wrapped up with Vontae Davis breaking up a pass intended for Brandon London.

As the Post points out, too, Henne's performance in the two-minute offense all camp has been unimpressive - with Henne "rarely driving the team into reasonable scoring position." And just for good measure, Henne ended the practice by "missing a wide open Anthony Fasano by a mile in the endzone during goal-line offense." Yikes!

Of course, it's far too early to panic. It's really too early to even think about panicking. But why then did I bring this up? Simple. It's too illustrate the fact that we still don't know what we have in Chad Henne. However, you have to love how Tony Sparano plans to handle this situation. It's tricky. You want to get Henne experience and see what you have in him. At the same time, you can't risk losing the locker room by benching Chad Pennington - a leader on that team and a player coming off of his best career season.

That's why the Dolphins are handling this situation so well. I love the idea of Henne getting most of the playing time in the preseason. It'll give us all a chance to see Henne perform with "semi-live bullets" flying.

With that said, Henne's struggles in the two-minute offense illustrates why Pennington is the starting quarterback of this football team in 2009. CP is efficient. He doesn't have the big arm Henne has. But it's clear that Henne's arm isn't helping him move the ball in simulated two-minute drills during practice. And right now, it's Pennington - not Henne - that gives the 2009 Miami Dolphins the best chance to win. While some of you want to just throw Henne into the starting role without him earning the job just to see him play and possibly prepare him for the future, I'm not ready to give up on the present. CP is the present.

If Henne outplays Pennington at any point during training camp or the preseason, then I'm on board with making a switch ASAP. But that's not going to happen.

RISERS AND FALLERS
We talked yesterday about how week two of training camp is the time Tony Sparano likes to promote and demote players. And as expected, changes were made - headed by the promotion of rookie corner Sean Smith to the starting role opposite Eric Green. Green was sent to the second team to play opposite rookie Vontae Davis. While this is far from a permanent change, it does reward Smith for his solid play through one week of camp and it provides the coaches with a chance to see how Sean performs against better competition. I'd suspect Davis will get a shot at some point during camp as well - even if he has progressed slower than some anticipated.

Randy Starks also saw a promotion, getting his chance to work with the starters on the opposite side of Kendall Langford. Phillip Merling remained with the second unit after getting moved there last week despite beginning camp with the starters. Tony McDaniel dropped back to the second unit after replacing Merling on the first team last week. Look for those three to continue rotating until the coaching staff gets a better feel for those guys.

The other big riser on was Donald Thomas. While Shawn Murphy remained the starter at right guard, Thomas - despite missing most of the OTAs and the early part of camp - was promoted to the second unit as he inches his way back into the starter's role he won as a rookie out of camp last year. Ike Ndukwe was the loser here - and it's starting to look like his days could be numbered if Thomas remains healthy and progresses as we all think he will.

DEPTH CHART RELEASED
Yes, the Dolphins released their first depth chart on Monday. No, it doesn't mean very much. This depth chart is completely irrelevant because the depth chart basically changes day to day. For example, Donald Thomas is listed as the 3rd string RG right now. But he practiced with the second unit on Monday. Cameron Wake is listed as the fourth string weakside linebacker, but has spent most of his time on the second unit in camp.

The release of this depth chart is a reason why I do my weekly "depth chart bubble watch." At this point, it's probably more accurate as to how the coaches see the 53-man roster looking than this team-released chart is.

QUICK HITS
Some quick thoughts on Monday's action:

Chris Clemons has been around the ball a lot recently, according to various reports. Could he cut into Tyrone Culver's role as the team's top reserve safety and find his way onto the field in the team's dime package?
Channing Crowder picked up two sacks in the afternoon session. What's gotten into him? Whatever it is, I hope it says with him. He needs to be a play-maker this year.
Cameron Wake got to work with the first-team defense in the morning replacing Joey Porter (sitting out just for rest) on the weakside. Not surprisingly, Jake Long handled him. But it's good to see the coaches challenging Wake - who has surprised me so far.
Speaking of surprises, Quentin Moses has quietly been putting together a solidd camp. Moses had two sacks and a tipped pass in the afternoon session.
Interesting battle brewing between Davone Bess and Greg Camarillo for the starting job opposite Ted Ginn.
Yeremiah Bell has been reportedly looking much improved in coverage during camp.

