Depth chart breakdown: Dolphins D

[DolFan619]

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_football_dolphins/2008/07/last-season-the.html

Depth chart breakdown: Dolphins D

Last season there were plenty of "D" words to replace what was ONCE a "DOMINANT" defense for the Dolphins.

Disastrous Dolphins defense! Disappointing Dolphins defense. Dilapidated, destitute. And how about downright dysfunctional, especially at the end of the 2007 season.

What was once considered the strength of this proud franchise during the post-Dan Marino era became the Achilles heel. The Dolphins defense couldn't stop the run, couldn't stop the pass, didn't force turnovers, and struggled to pressure the quarterback. So exactly what did they do? The 2007 defense made the Dolphins inept offense look efficient at times. Worse, they wilted in the second half when a win was usually still not totally out of the question.

How did they fall so far so fast? Numerous injuries decimated an already thin unit. Plans to play a 3-4 defense were scrapped early, and they faked it poorly. The only nose tackle on the roster was like 40 years old and had the knees of a 50 year old, and management never found another suitable body to fill in for Keith Traylor ALL SEASON.

Unfortunately for Dolphins fans, most of the players from last year's defense haven't been scrapped....NOT YET. So how much improvement can really be expected?

Here's a look at the defense's depth chart breakdown so we can really analyze what's facing this side of the ball in 2008.

DEFENSIVE END - Proposed spots on the 53-man roster: 4

Sure shots: Vonnie Holliday, Matt Roth, Phillip Merling, Kendall Langford

Uphill battle: Rodrique Wright, Lionel Dotson

Breakdown: Holliday and Roth will likely begin training camp (and the season) as starters, but the Trifecta is hoping Merling and Langford, the rookies, blossom quickly. The Dolphins need those two to become not only talented fill-ins in 2008, but productive role players, if not starters in 2009. Holliday is well seasoned, and while still productive, he's in his 30's, and is fairly expensive. He'll need a BIG season to survive next offseasons trimming of salary cap fat. Roth works cheap, but he might be size-wise more suited to play end in a 4-3, not a 3-4. The Trifecta has experimented with him as a pass rushing outside linebacker, and there might be something to that. Dotson will likely be stashed on the practice squad if he proves he's worthy of a spot. Wright seems to be the odd man out, but he proved last season he's decent enough to find a home on another NFL roster. Just hard to see him making this one based on the numbers.

NOSE TACKLE - Spots: 2

Sure shots: Jason Ferguson, Randy Starks

Uphill battle: Paul Soliai, Anthony Toribio

Breakdown: I'm well aware that Starks wasn't signed to play nose tackle. At least that wasn't what he was told. But exactly who do the Dolphins expect to backup Ferguson when he needs a breather, or fill-in for Ferguson if he suffers an injury. Starks, a former defensive tackle with the Titans, will have to prove he can bring it as a stout defensive end if he intends to stay on the outside. But considering the nice contract he just got from the Trifecta, I'm sure he'll play what he's told. His presence on the roster brings some flexibility considering he can do both. Soliai was a waste last season, but it appears he'll be given an opportunity to redeem himself. Soliai could also be stashed on the practice squad considering he played so sparingly in 2007. But that would require another team not picking him up on the waiver wire, which is a gamble. Toribio is also a practice squad candidate, but the Dolphins should scour the waiver wire to identity a true nose tackle - one with upside that the coaches REALLY want to develop. If that's Toribio or Soliai, cool.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS - Spots: 4

Sure shots: Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Charlie Anderson

Even Money: Quentin Moses

Uphill battle: Keith Saunders, Junior Glymph, Titus Brown, Rob Ninkovich

INSIDE LINEBACKERS - Spots: 4

Sure shots: Channing Crowder, Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor

Uphill battle: Edmond Miles, Kelvin Smith, Kelly Poppinga

Breakdown: Whether or not Jason Taylor shows up to training camp is a mystery, but when he does decide he needs that $8 million paycheck he'll come to his senses, make football his top priority, and show up in Davie. That is if he's not traded before the start of the regular season, and I don't expect him to be. Crowder, who is entering a contract year, will likely be given the opportunity to start if he's healthy. Management likely wants to see Crowder prove himself to these new coaches to determine if he'll be re-signed in the offseason. That leaves Ayodele and Torbor battling it out for the other starting inside linebacker spot. Ayodele's history with these coaches obviously gives him a leg up. Following his disappointing Dolphins debut, Porter will be given an opportunity to reclaim his status as a dominant NFL player. If he doesn't get it done in 2008, eclipsing his 2007 contributions, his days as a Dolphin could be numbers because he doesn't contribute on special teams. Special teams work will be what determines who fills in the final linebacker roster spots. Saunders, Glymph, Brown, Miles, Smith and Poppinga must become head-busters on the kickoff coverage units to make the 53-man roster. One or two young linebackers will likely be stashed on the practice squad. Plenty of linebackers will be available on the waiver wire, so if a prototypical player the Trifecta has had their eyes on for a few seasons becomes available don't be surprised if the Dolphins snatch him - or them - up.

