May

May 2, 2008   

Trade of Booker highlights Dolphins' emphasis on physicality

The Dolphins shocked many when they decided to trade RB Lorenzo Booker to the Eagles for a fourth-rounder over draft weekend. Although he didn't produce much in his rookie season, Booker was showered with compliments from the new regime, as his superb quickness and speed were seen as tools they could exploit in numerous ways. “I don't think he really fit our system that we're trying to put in place here,” GM Jeff Ireland explained after the first day of the draft. While Ireland wouldn't explicitly say what the “system” they're implementing is, it's pretty clear from the makeup of the coaching staff and the second-day selections of thumping RBs Jalen Parmele and Lex Hilliard that the Dolphins are adamant about forging ahead with a power running game. Although the rail-thin Booker has exceptional open-field ability — a good fit in the Eagles' spread offense — his slight build was ultimately seen as a liability for the hard-nosed brand of football the Dolphins are implementing. The physical nature of the club is not just an offensive issue. Six of the Dolphins' nine draft picks are offensive or defensive linemen, with Parmele, Hilliard and QB Chad Henne representing the three draftees not operating in the trenches.

April

April 23, 2008   

Dolphins' top executives, coaches molding eventual replacements

It's no secret that the Dolphins are building for the future, as they've spent the offseason purging the roster of their aging veterans and replacing them with promising youngsters. But the way we hear it, they're taking a slightly different approach with their front office and coaching staff. Sixty-six-year-old executive V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells, who has signed on for the next four years, isn't looking to stay on board after his contract expires, and is using this time to groom GM Jeff Ireland to take over the operations when he leaves. Likewise, 65-year-old offensive coordinator Dan Henning, a coaching veteran of 28 NFL seasons, is viewed as a temporary solution who will eventually pass the torch to either WR coach Karl Dorrell or QB coach David Lee. Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, 58, is a bit younger but is just babysitting the position until assistant head coach/secondary Todd Bowles is ready to take over. As one team insider put it, “It's all one big mentoring program.”

April 11, 2008   

Huizenga determined to have No. 1 pick signed before draft

“It’s going to come down to an episode of Let’s Make a Deal.” That’s how one team insider described the Dolphins’ mindset for selecting the No. 1 overall draft pick. The team has reportedly already started preliminary negotiations with Michigan OT Jake Long and Ohio State DE-OLB Vernon Gholston, and is expected to stage a similar talk with Virginia DE-OLB Chris Long, as well. According to the insider, owner Wayne Huizenga is adamant that the Fins sign their pick prior to the draft. RB Ronnie Brown’s rookie holdout in 2005 irked Huizenga, and he wants to avoid a similar mess this season. NFL bylaws stipulate that only the team holding the No. 1 overall selection can sign a contract with a prospect prior to the draft. However, this isn’t to say all three of the aforementioned players are on a level playing field. Word is that Jake Long is the primary object of the team’s affection, and he holds more leverage than the other two. The Dolphins are needy at a host of positions, but nowhere is the situation more dire than on the offensive line.

April 4, 2008   

Dolphins' front office, coaching staff won't be affected by Ross

With real-estate mogul Stephen Ross set to take over as the primary owner of the Dolphins after being unanimously confirmed at the league meetings, don’t expect major changes to be made in the way the operation runs. Ross is a lifelong Dolphins fan, but we hear that he doesn’t want to meddle with the new regime — specifically, executive VP of football operations Bill Parcells, GM Jeff Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano. Current owner Wayne Huizenga will remain as controlling officer for the coming season, but Ross is expected to assume the role as soon as 2009. “Everyone should feel secure in their jobs,” a team source said. “He’s not coming in here to make sweeping changes or anything.” One thing that Ross does come equipped with is a deep set of pockets. Worth $4.5 billion, according to Forbes magazine as of September 2007, Ross will be the second-wealthiest owner in the league, trailing only the Seahawks’ Paul Allen, who’s valued at $16.8 billion. What does this mean? Not much, for now. But should the 2010 season commence as an uncapped year, which will happen if the owners opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement in November and fail to come to terms with the players' union on a new CBA, the Dolphins could be attracting boatloads of elite talent.