UP NEXT
The Dolphins practice only once on Tuesday - beginning at 2 pm. Wednesday will feature two practices, though. And the late session has been moved outside and will begin at 8 pm.

Dolphins Training Camp, Day Four: Pennington struggles, the line gets shuffled & the WR battle heats up

Matty I — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:28:46 -0000

More photos » by Wilfredo Lee - AP

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There was only one practice down in Davie on Wednesday. But there's still plenty to talk about. And it must have been a tough practice physically, as the heat index in South Florida rose to over 100 degrees on Wednesday afternoon. Below are some talking points.

Oh - and don't forget to check back later for an updated version of my "depth chart bubble watch."

CHAD PENNINGTON HAS A ROUGH DAY
Every quarterback goes through days like this. The only reason this is really headline news in Miami is because of how well - and how efficient - Chad Pennington performed in 2008. But Pennington was "un-CP10" like today. Perhaps Omar Kelly described it best, writing, "For the first time since he's been a Dolphin Chad Pennington played as good as three-day-old fish smells, and tastes."

Pennington was overthrowing open receivers. He had some issues taking the snap from center. He took sacks. And depending on who you talk to, Chad threw either one (according to Palm Beach Post) or two (according to Sun-Sentinel) interceptions. Now that is very uncharacteristic of CP10.

Of course, it wasn't all bad for Pennington. He made a few good throws, too - including a 40+ yard touchdown to Anthony Armstrong (more on him in a minute). But overall, this was probably his worst training camp practice as a Dolphin. With that said, I'm not worried at all about Pennington.

BATTLE FOR FINAL WR SPOT HEATING UP
For the past few days, we've been hearing very good things about Brandon London. On the other hand, his top competitor for the final receiver spot, Anthony Armstrong, was relatively quiet. Well that changed on Wednesday.

Armstrong finally made a big play, catching a 40 yard touchdown pass from Chad Pennington - beating Eric Green (who is currently working as a starter). And Omar Kelly wrote that both Pennington and Chad Henne are finding Armstrong more often now following the release of Brennan Marion. Armstrong was open a lot more often on Wednesday - but was overthrown a couple of times by Miami's quarterbacks.

Meanwhile, Brandon London is still playing well. London beat Will Billingsley on one play - but the pass was incomplete as Pat White's throw was a little behind Brandon. Brandon also continues to make plays during the one-on-one receiver vs. cornerback drills.

Look for this battle to go down to the wire. And what's interesting is that there seems to be a divide between Dolphin fans as to who they are pulling for. But in the end, I get the feeling Armstrong is really going to have to impress simply because he isn't much of a special teams contributor while London is one of the team's best coverage guys.

THE LINES GET SHUFFLED
Last year, the coaching staff didn't start "experimenting" with different players on different units until the second week of camp. But Tony Sparano and company started early this year. Shawn Murphy, who had been working as the starting right guard, worked with the 2nd team on Wednesday. Joe Berger, who is the team's primary backup center, spent most of Wednesday replacing Murphy at RG. But Murphy did get some reps with the 1st unit just before the end of practice.

On the defensive side, offseason acquisition Tony McDaniel worked with the first team at defensive end for the second consecutive day replacing Phillip Merling. What's always interesting to note, though, is how the "demoted" player reacts when he's sent down. And according to Omar Kelly, Merling has been making plays as part of the second unit.

Look for more of this "experimenting" to continue between now and the first preseason game on August 17.

ODDS & ENDS

Vontae Davis picked off a long Chad Pennington pass intended for Brandon London - showcasing his closing speed.
Donald Thomas was back at practice - but didn't work too much as he eases back into things.
Brian Hartline - a very criticized pick around these parts - has put together back-to-back great days of practice. He followed up a good day yesterday by making the catch of the day today - a diving TD catch from Chad Henne. He also made a lunging catch from Chad Pennington and caught a deep pass down the middle of the field from Pat White. Right now, Hartline is hot and it doesn't matter which of the three quarterbacks are throwing to him. He's making plays consistently right now.

