Miami Dolphins: 7 Reasons to Be Excited for the 2011 Season

The lockout isn't over quite yet, but according to a flood of reports, lawyers will hammer out the verbiage of a new CBA in the coming days, and the NFL will make a triumphant return in the next week or two.

Once the lockout is officially lifted, the nation is going to explode in football fever. Within roughly one week, we will have free agency and the start of training camps.

Naturally, Dolphins talk is going to heat up around south Florida, especially because the 'Fins figure to be major players in free agency.

But regardless of the personnel moves the team makes in the coming weeks, there is actually reason to be excited about this Miami squad, which is shaping up to be one of the league's dark horses.

The Return of Jared Odrick and the Progression of the 2010 Draft Class

Injuries derailed the rookie seasons of Jared Odrick and A.J. Edds, but fellow newcomers Koa Misi, Nolan Carroll, and Reshad Jones picked up the slack and proved themselves as valuable commodities on Miami's roster.

Now that Odrick and Edds are back in the fold, Miami's defense should reap great benefits. Odrick will step into one of the league's deepest defensive end rotations, and Edds will provide a much-needed third down linebacker who can play alongside Karlos Dansby.

Meanwhile, Misi figures to mature into a force at outside linebacker, and Carroll and Jones will continue to contribute on special teams and in the secondary.

A Rapidly Improving Defense Anchored by Two Emerging Stars

Lurking in the shadows of the Dolphins' offensive woes is a young and rapidly improving defense. The defense's outstanding play became neglected during the offense's implosion, but 2011 should be a different story.

Overall, Miami's defense ranked sixth in the NFL in 2010, yet they should be significantly better in 2011. Jared Odrick, Phillip Merling, A.J. Edds, and Will Allen all return from injury to add much needed depth to their respective positions. Meanwhile, both Cameron Wake and Koa Misi enter their second seasons as starters, and both should progress accordingly.

Perhaps most importantly, Vontae Davis and Sean Smith both seem poised to enter the elite cornerback conversation. If Sean Smith can hold onto all of those dropped interceptions this year, he could easily be a Pro Bowl candidate.

A Revamped and Revitalized Rushing Attack

Whether it's DeAngelo Williams, Ahmad Bradshaw, Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, or even Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams, the Dolphins will boast a vastly improved and rejuvenated rushing attack in 2011.

Second-round pick Daniel Thomas is a workhorse with uncanny athleticism for his 230 pound frame. Pair him with any of those aforementioned names and Miami might have a lethal ground game similar to the one that anchored the team's 2008 playoff run.

Tony Sparano has made his intentions to re-implement a power rushing attack clear. So long as he can land a marquee back in free agency, there is no reason to believe he won't successfully do so.

Cam Wake's Rise into Stardom

Just two seasons into his NFL career, Cam Wake has already been recognized as one of the top 100 players in the NFL by his peers. Just imagine what the future holds for Miami's sack master.

Luckily, we only have to wait a few more weeks to witness his rapid development into a star.

Wake racked up 14 sacks in his first season as a starter, so the sky is the limit for him in 2011.

A New Quarterback?

The Dolphins will actively pursue a quarterback once the free agency market officially opens up—this much is safe to assume. The larger looming question, however, is what kind of quarterback will they pursue.

The team could pursue a top flight option such as Carson Palmer, Kyle Orton, or Kevin Kolb, but Miami may not be willing to splurge on their hefty price tags. Or, they could resort to lower tier guys like Donovan McNabb, Vince Young, or Marc Bulger—but all three carry significant risks, whether age, skill, or attitude.

Finally, the team could go after players like Matt Moore, Dennis Dixon, or Tarvaris Jackson, who are low risk-high reward quarterbacks who would, at the very least, provide competition for Henne.

Regardless of whom they pursue, Miami will lure in somebody to challenge Henne for that starting spot. Hopefully, this player will dethrone him and lead the 'Fins to the postseason.

Stability Along the Offensive Line

However, Tony Sparano decided to play musical chairs with his offensive linemen just prior to the start of the 2010 season, replacing three veterans with three unproven players. The results were disastrous, but Ireland and Sparano were quick to recognize their mishap by drafting the best interior lineman in the entire 2011 Draft.

The addition of Pouncey alone will go a long way in bolstering the key component to Miami's offensive success. The Dolphins have ample cap space to lure in a stud free agent guard like Davin Joseph, but John Jerry and Richie Incognito should be able to make strides from last season and help the 'Fins reestablish their power rushing attack.

A New Offense Under Brian Daboll

The general consensus around Miami after the team hired Brian Daboll as their offensive coordinator was disappointment. After all, he didn't exactly produce an exciting product in Cleveland, and the community was yearning for a sexier name after struggling through the Dan Henning era.

But realize a few things. The Browns were not good last year, but consider the overall dearth of talent on their roster—now consider how amazing it is that Cleveland beat the Patriots and the Saints behind a rookie quarterback. It isn't Daboll's fault that his team lacked talent, but he does get credit for those wins.

Daboll simply makes sense for the Dolphins, and he will install a run-oriented but dynamic offense.