Miami Dolphins All Time Depth Chart - Defensive Tackle #2

The Phinsider Community All Time Miami Dolphins Depth Chart continues to be developed today, with the second defensive tackle position. In order to get to the second D-tackle slot though, we have to sort out who took the top position.

In what was the closest, three-way battle for one slot that we have seen on the depth chart yet. With 36% of the vote, Tim Bowens takes the position, just edging out Bob Baumhower and Manny Fernandez. The Dolphins selected Bowens in the first round of the 1994 Draft. He would immediately take over the starting left defensive tackle position, a position he would hold through the 2003 season (he played right defensive tackle for one season in 1996, but was still the starter). His final year in 2004 would see Bowens start the season, but he would only be able to play in two games before back injuries sidelined him, and ultimately forced him to retire. During his eleven year career, all with the Dolphins, Bowens started 155 of the 157 games in which he would appear, recording 22 sacks, one interception, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries (one touchdown), with 359 tackles. Bowens was the 1994 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and would be selected to the 1998 and 2002 Pro Bowls.

The current depth chart looks like:

John Richardson - Richardson was selected in the ninth round of the 1967 Draft, serving as the Dolphins' starting right defensive tackle in his rookie season. He would bounce between the starting role and being a reserve throughout his five seasons with Miami, ending his career with two seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manny Fernandez - Fernandez signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 1968. He immediately established himself as a starter, initially as a right defensive end, before moving in 1969 to left defensive tackle. Fernandez would start 89 games, appearing in 14 more games. He would recover six fumbles during his career, along with an estimated 550 tackles and between 25 and 30 sacks.

Bob Heinz - Heinz came to the Dolphins as the team's second round pick in the 1969 Draft. He would not start for two seasons, working purely in a reserve role through the 1970 season. In 1971, Heinz took over as the starting right defensive tackle, a slot he would hold through the 1974 season. Heinz would spend two more seasons in Miami before moving to the Washington Redskins for one year, only appearing in two games with him. During his time with the Dolphins, Heinz would start 45 games, appearing in 109 total. He would recover one fumble during his career.

Maulty Moore - The Dolphins signed Moore as an undrafted free agent in 1972. He would remain with the team through the 1974 seasons, playing in 40 games. He would spend a season each with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before retiring.

Carl Barisich - Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 11th round of the 1973 Draft, Barisich spent three years with the Browns and a year with the Seattle Seahawks before joining the Dolphins. With Miami, he would play 45 games over four seasons. Barisich would spend his final season, 1981, with the New York Giants, appearing in two games.

Don Reese - The Dolphins selected Reese in the 1974 Draft's first round. He would play three seasons for the team, spending two as the starting right defensive tackle. During his time with the Dolphins, he would start 20 of the 41 games in which he appeared.

Bob Baumhower - Drafted in the second round in 1977, Baumhower would play nine seasons over ten years with the Dolphins (missing 1985 due to a knee injury). Beginning in his rookie season, Baumhower would solidify his position as the starting nose tackle for Miami, starting 129 of the 130 games in which he would appear. With the NFL adding sacks as a recognized stat during the 1983 season, Baumhower finished his career with 14.5 official sacks, with another approximately 10 sacks before 1983, as well as an estimated 750 tackles. During his career, Baumhower would be selected to five Pro Bowls (1979, 1981-1984), as well as being selected First Team All Pro in 1983.

Mike Charles - Charles was drafted in the second round of the 1983 Draft. He would play for the team for four seasons, spending most of the time as a reserve defensive tackle. He would appear in 51 games, starting 29, and tally 13 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery, and one safety.

Brian Sochia - Sochia was an undrafted free agent, signing in 1983 with the Houston Oilers. After three seasons with the Oilers, Schia would move to Miami, spending a little over five seasons with the Dolphins. During that time, he would start 48 games, mostly at nose tackle, appearing in 10 additional games. In 1991, Sochia was sent to the Denver Broncos after three games with the Dolphins, where he would spend one additional year.

Chuck Klingbeil - Signed as an undrafted free agent in 1991, Klingbeil would spend five seasons with Miami. During that time, he would star 65 of the 78 games in which he would appear. He would end his career with 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 268 tackles.

Larry Webster - Drafted in the third round by the Dolphins in 1992, Webster would spend three seasons with the Dolphins. During that time he would appear in 45 games, starting 16. He would get 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and 68 tackles during that time. After leaving Miami, Webster would spend a season with the Cleveland Browns, moving with the organization to Baltimore to become the Ravens, and his last season, 2002, was with the New York Jets.

Daryl Gardener - Gardener was the Miami first round selection in the 1996 Draft, immediately taking over the starting left defensive tackle position. After his rookie year, Gardener would move to the right side of the line, but would not lose his position as a starter. Throughout his six seasons with the Dolphins, Gardener would start 77 of 82 games in which he would appear, tallying 15 sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered, and 252 tackles. After his time in Miami, Gardener would spend a season each with the Washington Redskins and the Denver Broncos.

Jermaine Haley - Haley was selected by the Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1999 Draft. He would serve as a reserve lineman for three seasons with the team, starting nine games in 43 appearances. He would end his Miami career with 2.5 sacks, one interception, one pass defensed, one safety, and 67 tackles. Haley would spend two seasons with the Washington Redskins before retiring.

Jeff Zgonina - Zgonina spent 15 seasons in the NFL, spread over seven teams, beginning in 1993 with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2 years), then a season with the Carolina Panthers, a year with the Atlanta Falcons, a year with the St. Louis Rams, a year playing for the Indianapolis Colts, and a second stint with the Rams (four years), before joining the Dolphins in 2003. While with Miami, Zgonina stated 22 games, appearing in an additional 40, and racked up 10 sacks. He also had one interceptions, seven passes defensed, two fumbles recovered, and 178 tackles. After leaving the Dolphins, Zgonina would spend his final three seasons with the Houston Texans.

Keith Traylor - Traylor begame his 17 year NFL career with the Denver Broncos after they selected in the third round of the 1991 Draft. He would play two seasons with the Broncos, before a year with the Green Bay Packers, two years with the Kansas City Chiefs, a return four years with the Broncos, three seasons with the Chicago Bears, and a season with the New England Patriots, joining the Dolphins in 2005. With Miami, Traylor would start 41 of the 42 games in which he would appear. He would record seven sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, and 112 tackles. Traylor would retire after the 2007 season.

Tony McDaniel - The Jacksonville Jaguars signed McDaniel as an undrafted free agent in 2006. After three years in Jacksonville, McDaniel was traded to the Dolphins, where he has spent the last three years as a reserve defensive lineman. He has appeared in 43 games, with just two starts, tallying 6.5 sacks, sic passes defensed, and 71 tackles.

Paul Soliai - Soliai was the Dolphins' 2007 fourth round draft pick, but was not considered a starting caliber lineman. During his rookie and sophomore campaigns, he would only appear in 22 of the team's 32 regular seasons games, tallying a total of six sacks. During the 2009 season, Soliai was thrust into the starters role due to injuries to the defensive line, and he responded, becoming a solid run stopping, gap filling nose tackle. Through the last three seasons, Soliai has starting 33 of the Dolphins 46 games, tallied three sacks, one pass defensed, one fumble recovery, and 91 tackles. He was a 2011 Pro Bowler.

Randy Starks - The Tennessee Titans selected Stark in the 2004 Draft's third round. Joining the Dolphins in 2008, Starks has been used at both defensive tackle and defensive end. In four seasons with the Dolphins, Starks has amassed 51 starts, with 64 appearance, 17.5 sacks, three interceptions, two fumbles recovered, and 148 tackles. Starks was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl.