Bleacher Report - Articles by Rudolph Zepeda

Miami Dolphins Preview Part Five: The Wide Receivers

Rudolph Zepeda — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:01 -0400

Part five 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 Five: The Wide Receivers

The Dolphins will enter training camp with plenty of questions concerning the receiving corp.

Is Ted Ginn Jr. ready to take the next leap forward? Will Davone Bess replace Greg Camarillo? How much will the “Wildcat” affect the passing game, and who is Anthony Armstrong?

Ginn is showing signs that this could be his breakout season. In 2008, he led the team with 56 receptions and 790 yards, but only five catches on passes thrown over 20 yards. Can he be an elite receiver in this offense? The answer to that may not come until Chad Henne or Pat White takes over at quarterback.

Camarillo is returning from a knee injury and seems ready for the start of training camp. He missed the last five games of 2008 and still finished second on the team with 55 catches and 613 yards.

Bess replaced him last season and flourished with 30 catches and 279 yards in those final five games. With Ginn focusing on the wide receiver position Bess might have to pick up the slack in the return game. He averaged 11 yards on punt returns and 22.2 yards on kick-off returns in 2008.

The top three receivers are not set in stone, but the experience, what little there is, of Camarillo, Bess, and Ginn will set them apart from all the rookies on the roster. This year, the rookies will get more attention because everyone is looking for the next Devone Bess on this roster.

That is one reason Anthony Armstrong is starting to generate a lot of interest from “Dolfans.” The second reason is that in Organized Team Activities he humiliated newly acquired defensive backs Eric Green and Gibril Wilson.

The former Arena League player spent last year on the practice squad. He has improved his route running and has plenty of speed but so far has not proved it against NFL level competition. OTA’s don’t really count and it may be a completely different story when Green and Wilson are allowed to be more physical in coverage.

Still, Armstrong’s speed is very exciting and his year on the practice squad gives him some advantage over the other rookies. Patrick Turner and Brian Hartline recently signed four-year contracts so it would seem barring any strange unforeseen event that both will be on the 53-man roster.

Turner shined in OTA’s showing off his height and getting separation from the corners. Parcells wants another Keyshawn Johnson he wants a big red-zone target and at 6'5" Turner is about as big as they come. It could be a coincidence that he played at USC or Parcells thinks he has the next Keyshawn.

Hartline is another tall receiver but might have been brought in to play special teams. Still a work in progress but the talent is defiantly there. He excelled on special teams at Ohio State and that is where he will be needed most.

It is unlikely the Dolphins will have room for more than or six receivers on the roster which leaves four receivers fighting for one spot. Armstrong seems to have the led for now but there are a few rookie free agents that want to be this year’s Devone Bess.

Brennan Marion averaged 41 catches a season and 30 yards per catch during a two-year career at Tulsa University. Those numbers are accurate you are reading them correctly. He is coming back from a knee injury that kept teams from drafting him, but he led the nation in yards per catch for two years.

Chris Williams is the other rookie free agent. He is the smallest receiver in the group but he might be the fastest. He ran a 4.28 second 40-yard dash during his pro day but like Marion he was injured during his senior year and it scared of teams entering the draft.

Parcells use to have Dave Meggett and maybe he wants another one. Williams was very productive in college and he will try to stick as a return man on a team that desperately needs one.

With all the new talent brought in this year Brandon London seems to be on his way out. It’s not all bad for London who is emerging as a male runway model. Life could be a lot worse.

He has said that he is fully committed to the NFL and the Dolphins but if he doesn’t make

the team his backup plan is much more promising than most NFL free agents.

Training camp should be fun to watch. There are plenty of player looking to prove themselves and head coach Tony Sparano’s philosophy encourages competition. Bess and Camarillo were productive last year but Parcells and Sparano are always looking to improve.

Miami Dolphins Preview, Part Four: The Defensive Backs

Rudolph Zepeda — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:26:26 -0400

Part four 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.

The Miami Dolphins are doing everything possible to improve last year’s 25th-ranked pass defense.

