Sparano: Don't pay too much attention to Dolphins' first depth chart

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/04/0804dolphins.html

Sparano: Don't pay too much attention to Dolphins' first depth chart

By EDGAR THOMPSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 04, 2008

DAVIE — This time of year, a depth chart doesn't really mean a whole lot to Dolphins fullback Boomer Grigsby.

It never has.

Whether he's listed on the top or the bottom, Grigsby never feels secure.

That motivates him during training camp.

"I've been in a position battle my entire NFL career," he said. "It's helped me stay here."

Grigsby, who signed with Miami in March after three seasons in Kansas City, is fighting for a starting job again. He's listed behind returning starter Reagan Mauia on the Dolphins' first depth chart of 2008, which the team released Monday.

But coach Tony Sparano, like Grigsby, doesn't read anything into the rankings in early August.

After all, quarterback Josh McCown is listed No. 1 ahead of John Beck and Chad Henne for one reason - and it happened more than 29 years ago.

Sparano said he listed quarterbacks based on age, not necessarily performance, putting McCown, who turned 29 last month, ahead of Beck, 26, and Henne, 23.

"Unless John and Chad can age five years and I don't gain anything, I guess I'll hold onto it," joked McCown, who said he planned to win the starting job when he signed with the Dolphins as a free agent.

So while fans and media might make a big deal out of the depth chart, Sparano and his players aren't.

"It's something that we had to produce and put out there, so we had to put it out there," Sparano said Monday between two-a-day sessions. "That depth chart won't be the same this afternoon, never mind tomorrow, so it's going to change every single day."

The NFL requires teams to generate their initial depth chart of the season on the Monday before the first exhibition game. The Dolphins host Tampa Bay at 7:30 Saturday night.

This weekend and next, when Miami visits Jacksonville, the depth chart should begin to crystallize.

For now, the unsettled nature of so many positions is to be expected on a team coming off a 1-15 season.

Beyond quarterback, Sparano said heated position battles are taking place at right guard, backup center, wide receiver, outside linebacker and the defensive line.

"There's some spots out there where there's quite a bit of competition going on," Sparano said.

Fullback and tight end are two more. Both feature incumbents in danger of losing their starting jobs.

Sparano has emphasized the need for a versatile fullback, not just an effective lead blocker. But Mauia, who started nine games as a rookie in 2007, has dropped several passes in the past few days, including a couple Monday morning.

"We're all out here trying to learn," he said. "That's what training camp is all about."

At tight end, '07 starter David Martin has been working a lot with the second team, while first-year Dolphin Anthony Fasano regularly has been with the first unit. Fasano, acquired in April during a trade with Dallas, also is listed No. 1 on the depth chart. He played two seasons with the Cowboys when Sparano coached there.

Understandably, Martin, a seven-year veteran, is keeping his goals modest so early in training camp.

"I'm out here today like I'm trying to make the team, that's what you gotta do," he said.

Like Martin, defensive end Matt Roth, a nine-game starter last season at left defensive end, is looking to hold off a free-agent newcomer that might fit the new regime's plans. During the off-season, the team signed 312-pound Randy Starks, who played four seasons in Tennessee and has the size better suited to an end in a 3-4 defensive scheme.

On Monday, coaches even lined up 6-foot-6, 287-pound rookie Kendall Langford, a third-round pick from Hampton, at defensive end. Meanwhile, the 6-3, 272-pound Roth, a second-round pick in 2005, played some snaps at linebacker.

But this time of year, coaches will try just about anything to improve the team. It's the players jobs to make themselves fit in.

"I strive to be the No. 1 guy," Grigsby said. "But when it comes down to it, I'm going to come out every day and do the best that I can. The chips fall where the chips fall.

"As far as I'm concerned, the depth chart isn't set until we square off with the Jets (on Sept. 7). That's what matters most."