March

March 26, 2008   

O-line deficiencies loom large in Miami

Of all the Dolphins' areas of concern, the state of the offensive line looms as perhaps the biggest. Outside of adding former 49ers OG Justin Smiley, the Fins have done nothing to upgrade what was a shoddy unit in 2007. And while failing to make additions, they cut starting ORT L.J. Shelton and top reserve OT Anthony Alabi, as well as declining to re-sign OGs Rex Hadnot and Chris Liwienski. Consequently, gaping holes remain at guard and tackle, although the absence of a suitable right tackle is the most significant deficiency. All of this would appear to bode well for Michigan OT Jake Long as No. 1 overall pick. However, as one team source reminded us, the draft is so rich in top offensive tackle prospects that the Fins could likely grab one with one of their two second-round picks, especially considering that new head coach Tony Sparano doesn’t need supreme talents to mold into a stout line.

March 19, 2008   

Dolphins cautiously optimistic about new receivers

The Dolphins have made more noise with their defensive additions this offseason, but word out of Miami is that the upgrades they’ve made to their WR corps may be just as important. After cutting disappointing veteran Marty Booker, second-year pro Ted Ginn Jr. was the only wide receiver left on the roster whom the coaches felt comfortable trotting out as part of the starting lineup. Since then, the Fins have added a pair of pass catchers with considerable promise. In ex-Jaguar Ernest Wilford, the Fins have obtained a physical, 6-4, 218-pound possession receiver who can keep the chains moving and be a factor in the red zone. Tab Perry is far more of a wild card, but an intriguing one. Injuries have limited the 26-year-old to just four games over the last two seasons in Cincinnati, but the hope is that with a healthy return, he’ll make good on the prognostications that as a 6-foot-3 speedster, he has the tools to become a dangerous weapon.

March 12, 2008   

Dolphins making 'special' roster additions

Charlie Anderson and Reggie Torbor are listed as linebackers, David Kircus is listed as a wide receiver and Boomer Grigsby is listed as a fullback. But as far as the Dolphins are concerned, their value on special teams is just as, if not more, important than what they bring to their primary position. Despite having a breakaway threat as a punt and kick returner in Ted Ginn Jr. and seeing a standout season PK Jay Feely, the Dolphins' overall special-teams play was among the worst in the league in 2007. Their problems both returning and covering kickoffs were particularly disastrous, as they ranked 32nd in kickoff-return differential. The Fins are banking on the belief that these additions will help rectify a glaring concern. Of the aforementioned players, only Torbor can be penciled in for a starting job on offense or defense, but the player who has the coaches particularly excited is Grigsby. A fan favorite in his previous stint in Kansas City for his kamikaze playing style, he figures as a prototypical wedge breaker — a niche position where high-speed collisions are the norm — on the coverage unit. The Dolphins also took a measure to improve their kickoff unit on Tuesday by signing PK Dave Rayner, who has a considerably stonger leg off the tee than Feely.

March 5, 2008   

Contrary to statements, Parcells looking to unload Taylor

Jason Taylor wants out of Miami and Bill Parcells isn’t telling the truth. That’s what one team insider told us regarding the saga in Miami. Since being hired to facilitate the Dolphins’ football operations in December, Parcells has been conspicuously quiet in the public forum. So when he commented recently that Taylor will either be in Miami next season or retire, a few eyebrows were raised. But according to a source, Parcells was simply trying to delay a second wave of criticisms that he is purging the team of its long-time nucleus, criticisms that started when he released venerable but injury-prone MLB Zach Thomas last month. In fairness, feelings on the cut were mixed, as many applauded Parcells’ efforts to put together a younger club. Trading Taylor appears to be the next step. And with his desire to be part of a winning franchise, Taylor is believed to be happy with that situation. Just don’t expect him to voice his wanting out. Taylor, like Thomas, is beloved in Miami, and wouldn’t risk his good-standing among the Dolphin faithful by publicly stating his longing to be on a championship-level team. Unlike Thomas, however, Taylor has at least a few very good seasons left in the tank, and we’re now hearing that he could be traded for a pair of draft picks, with second- and fourth-round selections appearing to be a plausible exchange.

