With Dolphins training camp opening next weekend, some chatter on the most competitive roster battles:
• Linebacker: Joey Porter, Channing Crowder, Matt Roth, Akin Ayodele and Jason Taylor take up five spots, and Reggie Torbor is valued as the top veteran backup inside linebacker. That leaves two openings, but possibly three, to be filled among eight candidates: Charlie Anderson (who played well late last season), Canadian Football League pass-rushing sensation Cameron Wake, holdovers Quentin Moses (inactive the final three games of 2008) and Erik Walden, William Kershaw (on the practice squad most of last season), Tearrius George (briefly with the Saints last year) and rookies J.D. Folsom and Orion Martin.
One official close to the Dolphins front office said Wake has been ordinary, and is no cinch to make the roster. Don't misunderstand: The Dolphins still have hopes Wake -- a highly skilled athlete -- can be good, but he must show it in camp.
One Dolphins person warned not to underestimate Walden's value as a core special-teams player. If Miami keeps nine linebackers, that would leave room, hypothetically, for Wake, Walden and Anderson. Otherwise, one of those three probably would not make the team.
The Dolphins say Paul Soliai has improved. He enters camp ahead of Joe Cohen and Louis Ellis for the backup nose tackle job, provided Soliai keeps his weight in check. Miami needs to keep only two natural nose tackles (Ferguson and the backup), because Starks can play there.
General manager Jeff Ireland said he expects McDaniel to make ``a nice splash,'' and former Jaguars teammate Fred Taylor (now with New England) raved about McDaniel, saying he was shocked Jacksonville gave him up for so little (a seventh-rounder). But word is he was inconsistent in the offseason program as he adjusted to Miami's 3-4 defense.
Dolphins players have raved about Dotson in closed practices, but that must translate to games. Wright, inactive every game last season, needs a big camp to stick.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/1157756-p2.html
• Linebacker: Joey Porter, Channing Crowder, Matt Roth, Akin Ayodele and Jason Taylor take up five spots, and Reggie Torbor is valued as the top veteran backup inside linebacker. That leaves two openings, but possibly three, to be filled among eight candidates: Charlie Anderson (who played well late last season), Canadian Football League pass-rushing sensation Cameron Wake, holdovers Quentin Moses (inactive the final three games of 2008) and Erik Walden, William Kershaw (on the practice squad most of last season), Tearrius George (briefly with the Saints last year) and rookies J.D. Folsom and Orion Martin.
One official close to the Dolphins front office said Wake has been ordinary, and is no cinch to make the roster. Don't misunderstand: The Dolphins still have hopes Wake -- a highly skilled athlete -- can be good, but he must show it in camp.
One Dolphins person warned not to underestimate Walden's value as a core special-teams player. If Miami keeps nine linebackers, that would leave room, hypothetically, for Wake, Walden and Anderson. Otherwise, one of those three probably would not make the team.
The Dolphins say Paul Soliai has improved. He enters camp ahead of Joe Cohen and Louis Ellis for the backup nose tackle job, provided Soliai keeps his weight in check. Miami needs to keep only two natural nose tackles (Ferguson and the backup), because Starks can play there.
General manager Jeff Ireland said he expects McDaniel to make ``a nice splash,'' and former Jaguars teammate Fred Taylor (now with New England) raved about McDaniel, saying he was shocked Jacksonville gave him up for so little (a seventh-rounder). But word is he was inconsistent in the offseason program as he adjusted to Miami's 3-4 defense.
Dolphins players have raved about Dotson in closed practices, but that must translate to games. Wright, inactive every game last season, needs a big camp to stick.
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/story/1157756-p2.html
