Despite offseason additions, onus still on Ryan Tannehill in Miami

May 24th, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in Main, Opinions

Offseason improvements will mean nothing if Tannehill doesn’t take next step

As the dust settles on one of the most eventful offseasons in Miami Dolphins history, the attention is beginning to shift back to the one person who holds the key to the success for the team in both 2013 and the foreseeable future.

There’s only one who can restore the Dolphins as one of the league’s marquee franchises. There’s only one who can catapult them back to the forefront of league discussion and transform a mediocrity plagued organization into a contender once again.

It’s not general manager Jeff Ireland. It’s not head coach Joe Philbin. It’s not any of the Dolphins’ expensive new toys like Mike Wallace, Dannell Ellerbe, and Brent Grimes. It’s not their freak of an athlete first-round pick, Dion Jordan.

All valued commodities, yes. And all pieces that could potentially help Miami make a playoff run this coming season.

But quarterback Ryan Tannehill is the basket that holds all of the Dolphins’ eggs.

In a quarterback-driven league, in a quarterback-obsessed league, Ryan Tannehill and Ryan Tannehill alone can lead the Dolphins to the promised land. He flashed, at one time or another, all of the tools to do so as a rookie.

The arm strength is certainly there. Tannehill can zip passes to either sideline before the defense has time to react and his deep ball is an effortless beauty.

“Ryan has a cannon, can really fling it,” Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace told the Miami Herald. “Ryan may be able to throw the ball a little farther than Ben (Roethlisberger)…I feel like we can make a lot of big plays.”

Having a player that can actually stretch the field like Wallace should help showcase Tannehill’s cannon more in 2013. But unlike many quarterbacks with rocket arms, Tannehill can also put great touch on short to intermediate throws.

“Tannehill shows uncommon touch on a pass over the middle,” writes Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com. “He has a very strong arm, but a lot of young quarterbacks struggle to throw changeups.”

His accuracy was spotty during brief stints in year one, but on plenty of occasions it was pristine, fitting tight spirals into a group of receivers who rarely separated from coverage and executing the back-shoulder throw along the sideline flawlessly.

Tannehill also displayed the athletic ability to evade the rush or pull the ball down and move the chains with his feet, adding a dimension to the offense that really hasn’t been seen before in Miami.

All of his physical attributes would mean nothing if he didn’t have the mental makeup to be an NFL signal caller, though. And from everything we saw from Tannehill as a rookie, his football IQ and confidence are on par with his arm.

Tannehill channeled his inner Peyton Manning often, changing plays and protections at the line of scrimmage like a five-year veteran, not a rookie with only 19 collegiate starts under his belt.

He also responded well to adversity. How many young quarterbacks would have lost confidence, demoralized after throwing three interceptions in the first half of their first career start?

Week 1 at the Houston Texans was the worst-case scenario for Tannehill. He looked poised in the pocket and was moving the offense efficiently during the game’s first quarter. But everything that could have went wrong, did in the second.

First, it was an interception to Houston corner Johnathan Joseph, who jumped a poor route by Dolphins receiver Legedu Naanee. Then, it was two batted passes at the line of scrimmage by J.J. Watt.

The dreaded thud after Tannehill’s release told the whole story on that dreadful day for the rookie. Two passes, on consecutive drives were batted up into the air for what felt like an eternity as Tannehill helplessly watched both fall into the hands of a Texan defender.

Many rookies would have crumbled. Not Tannehill, who only threw 10 more interceptions throughout the remaining 15 games of the season. He went about his business and never looked back, doing the most he could with a receiving corps that arguably wasn’t SEC caliber, let alone NFL.

Perhaps, the most important trait any quarterback can have, even more so than arm strength and accuracy, is sound decision making. Were Tannehill’s decisions perfect as a rookie? Of course not. But his reads were solid. He didn’t stare down his first priority. He went through his progressions. And most importantly, he didn’t force the football into coverage. He trusted his target to win one-on-one battles when coverage was tight at times, but he was taking a calculated risk not being duped by the defense.

