Dolphin Draft Picks Will Push For Playing Time

     Last year's Dolphins training camp was football-Darwinism at its best, this year will be no different with some intense battles for those involved in the passing game both offensively and defensively. 

     Chad Pennington, who started all 16 games last season, had the best season of any Dolphin quarterback in the post-Dan Marino era and will be the starting quarterback for one more year.  He will be expected to manage the game, limit turnovers and be successful in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career.  If he does the Dolphins will once again make the playoffs.       

     The backup quarterback position is where the competition begins.  Second-year quarterback Chad Henne was drafted as the quarterback of the future.  He is a classic pocket-passer with the strong arm needed to open up the passing game.  The Dolphins hope he can be a successful quarterback, but he must learn to manage the game like Pennington.

     Rookie Pat White was drafted to run the “Wildcat” formation.  The lefty from West Virginia was the most prolific running quarterback in college football history.  He is the perfect fit for this formation and his success could reinvent the quarterback position at the professional level. 

     Both players could be pressed into action this year if Pennington struggles.  Henne has the edge but why not give White a chance to run the show?  He could be the next Michael Vick, without the scandal.  Can you imagine what Vick would have done in the “Wildcat” formation? 

     White is a great running quarterback but he was also a winner at the collegiate level.  He is the only quarterback to win four bowl games as a starter including two BCS bowls.  His 4,480 rushing yards are the most by a quarterback, but what makes it more amazing is that he never fumbled the ball in 684 rushing attempts.   

     The battle will not begin until next year when Pennington is suppose to step down, but this year’s preseason will be important for both quarterbacks.  Henne will get plenty of playing time, but White will also get a chance to show he can run a pro-style offense and handle the “Wildcat” formation. 

     When the regular season starts Henne will return to the bench and White will most likely get most of the snaps in the “Wildcat” formation.  That game experience could give White a huge advantage next year when the Dolphins will be looking for a new starting quarterback. 

     This year’s wide receiver corps will be very young again.  The group’s senior member Ernest Wilford is trying to make the switch to tight end.  The next oldest member Greg Camarillo is rehabilitating a torn ACL and is questionable for the start of the season.  The only certain starter seems to be Ted Ginn Jr. 

     The Dolphins are looking for a tall possession receiver to complement Ginn’s speed and they might have found it with third-round pick Patrick Turner.  At 6-5 he is the tallest wide receiver on the roster and preformed well during the Dolphin’s rookie camp, but he still has much to learn at the pro level. 

     Davone Bess was an undrafted free-agent last year but quickly established himself as an effective slot receiver.  Bess particularly stood out at the end of the season.  He became a starter after Camarillo’s injury and finished the season with 54 catches for 554 yards.  His receiving skills and quickness make him an ideal slot receiver but he could step in as the number two receiver opposite Ginn.

     The rest of the depth chart is brimming with youthful confidence.  The most interesting prospect is Brennen Marion another rookie free agent who could be the mirror image of Bess.  Marion comes from a pass-happy college offense at Tulsa where for two years he led the nation in yards per catch highlighted by an electrifying 31.9 yard average in 2007.

     Fourth-round pick Brain Hartline was a good receiver at Ohio State but he was a stand out on special teams returning punts and making plays on punt coverage.  Hartline will be needed to improve a Dolphins special teams unit that was plagued by penalties and did not produce a return touchdown.

     Head coach Tony Sparano will closely watch the cornerback battle as he tries to replace former-cornerback Andre Goodman and improve a pass defense that ranked 25th in the NFL.  Goodman led the team with five interceptions and 19 passes deflections and will be very hard to replace.  Will Allen recently signed a two-year extension and will be a solid cover corner, but he does not produce many turnovers. 

     The Dolphins signed Eric Green to compete for the spot opposite of Allen while rookies Vonte Davis and Sean Smith get acclimated to the NFL.  Green is expected to be the starter but like Allen he has not produced many interceptions over his career.  The Dolphins need more big plays from their secondary which is why they drafted Davis and Smith.

     Davis is a tackling machine and his college highlight reel is filled with more big hits then interceptions.  He is a physical corner that will help against the run and can blitz the quarterback.  Smith is another raw talent whose height could help the Dolphins match up against tall receivers like Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.  Both rookies will have to improve thier coverage skills.

     Former first-round pick Jason Allen has struggled to find his position while playing cornerback and safety.  Now it seems he will stay at corner but he has been outplayed by Nate Jones.  Jones was one of many former Dallas Cowboys on the 2008 roster.  He played in all 16 games and filled in nicely as the nickel corner.

     All six corners will be needed when the Dolphins face the Colts, Patriots and Saints.  All three opponents use multiple receiver sets, a trend that is increasing in the NFL making depth at the cornerback position absolutely necessary.  

     In training camp the rookies will push the veterans as roster spots are given to strongest and the fittest.