UP NEXT
The Dolphins have two practices tomorrow - one at 9 am and one at 5 pm. Both are open to the public - weather permitting.

Weekend Roundup: Talking camp competition, unsigned draft picks & much more

Matty I — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:15:08 -0000

As you can see from the countdown located in the left sidebar of the front page, we've reached single digits in the countdown to the opening of training camp for the Miami Dolphins. We're less than a week away. In fact, this time next week, we will have real practice reports to discuss. Can I get an "amen" to that?

Of course, this means that the local papers are firing up their Dolphins coverage after a few very slow news weeks. So let's get to some of what was written or discussed this past weekend. Also, our own preparation for camp will continue this week with more "training camp primers." So be sure to check back a lot this week to discuss some more hot topics as camp nears.

THE COMPETITION FOR ROSTER SPOTS WILL HEAT UP
In Barry Jackson's latest "sports buzz" article, he discusses some of the "chatter" about the more competitive roster battles that we'll be focusing on for the next month or so. Some of the highlights are below:

One official close to the Dolphins front office said Wake has been ordinary, and is no cinch to make the roster. Don't misunderstand: The Dolphins still have hopes Wake -- a highly skilled athlete -- can be good, but he must show it in camp.

One Dolphins person warned not to underestimate Walden's value as a core special-teams player. If Miami keeps nine linebackers, that would leave room, hypothetically, for Wake, Walden and Anderson. Otherwise, one of those three probably would not make the team.

Cameron Wake has been severely hyped up by numerous Dolphin fans. And in less than a week, the pads will go on and Wake will have to prove himself to this coaching staff. Despite how many Dolphin fans feel, Wake is far from a lock to make the roster. And what very well could keep his roster spot safe will be Wake's contributions on special teams. The South Florida media raved about Wake's ability to beat down defensive backs in kick coverage during non-contact OTAs and minicamps. If Wake can show that he's as impressive when the hitting goes live, he should have a good shot at making the roster as a special teamer/developmental pass rusher. But again - it's far from a lock.

Erik Walden's special teams contributios cannot be understated here, too. The coverage units instantly improved once Walden was signed by the Dolphins. Hopefully he'll also find a roster spot on the team's 53-man roster.

I'll have much more on the linebacker position battles this week in another "training camp primer" that should help spark some debate/discussion on how the unit will shape up in camp.

General manager Jeff Ireland said he expects McDaniel to make ``a nice splash,'' and former Jaguars teammate Fred Taylor (now with New England) raved about McDaniel, saying he was shocked Jacksonville gave him up for so little (a seventh-rounder). But word is he was inconsistent in the offseason program as he adjusted to Miami's 3-4 defense.

We talked last week about the defensive line. What's interesting is to hear how highly thought of Tony McDaniel was within the Jaguar organization. He's got the ideal size to become a very good 3-4 defensive end (and occassional nose tackle if necessary). But we'll have to wait to see how McDaniel continues to adapt to the 3-4 after spending his career in Jacksonville's 4-3 defense.

Receiver: The Dolphins generally kept five last year, and often had only four active for games. Sparano said Miami might keep six, but a case could be made for keeping a ninth linebacker instead. If a sixth receiver is kept, that opens a roster spot for speedy Anthony Armstrong (an offseason hit) or incumbent Brandon London.

Here Jackson highlights a key point we touched on last week. The number of players kept at several positions will depend on and affect how other positions shape up. We know that this regime seems to value linebackers and doesn't necessarily believe in keeping a ton of receivers. After Greg Camarillo's season-ending injury last year, the Dolphins usually only kept three receivers active on gameday. So it could be a reach to expect the Dolphins to carry six receivers on their 53-man roster. In my opinion, the receiver battle is going to be one of the most important - if not the most important - to monitor in camp and the preseason.

