In the wake of the tragic death of Redskins safety Sean Taylor, a great deal of media focus has been placed on the University of Miami and its former greats mourning the loss of one of their own. This really brought me back to the days of Butch Davis and Larry Coker’s recruiting factory of the late 1990’s and the early 2000’s where perennial pro bowlers and future hall of famers just saturated the lineups.. For those unfamiliar let’s take a gander through the depth chart of the institute formerly known as “The U”…(I say formerly due to the counterclockwise direction that Randy Shannon is taking this current squad and program as a whole)…
QB:
Ken Dorsey
Scott Covington
Brock Berlin
RB:
Clinton Portis
Willis McGahee
Edgerrin James
Frank Gore
RB/FB:
Najeh Davenport
WR:
Reggie Wayne
Andre Johnson
Santana Moss
Roscoe Parrish
Sinorice Moss
TE:
Kellen Winslow
Jeremy Shockey
Bubba Franks
OL
Bryant McKinnie
James Jackson
Martin Bibla
Joaquin Gonzalez
James Jackson
DL:
Vince Wilfork
Warren Sapp
Jerome McDougle
Damione Lewis
Andrew Williams
LB:
Ray Lewis
Jonathan Vilma
Dan Morgan
DJ Williams
CB:
Devin Hester
Antrel Rolle
Phillip Buchanon
S:
Sean Taylor
Ed Reed
Scouting Report
Strengths:
1)The Rushing Attack:
If you have any questions please see list of running backs above: Quite the 1-2 (-3-4) punch. If this team did not throw one pass the entire 60 minutes I still have my money on their ability to move the ball down the field with ease. Expect to see a lot of single back sets and pro split formations. With the split backfield they can utilize two explosive backs at once without using a true fullback as they would in the I-formation.
2)Stretching the Field:
Dorsey is a serviceable QB but would look like an absolute fantasy stud with Wayne and Moss as explosive Deep Threats on the outside(see Randall Cunningham ca. 1998). Michael Lehan and Will Allen should have a lot of fun in pass coverage. If you were unaware that these were the names of the Dolphins corners, you are in for a real treat because when the U brings out the 5 wide sets…the no name DB’s in the Dolphins’ nickel and dime packages will be looking silly. Even in 2 TE passing sets where the dolphins will but 8 or 9 in the box to respect the run, Shockey, and Winslow (no relation to Carl) will exploit both the LB’s underneath and the safeties over the top.
3)Defensive Versatility:
Simply having Ed Reed on your team allows your front seven to rush the passer more effectively and stop the run. He also permits your corners to gamble a lot more jumping routes and playing bump and run coverage occasionally getting beat. Vince Wilfork, (who you may be aware due to his current success with a certain NFL squad *cough cough*) provides instant run stoppage and allows this team to play a 3-4 defense where the linebackers can effectively shoot the gaps and penetrate the line of scrimmage. Ray Lewis may be the best linebacker we have seen in the last 20 years (not to mention one of the scariest human beings). Enough said. The secondary as a unit is very fundamentally sound with hard hitting safeties that can and will knock the socks off of Marty Booker and Ted Ginn making them think twice before running deep routes in the middle of the field.
4)Special Teams:
Devin Hester after his second year in the league is about 3 games away from shattering numerous career kick return records and has basically matched his teams offensive production during that tenure as well. Santana Moss who was initially drafted as a returner will also share duties with Hester on the kickoffs so expect to see a lot of low line drive squib kicks executed by the Dolphins
Weaknesses:
1) Depth on the line of scrimmage:
One of the only foreseeable issues with this squad is its ability to protect the passer. McKinnie is really the only proven offensive lineman earning pro bowl honors. He will be the force that must neutralize Jason Taylor and protect Ken Dorsey’s blindside. The rest of the O-Line had mediocre NFL success but are serviceable: all entering the league as high draft choices. Expect to frequently see Dorsey in the shotgun in obvious passing situations.
2) QB Discipline:
If the pass rush of the Dolphins proves to be effective, Ken Dorsey will get easily rattled making questionable throws in traffic and getting happy feet in the pocket. This may be the achilles heel of the Hurricane offense and the true test will be Dorsey’s ability to get the ball to the playmakers down the field.
Predictions:
1)Joey Porter will talk an enormous amount of trash, guaranteeing victory and will be stifled. Parcells will then give him a laryngectomy removing Porter’s voicebox so that this will never happen again. When Parcells is asked about it in the post-surgical press conference he says “Nancy is recovering slowly but steadily”and will gloat due to the inability of Porter to verbally retaliate. Parcells will then make grocery store analogy number 50,679.
2)The Dolphins offense has less than 100 yards of total offense…50 will be accounted for on stifled draw plays by Lorenzo Booker. The passing game is virtually nonexistent and Cleo Lemon is sacked 7+ times in the first half and is eventually knocked out to join Trent Green as vice president of the Greater Miami Area Concussion Support Union (GMACSU)
3)Hurricanes win 42-14… Only Dolphins scores come on defense first on an interception return for a TD and from a fumble recovery after a vicious hit on Dorsey by Jason Taylor.
Its great to see that the Dolphins do a great deal to scout hometown talent before draft day every year …
Hoping in anticipation-
Wissa
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