MiamiDolfan85
DA M.I.A IS WHERE I STAY
Some Key Position Battles:
Offense:
QB-
Chad Pennington vs Chad Henne~
Unless we get knocked out of playoff contention,or Pennington goes down,no matter how good Henne looks pre-season,Henne will start in '10.The only way I see Pennignton back in a Miami Dolphins unifrom next year is if we get to AT LEAST the AFC Championship this year.....
WR-
Greg Camarillo vs Davone Bess~
Ginn is more than likely gonig to open as the number 1 wideout,but this season will probably determine if he'll be in Sparanos long-term plans as a Dolphin.
Camarillo was having a good season last year before the injury.Now,usually ACL tears for WRs arent as serious as they are for RBs,but still one to be reckoned with,and taken seriously.I,for one,dont see him starting against Atlanta.
Infact,I dont really see him starting much,if any at all this season,cause Sparano doesnt take injuries too likely,especially when we have competition this thick at one position.Ultimately,Id be shocked if anyone other than Bess is starting opposite Ginn.Bess looks bigger,stronger,faster and quicker than last season.I mean,did you see his arms during some of this years OTAs interviews??? HUGE....(in comaprison to last season).
Patrick Turner vs Brandon London~
Before I start on this,I dont expect much out of Hartline....at least on offense.I think he will mainly contribute on kickoffs,punt returns,and special teams.Now,Turner,so far,has been the most impressive WR,outside of Ted Ginn(by Sparanos standards).Brandon London has been outshined by Anthony Armstrong.Now,Armstrong has developed into quite the deep threat(again,during OTAs),and has been taking some DBs to the cleaners(....Green).
London still has special teams to fall back on,in which he was SOLID for the Phins,especially in the latter part of last season.Ultimately,this will most likely be decided at or toward the end of the pre-season.Armstrong's going to have to perform very well as a WR,AND special teamer,to even have a shot,but dont count him out.Anyone I didnt include so far,tell you all you need to know.
TE-
David Martin vs Joey Haynos~
hmmm.....this is really intriguing.If we keep 3 TEs,I would really like to see what Haynos has in him.He is 6'8",270 lbs.,and has decent hands for a TE.6'8" is a sexy height for a red zone target.Like....literally,you can just throw it up,and if he doesnt get it,no one else for damn sure will,lol.Nalbone,I watched him a few times in OTA practices,and pretty much dropped every 3 balls thrown at him.I think PS is the most realistic spot for him,as of yet.
Martin looked like a starter a few times last season,and I am expecting him to backup Fasano this year.
OL-
Shawn Murphy vs Donlad Thomas~
I really,really,really wanna see Thomas come out like he did as a rookie in training camp,and knock somebody on their back.Shawn looks to be picking up the vibe as an NFL offensive linemen,but is he ready to be a starter? Only time will tell,but Donalds probably going to be inbetween Jake and Vernon come regular season.
Defense:
RDE-
Phillip Merling vs Randy Starks~
Starks was extremely productive as a DE last year,and he barely played.Totaled 29 tackles,1 pick,3 sacks.Phillip was okay,but really started catching fire towards the end of the season.I expect Phillip to win,but he better not lay back,cause Starks is a more than capable DE in the 3-4.
LOLB-
Matt Roth vs Jason Taylor~
Roth had a successful transition from DE to OLB,but 5 sacks isnt going to cut it for an OLB in a 3-4.8 sacks is more acceptable,so Roths going to have to light a fire within himself,and get after the QB more,cause Im sure JT wouldnt mind taking his starting gig.
Cam(I ban the "eron" from Cam forever as a PhinFan) Wake vs Erick Walden~
No one is really talking about Walden or Kershaw(two special team aces last year),but both of them have exceptional burst of acceleration and speed off the edge.Personally,I have more insight on Walden,than Kershaw,but both interesting indeed.Cam has been "ordinary" by rotoworld reports.Although,Ive read that he was one of the first ones to get downfield on kick return coverage(....Green).
I just hope the contract doesnt alter Cams vision and determination for making the roster,cause he isnt a lock to make it;would be a huge disappointment if he didnt.
Anderson is a special teams guy,who MIGHT get in on a few passing downs,but thats about it.Moses,havent heard anything aobut him since '07,so....Tearrious George.....ugh....
CB-
Jason Allen vs Nate Jones~
.....
Sean Smith vs Vontae Davis~
Smith is leg up on Davis,cause theres nothing holding him back from getting into camp on time.Davis could still sign before camp starts,but Im only speaking on worst case scenerio until otherwise....
Davis,who I thought was the most physically gifted secondary player available in the draft,kind of gives me questions and suspicions.Like,how "physical" is too physcial?How "aggressive" is too aggressive?
W/ Sean Smith,I have a few concerns,like,for whatever reason he is a step behind,can he recover?Or if a small,shifty reciever,like a Wes Welker quick cuts infront of him,can he use those long arms in reaction time to make a play?
These could be legit concerns,or just plain specualtion,but with the best secondaries coach in the game(Todd Bowles),Im sure he can rectify ANY situation.Afterall,who even knew who Andre Goodman was before Todd got his hands on him last season?
Which battle am i MOST looking forward to?
Cam vs Walden
WHY:
Because I want to see Cam seperate himself from the pac.I want to see him look down(physically) on every opposing offensive player that stands in his way from making that tackle on Ronnie,or Teddy,or Anthony.
Offense:
QB-
Chad Pennington vs Chad Henne~
Unless we get knocked out of playoff contention,or Pennington goes down,no matter how good Henne looks pre-season,Henne will start in '10.The only way I see Pennignton back in a Miami Dolphins unifrom next year is if we get to AT LEAST the AFC Championship this year.....
WR-
Greg Camarillo vs Davone Bess~
Ginn is more than likely gonig to open as the number 1 wideout,but this season will probably determine if he'll be in Sparanos long-term plans as a Dolphin.
Camarillo was having a good season last year before the injury.Now,usually ACL tears for WRs arent as serious as they are for RBs,but still one to be reckoned with,and taken seriously.I,for one,dont see him starting against Atlanta.
Infact,I dont really see him starting much,if any at all this season,cause Sparano doesnt take injuries too likely,especially when we have competition this thick at one position.Ultimately,Id be shocked if anyone other than Bess is starting opposite Ginn.Bess looks bigger,stronger,faster and quicker than last season.I mean,did you see his arms during some of this years OTAs interviews??? HUGE....(in comaprison to last season).
Patrick Turner vs Brandon London~
Before I start on this,I dont expect much out of Hartline....at least on offense.I think he will mainly contribute on kickoffs,punt returns,and special teams.Now,Turner,so far,has been the most impressive WR,outside of Ted Ginn(by Sparanos standards).Brandon London has been outshined by Anthony Armstrong.Now,Armstrong has developed into quite the deep threat(again,during OTAs),and has been taking some DBs to the cleaners(....Green).
London still has special teams to fall back on,in which he was SOLID for the Phins,especially in the latter part of last season.Ultimately,this will most likely be decided at or toward the end of the pre-season.Armstrong's going to have to perform very well as a WR,AND special teamer,to even have a shot,but dont count him out.Anyone I didnt include so far,tell you all you need to know.
TE-
David Martin vs Joey Haynos~
hmmm.....this is really intriguing.If we keep 3 TEs,I would really like to see what Haynos has in him.He is 6'8",270 lbs.,and has decent hands for a TE.6'8" is a sexy height for a red zone target.Like....literally,you can just throw it up,and if he doesnt get it,no one else for damn sure will,lol.Nalbone,I watched him a few times in OTA practices,and pretty much dropped every 3 balls thrown at him.I think PS is the most realistic spot for him,as of yet.
Martin looked like a starter a few times last season,and I am expecting him to backup Fasano this year.
OL-
Shawn Murphy vs Donlad Thomas~
I really,really,really wanna see Thomas come out like he did as a rookie in training camp,and knock somebody on their back.Shawn looks to be picking up the vibe as an NFL offensive linemen,but is he ready to be a starter? Only time will tell,but Donalds probably going to be inbetween Jake and Vernon come regular season.
Defense:
RDE-
Phillip Merling vs Randy Starks~
Starks was extremely productive as a DE last year,and he barely played.Totaled 29 tackles,1 pick,3 sacks.Phillip was okay,but really started catching fire towards the end of the season.I expect Phillip to win,but he better not lay back,cause Starks is a more than capable DE in the 3-4.
LOLB-
Matt Roth vs Jason Taylor~
Roth had a successful transition from DE to OLB,but 5 sacks isnt going to cut it for an OLB in a 3-4.8 sacks is more acceptable,so Roths going to have to light a fire within himself,and get after the QB more,cause Im sure JT wouldnt mind taking his starting gig.
Cam(I ban the "eron" from Cam forever as a PhinFan) Wake vs Erick Walden~
No one is really talking about Walden or Kershaw(two special team aces last year),but both of them have exceptional burst of acceleration and speed off the edge.Personally,I have more insight on Walden,than Kershaw,but both interesting indeed.Cam has been "ordinary" by rotoworld reports.Although,Ive read that he was one of the first ones to get downfield on kick return coverage(....Green).
I just hope the contract doesnt alter Cams vision and determination for making the roster,cause he isnt a lock to make it;would be a huge disappointment if he didnt.
Anderson is a special teams guy,who MIGHT get in on a few passing downs,but thats about it.Moses,havent heard anything aobut him since '07,so....Tearrious George.....ugh....
CB-
Jason Allen vs Nate Jones~
.....
Sean Smith vs Vontae Davis~
Smith is leg up on Davis,cause theres nothing holding him back from getting into camp on time.Davis could still sign before camp starts,but Im only speaking on worst case scenerio until otherwise....
Davis,who I thought was the most physically gifted secondary player available in the draft,kind of gives me questions and suspicions.Like,how "physical" is too physcial?How "aggressive" is too aggressive?
W/ Sean Smith,I have a few concerns,like,for whatever reason he is a step behind,can he recover?Or if a small,shifty reciever,like a Wes Welker quick cuts infront of him,can he use those long arms in reaction time to make a play?
These could be legit concerns,or just plain specualtion,but with the best secondaries coach in the game(Todd Bowles),Im sure he can rectify ANY situation.Afterall,who even knew who Andre Goodman was before Todd got his hands on him last season?
Which battle am i MOST looking forward to?
Cam vs Walden
WHY:
Because I want to see Cam seperate himself from the pac.I want to see him look down(physically) on every opposing offensive player that stands in his way from making that tackle on Ronnie,or Teddy,or Anthony.