OMAR KELLY PROVIDES SOME MORE INSIGHT INTO MIAMI'S LOCKER ROOM
Last week, Joey Porter gave the NFL Total Access cameras a tour inside the Dolphins' facility in Davie, Florida. That video is right here if you missed it. But Omar Kelly provides some more "locker room info" that Porter didn't discuss on camera.

There are some bits of information Porter left out, like the fact he WAS the only player inside the locker room who has two lockers. His second locker usually holds his mail and Reebok gear. It's decorated with a doctored picture of him shirtless with a gut wearing Pittsburgh gear Some fan (or hater) sent it to him and he uses it as motivation (he loves negative motivation).

If you thought professional athletes don't use these kinds of external factors as motivation, you're wrong. Just like how the Dolphins seemed to thrive last year when they continually got disrespected in the media, Porter uses negative "fan mail" to stoke his interior fire some more - which is awesome, by the way. Any way "Peezy" can get more fired up is fine by me. I just hope, for that "fan's" sake that he didn't include a return address on the envelope. I can just imagine Porter knocking on that guy's door, holding the doctored photo - and the guy just absolutely crapping himself.

Right where Porter found Chad Pennington, the quarterbacks film room (every position has a film room), is Pennington's usual spot. I have yet to meet a player who watches more film at the team facility. Most players take it home because the team now provides breakdowns on CD they can study at home.

Also, Pennington will RARELY ever caught on film without a hat. He's got the worst head of hair in the locker room, and it's usually funny to watch him battle with it after his shower. He must run a brush or comb through it 50 to 60 times before he's satisfied. Then he puts on a hat.

Somebody needs to tell CP that it doesn't matter at all what the hell his hair looks like after a game - as long as he wins, of course.

Oh - and by the way - if you wonder why I remain firmly in the "CP as my starter" corner while a number of you want Chad Henne to be handed the job, the first paragraph above is among my top reasons. And you just know that Pennington's preparation habits have got to be rubbing off on Henne - which is just another reason why I want to thank Brett Favre and the NY Jets.

DAYS WINDING DOWN TO GET REMAINING ROOKIES SIGNED
Players must report to camp on Saturday - with the first practice scheduled for Sunday. And the Dolphins still have three unsigned rookies - including first-round pick Vontae Davis. Pat White and Chris Clemons are the other two.

But only four first-round picks in the entire league are signed. One of them is Alex Mack - the 21st pick in the draft. Davis was the 25th. Also signed was the final pick in round one - Ziggy Hood. Mack and Hood both signed 5 year deals worth $11.3 million. The difference between the two is the guaranteed money. Mack is getting $2.8 million more in guarantees. That should help set a baseline for discussions between the Dolphins and Vontae Davis. I expect Davis to get signed just before camp opens. Don't worry about a holdout.

Because Pat White is a quarterback, his deal could be the toughest. Last year, Chad Henne - a second-round QB - missed one training camp practice while his deal was completed. That highlights how it's tough to get a QB signed no matter what round they were drafted in. But the player drafted just before White, DE Everette Brown, just signed his deal. That should help provide the grounds to an eventual deal between White and the Dolphins. Hopefully it's before camp starts.

As for Chris Clemons, only four 5th round picks remain unsigned. Unfortunately, two of them surround Clemons in the round. Punter Thomas Morstead - picked right in front of Clemons - and safety Michael Hamlin - picked right after Clemons - are yet to come to terms. Another interesting nugget is that Clemons and Hamlin were the starting safety tandem at Clemson. What does that have to do with getting Chris signed? Probably nothing - I don't know. But you can't help but wonder what is taking so long to get this 5th round pick signed.

QUICK HITS
-David Martin's agent has told the Herald that Martin is "healthy and ready to go" after recovering from offseason sports hernia surgery. Good news for sure.

-Vonnie Holliday's agent tells the Palm Beach Post that Holliday could eventually return to Miami as camp progresses. If injuries to Miami's defensive line occur - or if the young guys under-perform, Holliday is just a phone call away. Not a bad insurance policy, if you ask me.

-The Dolphins have modified their training camp schedule just a bit. Now camp will open with just one practice, scheduled for 2 pm, on Sunday.

