National Football League

NFL team preview: Miami Dolphins

Published Sep. 3, 2010 8:41 a.m. ET

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INSIDE SLANT

Owner Steve Ross is talking Super Bowl. Coach Tony Sparano is talking Super Bowl.

So, naturally, Dolphins players are talking about a date in Dallas early next February, too.

So what if this proud franchise hasn't stepped on the sport's ultimate stage in a quarter century (and counting)? So what if the Dolphins are coming off a 7-9 disappointment and are widely considered a wildcard choice at best in the rugged AFC East?

The offseason acquisitions of star wide receiver Brandon Marshall and playmaking inside linebacker Karlos Dansby have the Dolphins confident they can not only get back to the playoffs after a disappointing sophomore campaign under the Bill Parcells-led regime, but actually do some damage once they get in.

For an organization that hasn't won a playoff game since beating the Colts in December 2000, Peyton Manning's third year in the NFL, that's some tough talk.

Still, ask strong safety Yeremiah Bell, the longest continuously serving player on the team, to complete a sentence that begins, "This season can only be a success if ... " and the Pro Bowl selection doesn't hesitate.

"We win the Super Bowl," he says. "It's that simple."

With Bell, the Dolphins' career leader in sacks by a defensive back, blitzing from every possible angle in new coordinator Mike Nolan's hyper aggressive defensive scheme, the Dolphins vow to create more turnovers than they did a year ago.

They also believe Marshall, preseason dropsies aside, will be just the run-after-catch target they've been lacking and a high-end bauble that could vault second-year starting quarterback Chad Henne to the next level.

"The needs were addressed," Bell says. "We have a very good team, and I think we have all the tools we need to get there. It's going to be up to us as players to go out and get it done."

As many as three rookies could open the year in the starting lineup: first-rounder Jared Odrick at right defensive end, second-rounder Koa Misi at strong-side linebacker and third-rounder John Jerry at right guard.

The hope is this infusion of youth will make up for the loss of experience with the departures of sack artists Jason Taylor and Joey Porter as well as veteran guard Justin Smiley.

A balanced offensive attack is still the goal under coordinator Dan Henning, and with Ronnie Brown back from a broken foot to share the load with the ageless Ricky Williams, that should be more achievable now that Marshall has arrived.

COACHING: Tony Sparano, 3rd year, 3rd with Dolphins (18-15).
REMEMBERING: 2009 record: 7-9 (3rd in AFC East).
PREDICTING: 2010 regular-season record: 11-5 (1st in AFC East); lose in second round of playoffs.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Starting ILB Channing Crowder hasn't played since the first quarter of the preseason thanks to an undisclosed injury that is reportedly to his upper leg or abdominal area. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has admitted to a "level of concern" over the injury, which could keep Crowder out of the Sept. 12 opener at Buffalo and forced veteran reserve Tim Dobbins, acquired from San Diego on the first day of the draft, to start in his place.

PLAYER NOTES

--CB Will Allen remains out following Aug. 12 cleanup surgery on his rebuilt left knee. Tony Sparano says there is no timetable for his return, forcing the team to trade veteran WR Greg Camarillo to the Vikings for seventh-year man Benny Sapp, who has significant experience in the nickel.

--OL Nate Garner was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday in light of a second offseason surgery to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. The Dolphins' most versatile offensive lineman, who saw time at five different line spots last season (including tackle-eligible), wasn't expected to be ready until early October at the soonest and the staff decided it couldn't wait that long.

--ILB Micah Johnson, an undrafted rookie who was released out of Giants camp in June, has made an impression since signing with the Dolphins during the first week of training camp. The former Kentucky standout has battled knee problems but impressed the coaching staff during a 56-play audition (17 on special teams) in the third preseason game.

--OLB Quentin Moses, a former third-round pick of the Raiders who has been with the Dolphins since October 2007, may be running out of time. Moses missed last week's game against the Falcons with an injury to his right thigh area and hasn't impressed this preseason.