They let Andre Goodman and Reynaldo Hill sign with Denver, but so far their replacements have struggled. Cornerback Eric Green and safety Gibril Wilson looked bad during organized team activities, particularly against the deep pass.

Rookie corners Sean Smith and Vontae Davis impressed coaches, and both seem to have moved ahead of Green on the depth chart. Nothing is certain during OTA’s because in reality, it is more like flag football.

The good news is the pads start popping in August and the secondary will be taller and more physical.

The Cornerbacks

Will Allen had his best season as a Dolphin in 2008 and was given a two-year contract extension.

He is the oldest member of the secondary and will be counted on to cover some of the best receivers in the game. He will face Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Terrell Owens, and Lee Evens and that’s just in the AFC East.

Davis is a very physical corner and he could really stand out once he’s allowed to hit somebody. He is still a very raw talent and it is still not certain whether he will be a corner or a safety in the NFL.

Smith lined up with the first-team defense during the last round of OTA’s and the early reports on him are solid. At 6-4 and 215 pounds, he gives the Miami the size to match up against Moss and Owens but he may not be ready for that just yet.

All three will be Dolphins in 2009 but the rest of the corners could be fighting just for a place on the team.

Green lost his starting job in Arizona to a rookie and this year a pair of rookies could move him down to fourth on the depth chart.

Green is an experienced NFL corner, making 33 starts in four seasons with the Cardinals but has only two career interceptions.

Jason Allen could be on his way out if he struggles during pre-season. Nathan Jones is a cheaper alternative. Both played on special teams last year but Jones played in nickel and dime formations. $1.9 million is too much to be paying a fifth-string corner if Allen drops that far he will get the axe.

He was torched by former Arena League player Anthony Armstrong and that is defiantly not a good sign. The Dolphins struggled defending the deep pass last year and it could be a problem again.

The Safeties

The Dolphins needed to upgrade the safety position, so they signed Gibril Wilson who played strong safety last season in Oakland. He too was burned by Armstrong and now enters camp needing to prove he should be starting.

Wilson will be the starting free safety but that doesn’t necessarily mean the pass coverage will improve. He is a proven tackler, 129 tackles in 2008, but the Dolphins don’t need another strong safety.

Yeremiah Bell came back from an Achilles tendon injury and led the team with 120 tackles last year. He will struggle at times in coverage and has only one career interception.

Tyrone Culver impressed the coaches at OTA’s so much so that he earned a new two-year contract and should see some time in dime formations. He made several pass deflections and could earn a starting spot if Wilson continues to struggle.

Rookie Chris Clemons has blazing speed and garnered some praise from Sparano after the rookie camp ended. He won’t be needed right away because it looks like the Dolphins are confident in Wilson and Bell but in a few years he could be taking over.

The off-season makeover may pay off down the road, but this year the Dolphins might struggle in against the pass again.

This series will continue every Monday and Friday in July only on The Bleacher Report. Look for Part Five: The Wide Receivers on Monday, July 20.

Miami Dolphins Preview Part Three: The Running Backs

Rudolph Zepeda — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:47:57 -0400

Part three 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 Three: The Running Backs

The Miami Dolphins are a running team plain and simple. They don’t have the receivers or the quarterback to spread the field like New England or Arizona but the “Wildcat” might be changing the way NFL teams run the football.

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams combined for 1,575 yards and 14 touchdowns. When they ran out of the “Wildcat” formation they averaged 6.4 yards a carry. It is so exciting to watch and it drives defenses crazy. Brown controlled the formation and it was primarily used to run. This year opponents will be more prepared.

One concern is that the running attack is depending on the middle of the offensive line to stay healthy this year. Justin Smiley and Jake Grove are coming back from injuries and Donald Thomas might be ready for the start of the season after a pectoral tear.

Brown is entering the final year of his contract, he wants to be regarded as an elite running back and he should be. In 2007 he was on his way to stardom but was cut down by a knee injury. He totaled 991 yards in seven games as the primary back in 2007. After splitting carries last season he looks primed to carry this offense.