The ability to make every NFL throw is there for Tannehill. The pocket-presence and command of the offense appears to be as well. But let’s not get so caught up in Tannehill’s potential that we forget that we’re talking about a quarterback who threw more interceptions than touchdown passes a year ago. And a quarterback who produced less yardage than the likes of Brandon Weeden and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Tannehill certainly looked the part as a rookie. But he still has to become the part. He still has to put all of his talent together and emerge as a reliable quarterback that regularly puts the Dolphins in a position to win football games.

If he doesn’t, the curse that has beleaguered this franchise ever since Dan Marino called it a career will continue. The $178.73 million the Dolphins spent this offseason on new contracts will essentially be wasted. The refreshing return of optimism surrounding the team will go up in smoke. And a fanbase that has been waning by the year will be alienated further.

A potential savior to the Dolphins’ 13-year franchise quarterback drought couldn’t have come at a better time. The Miami Dolphins brand is as weak as it’s ever been. Long forgotten are the perennial winners of yesteryear. Losing records in six of the past seven seasons and only one playoff appearance since 2001 has created a new, negligible perception of the franchise, particularly for younger generations.

Ryan Tannehill can change all of that. And he can do so swiftly.

Tannehilll refurbishing the Dolphins would come at the perfect time, but his failure to do so would come at the worst. Empty orange seats are becoming more common every season at Sun Life Stadium. Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross has to buy tickets himself just to prevent television blackouts. There’s talk, whether legitimate or not, to move the organization to another city. And Miami is quickly gravitating more towards the success of LeBron James and the Miami Heat, transforming what once was a football town, a Dolphins town into something else.

Ryan Tannehill’s inability to take the next step as a quarterback would lead to this team’s failure to win. If this team fails to win, say goodbye to Jeff Ireland. Say goodbye to Joe Philbin. In will come a new regimen with a new GM and coach. In will come a new quarterback. Things this franchise and fanbase may not be able to withstand. At least not if there is hope of preserving any remaining aura or pride in the Miami Dolphins. Not to paint a grim outlook, but just to show how much is at stake for the Dolphins and, in turn, Ryan Tannehill.

Excitingly, optimistically, no quarterback for the Dolphins since the great #13 has the type of ability Tannehill brings to the table. “It wouldn’t shock me if Tannehill wound up eventually passing one or two of the big-name young quarterbacks in front of him,” says Greg Rosenthal. “I don’t see any big reason why Tannehill can’t evolve into a top-five NFL quarterback.”

Rosenthal has bought in. Others will follow. And if Tannehill develops into the quarterback he’s capable of becoming, a quarterback that has every tool imaginable, the Dolphins will be on the cusp of something great.

Winning will return. The fans will fill those empty orange seats. 100 degrees or torrential downpour, Sun Life Stadium will be rocking like the Orange Bowl used to rock. The Dolphins will be back.

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Miami Dolphins Over/Under: Brian Hartline

May 23rd, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in Features, Opinions

More touchdowns should be the goal for Brian Hartline in 2013

After the Dolphins traded Brandon Marshall to the Bears and chose not to select a receiver in the early or middle rounds of the draft in 2012, their outlook at the position was about as bleak as it gets.

Lacking playmakers on the outside was far from ideal after the Dolphins drafted Ryan Tannehill 8th overall and eventually started him right out of the gate, essentially throwing him to the dogs.

Brian Hartline putting the unit on his back and producing over 1,000 yards was the last thing anyone expected. But that’s exactly what Hartline did, proving that he was more capable than even the most biased, aqua sunglasses wearing Dolphins fan would have told you.

The Dolphins were impressed enough with Hartline’s performance to re-sign him to a five-year, $30.7 million deal. But not impressed enough to pass on Mike Wallace in free agency to be Tannehill’s new number one target, signing the former Steeler for twice as much as Hartline.