-Ethan Skolnick wrote more about the disrespect that the defending division champs are getting this year - focusing on Las Vegas' low over/under for Dolphins' wins. Just more fuel for the fire, my friends.

Miami Dolphins Training Camp Primer: How will the defensive line shape up?

Matty I — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:15:08 -0000

Phillip Merling will be asked to step up and fill the void left by the release of Vonnie Holliday.

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So far we've looked at the receiver position and the tight end position in our 2009 training camp primers. Today we'll flip to the defensive side of the ball for the first time and focus our attention on the defensive line.

Despite the large number of defensive linemen currently on the roster and the mix of veterans and rookies that make up the defensive line at the moment, I think that how the position will shape up entering the regular season is as cut and dry as any position on the team. There probably won't be too many surprises when all is said and done.

THE QUICK BREAKDOWN

Virtual locks to make the roster: Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, Jason Ferguson
Likely to make roster: Randy Starks, Paul Soliai
On the bubble: Tony McDaniel, Lionel Dotson, Rodrique Wright
Long shots: Ryan Baker, Joe Cohen, Louis Ellis

THE QUESTIONS

Much of the attention on the Dolphins' defensive line during camp will be focused on two players. One is second-year defensive end Phillip Merling. Merling will be asked to replace Vonnie Holliday in the starting lineup at defensive end opposite fellow second-year end Kendall Langford. Merling showed some flashes last year as the top backup at defensive end. But consistency was reportedly the main issue with him. In particular, he didn't practice as well as he played - and that explain why he disappeared at times on gameday. Will Merling effectively take the next step and up his performance to a new level as he replaces the effective veteran as a starter?

The other player who will have the heat on him is nose tackle Paul Soliai. We all know that the 3-4 defense doesn't work without effective play from the nose. Jason Ferguson is still a very good player and does his job well. But he's got a lot of mileage on his body. He'll need to be rested more in 2009. There's also always a higher risk of injury with an aging defensive lineman. Can Soliai step up this year and prove he's a capable alternative to Ferguson at the nose?

THE NUMBERS GAME

Last year, the Dolphins carried eight defensive linemen into the regular season. Six of them were defensive ends and two were nose tackles. I'd expect a similar breakdown this year once the final 53-man roster is set. Like I said above, Langford, Merling, and Ferguson are locks. All three are penciled in to be starters. Merling could play his way out of a starting role with a bad camp. But the other two are probably locked in to their starting roles.

This leaves potentially five roster spots for reserves. At least one will go to a nose tackle. Tony McDaniel, who the Dolphins acquired from the Jaguars in a trade this past offseason, could potentially play both nose tackle and defensive end. His versatility could mean the Dolphins aren't necessarily locked into the previously described 6:2 defensive end to nose tackle ratio.

Also note that the Dolphins tended to dress six defensive linemen on gameday and leave two inactive. Four of the active defensive linemen were ends and two were nose tackles. Again, McDaniel's potential versatility could make their 45-man gameday roster more flexible if Tony can impress the coaches and make the team.

WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?

Everything above basically means that we have eight players fighting for just five roster spots. But like I said at the beginning, I don't expect too many surprises from this unit in terms of which five reserves make the roster and which three fall short. Perhaps Joe Cohen or Louis Ellis could surprise and win the backup nose tackle job. But more realistically, those two young potential nose tackles could be battling each other for one practice squad spot.

The interesting storyline to watch in terms of the five reserve linemen will be how they position themselves within the defensive line rotation. With Phillip Merling moving from top reserve linemen to starter, the role of top reserve will be open to battle. Randy Starks, Tony McDaniel, and Lionel Dotson will likely all be fighting it out.

Rodrique Wright is entering what is likely his final chance to prove his worth to this regime once camp begins. He spent the 2008 season on the 53-man roster but was inactive for all 16 regular season games. As it stands now, he's probably the eighth defensive linemen on the depth chart. But we know that this regime is not afraid to constantly turn over the bottom portion of the roster - meaning Wright's time in Miami could definitely be winding down.