He has shown he can handle the running aspects of the “Wildcat” but only threw three times from the formation. It is still uncertain what his roll in the formation will be because the organization is guarding those plans like the Arc of the Covenant.

The Dolphins need Ronnie to be effective in more traditional running formations. With out the “Wildcat” Miami’s rushing attack was mostly ineffective. Grove was brought in to fix that problem and there should be no more excuses now that Samson Satele is gone.

If Brown wants to be considered an elite runner he will have this is the perfect year to do it. Ricky Williams seems to be declining at age 32 while Brown has shined in offseason workouts.

Williams should resume his role as the primary back up for one more year. He could see a decrease in playing time as offensive coordinator Dan Henning tries to use all his new weapons. Pat White will eventually work his way into the “Wildcat” which could push Ricky out.

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, head coach Tony Sparano would love to give Patrick Cobbs more carries. The five-foot-eight roadrunner from North Texas had 16 tackles on special teams and could be more involved in the “Wildcat” this year.

Cobbs can be effective if the Dolphins copy what San Diego did with Darren Sproles. Miami’s special teams unit was horrible last year and his role as a kick-off return man should increase with Ted Ginn Jr. and Davone Bess becoming more active in the passing game.

He could develop into the perfect complement to Ronnie Brown and that could happen as soon as this year. The “Wildcat” is based on creating mismatches and Henning needs his most dangerous pieces on the field to make it work.

Lex Hilliard spent last year on the practice squad and considering the depth at running back he could be headed back to the practice squad this year. The Dolphins also have rookie free agent Anthony Kimble who could challenge Hilliard for that spot on the squad.

The Fullback:

If Ronnie Brown wants to be an elite running back he will need Lousaka Polite. Emmitt Smith had Daryl Johnston, Lorenzo Neal paved the way for LaDainian Tomlinson and Eddie George. Good blocking fullbacks can do wonders for a running back.

Polite was nearly perfect on third-and-one and forth-and-one situations last year. He did not play in 2007 after spending three years with Parcells in Dallas. Polite’s success in short-yardage situations could tempt Sparano to us him on the goal line.

The rushing attack will be vastly improved if the line holds up and if Ronnie Brown takes the bulk of the carries. Cobbs and White will get involved but Brown is the going to carry the offense this year.

Sparano likes to rotate his running backs and Brown has the most talent. It is time to take the training wheels off and let him go.

This series will continue every Monday and Friday in July only on The Bleacher Report. Look for Part Four: The Defensive Backs on Friday July 17th.

Miami Dolphins Preview Part Two: The Defensive Line

Rudolph Zepeda — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:21:09 -0400

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.

Kendall Langford started 14 games as a rookie last year and finished with 31 tackles and two sacks. He should retain his position as starter but he may lose his place on passing downs. In this defensive scheme the coaches will try to take advantage of each players’ best attributes so nothing is certain until the season starts.

McDaniel was acquired from Jacksonville for a seventh-round draft choice. He bares a strong resemblance to Starks because he played in a 4-3 defensive scheme as a defensive tackle. Here in Miami he will fit in well as a defensive end and he can still take some snaps at defensive tackle to help rest Ferguson.

Starks played in all 16 games last year with four starts and finished with 29 tackles, three sacks and an interception. This offseason he was arrested in South Beach during the Memorial Day weekend for allegedly striking an officer with his car which may or may not have been over loaded with passengers.

The charges seem to be over exaggerated but trouble with the law means trouble with The Tuna. Starks will be an important part of the rotation and has a chance to take Vonnie Holliday’s old spot if he stays out of trouble.

Phillip Merling was the second draft choice of the Parcells era and big things are expected of him this year. Last year he was strong against the run and showed some pass rushing ability. He spent the offseason training at his alma mater to improve his stamina which he said hurt him towards the end of last year.

Lionel Dotson was the third defensive end drafted by Miami last year but he wasn’t much of a factor. If he wants to get on the field he will have to fend off third-year man Rodrique Wright and rookie free agent Ryan Baker.

