Pros & Cons of Every Projected Miami Dolphins Starter in 2012

Vontae Davis's departure deals a crushing blow to the Miami Dolphins' 2012 outlook. But let's be honest, things never looked particularly bright in the first place. 

Whether or not you agree with Jeff Ireland's decision, there's no point in harping on it. What's done is done. Davis is gone and the Dolphins have an extra second-round pick in their pocket. 

So let's move on and focus our attention on what lies ahead: the regular season.

The Dolphins make their debut in roughly two weeks, and their starting lineup has finally come into focus—even more so now that Davis is gone. There's only positional battle to be settled (right guard). Other than that, this is the lineup Miami will trot out against the Houston Texans. 

Because the Dolphins are rebuilding, their roster is a melting pot of Tony Sparano era holdovers, cast-off free agents and untested rookies. Although this is most definitely not a playoff-caliber roster, there are pros and cons to each starter, whether he is here for the long haul or just for this season.

Here's the position-by-position breakdown.

Quarterback: Ryan Tannehill

Pros: The Dolphins won't contend in 2012, so why not start the future now? Ryan Tannehill is easily Miami's most talented QB, and throwing him into the gauntlet might spur his growth rather than stunt it. Quarterbacks who started their rookie season have actually fared well in recent years. Asterisks indicated quarterbacks who made playoffs:

Year	QB	Record	QB Rating
2011	Cam Newton	6-10	84.5
2011	Andy Dalton*	9-7	80.4
2010	Sam Bradford	7-9	76.5
2009	Matthew Stafford	2-8	61.0
2009	Mark Sanchez*	8-7	63.0
2008	Matt Ryan*	11-5	87.7
2008	Joe Flacco*	11-5	80.3

Cons: One thing all of those rookies had that Tannehill doesn't is an NFL-caliber supporting cast. Right now, the Dolphins have the worst wide-receiving corps in the league, and the right side of their offensive line is liable to implode on any given play.

Starting Tannehill with this offense could prove detrimental to his development. Not to mention, he started only 19 games in college, which is the third-lowest total among all NFL starters.   

Running Back: Reggie Bush

Pros: Reggie Bush established himself as a viable No. 1 running back by rushing for a career-high 1,086 yards (which almost doubled his previous high) last season. Joe Philbin's West Coast offense should allow Bush to fully utilize his receiving skills, and his one-cut running style makes him an ideal fit for the new zone-blocking scheme.

The Dolphins' offense will struggle this season, but Bush is one constant Ryan Tannehill can lean on. 

Cons: Bush played in 15 games last season, but there's a good chance that won't happen again. Between 2007 and 2010, he missed an average of five games per season. Also, don't forget how poorly he played in the first 12 weeks of the 2011 season: 

Week	Carries	Yards	Touchdowns
1	11	38	1 (receiving)
2	6	18	0
3	10	13	0
4	13	50	0
6	10	71	0
7	10	42	0
8	15	103	0
9	13	92	1
10	14	47	2
11	15	32	1
12	16	61	0

You can attribute some of those numbers to poor offensive line play, but Bush has to be more consistent in 2012. 

Fullback: Jorvorskie Lane

Pros: When the Dolphins signed Lane in June, he was listed at 5'11", 277 pounds. Now, he's listed at 258 pounds. By shedding that excess weight, Lane has managed to secure the starting fullback job. He has the size and strength to take on any defensive lineman or linebacker.

Lane also caught a 10-yard pass against the Falcons on Friday and proceeded to annihilate a Falcons defensive back. 

Cons: Lane has struggled with weight issues, so the Dolphins have to keep an eye on that. More importantly, he's a wild card. He graduated from Texas A&M in 2008, spent 2010 in the Indoor Football League and 2011 in the Arena Football League.

Lane has looked the part in the preseason, but he still needs to prove he belongs in the NFL. 

