NFL Draft 2011: What the Miami Dolphins Can Do to Help Chad Henne on Draft Day

Rev up your flux capacitor and rewind your mind to one year ago. It was a euphoric time for the Miami Dolphins. Chad Henne had all but cemented himself as the long awaited messiah after his first season as a starter, setting Super Bowl aspirations heading into 2010.

Needless to say, things have gotten rocky since. Some are already calling for Henne's head, and perhaps deservedly so; however, how much of his 2010 struggles were actually his own fault? How much did the league's 21st ranked rushing offense, the lack of a vertical receiving threat, a weak tight ends corps, atrocious play calling and a wildly inconsistent offensive line drag Henne down?

With all of these tangibles in mind, perhaps Henne is not nearly as bad as his 2010 play suggests. Regardless, the Dolphins must replenish their roster in the upcoming draft in order to aid Henne in his quest to prove the doubters wrong.

Fortify the Offensive Line

Prior to the beginning of the 2010 season, Jeff Ireland and Tony Sparano sent all three starting interior linemen packing in favor of two free-agent castoffs and a third-round pick. The duo may have shaven off some valuable cap space, but they also decimated the line's chemistry and cohesiveness.

For a quarterback like Chad Henne, who has very limited mobility, this is a disaster. He was sacked 30 times in 2010, an increase from 2009. Granted, a fair amount of these sacks were Henne's fault, the line should shoulder most of the blame for failing to protect their quarterback.

With the 15th pick, Florida's Mike Pouncey would make for a tremendous addition. He could immediately step in and upgrade the line's youth, versatility and overall effectiveness. Look for the Dolphins to stock up with an extra lineman or two in the later rounds as well.

Add a Vertical Threat to the Wide Receiving Corps

Miami's hostility towards Ted Ginn is well documented, but trading him might have actually been a mistake. His skill-set is easily replaceable and upgradeable, but the Dolphins desperately lacked the kind of vertical speed that Ginn provides.

Because Miami lacked a receiver who could essentially run fly routes, slip behind corners and draw defenses' attention, opposing teams were free to constantly double team Brandon Marshall without worrying about the consequences. Not only did this slow Marshall, but it limited Henne's options.

The Dolphins will absolutely address this in the draft, and a player with burning speed like Abilene Christian's Edmond Gates would make for a logical fit in the third or fourth round.

Draft a Seam Threat/Receiving Oriented Tight End

There are a few common traits that bond the NFL's elite teams, and one of them is the presence of an athletic, sure-handed tight end. Think about the Patriots, Colts, Packers, Chargers, Bears, Falcons, Steelers, Ravens and so on. They all have a dangerous tight end in their offensive arsenal.

The last time Miami packed such a punch dates back to the days of Keith Jackson in 1993. So, naturally, this is a primary need headed into the draft. There are a few options for the Dolphins to choose from, such as Nevada's Virgil Green, Tennessee's Luke Stocker, Arkansas' D.J. Williams and Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks.

A seam threat tight end not only provides Chad Henne with a safety blanket to target, but can also slip behind linebackers and provide him with a secondary mid-to-deep threat.

Restock the Running Backs Corps

Chad Henne thrived in 2009 partly because he was backed by the league's fourth best rushing attack. Not only did that alleviate pressure, but Ricky and Ronnie also demanded preparation and attention from defenses, providing Henne with more freedom and favorable matchups.

When the Dolphins' rushing attack suddenly collapsed from elite to anemic, the team began to rely far too much on Henne, and Dan Henning's play calling only made things worse. Some quarterbacks might be able to carry their teams through this, but Henne has his limitations. He is not an elite quarterback and likely will not ascend to that echelon in his career.

Running back is easily Miami's biggest need heading into the draft, and there a ton of potential gems in the middle rounds. Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter, Cal's Shane Vereen, Louisville's Bilal Powell and Kansas State's Daniel Thomas headline a group of players who could land with the 'Fins.

And, don't sleep on later round backs like Auburn's Mario Fannin or Miami's Damien Berry.

Bring in Some Competition

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

TALLAHASSEE, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Christian Ponder #7 of the Florida State Seminoles warms up before a game against the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Everybody benefits from competition, and there is really no downside to drafting a quarterback that could provide some for Henne. If the quarterback outplays Henne then Miami has an upgrade, but perhaps a newcomer would force Henne to up his game.

Barring a free fall from a prospect like Christian Ponder, Miami will likely wait until the latter rounds of the draft where they can grab a developmental guy like Idaho's Nathan Enderle, Alabama's Greg McElroy or Delaware's Pat Devlin.

Still, the Dolphins need to bring a prospect in who can both challenge and motivate Henne, and perhaps take the reigns in the future.