How Have Miami Dolphins Addressed Biggest Weaknesses from 2014?

The true measure of a strong offseason isn't necessarily how well you address the weaknesses, but how well you assemble a team. After all, it's never about adding that one missing piece as much as it's about making sure all the pieces come together within the system.

The Miami Dolphins have made some shrewd moves to help address certain needs this offseason, but they have also raised some eyebrows with their decision-making with regard to other needs. They completely overhauled both the wide receiver and linebacker positions, but their approach to each one was dramatically different.

Adding players is not the same as addressing a need or a weakness, and not adding players is not the same as ignoring a need. Sometimes, action can be worse than inaction. 

So, how did the Dolphins address their biggest weaknesses?

Wide Receiver

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Some folks may have had different opinions on whether or not the wide receiver position was actually a weakness last season, but given the fact that the Dolphins completely overhauled their depth chart at receiver, it's safe to say they viewed it as one.

And with a litany of moves, it's safe to say they addressed it.

After moving on from Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson, second-year wideout Jarvis Landry stood alone as the Dolphins' chief threat in the passing game. Since then, the Dolphins have added two young, athletic receivers to the mix (DeVante Parker via the draft and Kenny Stills via trade) as well as a veteran who is familiar with Joe Philbin (Greg Jennings via free agency). 

The Dolphins now have a different receiver for just about any situation. Parker is a solid deep threat with jump-ball ability. Stills is a great short and intermediate threat. Landry is a weapon out of the slot. Jennings may not be the dynamic receiver he once was, but he is still a wily veteran and talented possession receiver.

The Dolphins couldn't have checked off the boxes any better than they did. 

Linebacker

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The Dolphins' offseason activity at the linebacker position was followed by inactivity. After moving on from both veterans Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler, the Dolphins elected not to make any additions to address their new need. 

That's a pretty emphatic show of support for the young players on the roster, who will almost surely get an opportunity to make an impact on defense. Between Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi, Chris McCain, Kelvin Sheppard and the other holdovers, the Dolphins must feel as though they already have a strong nucleus at the linebacker position.

If that doesn't turn out to be the case, the Dolphins will need to call upon the litany of undrafted free agents they signed after the draft. Jeff Luc, Mike Hull, Neville Hewitt and Zach Vigil could all get a chance to be key backups on the depth chart.

Right now, the linebacker position should not be considered a strength or a weakness. It should just be considered a question mark. 

Offensive Line

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The Dolphins' rebuild on the offensive line has been two years in the making, but now, it appears they are closer than ever to completing the process.

With just one fourth-round draft pick, the Dolphins upgraded from a questionable situation at the guard position to a promising situation. Arizona State guard Jamil Douglas has the potential to be a plug-and-play guard in the Dolphins offense and the requisite skill set to execute a zone-blocking scheme. 

Now, the only question left is who will play the other spot? Between third-year pro Dallas Thomas and second-year pro Billy Turner, the Dolphins must hope that at least one of their former tackle-turned-guard projects will develop into a starter.

As of right now, it looks like Turner is much closer to being that player than Thomas is, but only time will tell who will emerge from that battle with an opportunity to start on the Dolphins offensive line. 

Cornerback

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The Dolphins have been searching for the right cornerback to put opposite Brent Grimes seemingly ever since they signed Grimes in the first place. In 2013, it was Nolan Carroll. In 2014, it was Cortland Finnegan. Who knows who it will be in 2015.

It could be Jamar Taylor, widely regarded as the front-runner for the job due to his veteran stature as well as his physical upside. Head coach Joe Philbin likes the attitude and confidence with which Taylor has been proceeding this offseason, but Philbin isn't ready to say it's Taylor's job to lose just yet.

"It's anybody's job because, at a number of positions, that being one of them, you really can't," Philbin said. "You can put yourself in position to go into training camp working with a first group or what have you, but a lot of that's going to be determined when you start playing preseason games and you're playing out here with pads—you really get a chance to completely evaluate these guys."

Taylor will be competing with Will Davis, Brice McCain, Bobby McCain and Zack Bowman for the starting duties opposite Grimes—all besides Davis were added this offseason. In that sense, the Dolphins have addressed the need, but until someone emerges from the smoke as a bona fide starter, it's hard to say for sure. 

Red-Zone Offense

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OK, so this isn't a specific position, but nonetheless, the Dolphins knew they needed to improve in the red zone, and that's exactly what they did. 

Between the addition of tight end Jordan Cameron (6'5", 249 pounds) and wide receiver DeVante Parker (6'3", 209 pounds), the Dolphins made it a point to bolster their pass-catching group with big, physical players who can win in tight spaces.

Last year, the Dolphins scored a touchdown on 51.5 percent of their red-zone trips, which ranked 21st in the NFL, according to TeamRankings.com. With two big-bodied skill position players like Cameron and Parker running through the secondary, quarterback Ryan Tannehill now has more options when it comes to jump balls and pass-catchers with a wide catch radius.

If the Dolphins' red-zone offense doesn't improve, the front office can't possibly blame themselves for not trying. 

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