The Houston Texans head to south Florida this weekend to take on the Miami Dolphins. As we all prepare for the game on Sunday, it's time to look at the connections between the two teams.
Jason Allen, CB, Houston Texans - Allen was the Dolphins' first round draft choice in the 2006 draft. In his five years with the Dolphins, Allen played in 71 games, starting 19 of them. He tallied 8 interceptions, 19 passes defensed, and 146 tackles. The biggest issue Allen had with the Dolphins was the coaching staffs' inability to decide on a position for him. Nick Saban drafted Allen and used him as a cornerback. The next year, Cam Cameron was the Dolphins new coach, and proceeded to put Allen at safety. In 2008, with Tony Sparano as the head coach, Allen was split between safety and cornerback. Sparano utilized Allen as a cornerback in 2009 and 2010, finally waiving him on November 10, 2010, with the Texans claiming him the next day. Allen has appeared in 8 games for the Texans, intercepting passes on three occasions with four passes defensed and 27 tackles.
Tim Dobbins, LB, Houston Texans - Dobbins was acquired by the Dolphins in a draft day trade with the San Diego Chargers in 2010. The trade, which provided San Diego with the Dolphins' twelfth overall pick and Miami's sixth round choice, brought Miami Dobbins, along with the Chargers' 28th pick, their second round choice, and a swap of fourth round picks. Dobbins appeared in all 16 games in 2010 for Miami, starting six of them. He finished the year with 1 sack, 1 pass defensed, and 44 tackles. He was released by Miami this preseason, being picked up by the Texans.
Wade Smith, G, Houston Texans - Smith was a third round pick for Miami in 2003. Smith played in 22 games, starting 18, at left tackle for the Dolphins in 2003 and 2004, before being placed on Injured Reserve and missing the 2005 season. Smith then spent two years in New York with the Jets and two years in Kansas City with the Chiefs. Finally, Smith has served as a guard for Houston last year and continues with them this season.
NFL Teammates:
Tony Sparano (HC, Miami) and Wade Phillips (D-Coord, Houston) coached together in Dallas in 2007 - along with Miami assistants Todd Bowles and Kacy Rogers.
Karl Dorrell (QB Coach, Miami) and Gary Kubiak (HC, Houston), Rick Dennison (O-Coord, Houston), and Brian Pariani (tight ends coach, Houston) all coached together in Denver from 2000-2002.
Pariani also coached with San Francisco in 1991, when Bowles was a player for the 49ers.
Karlos Dansby (LB, Miami) was teammates in 2005 with Tim Bulman (DE, Houston), 2004-2007 with Bryant Johnson (WR, Houston), 2006-2009 with Matt Leinart (QB, Houston), 2004-2009 with Neil Rackers (K, Houston) and 2004-2008 with Antonio Smith (DE, Houston), while they all played with the Arizona Cardinals.
Shaun Cody (NT, Houston) and Ikaika Alama-Francis (LB, Miami) were teammates in Detroit from 2007-2008.
During his time with the Chargers, Dobbins was teammates with Kevin Burnett (LB, Miami) in 2009.
Jonathan Joseph (CB, Houston) played for Cincinnati in 2009 with Larry Johnson (RB, Miami), while Wade Smith and Johnson were together in Kansas City in 2008-2009.
Smith also teamed up with Jason Trusnik (LB, Miami) with the New York Jets in 2007. Trusnik also played for the Cleveland Browns alongside Lawrence Vickers (FB, Houston) in 2009-2010.
Brandon Marshall (WR, Miami) teamed up with Chris Myers (C, Houston) with the Denver Broncos from 2006 to 2007.
College Teammates:
Vernon Carey (G, Miami) was teammates with Rashad Butler (T, Houston), Andre Johnson (WR, Houston), Chris Myers (C, Houston) and Eric Winston (T, Houston) at the University of Miami.
Tim Jamison (DE, Houston) played with Chad Henne (QB, Miami) and Jake Long (T, Miami) at the University of Michigan.
Arian Foster (RB, Houston) and Jason Allen (CB, Houston) were both teammates at the University of Tennessee, along with Tony McDaniel (DT, Miami) and Kevin Burnett (LB, Miami)
Brice McCain (CB, Houston), Koa Misi (LB, Miami), Paul Soliai (DT, Miami), Sean Smith (CB, Miami) were all together at the University of Utah.
Chris Clemons (S, Miami) and Phillip Merling (DE, Miami) were teammates with Thomas Austin (G, Houston) at Clemson.
Bryant Johnson (WR, Houston) and Larry Johnson (RB, Miami) played together at Penn State.
Reggie Bush (RB, Miami) was at USC with Matt Leinart (QB, Houston), Brian Cushing (LB, Houston), and Shaun Cody (DT, Houston).