Wright is a hold over from the Saben era and looks to be on his way out of Miami as he has failed to impress this coaching staff. Baker could make an impact, he has the ability and a good preseason could earn him a roster spot. He showed good strength at the NFL combine and was offered contracts by several teams after the draft.

Just like the offensive line, the success of the defensive line starts in the middle. Jason Ferguson is the most important player on this defense and without him it is hard to believe that the Dolphins will compete in the AFC East.

This series will continue every Monday and Friday in July only on The Bleacher Report. Look for Part Three: The Running Backs on Monday July 13th.

Miami Dolphins Preview Part One: The Offensive Line

Rudolph Zepeda — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:47:54 -0400

This is the first article in a seven-part series previewing Miami Dolphins. The articles will focus on dissecting the team’s most crucial positions before the start of training camp.

Part One: The Offensive Line

It is most thankless job in the NFL but Bill Parcells knows you cannot win with out a solid offensive line.

His first order of business as head of football operations was to build this team around gigantic offensive linemen, large men capable of uprooting solid timber. Parcells went so far as to hire his former offensive-line coach, Tony Sparano, to be head coach and to instill the fire and determination of an offensive lineman in the belly of a 1-15 loser.

This season the starters will try to stay healthy while the coaching staff looks for more versatility from the back ups. Justin Smiley is returning from a second straight season on the injured reserve list. After missing 15 games in 2008 Donald Thomas is injured again but might be ready for the start of the season.

The Center:

The Dolphins missed out on free-agent Jason Brown and had to settle for Jake Grove. After trading Samson Satele the team has few options if Grove struggles or gets injured. Here is the list of pro-bowl nose tackles that Grove will be facing this season: Jamal Williams, Marcus Stroud, Kris Jenkins, Vince Wilfork, John Henderson, and Casey Hampton.

The Dolphins are completely confident that Jake can do the job but after four unspectacular years in Oakland the Dolphins’ front office is taking a big gamble on an injury prone center.

The Guards:

The right guard position will be a wide-open competition when the Dolphins open training camp. Last season Donald Thomas started the first game, suffered a left foot injury and was placed on injured reserve list. Ikechuku Ndukwe moved in and started the rest of the way. This year Thomas is injured again with a pectoral tear.

Ndukwe should have an advantage but he will have to fend off Brandon Frye, Shawn Murphy, Mark Lewis, and possibly Joe Berger. Frye and Berger (mmm…Frye and Berger) add value with their flexability on the line. Murphy was inactive for all 16 games last year and he wants to prove he was worth selecting two rounds before Thomas.

When Thomas returns he may not return as the starter. The Dolphins have plenty of depth so they don’t have to rush him back. After missing last season and possibly the start of this season he still has to prove he can be an effective NFL lineman.

The left guard position should be locked down with Justin Smiley returning for his second season in the Miami. Smiley played well in 12 games last year before a right-ankle injury ended his season. He and rookie tackle Jake Long formed a powerful team on the left side. Andy Alleman stepped in after Smiley’s injury and the offense didn’t miss a beat.

Alleman could face some competition from a cocky young miscreant named J.D. Quinn. In 2006 Quinn was booted off the University of Oklahoma football team for accepting $8,137.17 while pretending to work at a car dealership. He also was busted with two DUI offenses while at Oklahoma and a third DUI at the University of Montana.

Quinn doesn’t fit the label of a “Parcells’ Guy” he is reckless and unapologetic but name one NFL guard that ever felt sorry for his opponent and I’ll send you a lollipop. If Sparano can get this kid to take 12 steps he could develop into a quality back up and maybe a starter down the road.

The Tackles:

Parcells’ best move of the 2008 offseason was drafting left tackle Jake Long with the first overall pick. After a stellar rookie year he should be the anchor of this line for the next decade.

No more Wade Smith, no more L.J. Shelton, no more Stockar McDougle or Spencer Folau, finally a left tackle that doesn’t cause laughter when you mention his name.