Depth Chart

OFFENSE

QB: Josh McCown, John Beck, Chad Henne

RB: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs, Jalen Parmele, Lex Hilliard

FB: Reagan Mauia, Boomer Grigsby

WR 1: Ted Ginn Jr., Derek Hagan, David Kircus, Jayson Foster, Anthony Armstrong

WR 2: Ernest Wilford, Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess, John Dunlap, Selwyn Lymon

TE: Anthony Fasano, David Martin, Sean Ryan, Justin Peelle, Matthew Mulligan

LT: Jake Long, Ikechuku Ndukwe

LG: Justin Smiley, Shawn Murphy

C: Samson Satele, Steve McKinney, Matt Spanos

RG: Trey Darilek, Donald Thomas, Mike Byrne

RT: Vernon Carey, Daren Heerspink

DEFENSE

LE: Matt Roth, Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, Rodrique Wright

NT: Jason Ferguson, Paul Soliai, Anthony Toribio

RE: Vonnie Holliday, Phillip Merling, Lionel Dotson

SLB: Joey Porter, Rob Ninkovich, Junior Glymph, Titus Brown

ILB 1: Channing Crowder, Kelvin Smith, Kelly Poppinga

ILB 2: Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, Edmond Miles

WLB: Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses, Keith Saunders

LCB: Will Allen, Joey Thomas, Chris Roberson

RCB: Andre Goodman, Travis Daniels, Nathan Jones, Will Billingsley

FS: Jason Allen, Chris Crocker, Renaldo Hill

SS: Yeremiah Bell, Keith Davis, Courtney Bryan

SPECIALISTS

P: Brandon Fields

K: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter

KO: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter

H: Brandon Fields

KOR: Ted Ginn Jr., Jayson Foster, Davone Bess

PR: Ted Ginn Jr., Jayson Foster, Davone Bess

LS: John Denney

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolqb080408,0,5681203.story

Josh McCown listed as No. 1 QB . . . for now

By Harvey Fialkov
Sun-Sentinel.com

1:35 PM EDT, August 4, 2008

DAVIE - Per NFL rules the Dolphins released their first depth chart of the season for this week's exhibition opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but coach Tony Sparano said it could change by the afternoon practice.

For now, Josh McCown is listed as the No. 1 quarterback, followed by John Beck and rookie Chad Henne.

"The depth chart is something I know you guys will make a lot out of but I don't make much of it right now,'' Sparano said. "It's something we had to produce and put out there, so we put it our there. That depth chart you have in your hand won't be the same this afternoon or tomorrow. It's going to change every single day.''

When further pressed for the reason why McCown, a seven-year veteran, was listed over Beck, a second-year player, and Henne, Sparano stressed it had more to do with experience than with their performance so far. However, Beck has clearly struggled the most, with Henne improving daily. McCown has the edge over both simply because he has started 31 games in the league compared to Beck's four and Henne's none.

"The quarterback race was done by seniority,'' he said.

For example, rookie defensive end Kendall Langford took snaps with the first team Monday, but Matt Roth was listed as the starting left defensive end. Roth worked at outside linebacker Monday. Sparano said over the weekend that Langford has shown the most improvement among the rookie class.

Receiver Derek Hagan worked with the starters Monday along with Ted Ginn Jr., while Ernest Wilford was listed ahead of Hagan on the depth chart. That one could be accurate as Wilford has been virtually invisible in the passing attack thus far.

In other misleading listings, Trey Darilek was listed as the starting right guard, but rookie Donald Thomas has been with the starters since early last week, while drawing rave reviews.

[DolFan619]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins05sbaug05,0,469482.story

Sparano downplays depth chart

August 5, 2008

DAVIE - A laughing Josh McCown burst past a gaggle of little kids in a race across the field following Monday evening's practice, not giving an inch despite his obvious height and age advantage.

Earlier, Dolphins coach Tony Sparano released the first depth chart of the preseason as per NFL rules, and McCown was ahead of his slightly younger rivals, quarterbacks John Beck and Chad Henne. McCown, 29, was leading because of his age and more significantly his six years of experience to one for Beck, 26, and none for Henne, 23, the blossoming second-round pick out of Michigan.

"The quarterback race was done by seniority," Sparano said. "The depth chart is something that I know [the media] will probably make a lot of, but I don't make much of it right now. It's something that we had to produce and put out there so we put it out there, but that depth chart that you have in your hand won't be the same this afternoon, never mind tomorrow."