Will Hartline’s numbers suffer as the number two? Or will he continue to thrive with Tannehill at the helm and defenses shading their coverages more towards Mike Wallace and Dustin Keller? Let’s play over/under.

Brian Hartline’s over/under: 69.5 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards, 1.5 touchdowns

My take: Under on receptions and receiving yards, over on touchdowns

I still expect Brian Hartline to be productive in 2013, but not as productive as he was last season when he was force-fed as the Dolphins number one receiver. He’s clearly the number two receiver now with Mike Wallace in town, and his numbers should reflect that.

But Hartline will benefit from not having to face the opposing team’s top corner week in and week out. The attention new weapons like Wallace and Dustin Keller will draw should free up Hartline in ways he couldn’t have dreamt of a year ago. Throwing Hartline’s way could see a higher rate of success than even 2012 for the Dolphins. I just expect Ryan Tannehill to target him less now.

Brian Hartline’s hands are as reliable as they come. He knows how to contort his body in ways that help him make spectacular catches, particularly along the sideline. He’s also a crafty route runner who utilizes a variety of gimmicks to get open.

But Hartline simply lacks the top end speed to provide consistent separation and he doesn’t have the size or leaping ability to be a factor in the red zone. He’s not a legitimate number one receiver and never will be. He may never surpass the 1,000-yard milestone again.

If Tannehill becomes the franchise quarterback many think he will develop into, anything will be possible for Hartline and the rest of Miami’s receiving corps. But Hartline’s numbers were slightly inflated a year ago.

My expectations for Hartline’s season are still relatively high. Over 60 receptions and 800 or 900 yards would be an excellent season for him.

And after three consecutive one-touchdown campaigns, I think Hartline finally strings together multiple scores this year with less attention and an improved Tannehill. A career-high four touchdowns is my official prediction for Hartline, breaking his previous high of three as a rookie.

You know the drill. It’s your turn to tell me if you see 70 receptions, 1,000 yards, and at least two touchdowns for Brian Hartline in 2013. State your case in the comments!

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Miami Dolphins State of the Franchise: Backfield

May 22nd, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in Features, Opinions

Lamar Miller scores his first career touchdown

As the Dolphins continue OTAs this morning, we continue to take a look at the state of their franchise position by position.

Today, we evaluate the team’s backfield, which will feature a new starter at running back in 2013 after Reggie Bush signed with the Detroit Lions this offseason.

The Dolphins won’t have a proven starter running the football when they face off in Cleveland vs. the Browns come Week 1. But highly productive backs come from seemingly nowhere every season in the NFL. And there’s no reason to believe the Dolphins, with young, promising backs like Lamar Miller and Mike Gillislee, will be the exception to that trend.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Running back: Lamar Miller

Fullback: Jorvorskie Lane

As expected, Lamar Miller was seen lining up with the first team for the majority of yesterday’s practice. Miller was very solid as a rookie despite limited action, highlighted by averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

Frankly, I would have liked to see Miller steal a few more of Reggie Bush’s touches a year ago, as he was, in my humble opinion, the more consistent runner. Its Miller’s job to lose this season and it would likely take considerable digression on his part to become vulnerable to being replaced.

The real competition will take place for the number two role where Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee should square off for the right to become Miller’s sidekick and the offense’s short-yardage back.

At fullback, Jorvorskie Lane was a serviceable player for the Dolphins in 2012. If he keeps his weight down and continues to improve his technique as a lead blocker, he’ll have every opportunity to keep his job. But the Dolphins brought in Rupert Bryan and Ina Liaina this offseason to compete at the position.

TALENT EVALUATION

Elites: None

Solid starters: Lamar Miller

League average: Jorvorskie Lane

Backup material: Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Marcus Thigpen, Jonas Gray

Camp bodies: Cameron Marshall, Rupert Bryan, Ina Liaina

Evaluating the running back position requires playing by a slightly different set of rules. At every other position these posts have attempted to be a snapshot of where the team and players are currently. But at running back, a position where fielding fresh legs is arguably more important than employing proven veterans, we can base these evaluations more on potential than normal.