Rookie Andrew Gardner enjoyed a great four-year career at Georgia Tech receiving first team all-ACC honors twice. He missed the final four games of his senior year due to a torn labrum but playing for Paul Johnson at Georgia Tech means he knows how to run block. If he continues to work on his pass protection the Dolphins could have another late round steal.

Vernon Carey was moved back to right tackle to solidify the line. He’s deeds were rewarded in the offseason as the Dolphins shelled out $42 million to keep the Miami native. Carey has played his entire football career in Miami and it’s only fitting that he should finish it here.

Nate Garner was Carey’s back up in 2008. He played in the “Wildcat” formation for two years at the University of Arkansas. Last season he was inactive for all 16 games after being claimed off waivers from the Jets.

SirVincent Rogers could challenge Garner for the roster spot but he has had injury problems in the past. There is not much depth at the tackle positions so Rogers could make the final roster. Parcells and Sparano love to breed competition within the roster and Rogers could take advantage of it like Donald Thomas did in 2008.

The success of the line will be determined by the play of Jake Grove. He has his work cut out for him with all the pro-bowl nose tackles he will face this season. If he fails the Dolphins will be kicking themselves for not paying the $7.5 million difference it would have taken to sign Jason Brown.

Check back on Friday July 10th for Part Two: The Defensive Line

The Florida Marlins: Contenders or Trade Bait?

Rudolph Zepeda — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:47:04 -0400

As the All-Star break approaches, the Florida Marlins look poised for a run at the playoffs.

With a young pitching staff, a motley crew of relievers, and a horrendous defense behind them, the Marlins need to score many runs to win. The good news is that the lineup is beginning to heat up, batting .275 with a .335 on base percentage in June.

It starts at the top with Chris Coghlan and Emilio Bonifacio. When Coghlan took over the leadoff spot, Bonifacio was moved behind him where his speed and bunting ability becomes more effective, especially when Coghlan is on base.

Together, they are beginning to, much like Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo did, set the bases for big hitters. Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla, and Cody Ross have a combined 49 home runs and 197 RBI in the first half.

Ramirez is the star, and he is starting to get comfortable in the third spot (.333, 12 HRs, 51 RBI). Cantu and Uggla provide plenty of protection behind him while Ross (13 HRs and 45 RBI) has helped replace the power lost when the team traded Mike Jacobs.

The bottom half of the order is still being worked out.

Jeremy Hermida was once a top prospect, but he is being outplayed by Brett Carroll.

Carroll might be a better fit for the Marlins because he improves the outfield defense and team speed.

At catcher, John Baker and Ronny Paulino have been splitting time, and the platoon seems to work.

The pitching staff is highlighted by Josh Johnson. He is quickly becoming one of the best young pitchers in the game. At 7-1 with a 2.76 ERA, he might be in line for his first All-Star selection.

Ricky Nolasco is returning to form after a brief demotion to Triple-A New Orleans. He is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA since being called back.

Chris Volstad is having a tough sophomore season, and although he has plenty of potential, Andrew Miller still struggles with inconsistency.

Rookie Sean West is getting some major league experience while the team waits on Anibal Sanchez to recover. He has looked good in seven starts posting a 3-2 record with a 3.38 ERA. He certainly has looked better than Sanchez (1-4, 5.55 ERA) and might hold on to the fifth spot in the rotation.

The closer role has been split between two young fire starters. Leo Nunez and Matt Lindstrom have been allowing runs and hits in bunches. Nunez has given up 27 hits and 15 runs in 33.2 innings while Lindstrom has allowed 35 hits and 22 runs in 29 innings. Lindstrom is on the DL and won’t return till mid-July, but he may have lost the closer role.

Until everyone is healthy, the bullpen will look to Dan Meyer, Burke Badenhop, and an impressive Brain Sanches, who has a solid 1.62 ERA in 16 appearances. Badenhop has been more like a sixth starter and is second on the team in wins (5-3, 3.70 ERA in 19 games).

