I was just thinking about how different this team is from last year, and how the strengths/weaknesses have moved so I thought I'd do a little ranking. Let me know what you think.

1. RBs.

There can't be any argument that we don't have the most talented RB tandem in the league. (2005-2nd pick overall, 1999-5th pick overall). Whether Ronnie is 100% is still a question, but until he proves that he's not, this is the #1 strength right now.

2. Run Defense

Believe it or not, the next greatest strength I believe will be our ability to stop the run. Our front 7 is made up of BIG, athletic, strong tacklers. YB and Allen are good tacklers on the 2nd level too. If the preseason is any indication of this (#6 overall this preseason, 3.3 ypc see link) then this is a huge turnaround from last season when were in the absolute bottom, yes.. we were #32!!

3. Run Blocking

Prior to Ronnie going down last year, we lead the league in YPC. Add Jake Long, Justin Smiley, Donald Thomas, & B all who's scouting reports say their strength is in the run game, and you have a dominant run-blocking team. Dan Henning loves to run the football and I expect us to continue our preseason success.

4. Special Teams (return unit)

Ted "Houdini" Ginn. Nuf Said.

5. Deep Pass Defense

We were near the leaders in league in Pass defense last year, despite injuries to Goodman, YB, Hill, and almost every other safety that went out there. Alot of this was due to the fact that our run D was so bad so teams just pounded us. With a healthy slate of DBs, and a improved front 7 & pass rush I think we will not be giving up a lot of big plays in the passing game.

6. Kicking Game (FGs)

Dan Carpenter will be a stud...
http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/miami-dolphins/story/659553.html

7. Short-Intermediate Passing Game

Chad Pennington is extermely accurate in this area. Expect alot of long drives like we saw on Saturday.

8. Pass-Blocking

The knock on Jake Long is that he is suseptible to an elite speed edge rusher. Hopefully Sparano can coach him up so this will eventually become a strength, but for now I have to defer to the scouting report, since he'll be playing on Chad's blind side. The rest of the team isnt known for their pass block ability.

9. Deep Passing Game

The lack of a great pass blocking unit, Pennington average arm strength (some say below average, but I say its unfair) and only 1 real deep threat in Ginn, will allow defenses to play their deep help on Ginn's side and will not allow to get a ton of big plays over the top. Our big plays will be Pennington getting Ginn the ball in stride so he can do the rest.

10. Kick Coverage unit

Our coverge unit hasnt given up a TD in the presason, but hasn't look that great either. Carpenter also hasnt kicked too many touchbacks either. Hard to guage this frmo preseason tho with so much flux going on in that unit.

11.  Short-Intermediate Pass Defense

In my opinion, this is the weakest point of our team. If Matt Roth starts the season at S-LB he will have to cover the TE. I can't see him being able to do this effectively at first. Porter/Anderson might be a liablity covering the RBs out of the backfield. Our D-line is big & strong but does not posses great speed. We can be exposed on screen plays and small dump offs to the RB/FB/TEs. Sparano is concerned about our abliltiy to "get off the field on 3rd down." This is why.

Now you can see why people say that you can say Parcells already has an imprint on this team. Our two greatest strenghts will be running the football and stopping the run, the oldest cliche to winning in football.

Thoughts?

http://profootballexperts.scout.com/2/744141.html

You guys gotta read this. I was doing some fantasy research and came across this article that was posted April 6th, 2008. There is a dolphin in almost every category!

Shot Caller - The best in class.

Fast Faller - The player who's falling down the draft board.

Prospective Baller - The sleeper of the class, a player who has something to prove or has the chance to emerge as a quality starter.

Crystal Baller – The player, three years from now, who becomes the most productive in each class.

Crystal Baller: Chad Henne, Michigan
Henne is a signal caller with a high degree of intelligence, and he understands what it takes to win football games. He’s a student of the game and commands respect in the huddle. He has a strong arm, great touch and all the intangibles you need that will lead him to be the most productive QB from this class.

Prospective Baller: Jalen Parmele, Toledo
A very productive player at Toledo, Parmele has shown impressive measurables this off-season and has elevated his draft status with a great showing at the Scouting Combine. Parmele ran a 4.47 in the 40 at the Scouting Combine and improved his vertical jump from 34.5 at the Combine to 41.5 at his Pro Day. Parmele has the potential to be a starting RB in the NFL.

Shot Caller: Jake Long, Michigan
Long is hands down the best OT in the draft and has the opportunity to have the same kind of impact Joe Thomas had last season with the Cleveland Browns. There are questions about whether Long is better suited to play LT or RT, but wherever he plays he will start immediately.

Crystal Baller: Donald Thomas, Connecticut
Thomas is a promising interior presence who has great upside. He has a great athletic build and moves extremely well inside. He has to become more consistent and work on his technique, but with more experience he’ll become a dominant interior force.

Its almost like Jeff Ireland read this same article before the draft!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-vonnie072208,0,3101183.story?track=rss

Vonnie holliday recently made some comments regarding the JT trade that some may regard as hostile, I think its pretty funny though.

"...I don't quite understand the move. I don't see how it helps us in the immediate future. If we were getting something today that'd be different. It kind of puts a little bit of taste in your mouth like the Chris Chambers deal four games into last year. What exactly are we doing? I can't wait to get back to find out, and hopefully they've got a plan to pull some rabbit out of a hat or have something up their sleeve to prove otherwise."

LOL, who will be the rabbit?? well matty's latest article starts to explore that...

I'm hoping that Bentley will recover from his injury and we will bring him in and use that extra cap money. We must have a ton of room right now.

Excerpt from a Q&A session with GM Vinny Cerrato of the Redskins

On the possibility that he may only play for one more year:

“I am 100% confident he will play for more than one year.”

What a snitch. JT must have told him that he'll def play more than one year and he only said that b/c he wanted to piss off Parcells and get traded. Did anyone see the Espys last night when JT did a fake audition to be the host and said "I just want to do this to piss off Bill Parcells." Fitting that it was aired the same day as he was traded!

Also, looks like Bill Parcells did the negotiating on this one..

" I talked to Bill Parcells after practice today, and we were able to work something out.”

here's the link: http://georgia.scout.com/a.z?s=135&p=2&c=770692