Wide Receiver: Davone Bess

Pros: Where do I start? Bess is by far the best wide receiver on the roster. On Friday, he was one of the only bright spots on offense, reeling in four receptions for 59 yards. He is the Dolphins' only consistent, reliable and dangerous wideout. Even if the Dolphins are miserable this season, Bess should have a career year. 

Cons: Bess isn't a No. 1 wide receiver on most NFL teams. He's at his best in the slot where he can shred secondaries with precise routes, sure hands and speed. However, Bess will see plenty of time as a split end this season, and opposing teams will stick their best cornerbacks on him.

He needs to make a leap this season and prove he can compete with the league's elite corners. 

Wide Receiver: Legedu Naanee

Pros: It's hard to say anything positive about Legedu Naanee after his performance on Friday night, but here it goes. Naanee boasts a 6'2", 225-pound frame. He can slip behind secondaries with vertical speed and utilize his size to eliminate defensive backs from running plays.

Early reports from training camp suggested he was finally ready to reach his potential: 

"

I keep waiting for Legedu Naanee to transform into the guy PFF rated the NFL's worst WR & it hasn't happened. Not even a flash of struggles

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 3, 2012"

Cons: Naanee may have looked good in practice, but he's been a ghost in all three preseason games. So far, he has just one reception on seven targets. On Friday night, Naanee was targeted five times. He dropped at least one pass and looked completely out of sync with Tannehill on the others. 

Ultimately, Naanee doesn't look like a starting-caliber wide receiver. 

Tight End: Anthony Fasano

Pros: Consistency and reliability, that's what you'll get from Anthony Fasano. In his first four seasons with the Dolphins, he averaged 34 receptions, 443 receiving yards and 4.5 touchdowns. Those are modest numbers, yes, but Fasano is no Jimmy Graham. He makes the most of his limited athleticism and is a stable blocker. 

Cons: That limited athleticism keeps Fasano from becoming a dangerous receiving threat. He can't stretch the field and he's not going to create many matchup issues.

Fasano also dropped three passes against Atlanta, which is more uncharacteristic than anything. He only dropped five passes in 2011, but Friday night's performance was unsettling nonetheless.

Right Tackle: Jonathan Martin

Pros: Martin has the size and the smarts to be a top-flight offensive tackle. NFL Network's Mike Mayock went so far as to call him a "prototypical left tackle" prior to April's draft. Though Martin must endure some growing pains, he will grow and improve with every rep.

Cons: Martin couldn't have played worse against the Panthers two weeks ago. He surrendered three sacks, committed a pair of penalties and looked like a backup-caliber player at best.

Martin played considerably better against Atlanta—though he still looked overwhelmed and outmatched—but he's still going to have his share of ugly moments this season.

One day, Martin will be a great player, but he needs time to hone his game. 

Right Guard: John Jerry

Pros: The Dolphins refuse to give up on Jerry despite his chronic weight issues. He showed up to camp overweight for the second straight year, but he's finally slimming down. The Dolphins are giving him one last chance to prove he's not a third-round draft bust.

He responded to the challenge with a solid performance against the Falcons on Friday, increasing his chances of landing the starting right guard job. Jerry played well down the stretch last season as well. Maybe he's finally realizing his potential.

Cons: If Jerry can keep his weight in check, he can be a long-term answer at right guard. But he's yet to prove that he can stay in shape for extended periods of time.

Beyond that, Jerry has been wildly inconsistent in his first two seasons, making it impossible to predict what to expect from him in 2012. 

Center: Mike Pouncey

Pros: Pouncey looked more like a seasoned veteran than a rookie last season. Of course, he had some hiccups, but he's on track to be this team's center for the next decade.

Pouncey's athleticism also makes him a great fit for the zone-blocking scheme, which requires offensive linemen to play with power and finesse. 

Cons: It's hard to poke holes in Pouncey's game, but there is one area that's still slightly concerning: his snaps. He misfired on one in Miami's first preseason game against Tampa Bay, and we also saw him toss one over David Garrard's shoulder on Hard Knocks. 

