Dolphins minicamp 2014: Five things to watch

The Miami Dolphins will hold their only mandatory offseason workout this upcoming week, with the veteran minicamp running from June 17-19.  The Dolphins have had perfect attendance at all of their voluntary Organized Team Activities, so the same should be expected during the minicamp, and, since the minicamp is the first time media will be allowed into the team facility for multiple days, we should get a better look at some of the biggest questions still surrounding the team.

1. Bill Lazor's offense

The Dolphins' new offense has been seen in small samples thus far, with specific drills and scenarios being run when the media has been present.  After the last OTA, head coach Joe Philbin said the team had installed enough of the offense to play a game, so now it should be all about refining and executing those plays.  WIth the media able to attend multiple minicamp practices, we should all get a better sense of exactly how the Bill Lazor offense looks.

2. Left Guard

Everything during the OTA seem to signal second year offensive lineman Dallas Thomas is set to start at left guard when the season opens.  A lot can change between now and then, however, so how does rookie Billy Turner look as minicamp - and eventually training camp - progresses.  Are the Dolphins rotating Thomas and Turner with the first team, but have shown Thomas to the media?  Does Turner start looking more like a guard, getting low and using leverage, than a left tackle, standing up tall and sliding out wide, as the team continues to move him inside from his college position?

3. Running Back

The Dolphins signed Knowshon Moreno this offseason to compete with Lamar Miller for the starting running back position.  Thus far through the offseason program, it's been anything but a competition, as Miller has worked with the first- and second-team offense, while Moreno has been demoted to working with the third- and fourth- teams.  Moreno recently said he will be ready to go at full speed - it's been noted that he looks a little overweight and a step slow right now - when training camp arrives, but will Miller have a large enough lead by that point to have already won the competition?

4. Linebackers

Through the three OTAs, Koa Misi has been serving as the starting middle linebacker - at least during the workouts the media has been allowed to watch.  Could the team be rotating players into the position on days in which the media aren't present, looking to find the right combination for the middle of the defense?  We will know better after minicamp, and, if Misi is still the top middle linebacker by the end of the offseason program, you have to assume he will hold the position through training camp.  It will also be interesting to see if Philip Wheeler or Dannell Ellerbe are under assault from any of the younger players on the roster for the outside linebacker positions.

5. Wide Receivers

Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline are set as the two outside starters.  After that, everything is open to competition.  Brandon Gibson is still trying to work his way back from injury, limiting him in the OTAs, but someone has to start claiming their depth chart spot, and what better time than the present.  Jarvis Landry will make the roster, meaning there could be nine players trying to grab just two roster slots.  Who is able to start showing the flashes it will take to make the roster?

What will you be watching during next week's minicamp?  Who are you expecting to make an impact?