Biggest Questions Facing Miami Dolphins in Week 1 Contest with Cleveland Browns

The NFL season is upon us and the Miami Dolphins will kickoff their regular season with a visit to the Cleveland Browns.

The Browns were 5-11 last year but only had five selections in the 2013 NFL draft, which included one pick in the sixth round and two in the seventh.  Outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo and cornerback Leon McFadden are the only potential impact players in Cleveland's weak draft class.

According to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel, only two teams had more cap space than Miami heading into the 2013 free agency season and Cleveland was one of them, with about $46.1 million in available space.  Despite their financial status, the Browns were only able to add linebacker Paul Kruger, defensive tackle Desmond Bryant and cornerback Chris Owens.  Cleveland also acquired Davone Bess from Miami through a trade.

Miami, on the other hand, added nine players via the 2013 NFL draft, including six in the first four rounds.  On top of the expected rookie impact of players like Dion Jordan, Jamar Taylor, Will Davis, Dion Sims and Caleb Sturgis, the Dolphins added Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler, Brent Grimes and Tyson Clabo in free agency.

Miami lost Jake Long, Reggie Bush and Sean Smith in free agency, while an injury ended Dustin Keller's chance to improve the Dolphins.

There is no doubt that Miami's roster is much improved from last year and, more importantly, Ryan Tannehill has a season under his belt.  Logic would dictate that the Dolphins should be favored against the Browns, even in Cleveland, but oddsmakers have the Browns as a minuscule favorite.

Let's look at the biggest questions facing the Dolphins in NFL Week 1.

How Will the Offensive Line Perform?

The Miami Dolphins' offensive line, like the team in general, is receiving less respect than is merited.  The Miami Dolphins have three potential Pro-Bowlers blocking for Ryan Tannehill and Lamar Miller.

Left guard Richie Incognito made the Pro Bowl last year.  In a recent article, Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post points out that center Mike Pouncey outplayed his twin brother Maurkice, who made the Pro Bowl for a third straight year.  

Right tackle Tyson Clabo is a former Pro-Bowler (2010) who will turn 32 in October but continues to play at a high level.  According to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, Pro Football Focus ranked Clabo fifth among right tackles based on last year's performance.

Right guard John Jerry started all 16 games for Miami last year, but Jeff Ireland is desperate to upgrade his position.  Lance Louis and Josh Samuda had their opportunity this offseason but failed.  

Ireland's latest attempt is in the form of Danny Watkins, the Philadelphia Eagles' 2011 first-round selection.  While Watkins may overtake Jerry in the future, it will be Jerry lining up against the Browns.

The Dolphins' weak link on the offensive line is currently left tackle Jonathan Martin.  The good news is that after a sub-par rookie campaign, Martin was serviceable in the preseason.

The Cleveland Browns will be bringing a 3-4 defense that will provide pressure with Desmond Bryant, Ahtyba Rubin, Jabaal Sheard and Paul Kruger.

Bryant (four), Rubin (two), Sheard (seven) and Kruger (nine) had 22 combined sacks in 2012, which is not an intimidating number.  The Browns needed to improve their pass rush so they signed Kruger as a free agent and drafted Barkevious Mingo.  Mingo may not play against the Dolphins because of a bruised lung.

The Browns defense ranked 12th against the run and 25th against the pass last year.  Expect more of the same this year, with Miami likely finding more success through the air against Cleveland.  Except for Joe Haden, Cleveland's secondary leaves a lot to be desired.

Miami's offensive line has its issues, but Cleveland is not the team that will exploit them.

Can Lamar Miller Carry a Full Load?

If the Miami Dolphins are going to have success rushing the ball against the Cleveland Browns, they will need a heavy dose of Lamar Miller.  Daniel Thomas and his career 3.5 yards per rushing attempt cannot be trusted.

Miller is, by far, Miami's best running back regardless of what Joe Philbin continues to say.  Miller is explosive and tough but has an injury history.  While he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds at the NFL combine, he also played the majority of his final season at the University of Miami with a shoulder injury.

Can Miller be a workhorse?  Has his pass blocking improved?

We'll begin to receive answers on Sunday against the Browns.

Will Ryan Tannehill Continue to Show Improvement?

For the entire 2013 preseason, Ryan Tannehill had a quarterback rating of 98.6.  Even if they are just exhibition games, this is the type of improvement the Miami Dolphins want to see.

If Tannehill maintains a quarterback rating in the 90's for the entire season, Miami will be in the playoffs.

Tannehill, Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson will have an excellent opportunity for a strong start against a questionable Cleveland secondary.

According to Tom Reed of Cleveland.com, the Browns' secondary could be their primary concern.

Will Brandon Weeden Be Pressured?

Brandon Weeden was having a phenomenal preseason until the dress rehearsal against the Indianapolis Colts, in which he only completed 48 percent of his passes for 105 yards, compiling a quarterback rating of 59.6.

Cleveland ranked 15th in the league last year in sacks allowed (36), only one less than the Dolphins, and there were no major personnel moves on this front for the Browns.

The Miami Dolphins will boast one of the best defensive lines in the NFL this upcoming season.  Paul Soliai, Randy Starks and Jared Odrick will be run-stuffers while Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon and Dion Jordan will crush opposing quarterbacks.

With a questionable set of receivers led by Davone Bess and Greg Little, Weeden will need extra time in the pocket that he will not be granted.

Expect world-beater Cameron Wake to find Weeden a few times on Sunday.

Will Trent Richardson Be Bottled Up?

Was Trent Richardson overrated coming out of Alabama?  

Last year, in 15 games, Richardson carried the ball 267 times for 950 yards, an average of 3.6 yards per rushing attempt.  The truth is Richardson was not close to meeting expectations.

Richardson claimed that injuries slowed him down last year.  Richardson may also have been slowed down by Cleveland's weak passing attack or even its offensive line.

Well, the offensive line and the weak passing attack remain intact.

Richardson will also face a formidable defensive core in Week 1 led by Paul Soliai, Randy Starks and Jared Odrick.  Richardson's best chance for success will be on the outside but the Miami Dolphins now have faster linebackers in Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe.

Everybody continues to project monster fantasy numbers for Richardson, but this is not the SEC and the Miami Dolphins are not Auburn.

This Sunday we'll find out just how hurt Trent Richardson was last year.