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Miami Dolphins All Time Depth Chart - Center #2

We conclude the offensive side of the ball today, with the vote for the sencond center position in the Phinsider Community's Miami Dolphins All Time Depth Chart. However, we do have two positions to fill on the chart.

First up, we have the not-surprising move of putting Dwight Stephenson into the top center position. After the 1979 season, the Dolphins allowed future Hall of Fame inductee Jim 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.

We have also been neglecting the fourth guard position, which went to Ed Neman. Newman was selected by the Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1973 Draft. Newman was a member of the Dolphins for three Super Bowls, including the Super Bowl VIII Champions team. Newman would spend twelve seasons with the Dolphins, being named to four Pro Bowls during his career (1981-1984). Newman would enroll in the University of Miami's Law School during the 1984 season, graduating in 1987, eventually becoming a Judge in Miami, a position he still holds. His charitable work while with the team, and in his post-football career, has led to the city of Miami renaming Northwest 17th Street to Ed Newman Street.

The current depth chart looks like:

1st String

2nd String

3rd String

4th String

5th String

6th String

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 Ed Newman

C

Dwight Stephenson

DE

DT

LB

CB

S

K

P

For the centers, the requirement for nomination was a minimum of 50 games played with the Dolphins. The remaining qualified centers are:

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.

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.

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