--TE David Martin will serve as the backup long snapper after franchise great Jason Taylor held that role last season. Martin, who missed last season with a knee injury, is "one of the better backup long snappers in the league," Tony Sparano said. John Denney is the primary long snapper and has been since 2005.

--CB Nolan Carroll took all four kickoff returns last week against the Falcons but Sparano cautioned against reading too much into that. The rookie is still competing with holdover KR Patrick Cobbs, who has averaged 20.5 yards on 29 career kickoff returns (long of 60 yards) the past three seasons.

DRAFT PICKS TO STICK

Rd. 1/28, DE Jared Odrick, Penn State -- The versatile run-stuffer has been thrust into the starting lineup after holdover Phillip Merling suffered a season-ending injury to his Achilles tendon in late July.

Rd. 2/40, OLB Koa Misi, Utah -- Counted on as the replacement for Jason Taylor on the strong side, the converted 4-3 defensive end has struggled to set the edge against the run in the preseason.

Rd. 3/73, RG John Jerry, Mississippi -- Younger brother of Falcons DL Peria Jerry, this country-strong farm boy has reshaped his body and quickly claimed the starting job that used to belong to Donald Thomas and the injured Nate Garner.

Rd. 5/145, CB Nolan Carroll, Maryland -- One of the surprises of camp, this speedy and cerebral late bloomer is bidding strongly for a spot in the nickel defensive package as well as the role of primary kickoff returner.

Rd. 5/163, FS Reshad Jones, Georgia -- The hard-hitting Jones was viewed as an underachiever in college and failed to overtake fellow fifth-rounder Chris Clemons, in his second season out of Clemson, as the successor to the departed disappointment Gibril Wilson.

UNIT BY UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Chad Henne. Backups -- Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen, Pat White.

This is Henne's team and his time. It's imperative he not falter or else he'll risk making team owner and fellow Michigan alum Steve Ross look even more foolish for saying he hoped Henne would become the greatest quarterback in franchise history. (Dan Marino sort of has that tag locked up.) Pennington's arm strength is gradually coming back following the third major surgery of his career on his throwing shoulder. Thigpen is a born scrambler who is learning to stand in the pocket. White, the record-setting second rounder in 2009 out of West Virginia, has failed to launch and could be cut or stashed on a non-football injury list as he continues to deal with issues of motivation.

RUNNING BACKS: Starters -- Ronnie Brown, FB Lousaka Polite. Backups -- Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard.

Brown has shown no ill effects of the November surgery he underwent to repair a mid-foot fracture. He's entering the final season of his rookie contract and is highly motivated. Polite is Mr. Automatic on third-and-short and a better blocker than you'd think. Williams, 33, set an NFL record for longest gap between 1,000-yard seasons (six) but prefers to remain in a complimentary role. Cobbs is coming off a torn ACL and is a big contributor on special teams and sometimes out of the Wildcat.

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Anthony Fasano. Backups -- David Martin, John Nalbone.

Fasano is coming off a disappointing season but is hoping to recapture the production he showed in 2008, the last time he and Martin paired together. Martin, who missed last season with a knee injury, was re-signed after the Ravens nearly grabbed him in early August. Nalbone, a former fifth-rounder, hasn't shown much and could wind up back on the practice squad, even with the foot injury that caused 2009 backup Joey Haynos to be waived/injured this week.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Brandon Marshall, Brian Hartline. Backups -- Davone Bess, Patrick Turner, Marlon Moore, Roberto Wallace.

Marshall, signed to a four-year, $47.5 million extension that also cost the Dolphins' a pair of second-round draft picks, is the most accomplished receiver this franchise has had since Irving Fryar a decade and a half ago. By the time he's done, Marshall could become the greatest WR in franchise history, save perhaps for only Paul Warfield. Hartline steps into a starting role in his second season and is being counted on to stretch the field with fellow Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr. traded to the 49ers. Bess caught more third-down passes the past two seasons than any NFL receiver besides Carolina's Steve Smith. Turner, a third-round flop last season, is showing signs of improvement. His potential, along with undrafted finds Moore and Wallace, enabled the front office to trade former starter Greg Camarillo to the Vikings.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Jake Long, LG Richie Incognito, C Jake Grove, RG John Jerry, RT Vernon Carey. Backups -- C/G Joe Berger, G Donald Thomas, T Lydon Murtha, T Andrew Gardner, G/C Cory Procter.

