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We've filled the majority of the positions on the Phinsider Community's All Time Miami Dolphins Depth Chart's offensive line. While the eight positions at guard and tackle are filled, it's now time to turn to the man controlling the offensive line, the center.
Before we move to that position, however, we do need to fill the last slot on the depth chart for the tackles. That position goes to Vernon Carey, with 41% of the vote. Carey spent most of his Dolphins career playing right tackle for the team after being selected in the first round of the 2004 Draft. He only started two games his rookie season, but appeared in 14 of the team's 16 contests. After that, he established himself as a consistent starter for the franchise, appearing in every game for the team at right tackle from 2005 to 2009, starting all but two of those - with the 2007 season spent over at left tackle. In 2010, Carey continued to start at right tackle for Miami, but would miss time, only playing in 12 games that season. Last year, Miami restructured Carey's contract and moved him from right tackle to right guard.
Below you will find the depth chart as it stands now, along with the list of nominees for the centers, and, finally, the vote itself
The current depth chart looks like:
1st String |
2nd String |
3rd String |
4th String |
5th String |
6th String |
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QB |
Dan Marino | Bob Griese | Chad Pennington | |||
WR |
Mark Clayton | Paul Warfield | Mark Duper | Nat Moore | O.J. McDuffie | Chris Chambers |
TE |
Randy McMichael | Keith Jackson | Jim Mandich | |||
RB |
Ricky Williams | Mercury Morris | Ronnie Brown | Jim Kiick | ||
FB |
Larry Csonka | |||||
OT |
Richmond Webb | Jake Long | Norm Evans | Vernon Carey | ||
G |
Larry Little | Bob Kuechenberg | Keith Sims | |||
C |
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DE |
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DT |
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LB |
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CB |
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S |
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K |
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P |
Tom Goode - Goode was drafted in the 1961 AFL (second round, Houston Oilers) and NFL (17th round, Detroit Lions) Drafts, electing to play with the Oilers. After four seasons with Houston, Goode became the starting center for Miami beginning in their inaugural 1966 season. He would play four seasons with the team, appearing in all 70 games for the team over that span, starting all but one. He would be named to the 1969 Pro Bowl, before appearing in one game in 1970 with the Baltimore Colts.
Jim Langer - Langer spent the first 10 years of his 12 year career with the Dolphins, signing as an undrafted free agent in 1970. During that time, Langer would start 109 games, appearing in 129 total games with the Dolphins. He was selected to six straight Pro Bowls from 1973 to 1978, as well as four First Team All Pro selections (1973-1975, 1977). Langer was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.
Mark Dennard - Dennard was the Miami selection in the 10th round of the 1978 Draft and would spend five seasons with the team. He would start 34 games in a Dolphins uniform, spending his final two seasons in the league as the Philadelphia Eagles' starting center.
Dwight Stephenson - After the 1979 season, the Dolphins allowed future Hall of Fame inductee Langer to leave Miami for the Minnesota Vikings. The team then drafted Stephenson in the second round of the 1980 draft. After two seasons as a backup, Stephenson took over as the team's starting center, a position he held until the end of the 1987 season. He was a Pro Bowl selection from 1983-1987, and was selected as a First Team All-Pro fro 1984-1987. Stephenson was also named the NFL's Man of the Year in 1985. With Stephenson on the offensive line, the Dolphins led the league in fewest sacks allowed for six straight seasons, doubling the previous NFL record (a record they would extend to nine seasons after Stephenson retired). Despite the relatively short career of Stephenson, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jeff Dellenbach - The Dolphins' fourth round pick in 1985, Dellenbach spent his Miami career playing every position on the offensive line, serving as the team's starting center in 1988, 1993, and 1994, as well as the primary reserve center in his rookie 1985, 1987, 1991, and 1995. Dellenbach also had a season as the team's starting left tackle (1989) and starting right tackle (1992).
Jeff Uhlenhake - Miami selected Uhlenhake with their fifth round select in the 1989 Draft. He would immediately take over as the starting center for the Dolphins, holding the position until injury shortened his 1993 campaign. After leaving Miami, Uhlenhake played two seasons each with the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins.
Tim Ruddy - Ruddy was drafted in the second round of the 1994 draft by the Dolphins. After appearing in all 16 games in rookie year, Ruddy established himself as the starting center for the team in 1995, holding the position for nine seasons. When he retired after the 2003 season, Ruddy had appeared in 156 games for the team, starting 140 of them.
Seth McKinney - McKinney was the Miami third round pick in the 2002 draft, spending four seasons with the team. During that time, McKinney would start 34 games, mostly during his final two years with the team. He would appear in 61 total games as a Dolphins player, before sending two years with the Cleveland Browns and one final year with the Buffalo Bills.
Which player should be the top center in the Dolphins' All Time Depth Chart? Vote below.