Dolphins
WILL MIAMI MAKE THE PLAYOFFS?
Get your squeakiest Jim Mora impersonation ready for this one: "Playyyofffs?" Don't talk about playoffs! Playoffs?!" Man, that meltdown just never gets old. Unfortunately for Dolphins fans, it also serves as a timely response to the team's outlook this season. Baby steps, people. Bill Parcells might have invented the game of football, but he didn't build Rome in a day. It took him at least a week.
WHO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE NAMED TO THE PRO BOWL?
Well, we all know Jason Taylor still has the goods to make another Pro Bowl (in Washington). And Zach Thomas has a shot (in Dallas). So do Chris Chambers (in San Diego) and Wes Welker (in New England). But we are guessing that is not what you meant (at all). In Miami, given the anonymous nature of this team, it should be fun to see who becomes a star. The best bet for potential Pro Bowl selections at this point, though, is still on some proven talent. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson, right guard Vernon Carey and running back Ronnie Brown appear destined for good things this season. Heck, you also can throw Ricky Williams into that mix, if you really want to get crazy.
HOW WILL THIS TEAM REPLACE JASON TAYLOR?
If we wanted to spew out some of those nauseating NFL clichés, we would answer by saying, "You can't replace someone like Jason Taylor." But that just would be silly because everyone knows this defense wouldn't have a shot if it only put 10 players on the field. So might we suggest a few names to replace the former Dolphins star? In the literal sense, Quentin Moses and Charlie Anderson will compete to fill Taylor's void at weakside linebacker in the 3-4 system. But Taylor's role on this defense also was about leadership. It is going to be important for players such as Channing Crowder, Joey Porter and Jason Ferguson to do their part in fulfilling that aspect of what Taylor brought to this team.
WILL THERE BE ENOUGH CARRIES FOR RONNIE BROWN AND RICKY WILLIAMS FOR BOTH TO HAVE BIG YEARS?
Yes. Or more appropriately, H-E-Double-hockey-sticks YES! No doubt about it, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams have the potential to be the sweetest backfield duo since Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka ripped it up in 1972. Both players look primed for a huge season. If Ronnie can keep progressing past last year's knee injury and Ricky can keep progressing past, well, the past four years of his life, this has the potential to be a special year for the Dolphins' running game. If they each can get 16 carries a game -- and average 4 yards a carry -- they would become just the fourth pair of running backs from the same team in NFL history to each eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season.
IS JAKE LONG THE REAL DEAL?
That depends. If by "real deal," you actually mean "real rich," then Jake Long is very much the real deal. But at this point, that is pretty much all we know about the man who has been guaranteed $30 million to protect the Dolphins' quarterback for the next five years. Long has the potential to earn his coin given his quick feet and massive frame, but he is going to need to be exceptional during his rookie year as a pass blocker and run blocker if he wants to live up to the expectations placed upon him. Fair or not, that is the reality that goes along with being the No. 1 overall pick these days.
WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM QUARTERBACK CHAD PENNINGTON?
Miracles. A Super Bowl. Maybe even an MVP award. OK, you got us. We're kidding. The fact is, Pennington is likely to be a nice addition to this team. He is an incredibly accurate passer and he will be a great leader and mentor. But let's not get crazy here. Pennington is only one person, and he is going to need some serious help from his offensive line and wide receivers to make this offense click.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CONCERN FOR THIS TEAM?
The Dolphins might have done a solid job rebuilding the trenches this offseason, but they apparently are saving the second phase of this restoration process for 2009. And quite clearly, that second phase includes the addition of some playmakers. At this point, Miami lacks any Pro Bowl-worthy punch at wide receiver or tight end. Obviously, because those positions are the keys to the passing game, that is not exactly a recipe for passing success. It could take another draft -- at least -- before Miami has the proper offensive balance to be a proficient unit late in the season.
WHAT ROOKIES WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST SPLASH?
Tackle Jake Long better be good, and quarterback Chad Henne eventually will be good. But because we understand watching a left tackle on the field is about as much fun as watching a rookie quarterback hold a clipboard, we will toss you a few other names worth watching: defensive ends Kendall Langford and Phillip Merling. These big guys have the hustle in their steps to make an immediate impact on defense.
HOW MANY GAMES WILL THIS TEAM WIN?
More than 2007. Less than 1972. How is that for a prediction? The Dolphins' success or failure this season likely will hinge on their record within the AFC East. The schedule outside of the division isn't all that tough, but a bolstered Jets roster (a la Brett Favre) and a typical Patriots roster (a la Tom Brady) amount to four automatically challenging games. Las Vegas oddsmakers say Miami will win 5 ½ games, which has us wondering: Since when can a team win half a game?
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS YEAR'S TEAM AND LAST YEAR'S TEAM?
Do you know how some people tend to refer to a football team as a "football organization?" Well, it would be ridiculous to use anything close to the meaning of the word "organized" to describe the Dolphins of 2007. It was a mess. At times, it was four quarters of sloppy chaos. So although this year's talent might not be all that much better, it already has become clear that something has changed: the approach. Under the Dolphins' new regime, expect more accountability from everyone. With more accountability, we also can expect to see a team that resembles something far more like an organization than anything we saw last year. And that, no doubt, is the reason why this deserves to be called, "A New Beginning."
The McClatchy Company