NFL Combine 2011: 10 Players the Miami Dolphins Should Be Watching in Indy

It's no secret that the last decade of drafting for the Miami Dolphins has been more misses than hits. 

While some say that the new regime has done a decent job drafting in recent years, there are still second- and third-round picks on the team that have not yet flourished in the league—and one that isn't playing football anymore. 

Even last year's first-round selection Jared Odrick from Penn State raised many questions about general manager Jeff Ireland and team owner Stephen Ross.

Now that Bill Parcels has seemingly vacated his position with Miami, this looks to be Ireland's first full draft class on his own. He is faced with the tough decision of drafting what is right for the team or what is popular amongst the fans.

In last year's draft, Miami went defense with most of its picks. 

Consequently, the teams defense finished in the top 10, but its offense suffered and finished 29th in scoring.

Even though Miami's offense was subpar during the season and the defense was flourishing, instead of making a play for Randy Moss by putting in a waiver claim for the former Pro Bowl wide receiver, the team choose to put in a claim for injury-prone LB Shawne Merriman.

Miami's front office has seemed inept at times. To regain the confidence of the fans and compete in a division with Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick, it must start to draft as a winning team does.

Here are some players to keep an eye out for at the NFL Combine.

10) Weslye Saunders, TE, South Carolina

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ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Weslye Saunders #88 of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Of the 20 tight ends drafted last year, apparently none were good enough for Miami to even take a chance on.

It is crucial that the Dolphins pick up one somewhere in this draft. Last season Miami was in the bottom of the league amongst receptions from their tight ends with only 41. 

Anthony Fasano has a tendency to disappear during games and while his blocking skills may be up to par with what you'd expect from a tight end, in the NFL you need to be able to contribute elsewhere. Last year he had 39 catches, a career high.

One prospect that will be available in later rounds is Wesley Saunders.

Saunders was recently declared eligible for the Draft but had to sit out his senior season at South Carolina for attending an agent-funded party which violated certain NCAA rules and then lied about it during the interview with officials.

Saunders stands 6' 6" and weighs 270 pounds. The last time Miami passed on a tight end with Saunders' numbers in the draft his name was Rob Gronkowski who managed 42 receptions last season to go with ten touchdowns for the Patriots in his rookie campaign.

Saunders was the Gamecocks' third-leading receiver in 2009 with 32 catches for 353 yards and three touchdowns. He bench presses 385 pounds.

He possess hands that can go and grab the football and a body to make athletic plays but of course the questions remain not only about his physical condition after a year off but his maturity as well.  

9. Brandon Fusco, C, Slippery Rock

There isn't much video online of Fusco but the fact that he made the Senior Bowl when playing in Divion II speak for itself

Last year the Dolphins played hot potato when it came to their offensive linemen. The positions they are most trying to upgrade this offseason would be the C/G positions and RB.

Finding NFL type depth in the draft is a tough measure, but Slippery Rock center Brandon Fusco is a name flying under the radar.

Fusco, who stands at 6'4" and weighs 302 pounds, played against inferior competition in college in the Division II Pennsylvania State Conference, but he held his ground in the Senior Bowl Game.

Fusco can be pushed around in the pocket but works to stay in front of the defender.

He gets off the snap at impressive speeds and has solid lateral movement and slides as well as staying square.

He is known to seal defenders from the ball extremely well.

It has been said that he isn't overly powerful, so watching his lifting at the combine will be important.

At game speed, though, Fusco has been labeled as aggressive with the ability to maintain a mean streak.

With Fusco under center, Slippery Rock managed 165 rushing yards a game. 

8. Shane Vereen, RB, California

With Miami facing an offseason in which it may lose running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown, there is no doubt that somewhere along the lines the team is going to draft one.

Even if Miami takes Mark Ingram in the first round, that won't be enough.

Ingram is a bruiser.

Shane Vereen would make a perfect complement to any running back that starts for Miami.

He's a third-down, change-of-pace type running back that can occasionally step up and be a play maker on any team much like his former teammate at Cal, Jahvid Best.

Vereen averaged over five yards a carry each of his three seasons at Cal, and finished with 12 touchdowns in 2009 and another 13 in 2010.

Vereen also possesses the ability to make plays in the receiving game as well.