CORNERBACKS - Spots: 5

Sure shots: Will Allen, Andre' Goodman, Michael Lehan

Even Money: Travis Daniels, Nate Jones

Uphill battle: Joey Thomas, Will Billingsley, Scorpio Babers

Breakdown: This unit is the thinnest depth wise on the defense. Behind Will Allen everyone else seems merely serviceable, at best. They'll definitely need improved front line pressure to not get exposed again this season. Goodman had a good year in 2006, but struggled to play through a shoulder injury in 2007 and lost his starting spot. Lehan was decent enough as a starter last season to get re-signed. But what's his upside? Daniels regressed significantly, showing he lacked ball skills to break up or intercept passes. There is some talk about moving him to safety, the position he played at LSU, but right now he's needed at cornerback because of how unproven everyone else is. James was primarily a special teams contributor in Dallas. Now he'll have the opportunity to prove he could become a starter because the job opposite Allen is WIDE OPEN. Thomas has history with these coaches, which might earn him a decent look during training camp. And Billingsley has plenty of speed, which could earn him a spot on the practice squad if he proves worthy of an initial investment. Babers was the quarterbacks favorite whipping boy during OTAs and he'll need to lose that distinction before I even mention him again on a future depth chart. This unit could use a waiver wire upgrade, and there's hope considering the Dolphins found Lehan, last year's starter, on the waiver wire two seasons ago. Or maybe that just shows the depth of how far this unit has fallen since the dumping of Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain.

SAFETIES - Spots: 4

Sure shots: Yeremiah Bell, Jason Allen, Keith Davis

Even Money: Renaldo Hill, Chris Crocker

Uphill battle: Courtney Bryan

Breakdown: Quality depth was a huge problem with this unit last season. The Dolphins ran through safeties like toddlers run through diapers. And how the secondary played on the field resembled what is usually left in those dirty diapers. I've always felt Bell's injury was the linchpin that made everything fall apart. He'll have the opportunity to redeem himself this season as a starter, if he can stay healthy. And that's a BIG IF considering one of Bell's legs is about twice the size of the other following his season-ending Achilles injury in 2007. He must prove to be durable or these coaches will move on. Jason Allen is also a front-runner to start because the Dolphins new management needs to determine what they have in the 2006 first round pick. Davis is a sure shot to make the 53-man roster based on the dominant special teams play he'll provide. That's according to what I'm told by Cowboys beat writers, who said he was their top special teams player for the past couple of seasons. Hill and Crocker will likely be battling for one spot, and it's hard to say who has the edge. Hill has more experience playing in a 3-4, but he's coming off an ACL injury. Crocker has a nose for the ball, but he's fairly tiny for the position. There has to be a reason Atlanta discarded him. However, a decent chunk of Crocker's salary is guaranteed, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to produce. There is a possibility Hill could get stashed on the PUP list, but I suspect he wants to compete for what was once his starting spot.

SPECIAL TEAMS - Spots: 3

Sure shots: Punter Brandon Fields

Even Money: Long snapper John Denney, Kicker Jay Feely

Uphill battle: Kicker Dan Carpenter

Breakdown: Fields is safe for now considering the Dolphins haven't signed anyone to compete with him in training camp. But if he struggles with inconsistent punts like he did last season don't be surprised if the Dolphins turn the page and pickup someone off the street. Bill Parcells is known to have little patience with kickers and punters and his boys will likely have the same level of understanding for kickers. If Fields could earn the kickoff job it would boost his value, and lessen the burden on Feely, who is an extremely accurate kicker, but showed he lacked the leg strength for the kickoff job last season. Carpenter will likely push Feely, but he's going to have to move mountains to unseat this proven veteran. It would be nice for the Dolphins to find an offensive linemen to handle the long-snapping duties because that would negate Denney's value, creating another roster spot for a more needed position... like an additional defensive lineman, or a cornerback or safety for the secondary. But then again, you never realize how valuable a long-snapper is until you don't have a good one.

So what is it about the projected 2008 defense that worries you the most? And what unit has you the most optimistic this ship can be turned around this season?

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 11:17:39 AM