6 Miami Dolphins Poised to Have Breakout Seasons

The Miami Dolphins already have star power on both sides of the ball.

In the most competitive division in football (yes, I would take the Pats and Jets over the Cowboys, Giants and Eagles), the Fins are a few good players short of serious playoff discussion.

Instead of spending a gratuitous amount of team funds on players who may or may not display their best, the Dolphins seem to have upgraded their coaching.

While Brian Daboll does not have many wins to show for his tenure as the Browns offensive coordinator, he does bring a fresh, diversified style that surely will suit Chad Henne's needs better than the woeful Dan Henning.

Henning would never run when it was the right time, and would force Chad Henne to win games with his arm, despite two Pro-Bowl halfbacks in the backfield.

Things will improve on both sides of the ball, with Mike Nolan in his second year after a stellar display in defensive leadership.

Sean Smith

This guy seems to be the undisputed favorite to break the shackles and have a big year.

If half of the balls that hit his hands were caught, we could be talking about a rival to Cam Wake as our defensive MVP.

It helps that he has the pace to carry himself alongside some of the NFL's fastest receivers, and at 6'5", he can rise up with the best of them.

Without the services of Randy Moss or Braylon Edwards in the division, it seems like Plaxico Burress or Santonio Holmes are the only receivers worth truly considering having Smith mark the entire game.

Suddenly the air attack of the division looks evenly matched by an excellent duo, with Vontae Davis and now Sean Smith poised to strike.

Mike Pouncey

When I watched the Florida versus Miami of Ohio game in the first week of college football I laughed at all of the bad snaps I saw.

The Gators barely beat one of the worst teams of the previous year.

However, I was dead wrong in my one game assessments, as Mike Pouncey follows his brother in representing the future of NFL interior offensive lineman.

Brother Maurkice stated that Mike will be the better lineman, and this may be true.

A sibling rivalry is set to ensue despite the brothers sharing the same side of the ball.

With a fantastic star in Jake Long, Mike Pouncey is set to pave the way for Miami's young running corps.

It may not be true that a rookie can "breakout," but in this case, Pouncey is a player who was no flashy draft pick, but a wholly necessary and smart choice.

Reggie Bush

Most NFL fans gagged after the Texans took Mario Williams with the No. 1-overall pick, leaving Reggie Bush to the Saints.

Neither has had the dream career they were set to attain.

Enter Bush in Miami. If there is any reason why he will succeed in Miami, it is the diversification of Brian Daboll's playbook coupled with the players surrounding him.

Mike Pouncey will drive tackles away for interior smashes. Jake Long is just about the best left tackle there is to run off of. Bush can slot at receiver, taking pressure off of Bess, Hartline and Marshall.

He can return kicks with ease, and will be a nightmare in halfback screens.

However, the best prospect of having Bush in the fold is if the Fins maintain their use of the Wildcat.

Two power backs in Lex Hilliard and second-round pick Daniel Thomas will eat up the hard yards.

Thomas even ran the Wildcat while at its namesake, Kansas State.

That would have Bush slotting Ricky Williams' vacant role, providing a phenomenal one-two punch, a distinct upgrade from last season.

Part of the issue with the Wildcat was Ronnie Brown's issues of dancing at the line of scrimmage.

Hilliard and Thomas will smash anything in their way, ensuring that there is at least marginal gain.

Bush has the surroundings and the schemes to emerge as an elite playmaker.

Brian Hartline

It is 3rd-and-9. The ball is on the opposing 40-yard line. It is a four receiver set with a blocking tight end. Lined up to the right is Davone Bess and Brandon Marshall. To the left is Reggie Bush flanked by Brian Hartline.

Who are you going to cover? A top-five receiver in the NFL? A lightning quick, versatile dual threat? Arguably a top three, if not the best, slot receiver in football?

Brian Hartline will have his shot, and with sticky hands and a great ability to run after the catch, he will succeed.

Football, and most team sports for that matter, are as much about the players around you as they are yourself.

For example, the Heat will succeed even further next year when their shooters find their stroke and Udonis Haslem has the whole season. Why? Because the star power in the lineup gravitates committed defense.

Hartline has the skill set to accomplish great feats this year, and now has the decoys to set him free.

Jared Odrick

Jared Odrick showed potential before he went down with an unfortunate injury.

While he may not start this year, only due to the incredible depth on the Miami defensive line, Odrick will provide fresh legs to a defensive line and linebacking corps that will provide enough of a nightmare to reduce the opposing blocking to rubble.

Strictly by principle, Odrick will be well rested enough to support the rest of the defensive line.

It is always better to supplement with fresh legs despite a more experienced player taking the field.

Odrick will be excellent in run support and will surely tack on a few sacks here and there to the otherwise immobile quarterbacks of the AFC East.

Chad Henne

Surprise, surprise! Yes, I feel that Chad Henne will have by far his best year as a pro.

For a number of reasons, Henne is poised to become the reliable threat at quarterback that we hoped we had gotten when we drafted him.

I have had little-to-no faith in Henne since he took over from Pennington.

I had always been a proud supporter of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" school of coaching, and Pennington was coming off of a career year where he embarrassed the Jets on our way to a postseason berth.

This, of course, was much to my delight as I was in New York after Christmas with my brand new No. 10 jersey which I wore proudly at the Fins versus Jets party and in the city the day after.

Nothing makes me prouder than to smirk at a Jets fan.

Henne has a versatile selection of weapons in Reggie Bush as a check-down option and slot receiver, Bess and Hartline for the sure hands and possession, and Marshall as a reliable No. 1 star.

Many detractors (myself included) complained that Dan Henning was not utilizing Henne's best traits to his advantage.

Henne has to be able to throw deep and intermediate routes to streaking receievers. His biggest problem was interceptions.

When all of our receivers are running the same distance routes, it gives the defensive secondary a blanket to cover the entire width of the field.

Length must be added to Henne's options.

Also among the improvements are a young and talented offensive line with the opportunity to shine.

Add to that the power running of Daniel Thomas and the off-tackle speed work of Bush, surely improving the Wildcat if Brian Daboll implements it further, and Henne has the recipe to drive this team towards the playoffs.