Dolphins list: Stock Report (Week 2)

[DolFan619]

Dolphins list: Stock Report (Week 2)

Keeping up with the market is critical for those looking to profit from their investments.

The Dolphins have invested an entire summer and two weeks of training camp into most of these players presently on the roster. But to their dismay, not everyone is proving a desirable return.

Here is my latest installment of the Sun-Sentinel stock report, which should help you keep track of which Dolphins are making waves in practice and the exhibition games, and which will be carried out to sea by a wave of front office moves any day now.

STOCK UP

NT Jason Ferguson - Last week I asked coach Tony Sparano which Dolphins player he'd like by his side if he ever found himself in a bar fight and with little hesitation he said Ferguson was his man. That wasn't a surprise to me one bit. And those who watched Ferguson in his handful of snaps against Tampa Bay saw why. This guy is a handful to block, and going against him daily should make center Samson Satele better.

WR David Kircus - I've liked this receiver since the first moment I laid eyes on him during OTAs. He's deceptively quick, and very smooth in his route running. Fans saw what I've been witnessing for weeks when Kircus became Chad Henne's go-to receiver, catching three passes for 39 yards. Unless he regresses tremendously in the next two weeks this Grand Valley State product makes this team because he makes plays.

K Dan Carpenter - While I'm a big fan of Jay Feely, the rookie spent last week transitioning from the stock down list to the stock up section. His leg is fairly accurate, and he proved he's got some power to it by converting a 49-yard field goal against the Buccaneers. He works cheaper than Feely, but I'd have a hard time cutting the veteran considering a consistent kicker is a necessity, not a luxury for a bad team that will struggle to score points. But Feely, who faced a similar battle from the strong legged, but less accurate Matt Prater this time last season, better get back from that groins strain soon or he'll have given up too much ground to the rookie.

RB Patrick Cobbs - I've been very impressed with how productive this North Texas product has been as a runner and special teams player in the first two weeks of camp. I'd find it hard to name someone who is working harder than Cobbs to make this team. But he didn't help himself gaining five yards on his two carries against the Buccaneers. He also whiffed on a key block that lead to a sack. He's going to need to show a little more running between the tackles and blocking to survive the final round of cuts considering his size limitations. I can see the Trifecta possibly picking up another, potentially more promising tailback off the waiver wire. Maybe it'll be another rookie who falls between the cracks of some team's 53-man breakdown. Now that four quarterbacks will likely be kept on the Dolphins 53-man roster I can only see four tailbacks, and one fullback making this team when the final cuts are made on Aug. 30th.

STOCK DOWN

WR Jayson Foster - If this tiny receiver makes this team it is going to be as a return specialist. But Foster didn't get off to a hot start this weekend by fair catching a punt that should have been returned, then muffing another one. The 2007 Walter Payton Award recipient better get his act together of else he won't survive the first round of cuts, which takes place on Aug. 26th. Fellow rookie Davone Bess has outperformed him as a receiver, and I can only envision this regime keeping one of these smurf receivers.

RB Lex Hilliard - He's been the least noticeable of all the tailbacks. He did catch two passes for 18 yards against the Buccaneers, but the rookie from Montana needs to pick it up to gain some ground on fellow rookie Jalen Parmele. I just don't see the Dolphins keeping both on the 53-man roster. Hilliard better start showing the coaches something soon or else he won't even get an invitation to join the practice squad.

DE Matt Roth - While this outside linebacker experiment might have some potential, it's clear that the incumbent starter is getting outperformed by rookie Kendall Langford for that defensive end spot on the left side, which requires a stout run stuffing frame. But Roth's versatility does provide some roster flexibility. He played outside linebacker, defensive end, and even nose tackle during Saturday's exhibition against Tampa Bay, making two tackles. Unfortunately, he was everywhere, but I noticed him nowhere.

OL Ikechuku Ndukwe - First, Joey Porter spends all of last week beating him like a drum. Then he struggles in the exhibition game, getting steamrolled by Tampa Bay's Jimmy Wilkerson on a nasty sack that could have gotten Chad Henne hurt. I know he's really an interior lineman, but this experiment as a tackle either needs to be botched, or he needs to improve, quickly.

So which players stood out (good or bad) to those of you who got to watch the game?

Today's a 2 p.m. practice session. I'll be back after that to provide a practice report, and some observations on Chad Pennington, whose arm I'll be inspecting as if I were a bag handler at an airport in the middle east.

I'm still not sold on Pennington, and unlike my buddy Ethan Skolnick I don't think he's a lock to start against the Jets. I know Pennington's smart, but there's just too much to learn in less than 30 days. But we'll see.

I also don't think carrying four quarterbacks will be as hard to do as people think, and the roster breakdown I did last week proves it. Remember, I put that breakdown together using 52 players, leaving one spot for a miscellaneous player, which can easily be John Beck, unless he'd traded. I don't see Josh McCown getting cut because before Pennington's addition he was the best of the Dolphins quarterbacks.

I know Henne has more promise, but you don't cut your best quarterback. What happens if Pennington suffers a season-ending injury in the opener, or first three games? Then what? That's why four will likely be kept. If you disagree, please make your case.

You know the routine. Hit F5 to refresh and any questions or comment you have hit me with them here.

Deuces.

> Posted by Omar Kelly at 7:11:15 AM