PLENTY of space on Dolphins roster

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/08/plenty-of-space.html

PLENTY of space on Dolphins roster

The Dolphins just cut three of their undrafted rookie free agents, and pair that with this week's surprising release of kicker Jay Feely and it appears that the front office is gearing up to pounce on the rest of the NFL's leftover talent.

There are presently four vacancies on the team's 80-man training camp roster. It'll be interesting to see what newcomers are added in the coming days. There's clearly a need at offensive tackle, but those guys are about as hard to find as nuggets of gold. The Dolphins are banking on someone good being let go.

However, teams don't begin the first wave of cuts until Aug. 26, and even then it's only five players per team that will be sheered off. That's 155 players that will be available. But what's really out there right now besides AFL talent, and guys who didn't make a training camp?

Maybe the plan is to have four players participate in a 10-day tryout. To be honest, the bottom half of the Dolphins roster is so thin the Trifecta will probably be constantly holding tryouts all season. The Dolphins presently need an upgrade at nose tackle, offensive tackle, fullback, and more quality receivers. A linebacker or two could also help.

NFL teams better think twice before cutting players they want to stash on the practice squad because the Dolphins will be pouncing on any, and everything of value according to G.M. Jeff Ireland. I say the over-under on players cut after the 53-man roster is produced will be 15 during the season....

While I was very high on Keith Saunders during the rookie camp I must admit he disappeared when training camp opened. Didn't notice him once.

Coach Tony Sparano recently singled out Titus Brown as one of the young linebackers who has caught his eye. I must admit I noticed Brown the day before Sparano mentioned him when I was watching the inside run drill. Brown is fast and has a little punch to him. I suspect that if the former Mississippi State standout keeps grinding he'll be the linebacker that earns the practice squad spot. Former BYU standout Kelly Poppinga should be happy he wasn't amongst the recently released. But his days are numbered if he doesn't start getting active....

Receivers John Dunlap and Selwyn Lymon are now gone, which leaves more work for the eight receivers left in camp. Initially, I was surprised Dunlap lasted as long as he did, but he eventually proved himself to be a guy who deserved a camp spot. A stint in Canada or the Lymon showed up in a few practices, but he wasn't consistent enough to get on the field against Tampa Bay.

I thought the Dolphins might keep him as a project on the practice squad considering he has size and speed, but it appears Jayson Foster and Anthony Armstrong will be the two receivers battling it out for that practice squad spot. Foster is a better special teams contributor, but Armstrong is a better receiver.

For those wondering where fellow rookie receiver Davone Bess fits in, I've got him making the 53-man roster. The Dolphins could try to cut the former Hawaii standout and sneak him onto the practice squad, but based on what I've seen that's a risky venture.

Even Sparano openly admits he's "feeling" Bess every few days. It might be best to keep Bess on the 53-man roster initially, then cut him a few weeks into the regular season with the hopes of sneaking him onto the practice squad once teams already have players they're invested to. By my calculations, it comes down to Bess, Greg Camarillo, or a waiver wire signing for that final receiver spot....

In case you missed, it I recently wrote a story on Jason Allen's drastic improvement in the secondary. I love how he explained the change in scheme from what Dom Capers was running to what Paul Pasqualoni is running to him going from calculus back down to algebra. That was the best metaphor I've heard from a player in a while....

Please forgive me for my recent absence from this blog. It pains my, but I've got a ton of work due for our football special section and have been trying to complete these assignments the past couple of days....

Now that the rest of the world has caught onto the fact that John Beck is on the trade market, exactly what do you think the Dolphins should get in return for the 2007 second-round pick?

I'm thinking a fifth-round pick might do the trick. I know it's nothing close to what was spent to acquire him, but teams already believe the Dolphins will cut him, so why overpay for something you might possibly get for free.

As I've stated before, the Dolphins can't just cut Beck. He's still got value (just not to them), and only bad front offices cut players that have value. I say hold onto Beck, who would be more suited running a west coast offense, as the fourth quarterback until injuries ravish the position like it annually does, and teams get desperate for quality arms.

Remember Vinny Testerverde, who was signed off the street, rescued from his elderly home around mid-season, started the most games for the Panthers in 2007.

With patience, a demand will be created, and all the Dolphins have to do is wait for someone to get desperate for a quarterback just like Washington was when they gave the Trifecta a kings ransom for Jason Taylor.

Plus, you never know if the Dolphins might be the team that needs that fourth quarterback. Chad Pennington, who has all about locked up that starting spot with a strong first week showing, isn't exactly the most durable of quarterbacks.

Sparano pointed out that in his first season as an assistant in Cleveland the Browns went through six quarterbacks. SIX!....

Finally, please ignore the last blog entry posted by my counterpart. I couldn't care less where people rank me, or us. I personally don't need anyone to validate me outside of my wife. And she calls me daddy all the time. There's usually another word placed in front of it, but I won't bore you with those details.

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 10:32:07 AM