THE KEY BATTLE

I quickly touched on it above, but I wanted to focus on it here. I think the key battle among defensive linemen will be the battle to take Merling's old role as the top reserve at end. Randy Starks probably enters camp as the favorite. He received a lot of playing time off the bench himself last season and is a very versatile player. He could line up at defensive end or defensive tackle depending on if the Dolphins use three or four down linemen. He even played a little nose last season.

Lionel Dotson will certainly be in the mix for this role as well. He spent all of his rookie season last year on the 53-man roster, but was inactive for 14 of the team's 16 regular season games. However, it's believed that the coaching staff really likes this kid. It's also been reported that some of Miami's offensive linemen that had to face Dotson in practice day in and day out last year said he had the best pass-rushing moves among all of the defensive ends.

Tony McDaniel will the the third player in the battle to be the primary backup at defensive end. He's a massive man - measuring in at 6'7, 305 pounds. He's got long arms and the kind of frame that is well suited for the defensive end position in a 3-4. But he'll also get some looks at nose tackle as well. He's also converting from spending most of his time in a 4-3 defense, so he'll need time to adapt. But certainly don't count him out. He'll be in line for some role within Miami's rotation.

THE PREDICTION

Merling, Langford, and Ferguson are all safe. Despite his potential legal trouble, Starks is probably safe as well. Soliai needs to show improved conditioning - but it seems like he is probably going to make the team. I'd also say both Dotson and McDaniel will make the roster, though I'm not sure who will be ahead of the other. Right now, Wright probably eeks out that final roster spot along the defensive front. But like I said, it wouldn't be surprising if the eighth defensive linemen heading into the regular season isn't even on the team yet.

Around the AFC East: Ranking the division's defensive tackles

Brian Galliford — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:00:15 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

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It's Friday, which means the bloggers of all four AFC East teams at SB Nation are back at the ranking game. Over the past two weeks, Matty I, MaPatsFan, John B and myself have spent some time ranking the division's running backs and linebackers. Since the conversations surrounding those topics have been excellent, we're continuing the ranking game this morning.

Last week's linebacker rankings were rather dull, considering there isn't much to seriously debate - particularly when considering how evenly matched and ill-tempered the running back rankings were. Today we're making a valiant attempt to get back to even ground. In case you hadn't noticed, the AFC East is chock-full of outstanding defensive tackles. There are big names throughout the division - Vince Wilfork, Kris Jenkins, Jason Ferguson, and the Buffalo Bills' very own Marcus Stroud. The depth throughout the division is also rather terrific.

Head on in past the jump for my rankings, and be sure to check out The Phinsider, Pats Pulpit and Gang Green Nation for rival rankings as well. Then let the debate begin!

1. New England Patriots - Vince Wilfork is probably the most dominant nose tackle in the league. The man is a mountain, and he's blocked like one, too. But it doesn't stop there for New England - they drafted another stout porker in the second round when they snagged BC's Ron Brace to back Wilfork up. Brace has a shot to play 3-4 nose tackle for a long time in this league (unless, of course, Wilfork prevents him from doing so). Mike Wright can moonlight at nose tackle, but he's athletic enough to play end for Bill Belichick as well. The best player and the most enviable depth? Putting the Patriots at the top of this list was relatively easy.

2. New York Jets - Look, I'm just glad that I didn't have to put the Jets at the top of the list this week, as they took my top spot at both running back and linebacker. Kris Jenkins is excellent as the anchor of that defense - just ask Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston. The team brought in veteran Howard Green to back Jenkins up at the nose (which Sione Pouha can do as well), and Green can play a little end as well. This is a big and versatile group.

3. Buffalo Bills - It's quite strange to try to fit the Bills into a group like this because their defensive scheme is so vastly different from the rivals'. In particular, the two schemes call for the biggest personnel differences at the DT position. Buffalo's personnel is lighter and quicker than the rest of the division's tackles simply because they're being asked to do different things. Marcus Stroud is still an upper-echelon tackle in the league, and the unheralded Kyle Williams is solid too. Spencer Johnson offers some athleticism and versatility in reserve, and if John McCargo can finally make good on his vast potential, the Bills will be quite deep at this position.

