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The battle to make the Miami Dolphins 53-man roster is well and truly in full swing. Some players will surprise, others will falter. Lets check out some of the top stories emanating from this year's OTA's.
Marcus Thigpen faces an uphill battle to make the final roster
Marcus Thigpen has served as Miami's primary kick returner for the past two seasons. However, Thigpen hasn't shown the ability to play outside of special teams. He's failed to make an impact as both a running back and wide receiver. Rules changes in the NFL also mean less emphasis is put on kick returns. Thigpen's value is dropping.
Bill Lazor's offensive philosophy may put a strain on the offensive line
Bill Lazor loves to use four to five wide receivers in many of his offensive plays. That means less players to protect Ryan Tannehill. The young quarterback needs to learn to make quick reads, or face being sacked. Tannehill needs to step up and prove he's worthy of being a franchise quarterback in Miami.
The battle to win the starting left guard position
Many believed this year's third round pick, Billy Turner, would take over one of the guard positions on the offensive line. Few believed that Dallas Thomas could instead beat Turner to the left guard position. Thomas looks a different player in OTA's so far, which is good news for an offensive line needing serious competition. It may be a different story when the pads come on, but Dallas Thomas looks like he could have the edge.
Miami's secondary looks deep
The Dolphins look deep at both the safety and corner positions. Louis Delmas and Reshad Jones look set to be the starters at safety, with Don Jones and Jimmy Wilson serving as the primary backups. Cortland Finnegan brings a nasty streak to the corner position, and will be paired with the outstanding Brent Grimes. Both players need to perform, however, as hot on their heels will be Will Davis and Jamar Taylor, two young and hungry players looking to make a big impression following a disappointing first season.
So, with the OTA's finished in Miami for 2014 and veteran mini camp approaching, now it's your chance to give your way to early season prediction. Please vote in the poll and add your comments below. Have a great weekend!
Alex Parish is an Associate Editor at The Phinsider. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @AlexParish89.