The Phinsider: All Posts by Kevin Nogle

Vonta Leach decision coming 'in the next two weeks'

2013-06-18T17:00:07Z

The Miami Dolphins have spent the last week looking to upgrade the fullback position. First, they claimed former Chicago Bears fullback/tight end Evan Rodriguez off waivers last Tuesday. The next day, they welcomed free agent fullback Vonta Leach into Miami for a visit. The three time Pro Bowler left without reaching a deal, but has not ruled out signing with Miami for 2013.

The Dolphins are one of several teams thought to be pursuing the former Baltimore Ravens fullback. Leach spent two years with the Ravens, including last year's Super Bowl championship team, five with the Houston Texans, one with the New Orleans Saints, and two with the Green Bay Packers. He was released by Baltimore when the two sides could not agree on a pay cut.

Leach spent last Friday with fans at the third NFL Day on the Waterfront in Washington, NC. During that time, he spoke with The Daily Reflector's Tony Castleberry, explaining, "I feel great. I know I can play in this league and I've got some teams that are courting me. In the next two weeks, I know where I'll be playing."

Leach was released a week ago today. The Dolphins immediately scheduled their visit with him, and are said to be highly interested in signing Leach. However, they are not the only team chasing Leach.

"There are a lot of teams out there that want me, about seven teams," Leach said. "Me and my agent are going to take our time and see what's the best fit for me. I'm probably going to play three more years before I hang it up."

In the next two weeks, I know where I'll be playing. -Vonta Leach

Along with Miami, the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, and New York Giants are all said to be interested in Leach. Ralph Vitolo, Leach's agent, told a Houston television station last week that Leach's top choice was to return to Houston. However, he's also said Leach really enjoyed his visit in Miami, and was impressed with the team.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins will continue to look to Jorvorskie Lane, Rodriguez, and Charles Clay at fullback while waiting to hear from Leach.

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Dolphins Roster Breakdown: John Jerry

2013-06-18T14:00:09Z

We are currently making our way through the Miami Dolphins' 90-man offseason roster, breaking down last season for each player, as well as what could happen this year. Today, we continue today with a look at guard John Jerry.

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Brian Hartline Cameron Marshall Olivier Vernon Brian Tyms Koa Misi

2012 Review:

The 2012 season did not start overly well for Jerry. In fact, it started pretty badly. He showed up to camp overweight and out of shape. Jerry was demoted, with Artis Hicks and Eric Steinbach brought in to replace him. Instead, Hicks got injured and Steinbach had to retire when his body just could not respond to the workouts. Jerry was back into the starting lineup simply because there was no one else to take it.

After a grueling set of workouts from offensive line coach Jim Turner (which we got to see thanks to Hard Knocks), Jerry did lose the excess weight and got ready for the season. He actually performed well against the pass during the year, only allowing two sacks and three quarterback hits.

However, his run blocking was horrible. Jerry just could not move like the zone blocking scheme wanted, and the team could not run behind him.

Overall, Jerry was not bad in 2012, but he was not good either. He effectively held down the right guard spot, but there is a reason the team went out and signed Lance Louis this offseason.

Why he could improve in 2013:

From all reports, Jerry came into the offseason training program in much better shape. There were reports that he looked "big" again, but no one seemed to say that Jerry was "overweight." The team would like him playing in the 340 pound range, and he is currently listed on the team's roster as 345, so he is way ahead of his 2012 reporting.

Jerry has spent the entire OTA/minicamp program back as the starting right guard, and has a better idea of what the team wants this year so he should be better prepared to provide it.

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Ryan Tannehill Armon Binns Jason Trusnik Jared Odrick Charles Clay Jasper Collins Dannell Ellerbe Richie Incognito Kelcie McCray Daniel Thomas Randy Starks Dan Carpenter Josh Kaddu

Why he could regress in 2013:

Weight and Louis. Jerry has never been light - from playing as a kid through now, he's always battled weight issues. He now has a month with no supervision. He has to be disciplined and show up to training camp in shape and ready to play from day one. If he is going to get better in run blocking, he probably needs to be less than that 340 mark, so he is going to have to workout during this down time.

And, Louis is going to be medically cleared to play at some point, after tearing his ACL in November. Once he is, he should challenge Jerry for the starting role. Jerry may not be able to fight off the veteran free agent signing.

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Lamar Miller Mike Wallace Matt Moore Nolan Carroll Sam Brenner Will Davis Brandon Fields Julian Posey Kheeston Randall Nate Garner R.J. Stanford Dustin Keller Don Jones

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

Jerry will probably be on the roster, assuming he does not come into camp well over 340-345 pounds. His starting spot is completely another story. If Louis is able to get medically cleared early in the training camp process, it could mean bad things for Jerry. If it takes longer before Louis to get ready, or he ends up on the Physically Unable to Perform list, could retain the starting position.