Long is a two-time Pro Bowl selection who is playing like a franchise left tackle (and No. 1 overall pick) is supposed to. Incognito, signed this offseason, has made the move over to the left side and shown the nastiness he's known for in replacing the traded Justin Smiley. Grove appears to have held off the camp challenge of Berger, who replaced him as the starter for the final six games in 2009, but Grove has a left shoulder issue that must be monitored. Rookie Jerry was tried at left guard in the OTAs but has been returned to his natural side, where he will start from Day 1. Carey has made 76 straight starts, including the playoffs, but his conditioning could become a concern.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LE Kendall Langford, NT Randy Starks, RE Jared Odrick. Backups -- DE Tony McDaniel, NT Paul Soliai, DE Marques Douglas, DE Charles Grant, DE Lionel Dotson.

Starks has looked good since moving inside to replace veteran Jason Ferguson, who retired in mid-July. Langford is entering his third season as a solid starting presence at one end, while the rookie Odrick has been thrown into the fire with Phillip Merling (Achilles tendon) out for the year. There is good depth with late-signings Douglas and Grant joining the much-improved Soliai along the line.

LINEBACKERS: Starters -- OLB Koa Misi, OLB Cameron Wake, ILB Karlos Dansby, ILB Channing Crowder. Backups -- OLB Charlie Anderson, OLB Ikaika Alama-Francis, OLB Erik Walden, ILB Tim Dobbins, ILB Micah Johnson, OLB Quentin Moses.

Wake, the two-time CFL Defensive Player of the Year (2007-08), is the best bet to become the Dolphins' version of Elvis Dumervil in Mike Nolan's gambling defense. He replaces fading loudmouth Joey Porter. Misi needs to do a better job setting the edge or he could lose his starting job to Alama-Francis, who dropped 15 pounds to make the conversion from defensive end. Dansby has never made the Pro Bowl but it hasn't been for lack of production. Crowder is dealing with an upper leg/abdominal issue, according to reports, and could miss the early part of the season. Dobbins, picked up from the Chargers on draft day, would step into the void.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- CB Vontae Davis, CB Sean Smith, SS Yeremiah Bell, FS Chris Clemons. Backups -- CB Benny Sapp, CB Jason Allen, CB Nolan Carroll, CB Will Allen, FS Reshad Jones, SS Tyrone Culver.

Davis became the first Dolphins rookie cornerback to lead the team in interceptions since Lloyd Mumphord in 1969. His work against Brandon Marshall in practice can only help his growth. Smith was held without a pick as a rookie in 2009 and has had his struggles this preseason. Bell, entering his fifth season as the Week 1 starter, is the only starting member of the secondary with more than one season of experience. Clemons has shown great improvement since a rookie season where he kept his mouth shut and stayed in the shadows. With Will Allen, the expected slot corner, still recovering from minor knee surgery on Aug. 12, newly acquired veteran Sapp is expected to replace Carroll in that role, at least to start the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS: P Brandon Fields, K Dan Carpenter, LS John Denney, PR Davone Bess, KR Patrick Cobbs, KR Nolan Carroll.

Signed to contract extensions this offseason, the specialist trio of Fields, Carpenter and Denney is one of the most reliable in the league. Carpenter is coming off a Pro Bowl season in his second year in the league, while Fields, even though he had two punts blocked this preseason, had one of the best statistical season for any Dolphins punter. Bess is a safe if unspectacular punt returner, while the rookie Carroll has displayed some of the flash that was lost when Ted Ginn Jr. was traded to the 49ers.