Tim Wood and Chris Leroux where recently called up to fill holes in the bullpen. Both have very little major league experience, but that will change quickly over the month of July. The Marlins will have to rely on their young pitchers, which can’t be a good sign.

In the field, the Marlins have struggled. Their .979 fielding percentage is the third-worst in the majors, mostly due to players playing out of their natural position.

Coghlan is a second baseman learning to play left field, and Bonifacio is a second baseman learning to play third base. Both have had their growing pains. Bonifacio leads the team with 13 errors while Coghlan has shown good instincts when tracking fly balls, but he still needs work on his throws.

The outfield is greatly improved with Carroll in right field. He has the speed to make the plays that Hermida cannot. He also leads the team with three outfield assists. Ross is an excellent defensive outfielder, and he has the range to cover Landshark Stadium’s spacious center field.

The infield has never been the same since Perry Hill left the organization. Hill helped develop gold-glove infielders (Luis Castillo, Mike Lowell, and Derek Lee), and this team could really use his guidance. Ramirez and Uggla might never be gold-glove caliber fielders, both have seven errors, but the Marlins could never replace their bats.

Cantu is better suited at first base but could share time at third if Bonifacio continues to struggle. Wes Helms and Ross Gload provide good defensive replacements at first or third, and they have been solid in pinch-hitting situations.

The team is still waiting for "Mr. Versatility" Alfredo Amezaga to recover from a knee injury he suffered in May. He can play almost any position in the infield and outfield, and he is an above-average fielder no matter where he plays.

The catching platoon of Paulino and Baker is getting mixed results. Baker is the stronger defensive catcher, but Paulino gets starts when the Marlins face a lefty. Both catchers are having trouble throwing out base runners and have allowed 80 stolen bases so far. Good catching is hard to find, so Paulino and Baker will continue to split time.

It is important for the Marlins to continue to improve in the standings. The defense has been a work in progress, but the offense is reawakening.

The pitching is the key to the team's survival. The starting rotation and the bullpen have been hit with injuries; if the pitching can last through the month of July, then the team will be in position to make a run at the playoffs.

Where Did You Go Ricky Williams?

Rudolph Zepeda — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:06:04 -0400

The Ricky Williams that I remember may never be seen again.

On September 5, 1998, I was in the student section of Darrell K. Royal Stadium with three of my cousins and someone else’s University of Texas student ID. Williams was in his senior year and gunning for the NCAA Division I rushing title. It was the first home game of the season and the stadium roared with his every step.

More than 75,000 people witnessed the merciless slashing of New Mexico State. In three quarters, Williams was a Minotaur against the Aggies Jell-O Pudding defense, roughing them up for 215 yards and six touchdowns. He was smooth and powerful, picking his way through the line and then bulldozing anyone in his path.

I was swept up in the lights and the pageantry of a Texas football Valhalla. Standing shoulder to shoulder in the student section, the bleeding heart of the stadium, I saw Ricky Williams score six touchdowns before the end of the third quarter. It still stands as my greatest college football experience.

Four years later at a rain-soaked Dolphin Stadium, I witnessed that same sleek and punishing running style. Williams was slugging it out with the Chicago Bears on a Monday night. During half time, everyone celebrated the 1972 undefeated Miami Dolphins. In the third quarter, Ricky gift-wrapped a victory with his career long 63-yard touchdown run.

“He’s hard to tackle, and he made us look bad,” Brain Urlacher said in an interview with the Associated Press. “He makes two moves while he’s still in the backfield. He hits the crease and he’s gone.”

Williams finished with 216 yards and two touchdowns. It felt like Austin, Texas all over again. Only, it was happening in my hometown. That night, I saw the same running back that destroyed New Mexico State. I saw a juggernaut, a freight train, a diesel-fueled nightmare for any defender.

He spent two seasons forcing his way through NFL defenses with little help from the passing game. Wannstedt’s offense was as predictable as a monkey with a banana and Williams was his work horse. Every opponent lined up expecting him to run at them and they were never wrong.

After 775 carries, Williams wanted a break. Everyone knows the rest of the story.