Left Guard: Richie Incognito

Pros: Nearly every position on Miami's roster has come under scrutiny, but left guard is not one of them. Incognito hit his stride after signing with the Dolphins in 2010 and will provide the team with a stable presence in 2012. 

Cons: Over the course of his NFL career, Incognito has earned a reputation as a nasty, meat-and-potatoes lineman. That served Tony Sparano's run-first offense well, but Incognito must adapt his game to Joe Philbin's West Coast system.

He has to be light on his feet so he can pull, trap and escort running backs down the field. 

Left Tackle: Jake Long

Pros: Jake Long is a top-five offensive tackle. Even though injuries nagged him throughout 2010 and 2011, he still managed to play at an elite level.

Now that he's fully healthy, Long will return to peak form and prevent anybody from blindsiding Ryan Tannehill. 

Cons: Durability has become an issue for Long, but again, he's back to full health. There's no point in nitpicking a perennial Pro Bowler's game. 

Defensive End: Cameron Wake

Pros: Any team would kill to have a ferocious pass-rusher like Cameron Wake on its roster. He's easily the best player on this defense, and he's arguably the best player on the entire roster—rivaled only by Jake Long.

Although Wake's production dipped in 2011, he should post huge numbers playing alongside Randy Starks and Paul Soliai in the 4-3. 

Cons: None. 

Defensive Tackle: Paul Soliai

Pros: As if Soliai wasn't dominant enough in the 3-4, he's now starting in the 4-3—and he's going to wreak havoc. At 6'4", 355 pounds, Soliai is significantly bigger than your prototypical 4-3 defensive tackle.

With Cam Wake, Randy Starks and Jared Odrick alongside him, it's going to be exceedingly difficult for opposing offensive lines to tame Big Paul. 

Cons: A player with Soliai's size generally can't stay on the field for too many plays at a time, and he's no exception. In an ideal world, Soliai could play every down. Instead, he'll come off on passing downs. Still, there's little to dislike about Soliai's game. 

Defensive Tackle: Randy Starks

Pros: Easily the most underrated player on Miami's roster, Starks is primed to have another great year. He can create penetration against the league's best interior linemen, and he play both the pass and run extraordinarily well.

If you haven't already, watch Starks when he's on the field and you'll gain an appreciation for this unheralded stud. 

Cons: None.

Defensive End: Jared Odrick

Pros: Odrick is entering his first season as a starter, giving him a chance to fully validate his first-round billing. At 6'5", 304 pounds, he's much bigger than the average 4-3 defensive end, but he can play the run and the pass. He also boasts a combination of power and speed that's uncanny for a player his size.

Finally, Odrick is versatile enough to slide inside to defensive tackle if need be. 

Cons: Seeing as this is Odrick's first season as a starter, there's a wide margin for error. He's yet to prove he can thrive in an every-down role.

The jury is still out on Odrick, but his outlook is bright. 

Outside Linebacker: Kevin Burnett

Pros: Burnett is Miami's most athletic linebacker. His speed and range are extraordinarily valuable on a defense that struggles to defend opposing tight ends.

However, he brings much more than speed to the table. Burnett also uses his range to track down the ball-carrier, which he did 106 times last season.

Finally, he brings swagger to a defense that needs it with Vontae Davis gone.

Cons: Last season, Burnett got off to a slow start. He eventually broke out of his funk, but he can't afford to stumble out of the gate again. However, a back injury has prevented him from appearing in any of the team's three preseason games.

Let's hope this won't cause him to start slowly again.

Also, despite his athleticism and range, Burnett struggled in coverage last season. It's vital that he reverses that trend. If he doesn't, the Dolphins will have no chance against Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis, Jermaine Gresham and the other athletic tight ends they face in 2012. 

Middle Linebacker: Karlos Dansby

Pros: Dansby has the talent and skills of a premier NFL linebacker. He has the range to cover athletic tight ends, the instincts and athleticism to diagnose plays and track down the ball-carrier, and the physicality to prevent anybody from running over or around him.