February

Feb. 29, 2008   

Rogers holds key to Dolphins' defensive plans

The Dolphins' ability to make a transition back to a 3-4 defense may hinge on one name: Shaun Rogers. The Lions have been looking to unload the massive defensive tackle due to his perceived lack of effort, but that hasn't scared off the numerous suitors who wish to bring him aboard. Rogers tips the scales at around 340 pounds, which is prototypical size for a two-gapping nose tackle. Upping his value is the fact that the free-agent pool and the draft class are mostly devoid of upper-tier nose tackles. But that being said, the Dolphins won't overpay for him. Rogers comes with some character baggage, a trait that stands in opposition to Bill Parcells' mantra. The Lions are believed to be asking for a second-round pick, and we hear it's unlikely Miami will unload the first pick of the second round — 32nd overall — to nab him. However, Miami also owns the Chargers' second-round selection, courtesy of the Chris Chambers trade, and that is a more realistic option to part with. If they are unable to land Rogers, it appears that the Fins will be forced to operate out of more four-man fronts in 2008, a situation they hope to avoid.

Feb. 20, 2008   

Keyshawn Johnson could reunite with Parcells in Miami

Could Keyshawn Johnson be suiting up for the Dolphins next season? The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that it could happen, but it would require considerable concessions from both Johnson and the Fins’ front office to make it happen. At age 35, Johnson has reportedly kept himself in top shape and wants another chance to finish his career on his terms, instead of having been unceremoniously canned by the Panthers. According to a report in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Miami hasn’t extended an offer yet, although we hear it would be Johnson’s for the taking if he told executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells that he’s committed to returning. Parcells coached Johnson with the Jets and the Cowboys and later worked with him as a studio analyst with ESPN, establishing a close relationship with the former No. 1 overall draft pick. However, Parcells’ decision to sever ties with popular MLB Zach Thomas could make it difficult to justify a decision to bring Johnson aboard. Thomas was shepherded out of town in part because of an effort to make the team younger, and Johnson’s a year older than him. But because Thomas’ hefty price tag also played a part in his release, Parcells would have to make sure he didn’t offer Johnson a contract that could be construed as being above market value or leave himself open to attacks of having played favorites.

Feb. 13, 2008   

Cuts of O-linemen highlight Dolphins' need on offensive line

The purging has begun in Miami. On Monday, the Dolphins took the biggest step in reshaping their roster since V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells came aboard late last season, cutting nine players. Four of them — QB Trent Green, WR Marty Booker, ORT L.J. Shelton and NT Keith Traylor — were starters. While Green’s departure raised some eyebrows, none of the moves was too surprising. But the cutting of Shelton and his No. 1 backup, Anthony Alabi, now leaves the Fins with a considerable void on the offensive line. Add in the fact that both starting guards (Rex Hadnot and Chris Liwienski) are free agents, and the offensive line is suddenly as big a need as the Dolphins' much-maligned defensive line. They would like to bring Hadnot back but won’t overextend themselves to do so. According to team insiders, Parcells, after a thorough evaluation of the roster, is a big proponent of only four players on the roster: C Samson Satele, RB Ronnie Brown, WR Ted Ginn Jr. and P Brandon Fields. Although every position needs substantial improvement in Parcells’ eyes, the offensive line will receive as much of an overhaul as any position. Because of new head coach Tony Sparano’s kinship with Cowboys free-agent OLT Flozell Adams from his days as Dallas’ OL coach, expect Adams to be heavily courted by the Fins. If he does come aboard, Adams would likely be inserted at left tackle, and Vernon Carey would flip over to the right side. Although not mentioned by Parcells, Carey was one of the few players to garner praise in Miami in 2007.

Feb. 6, 2008   

Henning expected to bring power mentality to Dolphins’ offense

The Dolphins took a big step in shaping the direction of the team when they hired longtime NFL veteran Dan Henning to be offensive coordinator. Miami will be the 65-year-old Henning’s 11th stop in the league, including multiple tenures with the Dolphins and Jets. Don’t be misled by the fact that Henning has been a QB and WR coach throughout parts of his career. His offenses — from Washington to San Diego to Carolina, among others — have been typified by big, physical offensive lines paving the way for thumping running backs. The Dolphins’ offense wasn’t exactly gimmicky under the one-year stewardship of Cam Cameron, but it included the running backs in the passing game more than almost any other offense in the league. Between Henning’s appointment as offensive coordinator and former Cowboys OL coach Tony Sparano as head coach, it’s obvious that the Dolphins are looking to develop an identity as a power team that won’t rush to institute the spread formations in vogue throughout the NFL.