To emphasize his point, Sparano had Henne work with the first-team offense against the first-team defense in both practices, the first time any of the three quarterbacks had done that since camp opened 10 days ago.

"I think I've been doing pretty well," said Henne, who downplayed his sessions with the projected starters. "I'm being consistent out there and not making many errors." McCown, the preseason No. 1 in Oakland last year, started the first three games before injuries sent him to the sidelines. So he knows how fleeting any depth chart can be. He's also quite aware of an improving Henne nipping at his cleats.

"I think he's throwing the ball extremely well and playing well enough to beat anybody," McCown said. "It's fun to have him there because obviously he's pushing myself tremendously."

McCown realizes that Saturday's exhibition opener against the Bucs will carry far more weight than last Saturday's controlled scrimmage in which Henne outplayed McCown and a struggling Beck.

"I've been places where it's changed all together so you can't read anything into it," McCown said. "Just go out and play and as it gets closer things will start to solidify itself.

"People call it an exhibition or glorified practice ... at the end of the day as a competitor you want to win whether you're racing kids or whatever you're doing."

Beck enjoyed his finest moments as a pro in the preseason last year, directing two comeback victories. He has been pressing, but knows one good series Saturday could do wonders for his confidence.

"It will be great to have that game atmosphere, but most importantly, it will be great to play against someone other than ourselves," Beck said.

Sparano also had Ted Ginn Jr. and Ernest Wilford penciled in as his starting receivers, but on Monday, Derek Hagan was with the first team, and Wilford demoted to the second team.

"Nothing's set in stone," said Wilford, the veteran who has been conspicuously missing in the passing game. "The depth chart is no issue. Just come out here and play ball."

Sparano also had rookies — right guard Donald Thomas and left defensive end Kendall Langford — with the first team, but had them listed on second and third team, respectively.

"Unless John and Chad could age five years without me gaining anything, I think I'll hold onto it," McCown said. "It's based on age and it's tentative, and it doesn't mean anything to me. I just go out and play and the other guys go out and play and compete as hard as we can, and the coaches will make the decision they feel is best for the team."

[DolFan619]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/628784.html

McCown listed as Dolphins starter

BY JEFF DARLINGTON
Miami Herald

Just moments after the release of the Dolphins' first preseason depth chart Monday, which listed quarterback Josh McCown as the starting quarterback, coach Tony Sparano quickly deflated any growing belief that the team's biggest competition was near its end.

''I don't make much of it right now,'' Sparano said. ``It's something that we had to produce and put out there, but that depth chart that you have in your hand won't be the same this afternoon, let alone tomorrow.''

Asked to clarify the team's decision to place McCown ahead of John Beck and Beck ahead of rookie Chad Henne, Sparano said the depth chart at quarterback was ''done via seniority.'' That makes the most sense, since the team hasn't yet decided on a starter for Saturday's preseason opener against Tampa Bay.

It also tends to take some legitimacy away from the depth chart when defensive end Matt Roth is listed as the starter at left end, while Randy Starks is listed second and rookie Kendall Langford is listed last.

Langford, for example, has been seeing far more time lately with the first-team unit -- and also doing more to impress the coaching staff -- than either of the other two.

''We watch [Langford] play, and we've been impressed with what he's done,'' Sparano said. ``But we're trying to bounce some people around, and we want to give Langford some chances with the first group.''

For what it's worth, tight end Anthony Fasano was listed first on the depth chart, followed by David Martin and Sean Ryan. Linebacker Akin Ayodele also is listed before Reggie Torbor at one of the two inside spots, and fullback Reagan Mauia is listed ahead of Boomer Grigsby.

The offensive line will certainly see its share of shake-ups, which likely will cause some considerable changes to the depth chart throughout the preseason. Justin Smiley is currently listed as the starter at left guard, and Trey Darilek is listed at right guard.

Given Smiley's recent struggles on the left side and Donald Thomas' recent emergence on the right side, there's likely to be some different combinations used before anything is settled at that position, too.

[DolFan619]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2008/08/some-interestin.html

Some interesting tidbits about the depth chart

The Dolphins depth chart came out Monday as a function of the fact the team plays a preseason game this week and today was the deadline for putting the chart out for that game.