4. Miami Dolphins - Jason Ferguson has been an excellent nose tackle in this league for a long time, but he's far closer to "relic" status than any other player at the position as well. Ferguson will be fine this year, but in their haste to address their weak defensive backfield in free agency, the Dolphins missed the boat on securing the future at their most important defensive position. (Not that they didn't need to fix their secondary.) The depth behind Ferguson consists of Tony McDaniel, Joe Cohen and Paul Soliai - not necessarily in that order. The depth isn't great, and while Ferguson is an exemplary pro and a great fit for the Bill Parcells defense, it nonetheless places Miami last on this list.

Top ten offseason acquisitions to be most excited for

Matty I — Tue, 19 May 2009 04:15:09 -0000

With OTAs officially getting underway on Tuesday down in Davie, I figured now would be a good time to talk about which "new" Dolphins we are all most excited about. And I swear that I had this idea planned for today for a week or two - before Rzayo24's fanpost on the topic. But since his thread got hijacked, for the most part, I don't see any reason for me to skip this post.

So below are the top 10 "new" Dolphins I'm most excited for. After reading my list, share your list with us.

10) DE Tony McDaniel
McDaniel was acquired from Jacksonville in mid-March for a 7th round draft pick. He's a huge player, measuring in at 6'7, 310 pounds. While he could play anywhere along the defensive line, his combination of height and weight makes him an ideal 3-4 defensive end. He'll likely factor into Miami's defensive line rotation, possibly filling the void left by the released Vonnie Holliday. McDaniel's agent said when the Dolphins traded for him that Miami "got a steal." It'll be interesting to see if that is indeed the case.

9) S Chris Clemons
The Dolphins spent a 5th round pick on this safety from Clemson. Clemons is a very athletic safety. At the Scouting Combine in February, he turned in the fastest time among safeties in the 40 yard dash (4.41 seconds). His 37.5" vertical leap was the 4th best among safeties and he benched 225 pounds 19 times - 7 more than the first safety selected in the draft (Louis Delmas). Clemons also was a standout in shorts at the team's rookie camp. He'll be a player to keep an eye on when the pads go on in training camp.

8) WR Patrick Turner
The Dolphins opened up their day two festivities on draft weekend by selecting this former USC wide receiver with their 3rd round pick. It was a pick met with a lot of criticism - especially from those so-called "draft experts." But Turner is 6'5, 223 pounds with 33" arms. He will likely be looked upon to become the Dolphins receiving redzone threat. His 10 touchdowns in 2008 at USC bode well for his potential in this role in Miami. But I'm anxious to see if he is indeed able to create separation against NFL corners - especially considering he struggled doing so at the collegiate level.

7) DE/OLB Cameron Wake
Back in January, the Dolphins signed "this guy from the CFL" and it went unnoticed for most of the country. But in Miami and in Canada, fans and analysts alike raved about Cameron Wake's potential. The two-time CFL Defensive Player of the Year, who tallied 39 sacks in 2 seasons, will be asked to convert to outside linebacker and will likely have one major role - getting to the quarterback. He's got an explosive first step and knows how to get after the signal caller. But how will he transition to the NFL level while learning what is essentially a new position?

6) C Jake Grove
The signing of Grove back in March really created some arguments among Dolphin fans. But we've since learned that Grove is a much stronger player than former center Samson Satele and he has performed very well against the bigger nose tackles that he has faced. And that's exactly why he was brought in here - to help block guys like Vince Wilfork and Kris Jenkins and to help open running lanes for Miami's talented backs. If he can stay healthy, I think Grove will prove all the naysayers wrong.

5) QB Pat White
I simply can't recall a single Dolphins player who has created the kind of buzz - both locally among Dolphin fans and nationally among general football fans - that Pat White has created in Miami since the Dolphins made White the 44th overall selection in the draft back in April. We have no real clue yet from the coaches about their plans for White - and we likely won't know anything for sure until we see it in the regular season. But what we do know is that White is a proven "winner" and is an exciting football player - no matter where he lines up on the field.

