Miami Dolphins: Five Players in South Beach Ready to Have a Breakout Season

The NFL is still runnin' pretty slow, you guys. Despite the lockout being lifted by a judge, the teams are refusing to let players work out in the facilities, and no trades or free agent signings have been made. 

However, speculation never goes away, and without it, there would be no offseason in the NFL, even if there technically is no such thing as the NFL when a lockout is in place. 

Anyway, let me preface this: I'm a closet Miami Dolphin fanatic. To better put this, I'm a Dolphinatic. (I totally just made that up, and you should respect it, son.) 

I'm such a (closet) Dolphin fan, that I analyze pretty much every position, and every player on the field. At least, when I have the time, and when I'm not swamped with homework. 

The Dolphins obviously have their stars (Jake Long, Brandon Marshall, Karlos Dansby), and the dudes that General Manager Jeff Ireland should seriously consider letting go (Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams). But there are also guys that have shown promise, but might still be raw talent, dudes that produce, at times, and are quiet at others.

These bros are usually young players, who are looking to make a name for themselves with their team. 

Clearly, the Dolphins have quite a few of these. Yet, only some of them will actually have amazing, breakout seasons, and even fewer will have a breakout season in 2011. But luckily, I'm a Dolphinatic and I can point you in the direction of five players who are most likely going to be these "breakout bros." 

Hit it!

1. Cameron Wake. OK, I get it. The dude kind of already had a breakout season last year, his first year with the Dolphins after getting picked out of the Canadian Football League. He was third in the league in sacks with 14.

But, after seeing this kid play, I'm not so sure this is his ceiling. It's rare that I'll ever say a player has all-world potential, but this guy seriously has all. World. Potential. He's an explosive defensive end, and he's only going to get better next year.

Add the fact that the Dolphins should look to continue building around their stingy defense, and the dude is liable for one of the best seasons by a defensive end, making South Beach completely forget the name "Jason Taylor."

2. Chad Henne. Hey, I've done my fair share of Henne-bashing, y'all. I know the kid is frustrating. I know he lacks composure, I know he gets rattled pretty easily after a costly mistake, I know his short-field vision kind of sucks, and I definitely know that his on-field accuracy is flighty.

But the fact that he—at this stage in his career—has Dolphin-nation (Dolfanation?) split into two in terms of how he might fare from here on out says that he's showing us something. And he has.

Because at times, Henne looks really comfortable in the offense. When he's confident, and has the offense rollin', he's a threat to lull you to sleep with his check-down passes and, on a 1st-and-10, launch one about 60 yards to a streaking slot receiver.

When he holds his head up high, and is on a roll, there isn't a defense that won't take him seriously. And with one more year of experience, and a coach that is (seems to be, at least) behind him, he could potentially be great. All things considered. 

3. Sean Smith. I'm almost guaranteeing that this guy launches himself into an elite class of cornerbacks next year. He kind of already did last year after being demoted from the starting position.

But his speed has allowed him to keep up with some pretty awesome receivers, and his vision got a hell of a lot better as the season progressed. He may not be anchoring the Dolphins' defense, but he's a pain in the ass to throw in the direction of, if you're an opposing quarterback.

Last year was only his second in the league, as he was drafted 61st overall by the Dolphins in 2009, and he seems to have gotten a crap-ton better than what he was when he entered the league.

4. Vontae Davis. In case you didn't know, Vontae Davis solidified himself as a starting cornerback before Smith did. And while Vontae Davis is another young gun, the dude has been consistent against all-pro receivers, and I often cite him as one of the reasons that Dolphins' secondary is so good. (And, they really, really are.)

Because he's going to be a year older (and wiser), and because the Dolphins' defense is really growing up together, and led by some veteran talent, you can only expect this dude to get even more comfortable in the Dolphins' defense.

5. Anthony Fasano. If Tony Sparano is going to stick to the short-field, pound-and-ground offense, then this guy is freaking key. And he's been money the past two years, especially considering the quarterback at the helm was/is young and shaky, at times.

Fasano has proven to have some amazing hands, and can run routes just as well as any other tight end in the league. Consider that, if Chad Henne starts playing at least twice as good as he did last year, and if the running game is revamped, Fasano is going to get a metric crap-load of balls thrown towards him. Don't expect any dropped balls, either.