And while Lamar Miller’s 51 carries in 2012 hardly constitute concrete evidence suggesting he is a solid NFL starter, he flashed enough potential as a rookie to project that he will be. Miller possesses the speed and elusiveness to be a home-run hitter, but he’s also big enough to run between the tackles. With good health, there’s no reason to believe the former Hurricane and Miami native won’t run for his first 1,000-yard season in 2013.

Behind Miller, there is a little more uncertainty. Daniel Thomas hasn’t done anything to secure the number two role based on his first two seasons of play. He’s been injured too often, has had ball security issues, and overall, he’s just been incredibly inconsistent, indicated by his career average of 3.5 yards per attempt.

Fifth-round pick Mike Gillislee will have an opportunity to pass Thomas on the depth chart. I wouldn’t rule out Typer Thigpen or Jonas Gray stealing Thomas’ carries, either.

UNIT EVALUATION
(Scale: Super Bowl caliber, playoff caliber, middle of the road, below league average, poor)

Running back: Middle of the road

If this evaluation was solely based on the Dolphins starting running back, I’d be comfortable giving the position a playoff-caliber grade. But because we’re considering the entire running back committee here, I’m not sold on whoever the team’s short-yardage back will be.

Daniel Thomas gets one more chance to prove himself. But after two seasons, he hasn’t done enough to suggest he can be the guy. And while University of Florida product Mike Gillislee has potential, he’s yet to tote the rock in the NFL.

Fullback: Middle of the road

The position is becoming closer to obsolete as the league gravitates more and more towards spread concepts. But the Dolphins are one of the remaining teams that still utilize a fullback.

Jorvorskie Lane did some good things last season, de-cleating a defender on more than one occasion as a lead blocker and he even managed to run for two touchdowns while being on the receiving end of another.

Backfield: Middle of the road

We’ll have to stick with a middle of the road Dolphins backfield for now. If Lamar Miller excels as the starting running back like I expect him to that will change. If either Daniel Thomas or Mike Gillislee are able to surface as a touchdown producing, first-down converting complement to Miller that will change.

But let’s not forget that their production will be contingent on play in the trenches. Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long is gone. There is expected to be two if not three new starters on the line. It’s a unit that needs to gel in order for the Dolphins to maximize the potential of their backs.

Despite parting ways with Reggie Bush this offseason, Miami still has a talented backfield that is capable of producing at a high level. If the Dolphins aren’t able to run the football consistently in 2013, chances are the offensive line will deserve more of the blame than Miami’s stable of backs.

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Miami loses out on Super Bowls L and LI

May 21st, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in News

Sun Life Stadium won’t host a Super Bowl any time soon unless renovations are made

The writing has been on the wall ever since the Florida House refused to vote on the Sun Life Stadium renovation bill. That obviously meant Super Bowl L would be awarded to the Bay Area and Super Bowl LI to Houston.

But it became official this afternoon when, despite South Florida’s efforts to promote the city and proposed festivities, Santa Clara, California and Houston, Texas became the destinations for the NFL’s title game in 2016 and 2017.

The league sent a message to Miami and other potential host cities around the league. No longer will weather and the prestige of a city be enough. Keeping the city’s venue state of the art will be the key to a winning bid.

It’s now back to the drawing board for South Florida. Sun Life Stadium needs to be renovated or a plan to build a new facility needs to be approved in order for Miami to remain in the Super Bowl rotation.

The NFL isn’t going to allow other cities who need to renovate their stadiums to lose leverage in their efforts to do so by awarding a Super Bowl to Miami after its restoration attempt was vanquished.

“We need to do something to our stadium and I think the owners spoke,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said.