4) S Gibril Wilson
When the Dolphins signed Wilson back in February, many thought that meant the end of Yeremiah Bell in Miami. Little did we know that this regime planned to use Wilson at free safety and to team him up with Bell - who the Fins re-signed later that day - creating perhaps the most physical safety tandem in the NFL. Wilson loves to make the big hit but is also capable of making the big pick. He's got very good speed and should make for a solid upgrade over Miami's recent free safeties. The only question will be how Wilson handles making the secondary calls at the line of scrimmage - a duty usuallt reserved for the free safety.

3) CB Vontae Davis
The Dolphins spent their first round pick on Davis and clearly have high hopes for this kid. While some Dolphin fans were disappointed in his selection, I get the feeling that those same fans are going to love him once they see what he can do on the field. He's a physical corner who loves to hit. He's got good speed and ball skills and has that "swagger" that cornerbacks seem to need to thrive in the league. He was the most physically talented corner in the draft and the Dolphins stole him with the 25th pick. I get the feeling Vontae is going to come in with a chip on his shoulder to prove all those doubters wrong - and us Dolphin fans will reap the rewards.

2) CB Sean Smith
So if I'm so high on Davis, why is Sean Smith higher on my list? I truly believe that the police should be called on the Dolphins - they simply fleeced the entire NFL by taking Smith with the 61st overall pick. Many of you know that Smith was my #1 "mancrush" in this draft. It's simply not every day that you find a 6'3 1/2" corner who can run a 4.47 40 yard dash and have the athleticism to blanket receivers on the outside. And if you need tape to see how good Smith is, I suggest finding video of the 2008 Sugar Bowl between Utah and Alabama. Smith was the defensive star for Utah, registering 6 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and perhaps the game's biggest pass deflection - leading Utah to the upset win over the Crimson Tide. I think Smith has the highest ceiling of any corner in the '08 draft and cannot wait to see him wearing the aqua and orange on Sundays.

1) DE/OLB Jason Taylor
Was there ever any doubt? Sure - we aren't getting the vintage Jason Taylor we are accustomed to seeing wearingthe #99 jersey. But when the Dolphins signed Taylor last week, you couldn't help but feel thrilled that one of South Florida's most beloved athletes was returning home. Taylor's decision to come back to Miami grows his legacy here - but also really highlights the kind of transformation we've seen in Miami from 2007 to now. I don't care if Taylor only plays 20 snaps each game. He's going to go out and give it his all whenever he's on the field - and I get the feeling we are in store for at least one more truly unforgettable, classic JT moment at some point in 2009. How can you not be excited for that?

Dolphins 2009 Draft Picks

Matty I — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:55:55 -0000

With the announcement of the compensatory picks yesterday, we now know the official 2009 NFL Draft order in its entirety. We also know which of Miami's three 7th round picks the Dolphins sent to Jacksonville in exchange for DT Tony McDaniel - who, by the way, will work as a defensie end in Miami's 3-4 defense to start with. It was pick 232 - or Miami's second 7th round pick.

So here are all of the Dolphins' 2009 draft picks - at least as of right now:

1st Round - Pick 25
2nd Round - Pick 12 (44th overall)
2nd Round - Pick 24 (56th overall)
3rd Round - Pick 23 (87th overall)
4th Round - Pick 8 (108th overall)
5th Round - Pick 25 (161st overall)
6th Round - Pick 8 (181st overall)
7th Round - Pick 5 (214th overall)
7th Round - Pick 28 (237th overall)

Those are Miami's 9 picks. And I'm sure they will look to add more between now and the draft in April (as well as on draft day). We all know this regime loves draft picks - and particularly values 2nd rounders, which means it shouldn't surprise anyone if the Dolphins were to trade down from 25 overall, dropping into round 2 while acquiring additional late rounders. For example, the Dolphins could drop as many as ten spots from 25 to 35 and pick up an additional 3rd rounder. And a move like this wouldn't shock anybody, I'm sure.