Miami Dolphins: 5 Questions for the Dolphins' Preseason

The lockout is over and football is finally in the air.  Following the Miami Dolphins' first preseason game, a 28-23 comeback victory over the reigning NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons, many questions have arisen regarding multiple facets of the team. 

As with many teams, the relative lack of practice prior to actual games has forced them to learn on the fly.  Coaches and players are fighting for answers to create the best football product possible before the regular season starts.

Here are five questions the Miami Dolphins face prior to their Monday night home opener against the potent New England Patriots.

Who Will Start at Quarterback?

Freshly acquired quarterback Matt Moore steps into a dicey position battle in Miami. Former starter Chad Henne remains the teams No. 1 quarterback for now, but that could soon change as evidenced by his poor performance in the Dolphins' first preseason affair.

Henne, who struggled down the stretch last season, has thrown 27 touchdown passes compared to 33 interceptions over his short career. Definitely not eye-raising numbers, at least not in a good sense.

His two picks on Friday paired with the constant calling for his head amongst the Miami faithful aren't real promising for his future.

Throw in the fact Moore played a relatively efficient first game, and it will be hard-pressed to see this battle getting any less intense as the preseason moves on.

Can the Offense Help the Defense Enough to Make a Run?

It is no secret the Miami Dolphins have based their team around defense. The team ranked seventh and eighth in rushing and passing defense respectively last season.

These are superb numbers that usually correlate to inclusion in the playoffs. Not the Dolphins. Not with a paltry 102.7 yards on the ground paired with just 220.4 through the air.

The fact of the matter is, if the Dolphins offense can find a way to get the backfield duo of Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas going, they may have a chance to win eight or nine games. 

Regardless of the quarterback situation, which is sure to be average at best, the Dolphins have enough weapons on offense to be serviceable. 

Quite honestly, with a defense that only got better in the offseason, average may be all the Dolphins offense needs in order to find themselves in the hunt come December.

Can Rookie Mike Pouncey Step Up and Lead a Veteran Offensive Line?

Personally, I was highly skeptical of the 6-foot-5, 303-pounder out of the University of Florida. But thus far, Mike Pouncey is the consensus starter at center for the offensive line. 

With a combined 29 years of experience amongst the other four expected starters on the line, it will be essential for Pouncey to step up and produce early on.

Garnering respect from the likes of All-Pro left tackle Jake Long, Vernon Carey and Marc Colombo will go a long way in determining the success of the Dolphins pipeline. 

Will the Addition of Reggie Bush Provide Matchup Problems for Opposing Teams?

The Dolphins' biggest acquisition during the abbreviated free agency period came via a trade with the New Orleans Saints for running back Reggie Bush.

The former Heisman Trophy winner (sort of) at USC has yet to establish himself as the All-Pro caliber player his talent should allow.

However, the Dolphins are hoping Bush can resurrect himself in Miami and create mismatch problems for opposing defenses.

New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is sure to use Bush in a variety of ways, markedly the passing game where he tends to shine against opposing linebackers. 

Will Head Coach Tony Sparano Make It Through the Season?

The reality is head coach Tony Sparano barely made it to the beginning of the season.

Heading into his fourth season as the Dolphins head man, Sparano faced a very difficult offseason that included packing up his office for fear of being fired, only to wind up getting a one-year extension after Miami was unable to land Jim Harbaugh.

This was not your typical extension though, and it will be interesting to see if Sparano can make it to the Dolphins' second meeting with New England should they struggle in the early part of the season.