Miami Dolphins Preview Part Two: The Defensive Line

Part two of a seven-part series previewing the Miami Dolphins.  The articles will focus on dissecting the team’s most crucial positions before the start of training camp.

Part Two: The Defensive Line

This year the Dolphins will be playing with a very deep rotation of defensive linemen.  Defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni and defensive-line coach Kacy Rodgers will try to keep opposing offenses guessing by using different combinations on the line. 

The starters will get the most snaps but the reserves will be just as important.  In Bill Parcells’ version of the 3-4 defense the line spends most of its time protecting against the run.  They are expected to occupy blockers and let the linebackers fly to the ball.  This year Miami needs more production in passing situations to help out a young secondary.    

The Nose Guards:

This group is lead by the second oldest member on the roster.  Jason Ferguson was brought into the league by Parcells back in 1997 and has become the prototype for the 3-4 nose guard.  He has the size and strength needed and every bit of his effort on the field is done for the greater good of the defense. 

He routinely eats up blockers and is stout against the run.  At his age it is imperative that the Dolphins keep him fresh because he is so important to the run defense.  There is some potential in free-agent rookie Louis Ellis and there is a lot of wasted potential in third-year nose guard Paul Soliai.

Soliai is the most obvious choice to back up Ferguson but his poor attitude has kept him in the dog house.  He was suspended twice by the team in 2008 and so far has wasted his opportunity in the NFL.  This training camp needs to be a complete 180 if he wants to stay with this team, and if not then expect Parcells to show him the door.

Ellis is an intriguing prospect.  He was a junior-college transfer at Division I FCS Shaw University, where he dominated.  He might have played against weaker competition in college but he did enough to catch the attention of this organization.  The team is thin at this position and Ferguson can’t take every snap.  

Joe Cohen is the long shot to make this roster.  He was picked up off waivers from San Francisco and has never played in a NFL game.  His rookie year was wiped out by an ACL injury and he was inactive for all 16 games in 2008.  He and Ellis will battle for the third tackle spot and the loser will probably end up on the practice squad.

The Dolphins did not draft a defensive tackle this year and could have their eyes set on potential 2010 free agent Vince Wilfork, but the Patriots will most likely place the dreaded franchise tag on him.  As more teams switch to the 3-4 defense it will be harder to get players like Ferguson and Wilfork in the draft.   

The Defensive Ends:

This unit will be very young, very deep and very versatile.  The rotation could be five or six players deep because guys like Randy Starks and Tony McDaniel can move inside and play defensive tackle in passing situations.

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