Ricky failed three drug tests and found a loop-hole out of his contract. He left the Dolphins and the city of Miami. It was an ugly separation that continued even after Dave Wannstedt and his bushy mustache left town.

When he returned, the dreadlocks were gone and the Dolphins had moved on. Ronnie Brown was the new runner and, if not for a knee injury in 2007, Ricky would have been forgotten. Last year both saw plenty of action as a tandem and Williams still shows flashes of his younger days.

With the reduced workload, he will no longer be a feature running back. But he doesn’t seem to mind.

Miami Dolphins Overstocked at Outside Linebacker

Rudolph Zepeda — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:10:27 -0400

Dolphins' President Bill Parcells has built some great defenses over his career and all those defenses have had one commonality. They all featured one main pass-rush specialist.

He had two teams that featured two or more players with double-digit sacks. One of those teams was the 1986 Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

All three times Parcells went to the Super Bowl, his teams had a second pass rusher emerge on the opposite side.

In 1986 and 1990, the Giants had Lawrence Taylor on the right and Leonard Marshall on the left. Taylor got the all the attention, but Marshall recorded 64.5 sacks and made two Pro Bowls under Parcells.

In 1996, New England had Chris Slade and Willie McGinest.

The 2008 Dolphins followed a similar defensive philosophy. Joey Porter led the team with 17.5 sacks while Matt Roth finished second with five.

This year Jason Taylor returns, but can he and Porter co-exist?

During the 2007 season, Taylor was the pass-rushing specialist. Porter moved out of his natural position to strong-side linebacker and struggled in one of his worst seasons as a professional.

Taylor failed to live up to his 2006 Defensive Player of the Year award and the Dolphins finished 1-15.

Now their roles are reversed. If Taylor is to fit into this defense it will most likely be on third down situations.

This defense needs a big physical linebacker opposite Porter to help slow down the running game. Roth is better suited for that roll. He showed a lot of progress over the 2008 season after making the switch from defensive end.

Charlie Anderson will make the roster because of his special teams play. His 12 tackles in 2008 were third on the team. He also filled in nicely as Roth’s backup. This year he could push for more playing time and his flexibility makes him very valuable to this roster.

After two excellent years in the Canadian Football League, Cameron Wake signed with Miami. He brings speed and pass-rushing skills but needs to re-adjust to the outside linebacker spot. He played linebacker Penn State but went undrafted.

As a defensive end in the CFL, Wake won back to back Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Tearrius George is another former CFL player trying to prove he belongs in the NFL. He spent one year with the Calgary Stampeders as a defensive tackle. His 33 tackles and eight sacks got him a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys in 2008. After being cut he spent some time with the New Orleans Saints.

Quentin Moses was last year’s project linebacker. After a successful college career as a defensive end, he has not found a place in the NFL. He was active for 12 games last season and did not stand out.

This year there may not be a roster spot for him with Wake looking to be the new pet project of defensive coordinator of Paul Pasqualoni.

During organized team activities, Erik Walden was working as an outside linebacker. Last year he was used mostly as a reserve and on special teams, but like Moses, his days could be numbered.

If the Dolphins are going to repeat as AFC East champions, they will need another pass rusher to emerge.

Dolphins' Rookie Pat White Can Take The "Wildcat" To New Heights

Rudolph Zepeda — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:00:44 -0400

At the start of the 2008 season the Dolphins offense struggled with predictability. They were a standard running offense with a clock-controlling mentality. Offensive coordinator Dan Henning had built some great running attacks in Carolina but reinventing Miami’s offense would be a tough task.

He had a quarterback with limited arm strength, a running back recovering from a major knee surgery, and a young offensive line in need of a left tackle since Richmond Webb left town in 2000. Top draft pick Jake Long solidified the line but the offense was still too predictable.

Before their week three matchup with the New England Patriots, the offense had amassed 514 yards and 24 points in two strait losses. Henning needed something new and quarterbacks coach David Lee had the answer. That week the “Wildcat” formation confounded Patriots head coach/defensive genius Bill Belichick and the rest is history.