My impressions?

John Denney and Brandon Fields ought to be feeling pretty good about themselves. They have no one competing with them for their jobs as long snapper and punter, respectively.

OK seriously: You'll certainly note the quarterback is Josh McCown with John Beck next and rookie Chad Henne third. The fact is, according to coach Tony Sparano, the chart was set based on experience and not performance.

Were it based on performance, I believe Henne might be first with McCown second and Beck third.

But as Sparano noted, the depth chart can change.

Note that veteran Trey Darilek is ahead of rookie Donald Thomas at right guard although Thomas spent all of last week with the starting unit. The fact is Darilek had to move to tackle and even got work at center much of last week because of injuries, opening the spot for Thomas.

Coaches still believe Darilek is more likely to win that guard spot based on his experience and maturity. Thomas is longer on potential, however.

Note that at tight end, Justin Peelle is needing to get healthy so he can gain some ground in the race for a job. The Dolphins have five tight ends in camp. Peelle, nursing a knee most of last week, is listed fourth.

Note Anthony Fasano is listed ahead of last year's starter David Martin at tight end. That comes as no surprise as Fasano is a favorite of Sparano going back to their Dallas days and he isn't disappointing in Miami.

Note that Patick Cobbs is ahead of BOTH rookie running backs Jalen Parmele and Lex Hilliard. Hilliard has been the least impressive of the backs in camp so far and has at times struggled catching the football. He needs to flash on special teams in the preseason because Cobbs is likely to be pretty good on special teams.

Finally, note that Renaldo Hill, a starter each of the past two seasons, is running third team at free safety. That's a tough spot for Hill because his advantage the past couple of years has been his superior knowledge of the system. That more than made up for Jason Allen's superior speed.

But under this more player-friendly system, Allen is catching on better and that is allowing his athletic skills to flash more. Second-teamer Chris Crocker, meanwhile, is younger than Hill by a couple of years and that is an advantage for him. The long and short is Hill has to make up some ground in the preseason because he hasn't even been on first team in the nickel or dime packages.

So below is the chart.

OFFENSE

WR: Ted Ginn, Derek Hagan, David Kircus, Jayson Foster, Anthony Armstrong

LT: Jake Long, Ikechuku Ndukwe

LG: Justin Smiley, Shawn Murphy

C: Samson Satele, Steve McKinney, Matt Spanos

RG: Trey Darilek, Donald Thomas, Mike Byrne

RT: Vernon Carey, Daren Heerspink

TE: Anthony Fasano, David Martin, Sean Ryan, Justin Peelle, Matthew Mulligan

WR: Ernest Wilford, Greg Camarillo, Davone Bess, John Dunlap, Selwyn Lymon

QB: Josh McCown, John Beck, Chad Henne

FB: Reagan Mauia, Boomer Grigsby

RB: Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, Patrick Cobbs, Jalen Parmele, Lex Hilliard

DEFENSE

LE: Matt Roth, Randy Starks, Kendall Langford, Rodrique Wright

NT: Jason Ferguson, Paul Soliai, Anthony Toribio

RE: Vonnie Holliday, Phillip Merling, Lionel Dotson

SLB: Joey Porter, Rob Ninkovich, Junior Glymph, Titus Brown

ILB: Channing Crowder, Kelvin Smith, Kelly Poppinga

ILB: Akin Ayodele, Reggie Torbor, Edmond Miles

WLB: Charlie Anderson, Quentin Moses, Keith Saunders

LCB: Will Allen, Joey Thomas, Chris Roberson

RCB: Andre Goodman, Travis Daniels, Nathan Jones, Will Billingsley

FS: Jason Allen, Chris Crocker, Renaldo Hill

SS: Yeremiah Bell, Keith Davis, Courtney Bryan

SPECIALISTS

P: Brandon Fields

K: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter

KO: Jay Feely, Dan Carpenter

H: Brandon Fields

KOR: Ted Ginn, Jayson Foster, Davone Bess

PR: Ted Ginn, Jayson Foster, Davone Bess

LS: John Denney