Miami Dolphins Training Camp: 4 Camp Battles Dolphins Fans Must Monitor

We aren't even two weeks into training camp and the Miami Dolphins have already had enough drama and uncertainty to last several seasons.

Most if it has been centered around the quarterback position. Incumbent Chad Henne will go into the season as the starter, but his being the starter has less to do with the Dolphins having confidence in him and more to do with the fact that the team failed to acquire anyone better.

But the quarterback position isn't the only place that the Dolphins have questions.

Coming off a disappointing 2010 season, Miami will be looking to make good in 2011. If they are to move closer to playoff contention, they will need the depth chart to become a little clearer at the following four positions.

Safety

The Dolphins had a pretty good defense last season, but that was without a lot of production from the safety position.

Yeremiah Bell led the team in tackles last season with 83. He will return and start at strong safety.

The rest of the depth chart at safety is a little tougher to decipher. Chris Clemons, a free safety, saw significant playing time last season, but he didn't do anything that would make you think he is anything special.

Tyrone Culver, Reshad Jones and Mark Restelli are the other safeties on the roster. None of those guys have any real track record of success, but one of them will certainly have to step into a big role this season.

Backup Tight End

The Dolphins boast a solid starting tight end in Anthony Fasano. Last season, Fasano caught 39 passes for 528 yards and four touchdowns.

One of the more interesting position battles this summer will be the competition between a group of rookies to see who backs up Fasano.

The candidates are Jeron Mastrud out of Kansas State, Dedrick Epps from Miami, and Mickey Shuler and Brett Brackett, both from Penn State.

They all have one thing in common. They're huge. They all stand between 6'3" and 6'6" and weigh between 247 and 253 pounds.

Being that Fasano is already a competent pass catching tight end, the one that gets the reps behind him will likely be the one that proves to be the best blocker of the bunch.

Wide Receiver

Brandon Marshall is the obvious No. 1 receiver in Miami, but the hierarchy behind him is a lot more unsettled.

For me, the competition comes down to Davone Bess and Brian Hartline.

Last season, Bess finished second on the team with 79 catches and 820 receiving yards and he actually led the team with five receiving touchdowns.

Hartline caught 43 passes for 615 yards. Bess is a smaller shiftier receiver who succeeds with quickness and precise routes.

Hartline is more of your traditional big target. He stands 6'2" and can go up and get the jump ball. Having Hartline in the lineup would be a big advantage for a quarterback like Henne who likes to air it out downfield.

Based on last season's performance, the early edge has to go to Bess, but this battle will simply come down to who plays better in the preseason.

Backup Running Back

In previous seasons, the Dolphins have shared carries pretty heavily between multiple running backs. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have long formed one of the better running back by committee situations in all of football.

Now, neither of those guys are around. Ricky Williams remains unsigned and Ronnie Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

In their place is Reggie Bush and little else as far as known quantities go. Lex Hilliard has some experience in Miami, but this competition likely comes down to two rookies in Nic Grigsby out of Arizona and Daniel Thomas from Kansas State.

Grigsby is a small, compact runner who put up good numbers at Arizona, but sometimes struggled to stay healthy.

For my money, Daniel Thomas is the one to watch. Thomas, a physical, 6'1" 228 pound runner was a workhorse at KSU. Last season, he rushed for 1,585 yards and 19 touchdowns.

If the Dolphins are going to have the level of success they are used to in the running game, one of these guys will have to step up.