This year the “Wildcat” is going to be a much bigger part of the offensive game plan because of rookie quarterback Pat White. The “Wildcat” is like the option offense but with more choices. White can be lined up in the shotgun or split out wide to act as a receiver. If he can master the nuances of the formation, it will be nearly impossible to stop.

He’s development will directly impact the future of this formation in the NFL.

Last year Baltimore was able to stop it by plugging the running lanes and forcing running back Ronnie Brown to pass. Brown could not get the ball down field and the Ravens clamped down on the short passes.

The Dolphins need a multi-talented player to run the formation, someone who can be a threat to run, catch and throw. White’s arrival will do just that. He will allow the Dolphins to pass more from the “Wildcat” formation, but more importantly pass down field. He will also be a threat to catch passes when he lines up as a wide receiver.

The “Wildcat” also needs big receivers that can block so Miami spent two draft picks on 6'5" Patrick Turner and 6'2" Brain Hartline. Ernest Wilford will try to switch to tight end and will likely be more involved as a blocker.

That should free up Ted Ginn Jr. to be the deep threat that keeps defenses from stacking up against the run. He is a nightmare in the open field and with his speed and playmaking ability the Dolphins would be stupid not to get him the ball in this formation, whether it’s through the air or on the ground.

In 2008 the Dolphins used the formation to run the ball while making opponents wary of the pass. This year they will be able to pass and the “Wildcat” will be even more unpredictable than before.

Are the Miami Dolphins Backups Ready for the Big Time?

Rudolph Zepeda — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:00:52 -0400

The Miami Dolphins spent the 2009 off season neglecting the middle of their defense, the starters are solid but their understudies may not be ready for the big stage.The middle of the defense will be tested early and often this year with games against premier rushing offenses. Their out of conference schedule includes Atlanta, San Diego, Carolina, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Tennessee. Any one of these teams is capable of exposing the lack of depth and experience Miami is carrying in the middle of their defense.Since Bill Parcells took over last year the defensive tackle position has been a point of concern. Last year Jason Ferguson filled in admirably after being traded from Dallas, he finished with 22 tackles but slowly digressed as the season wore on. Ferguson turns 35 this year and the Dolphins must find his replacement soon. His backups have very little NFL experience. The most promising is Tony McDaniel, a free agent who spent the last three years in Jacksonville. He finished with 16 tackles and half a sack in 10 games last year, but he has battled injuries throughout his career including a wrist injury that limited him to four games in 2007. Paul Soliai ended last year with three tackles and two one-game suspensions. He has been a disappointment since his arrival in 2007 and has gained the reputation of a lazy player. The Dolphins need Soliai to step up in training camp. If his attitude and production do not improve he might be looking work soon.The final two defensive tackles on the roster Joe Cohen and Louis Ellis are long term projects. Cohen has spent two years in the NFL without recording a single statistic, Ellis is an undrafted free-agent who played two seasons of Division II football at Shaw in Raleigh, N.C. were he led his team in tackles with 64 during his final season. Ferguson must remain healthy this year because there is no replacement for him on the current roster. The 3-4 defensive scheme needs a big space-eating tackle in the middle. If the Dolphins lose Ferguson there are very few options left on the free agent market. Last year the inside linebacker tandem of Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele accounted for 188 tackles. They also accounted for only two interceptions, one and half sacks and one forced fumble.

In this defense their job is to make tackles but the lack of big plays had the Dolphins looking for an upgrade. They made a run at free-agent Bart Scott but lost out to their division rivals the New York Jets.

Reggie Torbor is the most experienced backup but he can not replace Crowder’s production on the field or his leadership in the locker room. The other reserves, William Kershaw and Eric Walden could contribute on special teams but neither is ready to step into Crowder or Ayodele’s shoes.

Crowder is the most irreplaceable of the duo. His ability to make tackles in the middle will allow Jason Taylor and Joey Porter to attack the quarterback. Ferguson, Crowder, and Ayodele will get very little rest this year. The middle of the defense could be greatly impacted by one injury.