But again, it all comes down to his weight. Jerry could end up anywhere from starting to cut, all based on how heavy he is come July.

More Dolphins Coverage:

Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders cover Taylor Swift's '22'

2013-06-18T11:00:07Z

The Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders are back with another music video. This year, they cover Taylor Swift's "22."

Defining success for the Miami Dolphins' 2013 season

2013-06-17T22:11:21Z

The 2013 Miami Dolphins roster is completely different than the roster that ended the team's 2012 campaign. With new weapons like Mike Wallace, Dustin Keller, Brent Grimes, and Dion Jordan, there are pieces in place to turn the franchise back into a winning team. But, what is success in 2013?

As we have discussed previously, the Dolphins have seen their over/under for 2013 set at 7.5 wins. That puts Miami in almost the exact same position they ended last year. Is that too low? Of course it is, because we are all fans of the team and we expect the giant leap forward the new additions could bring with them.

But, if we are realistic, what will the real total be? How many does it need to be?

I actually asked a similar question on Facebook earlier today, but wanted to bring it to the site.

How many wins for Miami Dolphins fans need to see for the season to be considered successful?

What do the Dolphins need to show you, for you to be happy with this year? Is it simply not having a losing record for the first time in five years? Is it double digit wins, three more than last year?

To be clear, this is not how many wins do you THINK the Dolphins will have. This is how many wins MUST they have for you to say, "This year was a successful season."

Please vote in the poll below.

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Poll

How many wins for Miami Dolphins fans need to see for the season to be considered successful?

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Koa Misi

2013-06-17T17:00:05Z

(Picture courtesy Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Brian Hartline Cameron Marshall Olivier Vernon

2012 Review:

Misi's 2012 season was at least good enough for him to be the last starting linebacker standing from last year. Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett were both released at the start of free agency, with Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler brought in to replace them. Misi still has a job in South Florida.

Misi rebounded from a poor 2011 season to find his role in the 4-3 as an outside linebacker. He became a solid tackler in his third season, and seemed to catch up to the game.

Misi injured his ankle late in the season last year, forcing him to miss the final two games of the year. It was the second straight season Misi landed on IR, with a shoulder injury forcing him to miss four games in 2011.

Why he could improve in 2013:

Misi has improved in each of his seasons as an NFL, and there's no reason to think he won't again this year. Misi is the type of player every team needs - a solid player who may not make the spectacular play, but probably won't make a catastrophic mistake either.

The Dolphins coaches know what Misi brings to the field, and should put him in position to succeed this year.

Why he could regress in 2013:

Despite being the longest tenure of the Miami linebackers, Misi will still be the youngest of the three starters (second round pick in 2010), with Wheeler a third round pick in 2008 and Ellerbe an undrafted free agent in 2009. He clearly learned from Dansby and Burnett, but will now have to prove that growth we saw last year was not because Dansby and Burnett were covering for him.

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

Misi is on the roster, and should be a starting outside linebacker. Theoretically, by the end of the year, Dion Jordan could be a starting linebacker (assuming he's not a defensive end), but Misi should be the starter at the start of the year.

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Brian Tyms

2013-06-17T11:00:05Z

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Brian Hartline Cameron Marshall Olivier Vernon

2012 Review:

Tyms joined the Dolphins after the San Francisco 49ers made him one of their final roster cuts at the end of the preseason. Tyms, who signed as an undrafted free agent by the 49ers, spent the year on the Miami practice squad. He played college football at Florida A&M, where, as a redshirt senior in 2011 he caught 38 passes for 538 yards and three touchdowns.

"He's a pretty smooth route runner. He kind of runs natural and he has pretty good body control," Miami Head Coach Joe Philbin said of Tyms last year. "He has good length, he's 6'2" and change maybe, he's got pretty long arms, and he seems to catch the football relatively well. So we're just learning more about him and getting more exposure to him."

Why he could improve in 2013:

Tyms has been impressive in offseason workouts this year, running precise routes and using his speed. Assuming the 2012 season was, essentially, a redshirt year, Tyms could be looking to prove himself this year.

Why he could regress in 2013:

He has not seen game action in nearly a year, having last played in the 2012 preseason. While the Dolphins know Tyms, simply practicing for a year is a lot different than actually being hit in a game, or seeing the speed of the NFL game.

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

Tyms seems to be making a case to make the roster, and he could end up being one of the final two wide receivers to make the roster. Assuming Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, and, likely, Armon Binns make the roster, that leaves Tyms fighting with Chad Bumphis, Jasper Collins, Joe Hastings, Rishard Matthews, and Marvin McNutt for the final two positions on the roster.

Tyms could also end up back on the practice squad, with the team electing to stash him there, and continue his development.

