'Bubble' could burst for some Dolphins players

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http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/644182.html

'Bubble' could burst for some Dolphins players

BY DAVID J. NEAL
Miami Herald

Tonight's the night for the Miami Dolphins' bubble boys -- or else. You've heard of one and done? Three and out? Tonight for some Dolphins might as well be ``two and through.''

The second preseason game, tonight in Jacksonville, probably will be the last time some players not assured of a spot on the final 53-man roster get a chance to truly impress the coaching staff. And the ones on offense will get a chance to do it with recently signed quarterback Chad Pennington, probably in the first half, or April's second-round-pick quarterback, Chad Henne, in the second half.

''I need to see some of these bubble guys,'' Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. ``The way you get your question answered is to see them play against the best people. I need to see some of that. At the same time, there's just some guys who need to play. In the second half of that game there's going to be some people that we're going to need to see play a little bit longer that way, too.''

Teams have until Aug. 26, the Tuesday after the third preseason weekend, to get down to 75 players -- and the Dolphins are already there with three roster cuts Friday -- but that's cosmetic. Typically, the third preseason game gets used for dress rehearsal, with those you'll see the most during the regular season -- starters, third-down situational players -- making their longest preseason appearance.

So a bad night tonight for players on the bubble such as wide receiver David Kircus, tight end Justin Peele or tight end Sean Ryan could leave them without a job.

`A LITTLE NERVEWRACKING'

''That's the business for you,'' said wide receiver/kick returner Jayson Foster, an undrafted rookie free agent who muffed the punt on his only return last week. ``It's a little nerve-wracking. But you know what you signed up for when you started. So you just kind of go with the flow and go out and perform when called upon.''

The preseason is already done, at least as far as the Dolphins are concerned, for linebacker Keith Saunders, wide receiver Selwyn Lymon and wide receiver John Dunlap, a Hollywood Chaminade-Madonna graduate. All three were waived Friday.

Bubbles often burst or bounce based on special teams play and there has been an even greater emphasis on that and ''roster flexibility'' (a favorite Sparano phrase) under the new Dolphins' regime. Translation: don't head for the refrigerator when the kicking teams take the field.

Kircus led the Dolphins in receiving last week with three catches for 39 yards, including a 20-yarder that set up the first field goal. But the Dolphins' top four wide receivers already seem set with Derek Hagan right now edging out Ernest Wilford as the first-string possession receiver; Ted Ginn, Jr. on the outside; and undrafted free agent rookie Devon Bess in the slot, where he has impressed coaches and teammates. Kircus thinks he'll get more special teams time this week.

''This one, I think I'm going to play a little more special teams,'' he said. ``I think I'm going to get some work at gunner. Then, go in there, I think some time after the half with Henne.''

HENNE'S TIME WAS LIMITED

Henne came into the game in the second quarter last week, led the Dolphins to a field goal on their only second-quarter possession and played through the third quarter. The two long drives Tampa Bay put together in the first half, 19 plays and 17 plays, dismayed the Dolphins' coaching staff not only for the defense's inability to stop the Buccaneers on third down (only getting a stop on one of eight), but it limited Henne's work.

Throughout this week, Sparano has sounded as if he wants at least a half out of the first-string offense, which would include Pennington.

''How much will be predicated on what we do out there,'' Sparano said. ``Whether or not we can keep the ball a little bit and get some plays. I need to see him more than 12 plays, whatever that might be.''