He totaled 69 catches at Cal along with six touchdowns in his career and averaged almost 9.5 yards a catch in 2010.

While the 5'10," 200-pound running back doesn't stand out in any particular area, he adds a threat in the running, passing and return game, areas in which the Dolphins are looking for help.

7. Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon

Casey Matthews brings intensity wherever he goes, watch his hit on Ryan Katz on the first play of the game

There was no question that Miami's defense improved significantly last year under Mike Nolan.

But there are things that hint at the front office still not being pleased with the teams pass rush, even with Cameron Wake having an off-the-chart year and Koa Misi developing well in his rookie season. 

First of all, there was the waiver claim midseason for Shawne Merriman instead of Randy Moss.

Then there is the team's recent pursuit of ILB Rashad Jeanty, who signed with the Eagles after missing last season. 

Also, there was the hiring of Brian Cox for a defensive line coaching position.

With Casey Matthews flying under the radar in the 2011 NFL Draft, it would seem decent only to take a look at him at the combine.

Matthews totaled 245 tackles, four interceptions and eight sacks in his tenure at Oregon and was a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and Lott Trophy in 2010.

He also never missed extended time due to injury, just like the Dolphins like. 

Miami hasn't had issues with depth at the linebacker position, but the lack of production is what is fueling the search to pad the defense. 

Matthews has been known to play without fear and is not afraid of contact. 

Speed seems to be his only issue and although his pass rushing is not questioned, in most cases he was untouched in his efforts. 

6. Tandon Doss, WR, Indiana

One name that is not receiving much recognition is Tandon Doss.

At 6'3", 205 pounds, he could be the answer that Miami is searching for in order to incorporate an offense that scares teams, and be a perfect complement to the staple of the offense, Brandon Marshall.

Doss had offseason surgery to repair a groin injury, so he won't run at the combine but he will lift. He hopes to run at his Pro Day.

Doss posses a problem for teams everywhere on the field where he is tough to cover one-on-one down the field but also isn't afraid to go across the middle.

He can run out of the backfield as he averaged nine yards a carry in 2009 and almost six yards a carry in 2010.

He can also return kicks, averaging 24.8 yards a kick in 2010.

Against Michigan last year, Doss had 15 catches for 221 yards.

He is a complete route-runner and a crafty player with hands that can pluck the ball right out of the air.

Miami needs to take a serious look at Doss who could possibly only cost a third-round pick.

5. Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State

Just a few days ago, Christian Ponder decided to change his mind and throw at the Combine.

Better bet that anywhere from 10-20 teams will be watching how Ponder does to make sure he is recovered from his injuries, which caused him to miss most of FSU's ACC title game and bowl game.

Ponder finished the Senior Bowl MVP, where he went 7-13 for 131 yards and threw two touchdowns.

But questions still remain about his injured elbow and shoulder.

At FSU he never put up big numbers, but he still possess the tools to be a quarterback in the NFL.

He has a tendency to float balls along the sidelong, but between the hash marks he is incredibly accurate.

Look for Ponder to excel in interviews. He earned his bachelor's degree in two and a half years with a 3.7 GPA.

Miami's search for a quarterback looks to continue in the draft as question remain about Chad Henne and Jeff Ireland wants to make the quarterback position open for competition during training camp. 

4. Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

There is nothing normal about Nate Solder.

Out of Colorado University, the giant 6'8" Bolder is the most athletic tackle in the draft by far.

For starters, he possesses reasonably good agility, excellent speed for his size and has great length and long arms.

Bolder does an excellent job staying on his blocks and staying in front of his defender. He also is excellent at blocking on the move.

Tackle isn't a big need for Miami, but there have been rumors of moving RT Vernon Carey to the interior of the line and draft a tackle in April.

While Jeff Ireland said that moving Carey doesn't seem likely, let's pause for a second and remember how front office doesn't usually mean what it says (Gibril Wilson, for example).

Bolder played LT in college but seems suited to be a definite rookie starter at the RT position.

If Miami does get Bolder, though, it is most likely because their primary options are not available when they draft and they were unable to trade down.  

3. QB Cameron Newton, Auburn

Kent Horner/Getty Images

SAN DIEGO, CA - FEBRUARY 10: 2010 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Cam Newton of Auburn throws the ball during his workout routine for the media at Cathedral High School's sports stadium on February 10, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horn

Let's get right to it.

Probably the biggest question mark in the draft is Cam Newton.

The quarterback from Auburn showed much poise last year as he and his family were the subject of a brief NCAA investigation.

As far as the drills are concerned, if he participates, expect him to pass with flying colors and possibly have off-the-chart numbers, but it's the interview process that teams will be looking to test the Heisman trophy-winning quarterback in. 

From his off-the-field issues at Florida to his pay-for-play scandal that went on at Auburn, Newton will be grilled (hopefully on a professional level, as last year Jeff Ireland had problems maintaining himself when interviewing Dez Bryant) and tested from all teams in need of a quarterback.

If the Dolphins do indeed have any interest in Newton, they need to make sure that he can handle the pressures of a team and fanbase still desperately in search of Dan Marino's replacement. 

Simply put, if he can't impress on a standpoint of maturity, there is no reason to look into Cam Newton any further, as the team's first pick in the upcoming draft. 

2. Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama

As highlighted earlier, Miami will need to draft a running back.

The question lies in where they do that. 

Last year's most productive rookie running back was LaGarrette Blount, the only rookie back with over 1,000 yards—and he was undrafted out of the University of Oregon. 

James Starks, who helped the Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl, was drafted in the sixth round last year.

C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews and Jahvid Best were the only backs drafted in the first round last year. All were vital to their teams success but all had injury-plagued seasons.

None of those three, though, were as talented as Mark Ingram is coming out college.

Ingram's frame and bulk lend to his ability turn the corner and maintain incredible balance, which has been compared to Emmitt Smith.

He is a skilled cut-back runner and also keeps the play going . An impressive stat is that Ingram had 1,075 yards after contact in 2009, over 50 percent of his total yardage.

Ingram can also make plays catching the ball, as he had over 50 catches his last two seasons and the question of competition is out the window as Ingram played against top opponents game-in and game-out in the SEC.

The questions remains though about his durability and if he will be able to last in the NFL.

His production slipped from 1,658 yards in 2009 to 875 in 2010 after taking a pounding at Alabama over his career. 

Coming into the combine, though, Ingram says he is at the lowest he has weighed since being a freshman at Alabama.

Ingram has hit it hard with his trainer in order to show a quicker, lighter version of himself to all 32 teams that will be looking on.

Either way, Miami needs to take a serious look at the bruiser in the combine and decide whether he is worth the investment that most scouts and experts have said he is.  

1. Mike Pouncey, G, Florida

The best guard in the draft is hands-down Mike Pouncey from the University of Florida.

Pouncey is No. 1 because Miami needs to determine if he is worthy of spending a top 15 pick on him. If they really do like him, they need to trade down, if possible.

The mistake teams and scouts make is that they believe Mike is a replica of his brother Maurkice Pouncey, who was drafted by the Steelers last year in the first round and anchored a Roethlisberger-less Steelers running attack the first quarter of the season. 

Mike is not as good as Maurkice, who went 18th last year, but Miami's biggest needs lie in their interior offensive line.

Mike is undoubtedly a guard but can play the center position if asked.

There were times in 2010, though, when he had trouble snapping out of the shotgun formation.

At guard, he can pull and trap well while playing with reasonably good leverage. 

In the running game, he can move the pile. He is athletic and versatile and is an incredibly solid drive-blocker. 

In pass blocking he maintains his own against bull rushers, explodes into his blocks and has the ability with his good footwork to stay low and win any battle for leverage.

Pouncey's most underrated aspect of his game is his football I.Q. He recognizes the blitz extremely well and is effective at combo blocking with teammates.

If the Dolphins aim to start building from the trenches out, this is a good place to start.

Besides, last season's Super Bowl participants, the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers, both drafted an interior offensive lineman in the first round.

Formalities

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

NEW YORK - APRIL 22: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell looks on as he stands on stage during the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 22, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

The combine is just a step in the right direction for NFL draft junkies, but for all 32 NFL franchises, it is the beginning of an investment period.

For a Miami Dolphins franchise and fanbase that has suffered for years as one of the lowest teams in the league, having not won a postseason game since 1999, the draft is a place to start anew. 

It is the opportunity to get your franchise headed in the right direction, and it all starts at the scouting combine.

Follow Zack Duarte on twitter @ZackDuarte