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Olivier Vernon

2013-06-17T00:34:35Z

(Photo courtesy Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Brian Hartline Cameron Marshall

2012 Review:

Vernon was a nice surprise for Dolphins fans last year. Not a lot of fanfare was made of his selection in the third round, but he demonstrated in the preseason, he could be a force coming off the edge. During the season, in limited playing time, he was able to back that up for most of the year.

Along with his 3.5 sacks off the defensive line, Vernon showed an ability to contribute on special teams as well, recording seven tackles, two field goal blocks, and a punt block return for touchdown.

Vernon clearly hit the rookie wall this season, dropping off near the end of the season. However, his 2012 performance should cause excitement for the 2013 season.

Why he could improve in 2013:

With a year of development and experience with the NFL game, Vernon should be set to contribute with greater playing time, and more sacks, this year. With Randy Starks skipping all of the voluntary workouts this year, Vernon has found himself working opposite Cameron Wake as a starting defensive end. The team is clearly excited with Vernon's potential.

He needs to add more pass rushing moves to his repertoire, but did spend part of the offseason working with Wake to get better, and he will continue that development through training camp.

Why he could regress in 2013:

He's a second year player, so there is always a chance that he hit his ceiling, but that's really unlikely. If he is not able to add those additional moves, and is solely trying to speed rush past a tackle every play, his play, and his play time, will diminish.

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

The Dolphins coaches are high on Vernon, and clearly think he will be a force off the edge. He played well early in the 2012 season, and he will be a key member of the defense in 2013. Right now, he could be looking to claim a starting defensive end role, forcing Jared Odrick to move inside to defensive tackle.

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Cameron Marshall

2013-06-16T17:45:05Z

(Photo courtesy Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports)

Previous Roster Breakdowns: Brian Hartline

2012 Review:

As a senior, Marshall competed for playing time in a crowded Arizona State backfield, as new head coach Todd Graham looked to pound the ball against opposing defenses, splitting playing time between three different ball carriers.. He had his fewest carries since his freshman year, but still average 4.3 yards per attempts, and found the end zone nine times. The year prior, he carries the ball 230 times for 1,050 yards (first ASU player to reach 1,000 yards since 2006) with 18 touchdowns, so he has the ability to be a full time rusher.

Marshall signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins immediately after April's Draft.

Draft Scouting:
Ht: 5' 10"
Wt: 211 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
225-pound bench: 22 reps
Vertical: 36.5"
Broad jump: 9' 10"
20-yard shuttle: 4.38 seconds
3-cone drill: 7.06 seconds

Why he could improve in 2013:

Marshall comes to Miami with the second highest career rushing touchdowns (38) and seventh most rushing yards (2,700) in Arizona State history. He has proven he can be a feature back, with his 230 carry junior year. He won't be asked to do much more than play special teams in 2013 for Miami, but could use the year to develop behind Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Marcus Thigpen, Mike Gillislee, and Jonas Gray.

Why he could regress in 2013:

An undrafted rookie at a deep position, things will not be easy for Marshall. This year is all about trying to develop as an NFL running back. If he cannot do that, he will not have a job.

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

Highly likely he is not on the 53-man roster come September. A spot on the practice squad should not be ruled out, and he could use the year to develop and challenge for a depth position in 2014.

2012 Stats
Games	16
Starts	16

2012 Stats
Games	14
Starts	14
Sacks	3.5
Interceptions	0
Pass Defensed	2
Forced Fumbles	2
Recoveries	0
TDs	0
Tackles	60

2012 Stats
Games	16
Starts	0
Sacks	3.5
INTs	0
Forced Fumbles	1
Recoveries	0
Tackles	23

2012 Stats*
Games	13
Carries	135
Yards	583
TDs	9
Receptions	13
Yards	99
TDs	1

The Phinsider: All Posts by Kevin Nogle

Vonta Leach decision coming 'in the next two weeks'

Vonta Leach still considering Dolphins, other options

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: John Jerry

2012 Review:

John Jerry

Why he could improve in 2013:

Why he could regress in 2013:

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

More Dolphins Coverage:

Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders cover Taylor Swift's '22'

Defining success for the Miami Dolphins' 2013 season

How many wins for Miami Dolphins fans need to see for the season to be considered successful?

More Dolphins Coverage:

How many wins for Miami Dolphins fans need to see for the season to be considered successful?

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Koa Misi

2012 Review:

Koa Misi

Why he could improve in 2013:

Why he could regress in 2013:

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Brian Tyms

2012 Review:

Brian Tyms

Why he could improve in 2013:

Why he could regress in 2013:

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Olivier Vernon

2012 Review:

Olivier Vernon

Why he could improve in 2013:

Why he could regress in 2013:

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

More Dolphins Coverage:

Dolphins Roster Breakdown: Cameron Marshall

2012 Review:

Cameron Marshall

Why he could improve in 2013:

Why he could regress in 2013:

Odds he will make the 53-man roster:

More Dolphins Coverage: