5 Positions Where Miami Dolphins Still Have Questions Headed into 2015 Season
The 2015 NFL season is still four months away, but with the 2015 NFL draft and free agency both in the rear-view mirror, there aren't many more opportunities for the Miami Dolphins to add to their roster.
Make no mistake, the Dolphins have already taken full advantage of every opportunity that's been presented to them with trades (wide receiver Kenny Stills), free-agent signings (defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerback Brice McCain) and high-profile draft picks (wide receiver DeVante Parker, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips).
But despite all the additions the Dolphins have made to their roster, some questions still remain at a few particular positions. Whether it's based on a lack of activity at a position, or a lack of clarity at the top of the depth chart, the Dolphins still have several questions that need to be answered before the 2015 season gets underway.
Cornerback
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The Dolphins have taken several measures to improve the depth of their roster at cornerback. With three additions this offseason in free agents Brice McCain and Zack Bowman along with Bobby McCain in the draft, the Dolphins have shown that the old guard cannot get comfortable.
Jamar Taylor, Will Davis and Walt Aikens all have a significant amount of competition breathing down their necks when it comes to roster spots—and let's not forget Brent Grimes, who is a lock for the roster. There are eight or nine players (depending on where the Dolphins ultimately project two-way player Tony Lippett to play) competing for roster spots.
Yet, with all those names and a relatively high number of cornerbacks on the roster, the Dolphins still have some uncertainty as to who will start opposite Grimes in their base defense. The hope would be that Taylor could prove himself worthy of the second-round pick the Dolphins used on him in 2013, but after an up-and-down start to his career, Miami may want to make him compete.
They have no choice but to go with the player who performs the best this offseason in workouts.
Guard
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The Dolphins have been searching for athletic offensive linemen to plug into their zone-blocking scheme ever since Joe Philbin joined the team in 2012. With draft picks like Dallas Thomas (third round, 2013) and Billy Turner (third round, 2014), the Dolphins have taken on two projects in converting college tackles to guard.
By using their fourth-round pick on Arizona State guard Jamil Douglas, the Dolphins have added a rookie who could potentially start on their line.
Douglas started 26 straight games at left guard from 2012-2013 before switching to left tackle in 2014; his more natural NFL fit is at guard, and he has all the traits the Dolphins have been searching for in a guard, from the athleticism to the ability to tandem block to the ability to hunt down defenders on the move and open big holes on the perimeter.
That being said, he shouldn't be handed the job, either; Thomas may be a poor fit at guard, but Turner only enters his second season and could still develop into a quality interior lineman for the Dolphins. The question is whether the Dolphins have two solid starting guards for the 2015 season. If Douglas and Turner play up to their capabilities, this question will be answered in short order.
Middle Linebacker
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Koa Misi was the Dolphins' starting middle linebacker in 2014, and he was formidable in that role considering it was his first year ever playing the position. For his first four years in the league, Misi had lined up on the outside, either in a 3-4 or a 4-3 alignment.
In a perfect world, Misi would go back to the outside, which was his strong suit earlier in his career. If he continues his ascension at middle linebacker, there's no reason not to keep him there.
Misi's future all depends on how stable the Dolphins feel with their situations at other linebacker spots. Whether it's the strong side, where Philip Wheeler's departure leaves a void, or the weak side, where the Dolphins are hoping Jelani Jenkins can continue on his positive trajectory, the Dolphins are dealing with uncertainty.
If the Dolphins think someone like Kelvin Sheppard, who has starting experience in the NFL, can step in at middle linebacker, perhaps Misi can slide back to the outside. In the more likely situation, Misi will be their middle linebacker in 2015 because he's their most experienced player at the position within their system.
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Outside Linebacker
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There were three positions where the Dolphins made sweeping changes in the 2015 offseason: wide receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker. The Dolphins had some high-profile additions at the first two positions, but did nothing at the last one. That could be a sign of their confidence in the players they have on the roster, or simply a sign that there weren't any better options available.
Either way, the depth chart at linebacker is one giant question mark right now. Jelani Jenkins should be penciled in as the starter on the weak side after filling in admirably for Dannell Ellerbe in 2014, but who starts on the strong side? As mentioned in the previous slide, Koa Misi would be a candidate for such a role if he weren't tied up at the middle linebacker position.
Perhaps Chris McCain and Jordan Tripp will be battling it out for the starting job in 2015, but the two combined for 58 snaps on defense in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus.
If one of those two can emerge from a training-camp battle as a formidable starter, the Dolphins' questions could be answered post haste. If not, the Dolphins could encounter the same problems they've had for years, only with different names attached to them.
Safety
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The Dolphins are halfway to clarity at safety. Reshad Jones is a lock to start at one of the two safety spots, but which spot will be determined by who steps up in the spot next to him.
Louis Delmas' presence in 2014 precipitated Jones' move to free safety, but before that, Jones had been strictly a strong safety. Delmas was a formidable starter, but he tore his ACL near the end of the season. The Dolphins brought back Delmas on a one-year deal, but they must be prepared for the distinct possibility that he won't be the same player he was last year.
The Dolphins drafted Minnesota safety Cedric Thompson in the fifth round, and he has the traits (long speed, size, communication) to man the free safety spot in an NFL defense if he cleans up some of his flaws (instincts versus pass, patience versus run). It may take him a year to be ready to start.
In the meantime, the Dolphins just have to hold out hope that Delmas is back to his old self.
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