Ross also reiterated that he isn’t willing to fund the renovations alone. “It has to be a public-private partnership,” he said. “I think the percentage that I’m going to put up is probably more than anybody else has ever put up, and I’m willing to do that, but I think we’re going to have to work together.”

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Miami Dolphins OTA Report: 5/21

May 21st, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in News

Ryan Tannehill drops back to pass – courtesy of MiamiDolphins.com

The Miami Dolphins kicked off OTAs this morning on the practice field in Davie. The final phase of the team’s offseason training program has now begun as the countdown to training camp is only two months away. Let’s delve right into the action of this morning’s workout.

Roll call

Attendance will be a major theme during these “voluntary” workouts. After Reshad Jones made headlines yesterday by threatening to sit out OTAs, it was reported earlier this morning that he would show up after the Dolphins promised to begin negotiations for a multi-year contract extension sometime soon.

Sure enough, Jones was present and practicing with his teammates. “I’m not really focused on that” Jones said regarding his contract. “I know if I continue to do what I’m doing, work my butt off, everything will work itself out.”

The same cannot be said for Randy Starks, who did not practice as he continues to protest being placed with the franchise tag. Like Jones, Starks wants a long-term deal. Starks is expected to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp next month, however, as well as training camp in July.

Perhaps the biggest news from an attendance standpoint was the absence of second-round pick Jamar Taylor. The rookie cornerback did not participate in this morning’s workout. While players are not subject to fines for missing OTAs, it would be highly beneficial to Taylor’s chances of seriously competing for a starting job to utilize every opportunity to impress the coaching staff. But we’ll wait to hear if there was a legitimate excuse for Taylor’s absence before we speculate any further. (Update: Taylor reportedly underwent a hernia procedure recently and will be out for probably three weeks or so. He’ll likely miss the rest of OTAs but there is hope he can return in time for the team’s mandatory minicamp in June.)

First-round pick Dion Jordan wasn’t on the practice field either. NFL rules prohibit Jordan from participating in any of the Dolphins’ OTAs because he doesn’t graduate from Oregon until next month.

Injuries

Offensive guards Lance Louis, who is still recovering from a torn ACL, and rookie Dallas Thomas, who is rehabbing from shoulder surgery, did not practice this morning. Louis has a legitimate chance to unseat John Jerry at first-team right guard while Thomas projects more as a versatile backup in his first season.

Position battles

Lamar Miller predictably received most of the work with the starters at running back. Daniel Thomas served as the number two followed by Marcus Thigpen. Rookie Mike Gillislee figures to enter the picture at some point but needs to work his way up the depth chart first.

John Jerry obviously was the starting right guard with Lance Louis still rehabbing.

At tight end, Michael Egnew surprisingly received some reps with the first-team alongside Dustin Keller in the Dolphins’ two-tight end sets. Egnew was in over his head as a rookie and was generally perceived as soft both physically and mentally. But he’s been working extremely hard this offseason to shake that stigma and now appears to have a legitimate shot of competing for a roster spot this summer.

At cornerback, Brent Grimes and Richard Marshall made up the first-team cornerback duo. No surprises there. Grimes reportedly had a solid practice, batting down several passes. If Grimes can return to the form that earned him Pro Bowl honors in 2010, Miami’s secondary will be much improved this season.

So much for Jimmy Wilson moving to safety exclusively. Wilson spent time working as the first-team nickel corner in addition to playing safety on the second team.

With Randy Starks sitting out OTAs, Jared Odrick moved inside to defensive tackle. Second-year defensive end Olivier Vernon filled Odrick’s void on the edge. The Dolphins looked to improve the pass rush this offseason by drafting Dion Jordan, but Vernon’s development could go a long way in producing more pressure in 2013.

Practice highlights

Ryan Tannehill had a few new shiny toys to play with at this morning’s practice. But he hooked with an old face during 11-on-11’s for the offense’s only touchdown. Brian Hartline reportedly got open behind the safeties when Tannehill hit him with a beautiful deep ball that would have gone for six. The offense got a little sloppy when it started raining for the final portion of practice, though.

