Breaking Down the Miami Dolphins' Rookie Class After the Preseason

Football is back!

As the Miami Dolphins prepare for their first regular season game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, fans grow hopeful that this season will be different than the last one.

The future looks bright for Miami, but the present still looks cloudy. Joe Philbin is building this team the way that he wants to and doesn't mind cutting those that don't fit the system.

This year's draft for the Dolphins looks to be a good start. They hit a couple of areas that needed fixing and are hopeful that they now have their quarterback of the future. 

This rookie class looks to be the best since Jeff Ireland has been General Manager. It has some players that have the potential to be stars and others that are capable of being reliable contributors. 

Here's a breakdown of the Dolphins rookies after the preseason. 

Ryan Tannehill

Preseason Stats

Touchdowns: 1

Interceptions: 1

Yards: 414

Passer Rating: 66.9

Ryan Tannehill is Miami's quarterback. He is the quarterback for Sunday, and he will the quarterback for the next 10-plus years. 

Tannehill was named as the Dolphins starter after David Garrard went down with an injury and after Matt Moore was highly unimpressive. He wasn't highly effective or gave Dolphins fans confidence. Tannehill still needs time to develop, but he will get there. He has a bright future in Miami if he is given time and stability.

In 2012, Tannehill will improve each week. He will be a middle of the road quarterback throughout the season, but I wouldn't be surprised if he has a breakout game towards the end. The Dolphins will have a hard time making the playoffs this year, so there is not as much pressure on Tannehill to perform right away.

Early Player Grade: B+

Jonathan Martin

The Dolphins got a great value when they selected Jonathan Martin in the second round. Martin, at one point, was projected to be the first tackle drafted after Matt Kalil. 

Martin held what may have been the most stressful job in college football last year: protecting Andrew Luck's blind side. He was one of the top tackles in the country and a big reason for Stanford's success.

Martin has been at times praised but has also been disappointing at times. He was switched to right tackle to play opposite Jake Long on the offensive line. The position switch has taken Martin some time to get used to, but he will keep improving as the regular season begins. 

He is unquestionably the starting right tackle, which gives him some tranquility knowing that nobody is breathing down his neck. Martin will be extremely important in the development of Ryan Tannehill. A rookie quarterback needs a solid offensive line to be able to succeed, and Martin knows that.

Early Player Grade: C

Olivier Vernon

Preseason Stats

Tackles: 7

Sacks: 1

Passes Deflected: 1

The Dolphins further strengthened an area they have been very good at the last few years. They were lacking some pass rush alongside Cameron Wake, and that is where Olivier Vernon comes in. 

He was a pure pass rusher at the University of Miami and will come in right away and help Miami on obvious passing situations. With both Olivier Vernon and Cameron Wake, the Dolphins now appear to have a stronger pass rush, which also helps their struggling secondary by giving the quarterback less time to scan the field.

Vernon will probably struggle to secure a starting role on the team, but he will definitely play a big impact on Miami's pass rush. 

Early Player Grade: B

Michael Egnew

Preseason Stats

Receptions: 2

Yards: 11

The Patriots have Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez; the Saints have Jimmy Graham; the 49ers have Vernon Davis; the Packers have Jermichael Finley and the list goes on.

The Dolphins are hoping they will soon have what these teams have in rookie Michael Egnew. As the league has increasingly progressed towards becoming a passing league, the tight end position has been used a lot more. 

Egnew saw limited action during the preseason and is listed as the last tight end on the depth chart, however, as he gets more accustomed to the offense and builds a rapport with Tannehill, he will begin to show why he can be a receiving threat at tight end. 

Egnew will see increased activity as the season progresses and will be heavily used in the red zone because of his size.

Early Player Grade: C-

Lamar Miller

Preseason Stats

Attempts: 25

Yards: 87

Touchdowns: 1

Receptions: 5

Receiving Yards: 40

Lamar Miller has the ability to be one of the most explosive players in the NFL. He has blazing speed and the ability to run outside or inside. With this being a contract year for Reggie Bush, Miller can give the Dolphins some hope if Bush doesn't return.

Running back will be one of the most talented positions for the Dolphins going into the season, and Miller plays a big part in that. His running style is similar to that of Bush and will be used in a similar way. Thomas is the back that will pound the middle and gain the extra yards while Bush and Miller will be used as backs and receivers to try to get them in space and to create mismatches.

Early Player Grade: B

Kheeston Randall

Preseason Stats

Tackles: 7

Kheeston Randall has been one of the more impressive rookies. He has been a great presence in the middle of the defensive line along with Paul Soliai and Randy Starks. , Randall dominated the Cowboys offensive line by creating penetration and making tackles.

He gives the Dolphins a solid second-string defensive tackle when either Soliai or Starks has to take a breather. He has shown improvement as the weeks have gone by and will keep improving during the regular season.

Randall has the potential to be a regular on the defensive line if he keeps improving, but for now, he will be backing up one of the best defensive tackle duos in the NFL.

Early Player Grade: A-

Rishard Matthews

Preseason Stats

Receptions: 8

Yards: 91

Touchdowns: 1

Rishard Matthews was the only rookie to break into the 53-man roster for the Dolphins. He was drafted in the seventh round but played much bigger. He gave the Dolphins the confidence that they needed to decide to keep him instead of B.J. Cunningham or Jeff Fuller.

Matthews had the best numbers of the rookie wide receivers, which was a key reason why the Dolphins kept him. He seemed to get open on multiple occasions and caught the balls that were thrown at him.

He will probably see limited action this season, but with the lack of talent that Miami has at the position, it won't take much to move up the depth chart. 

Early Player Grade: B-

Jorvorskie Lane

Preseason Stats

Attempts: 2

Yards: 2

Receptions: 2

Yards: 22

Jorvorskie Lane reminds us why the fullback position is still an important position in the NFL. Lane is a tough runner who can gain the extra yard on 3rd-and-short and can sneak out of the backfield to get a first down.

It was predicted that Jerome Messam would be handling the fullback duties for the Dolphins, but Lane outworked and outperformed Messam. He was one of the bright spots of the Dolphins preseason and will also play a big part in protecting Ryan Tannehill. 

Lane is the only Dolphins fullback and will handle all fullback duties in 2012. He will be a solid player for the Dolphins and will provide them with toughness.

Early Player Grade: A

Derrick Shelby

Preseason Stats

Tackles: 6

Sacks: 1

Forced Fumbles: 1

Derrick Shelby was undrafted out of Utah. The Dolphins believed that he could be a quality addition to their defensive line, and they weren't wrong. Shelby had a strong preseason that guaranteed him a spot in the 53-man roster. 

Shelby provides the Dolphins with depth at their strongest position. With the loss of Kendall Langford, Miami needed someone to fill in that spot and back up Cameron Wake and Jared Odrick. Shelby showed that he could not only back them up but also be an impact player when he's on the field.

In 2012, Shelby will see limited action. He will be used mostly in a backup role but will have an opportunity to learn and get better.

Early Player Grade: B-