Finally, he's a vocal leader, which is key in this young locker room. 

Cons: The Dolphins made Dansby the highest-paid middle linebacker in NFL history when they handed him a $43 million contract two years ago. However, he has not lived up to his contract.

He has not become a dominant, Brian Urlacher-type force. Dansby also showed up to camp overweight last year, and he hasn't cured Miami's woes against opposing tight ends. 

If Dansby doesn't have a phenomenal season in 2012, he might not be a Dolphin in 2013. 

Outside Linebacker: Koa Misi

Pros: This is a make-or-break season for Misi. After a registering 4.5 sacks in a promising rookie campaign, Misi looked like a stud in the making. However, the second-round pick regressed last season, casting doubt about his future prospects.

Misi struggled to generate a pass rush in the 3-4 last season, but he may revive his career in the 4-3, which will allow him to better utilize his run-stuffing skills. 

Cons: So far, Misi hasn't shown signs of rejuvenation. He displayed poor instincts and change of direction in Miami's first three preseason games. Even the untrained eye could notice his struggles.

Jeff Ireland's horrendous track record with second-round picks also not bode well for Misi. In the last four years, the Dolphins have chosen Misi, Pat White, Chad Henne and Phillip Merling in the second round with little to show for it.

Cornerback: Sean Smith

Pros: I challenge you to find another cornerback who is more physically gifted than Sean Smith. At 6'3", 214 pounds, he can match up with any wide receiver in the league. And when Smith is on, he can lock down any of them.

He has shown glimpses of his ability—particularly in 2010—and he's under extra pressure to reach his potential as he enters the final year of his rookie contract. 

Cons: So, yeah, Smith can lock down most any wide receiver when he's on, but he's wildly inconsistent. He had an amazing season in 2010, then inexplicably regressed in 2011.

Basically, you don't know what you're going to get from Smith on any given day.

Cornerback: Richard Marshall

Pros: Although Marshall specializes as a nickel back—where he can best utilize his quickness and agility—he may be moved to the boundary now that Vontae Davis is gone.

Considering he ranked amongst the top 30 cornerbacks in coverage and top three against the run last season, according to Pro Football Focus, Marshall should be able to thrive wherever he plays. 

Cons: If this preseason is any indication, however, Marshall might not be the player his numbers suggest. He belongs in a nickel-back role.

Marshall started in place of Vontae Davis with the first-team defense on Friday night, and Matt Ryan singled him out, completing at least four passes—including a third-down conversion, 18-yard pass and 49-yard pass—to wide receivers matched up with Marshall.

We'll have to see Marshall in the regular season before passing judgement on him. 

Strong Safety: Reshad Jones

Pros: Jones is a physical and aggressive safety who has the potential to become a dominant and dynamic presence on Miami's defense. He generated huge hype this summer, showcasing an ability to consistently make plays on the ball.

Jones has a chance to emerge as a true playmaking safety, something the Dolphins have lacked since Brock Marion. 

Cons: Despite so many standout performances in practice, Jones has yet to make plays when it counts. He's been unspectacular and underwhelming in Miami's three preseason games.

Plus, Jones looked out of place in the starting lineup for much of last season. He struggled against the pass and the run, though he did improve as the season wore on. 

At this point, Jones is a wild card.  

Free Safety: Chris Clemons

Pros: In 2010, Clemons was a rock-solid starting safety for the Dolphins. He was conservative, consistent and projected as a long-term starter. A groin injury derailed that trajectory, however, and Clemons was limited throughout 2011.

With a clean bill of health, there's hope he can reestablish himself as a reliable safety.

Cons: Injuries plagued Clemons last season, relegating him to backup and special-team duties. The injury bug bit him again this summer, when he suffered a leg injury that sidelined him for a few days of camp.

It'd be comforting to see Clemons stay off the trainer's table, and it'd be even more comforting to see him make plays on the field—which he hasn't done this summer (except for a fluky forced fumble against the Panthers).