Philip Wheeler impressed in his first practice as a Dolphin, reportedly looking athletic and smooth in coverage. And as mentioned above, starting cornerback Brent Grimes was athletic and fast, and made several plays on the football. According to several reports, tight end Dustin Keller made a great first impression as well.

New uniform numbers

The numbers each free-agent pickup will wear this season became apparent when the players were donning their new digs at practice this morning. The newcomers’ jersey numbers as well as several number changes from returning players are listed as follows:

WR Brandon Gibson- #10
WR Mike Wallace- #11
CB Brent Grimes- #21
LB Philip Wheeler- #52
LB Dannell Ellerbe- #59
OG Lance Louis- #61
OT Tyson Clabo- #77
TE Dustin Keller- #81
WR Marvin McNutt- #87
DT Vaughn Martin- #90

Changes

WR Jeff Fuller- #14 (previously 83)
WR Rishard Matthews- #18 (86)
CB De’Andre Presley- #23 (21)
CB Dimitri Patterson- #24 (32)
RB Jonas Gray- #32 (46)
LB Jonathan Freeny- #56 (59)
TE Kyle Miller- #86 (87)

What’s next? 

The Dolphins will hit the practice field again tomorrow and Thursday, but neither session will be open to the media.

Sources: Miami Herald, Sun-Sentinel, The Finsiders, ESPN, MiamiDolphins.com

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Reshad Jones to report to OTAs after Ireland promises contract negotiations

May 21st, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in News

Reshad Jones, seen pulling down an incredible interception, will report to OTAs today

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is reporting that Dolphins strong safety Reshad Jones will report to the team’s first OTA session today after all. News broke on Monday that Jones was planning on sitting out OTAs until the Dolphins were willing to talk contract.

Well, it looks like he’s holding up to his end of the bargain after Jeff Ireland spoke with Jones’ agent Joel Segal several times last night, apparently promising negotiations would begin if Jones did indeed report.

And report he reportedly will. The Dolphins now expect Jones to be present and practicing when the team kicks off OTAs later today.

The Dolphins could have as many as 10 new starters in 2013. Developing chemistry and camaraderie will be essential to this team’s success, especially considering the schedule resembles a gauntlet early on.

These practices will prove crucial. And the Dolphins will benefit from having one of their best defensive players around as the team begins the process of attempting to mold into a contender.

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Reshad Jones plans to skip Dolphins’ OTAs

May 20th, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in News

Reshad Jones appears to want a new deal

Randy Starks was thought to be the only unhappy camper on the Dolphins’ roster. But it looks like we’ll have to add strong safety Reshad Jones to that list.

Jones, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, plans to sit out organized team activities starting with tomorrow’s practice until the Dolphins reach out to him about a long-term contract extension.

So essentially, this isn’t a holdout demanding a new deal. Jones simply wants contract talks to begin before he returns to the field. A reasonable request for a player that was arguably a top five safety in 2012.

Giving in to Jones’ demands would obviously solve the problem and secure an arguably elite talent. But general manager Jeff Ireland could want to see Jones prove last season wasn’t a fluke before committing to him with a multi-year deal.

Then again, the Dolphins could save money by locking Jones up this offseason, as another dominant campaign like last season could escalate his price tag even further.

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What to keep an eye on as Dolphins open OTAs

May 20th, 2013 Cody Strahm Posted in Opinions

The Dolphins begin OTA’s Monday in Davie

The Miami Dolphins begin organized team activities this week; the final phase of their offseason training program. OTAs will consist of 10 practices and a mandatory minicamp during which 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills will be permitted for the first time.

There is no live contract during OTAs, however, as the players will not be wearing pads, only helmets, jerseys, and shorts. Miami’s first OTA session will commence tomorrow, Wednesday, and Thursday with Tuesday’s practice being open to the media. The Dolphins will also hold OTAs on May 29-31 and June 3-6, and their mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 11-13.

