5 Biggest Takeaways from the Miami Dolphins' OTAs

Who will start at linebacker? What about at guard? Will the receivers and quarterback all get on the same page in time for the regular season?

We're not any closer to answers on some of those key questions now that the Miami Dolphins have taken the field for organized team activities (OTAs), but the Dolphins took their first steps in fleshing out some of their own plans for the team this season.

After all, this is not a time for evaluating the players as much as it is a time for teaching them and building the foundation for what the team will do this season—formations, concepts etc.

Even in these early stages of the offseason workout program, we've still gained some clarity; that being said, there's still plenty of time for things to fall back into question.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways from the Dolphins' first wave of practices.

Guard Battle Remains Open

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Second-year guard Billy Turner (above) could be in the mix to start at one of the two guard spots.

The Dolphins offensive line has come a long way since their disastrous implosion in the 2013 season. That year, Ryan Tannehill became the most-sacked quarterback in Dolphins history, being taken down 58 times. Over the past two years, Tannehill has been sacked 104 times, more than any other quarterback in the NFL. 

But with Branden Albert at left tackle, Ja'Wuan James at right tackle and Mike Pouncey at center, the Dolphins have assembled at least 60 percent of a formidable offensive line. There are still a couple of holes to be filled, though, and the competition remains open for those spots. According to head coach Joe Philbin, nothing will be decided during the team's OTAs: 

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It's going to be hard to make a complete evaluation through the OTAs because we don't have the pads on. But one of the points we made to the entire team today is the play speed, getting in and out of the huddle, getting the call, getting the assignment down, getting the stance down, getting off the ball quick, whatever position it doesn't matter, guard, wide receiver, defensive line, db (defensive back). Then, functioning within the scheme as best you can in this phase.

It's going to be hard to tell if we can sustain blocks real well, it's going to be difficult to assess in the OTAs. Those are the things, playing fast, playing decisive, good fundamentals, good initial aiming points, those will be the things that we really focus on.

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Rookie Jamil Douglas should be considered the front-runner for one of the starting spots; he is the best fit at guard in the zone scheme that the Dolphins have had on their roster under Philbin's tenure. With Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner both competing for the other spot, there's still plenty of time for the Dolphins to come to a decision. 

Chris McCain Getting Reps at Linebacker

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The Dolphins have overhauled their roster at several positions this offseason. The depth charts at wide receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker will all look much different in 2015 than in 2014. There are still a lot of dominoes left to fall, but it appears that at least one of those dominoes is beginning to fall into place. 

Chris McCain split his time between defensive end and linebacker as a rookie in 2014, but his role could be much more defined in 2015 as the Dolphins seek to bring some clarity to his positional designation. Philbin had this to say of the second-year pro:

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During individual [drills], he went with the linebackers and that's where he's been starting so far. But he obviously has some skills as a pass rusher. It's that challenge of how much time at a certain position and how much time at the other position. He has a lot of different skills that we'd like to take advantage of. We'll see again how things develop over time.

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For now, you can pencil in McCain as one of the top linebackers on the depth chart along with Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins. That being said, there are still at least a few more dominoes left to fall before true clarity sets in. 

Koa Misi Staying at Middle Linebacker

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

There was a lot of talk of dominoes falling in the previous slide, and another of those dominoes is veteran linebacker Koa Misi. 

In keeping with the board-game analogies, Misi is less like dominoes and more like chess. He can be moved around to multiple positions and used in a variety of ways. He started off as a rush outside linebacker in the Dolphins' 3-4 defense as a rookie in 2010 and again in 2011 before standing up to play strong-side linebacker in 2012 and 2013. He moved to the inside for the first time in 2014, and had good results. 

Now, it's time to decide whether he stays there or returns to his more natural position on the outside, but the Dolphins have a plan for the time being.

"We're going to see, but right now he's playing inside linebacker," said Philbin. "We'll see how things go."

The Dolphins need linebackers to step up after parting ways with both Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler this offseason, and Misi's role as a leader of the defense will only become even more important this year as he and the Dolphins coaching staff attempt to assimilate a brand-new group of starting linebackers in the defense. 

DeVante Parker Building Chemistry with Ryan Tannehill

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

The Dolphins hope that DeVante Parker will become the new go-to wide receiver for Ryan Tannehill. Given Parker's status as the Dolphins' first-round pick, that much should come as no surprise. 

For the same reason, it should also surprise no one that the process is going swimmingly so far, according to Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post. Parker is already showing off the physical gifts that make him unique to the Dolphins receiving corps, and is also showing off an ability to quickly acclimate to the Dolphins offense and to Tannehill:

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For starters, he knows how to use his 6'3" frame, extending for several catches and making it appear that if Ryan Tannehill can put the ball anywhere near this guy, there's an excellent chance it'll be a completion. You also get the sense that developing chemistry with Parker should be—must be—much faster than it ever was with Mike Wallace.

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This year's wide receiver group is a massive upgrade over the one Tannehill has had at his disposal in recent years. The Dolphins have gone from a group of undersized receivers to a physically imposing group that can create mismatches in the passing game.

Now comes the hard part: getting everyone on the same page. With two new veteran receivers (Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills) along with the new rookie in Parker, the Dolphins need to get that process moving as soon as possible. 

Jay Ajayi Should Back Up Lamar Miller, Could Challenge for Starting Job

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If the Dolphins want to have a bell cow running back, they needn't look further than Lamar Miller, the man who carried the torch and carried the rock time after time for their offense last year to the tune of 216 carries, 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns. 

But in today's NFL, the more common solution to the running game is a committee approach with two or three backs sharing the load. That helps explain why the Dolphins used a fifth-round pick on Boise State running back Jay Ajayi during the draft. 

Ajayi helps round out the depth chart with a more capable, proven between-the-tackles back—and although Miller proved he can carry the ball up the middle last year and also added seven pounds of muscle this offseason, his greatest strengths are in his open-field burst. 

Perhaps thanks to Ajayi's ability between the tackles, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald points out that Ajayi should fall very high on the pecking order at running back. 

"Jay Ajayi is the front-runner to back up Lamar Miller and could eventually challenge Miller for a starting job," Jackson wrote.

In the run-up to the draft, Ajayi was considered a potential second-round pick, but revelations in his physical exams (his knee is "bone-on-bone," according to NFL Network's Mike Mayock via Rotoworld) led to his slide into the fifth round. Those concerns are more of a threat to Ajayi's long-term durability than his near-term ability. Ajayi could be a threat to Miller's playing time, and even to the No. 1 spot as a rookie. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release.