5 takeaways from Miami Dolphins' OTAs

The OTAs provide fans and media up and down the country of a glimpse as to how their team will set up for the coming season. Some players impress early, others don't. Let's take a look at the top 5 key stories emanating from the OTAs so far.

5. Dallas Thomas the starting left guard

Dallas Thomas is in a competition against rookie third round pick Billy Turner. What does this tell us? It could go two ways. Either the Miami coaching staff, excluding their first round draft picks, always plug in existing NFL players either from last year's 53-man roster or from additions during free agency. The paradox of that is the light has finally turned on for Dallas Thomas. This will be a key story to watch out for over the coming months.

4. Dion Jordan putting on the pounds

During the offseason there has been intense speculation that Dion Jordan would be traded. This was always unlikely to happen as no team would have offered the type of compensation that would have attracted a Dolphins team who spent a third overall draft pick on the player only a year ago. Others speculated that Jordan would be moved to linebacker, a position where the second year player could utilize his underrated pass coverage skills. That theory has been quashed as well, now that Jordan turned up to OTAs tipping the scales at 265 pounds. Jordan is now bigger, stronger and better equipped to make a big impact in the NFL. Don't discount Jordan having a breakout year, in a potentially terrifying pass rushing unit.

3. Knowshon Moreno not impressing in Miami

Coming off his best season, with 1,038 yards from 241 carries and ten touchdowns, Moreno has failed to impress in Miami so far. Murmurs emanating out of the team suggest Moreno's conditioning could be improved, and one observation (courteous of Armando Salguero) even goes as far to suggest that the running back looked ‘thick around the belly'. Moreno needs to step up his game and fast, while Lamar Miller continues to see the bulk of first team reps.

2. Miami finally have a creative offensive coordinator

Miami's new offensive coordinator, Bill Lazor, is already stamping his own mark on this offense. Last year, Miami were predictable on offense under Mike Sherman, who failed to utilize the unique talents of Mike Wallace. Wallace has even come out in the media saying he was confused by Miami's offense in 2013. That looks set to change. Lazor is moving Mike Wallace around in the offense, just as he did last year with DeSean Jackson. The more versatile Wallace becomes, the more he can hurt defenses. Expect a better, and more explosive offense in 2014.

1. How quickly can Ryan Tannehill learn the new offense?

Joe Philbin has said the team should have 85 percent of the new offense down pat by the end of this week. This is a key storyline as it is linked to Dolphins' third-year quarterback, Ryan Tannehill. It's critical Tannehill picks up the offense as soon as possible. Like it or not, but Miami's immediate success is inextricably linked with the promising quarterback. Tannehill needs to prove he is a franchise quarterback this season.

Alex Parish is an Associate Editor at The Phinsider. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @AlexParish89.