Concrete insight into the 2013 Dolphins likely won’t be gleaned from these practices. But we will get some initial impressions of the new-look squad.

Here are some things to keep an eye on:

Randy Starks’ potential holdout

Dolphins’ defensive tackle Randy Starks has been a no show during the club’s offseason conditioning program. Starks was hit with the franchise tag in March but wants to be offered a long-term contract that keeps him in Miami for the foreseeable future.

OTAs are not mandatory so Starks’ attendance is not expected. He has said that he will attend the team’s mandatory minicamp in June, though.

Only sitting out OTAs likely won’t force the Dolphins’ hand. It appears as though Starks is riding the fence here and should commit to either a legitimate holdout where he threatens to miss minicamp and training camp practices or just joining his teammates for what’s left of Miami’s offseason program.

Who has leg up in position battles?

There will be several position battles to monitor this summer, some with starting jobs on the line. Competitions at running back, right guard, and cornerback are expected to be the most intense.

Although nothing will be decided until training camp and the preseason, we could get an idea of who has the early leads. With Tuesday’s practice being open to the media, we’ll see who is currently lining up with the first team. But take everything with a grain of salt because different players can line up with the starters on different days and we will only have insight into what transpires during Tuesday’s practice.

Early indications suggest Lamar Miller will be the starting running back, John Jerry will continue starting at right guard, and veterans Brent Grimes and Richard Marshall will be the first-team cornerback tandem. But that all is subject to change, especially at right guard and corner where Lance Louis will seriously threaten Jerry’s job when he’s 100% and rookie Jamar Taylor will have every opportunity to unseat Marshall.

Hybrid scheme from new-look defense?

There has been no indication that the Dolphins will alter their 4-3 defense. But they did load up on players that have experience in the 3-4 scheme this offseason, most notably first-round pick Dion Jordan.

I expect Kevin Coyle’s defense to remain a base 4-3, but we could see some 3-4 looks from the Dolphins this year. Even if more of a hybrid scheme is in the works, though, the team could choose not to reveal it during the practice sessions that are open to the media. So we probably won’t know exactly what the Dolphins defense will look like until at least training camp.

Injury front

An injury-free month of OTAs will be a successful month of OTAs for the Dolphins. No hitting obviously bodes well for team’s health, but there doesn’t have to be contact for a player to go down with a serious injury, especially as it pertains to knees.

There are also a few players returning from season-ending injuries they sustained a year ago. Potential starters Brent Grimes, Richard Marshall, and Lance Louis are coming off injury-shortened seasons in which they landed on IR.

Grimes, who is expected to lock down one of the Dolphins’ starting cornerback spots, is said to be near full recovery so it will be interesting to see if he’s limited at all during these practices. Richard Marshall confirmed last week that he’s been cleared to practice, but we’ll see how ready he is to hold off promising second-round pick Jamar Taylor.

Lance Louis, meanwhile, is a better fit schematically for the Dolphins’ zone-blocking system than incumbent starting right guard John Jerry, but he’ll have to prove he’s 100% before he seriously challenges him for that spot.

Will Ryan Tannehill begin to thrive with new arsenal of weapons?

The groceries have been bought. It’s time to prepare a gourmet meal.

The Dolphins did an excellent job of loading up on weapons for Ryan Tannehill this offseason. Weapons that the second-year quarterback will need in order to develop into the franchise player the Dolphins hope he emerges into.

The signings of Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, and Dustin Keller give Miami much more playmaking ability, improving what was arguably the blandest receiving corps in the entire NFL. But the biggest improvement must take place at quarterback.

Tannehill now has the pieces around him to be successful, but the onus is still on him and his development. We won’t know how improved Tannehill is until the bullets start flying at game speed and there is a live rush when the pads come on, but we need to see him begin to take command of this offense and this team.

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