Submitted by Sonny Clark from Dallas, Texas

Q: Would love to have you on for our show to preview the Dolphins. We are talking to beat writers and sports writers of NFL teams to see what they think of their team. We can do it live or on a recorded line for play later. Let me know if you can help me on this. Thanks in advance for the consideration of this request. Our number is 866-821-5659

Answered 08/10/10 12:44:20 by Jeff Darlington

A: Sure, Sonny. Just shoot me an e-mail at jdarlington@miamiherald.com. Thanks.

Submitted by Dino from Ledgewood, NJ

Q: Jeff, I think the passing game has the potential to be the best in the division. I know about Brady and Moss and Sanchez doesn't scare me with his piecemeal receiving corp. Just think Marshall on one side a 6'5" Turner on the other with Bess in the slot and Hartline as your 4th option. . . .That would be impressive. Henne needs to show he is ready for the big stage, but with that being said, am I way off??? - Thanks!

Answered 08/10/10 12:39:53 by Jeff Darlington

A: Fair points, but don't forget about that former Dolphins receiver who continues to overachieve up in New England: Wes Welker. I still believe New England has the most superior corps of pass catchers in the division. I'll still give you this much. While Henne has a long, long way to go before he compares to Tom Brady, Brandon Marshall is getting very close (mostly because Moss is getting older) to becoming a more threating, consistent wide receiver. So no, I don't agree that Miami's passing game has more weapons than the Patriots. But at least it's even a conversation -- which is more than you could say for each of the last nine years.

Submitted by Mike from Tipp City, OH

Q: Jeff, Do you really feel that the Dolphins will go with Davone Bess as the main punt returner and Patrick Cobbs as the main kick returner to start the season again this year? I like both of those players a lot, but not in those rolls. I really think the team needs an infusion of youth and excitement at those positions to improve our starting field position. I was hoping that Kory Sheets would fill that roll, but with his season ending injury, who else can be expected to fill that roll?

Answered 08/09/10 12:23:14 by Jeff Darlington

A: I tend to agree, Mike. I also like both of those players, but they've yet to show the ability to make the type of gamechanging plays at those positions that many would obviously like to see. I, like you, had started to favor Sheets as a kick return possibility, mostly because of his blazing speed. But given his injury, I'd imagine Cobbs/Bess will be the opening day guys at this point -- whether that's an exciting prospect or not.

Submitted by Bob Powelson from Stuart Florida

Q: Hi Jeff, So far, and today is August 8th. who of the rookies has really caught your eye, and why? Any unnamed coaches agreed with your thoughts? Bob

Answered 08/09/10 12:19:32 by Jeff Darlington

A: I know you've probably started to hear murmurs about this name already, but cornerback Nolan Carroll was was easily the biggest surprise standout during the first week of camp. He has speed and tends to put himself around the ball much more than I'm accustomed to seeing a young corner doing so. It is still very early, but Carroll is a guy worth watching. He's even seen some time in the nickel package, which is a pretty impressive situation considering Will Allen and Jason Allen are competing for that spot.

Submitted by Kevin from WPB

Q: Much has been said of Brandon Marshall's ability to catch the "jump pass", where the QB just kind of lobs it into an area and it's up to him to make the play. What player on the Fins right now do you say is 2nd best in this category? To me, it looks like Bess. His 3rd down catches last year were remarkable!

Answered 08/09/10 12:17:05 by Jeff Darlington

A: While Bess did make some very solid grabs on third down last year, it isn't the result of any ability to catch a "jump pass." Bess, keep in mind, is 5-foot-10. That's not the type of height that allows a player to make a play on a high-lob pass. Instead, you'd expect someone like Patrick Turner to do that job. At this point in camp, though, I'd rank Roberton Wallace, an undrafted rookie, as the next-best guy capable of pulling down a jump pass. The dude is an athlete. He's 6-foot-4, 225 pounds -- almost identical size as Marshall. Keep an eye on Wallace. Probably just an ideal candidate for the practice squad, but some consistency might merit consideration for that fifth roster spot.

Submitted by Chris from Erie, PA

Q: Is there any competition for kicker? After Carpentar missed some in the scrimmage, why not bring in someone to push him?

Answered 08/09/10 12:11:17 by Jeff Darlington

A: Carpenter just signed a three-year extension, a rare showing of faith by an organization that generally likes to maintain that competition you're referencing. So no, I don't think you'll see anyone else come into camp to push Dan unless he provides more of a reason to do so. One day of struggles is excusable at this point in camp. It's those trends -- the day-to-day expectations of failure -- that would create the type of panic necessary to worry about a guy who just got a pretty considerable deal.

Submitted by Brian again from Providence

Q: Has Will Allen seemed to accept the fact that he will be the Nickle corner? and how do the coaches and players feel about Chris Clemons who looks like hes getting the first shot at the FS spot?

Answered 07/30/10 09:40:28 by Jeff Darlington

A: When it comes to Will Allen, I would say he probably believes he'll be the starter at corner as much as Chad Henne believes he'll be the starter at quarterback. The man has every expectation that he'll get his job back. Will has a very healthy ego, which is necessary at the position he plays. So don't expect him to accept any type of demotion (and yes, he would consider it a major demotion to be a nickel corner) before the last practice of the preseason has concluded. This should be a competition worth keeping a close eye on. As for Clemons, I talked pretty extensively to Yeremiah Bell during OTAs about him. I was a bit worried about Chris because he's so soft-spoken, making me wonder if he could be the type of communicator that's necessary to have at that position. I was surprised how much conviction Y. Bell had about Clemons' chances. He wasn't worried at all about his quiet demeanor, noting that Chris has already become more vocal as he's gotten more comfortable with the system. In terms of players who can make a huge leap from their first year to their second, Clemons stands to be at the top of that list. At least the Dolphins better hope that's the case.

Submitted by Ed from tampa,fl

Q: Jeff, What numbers do you project for brown/henne/marshall this year? *I appreciate all of your articles/tweets.. Your one of the best.

Answered 07/30/10 09:33:22 by Jeff Darlington

A: Thanks, Ed. Man, I'd hate to even tag those guys with potential statistics. You've got to think Ronnie needs to pile up more than 1,200 yards to consider the year a major success. And since Marshall has never had less than 1,100 yards in any of his last three seasons, that's probably a pretty good benchmark for him, too. But forget those numbers. In my opinion, the most important statistic will be how many interceptions Henne throws. If he can keep that number below 14 (his mark from last year), you've got to think the offense will be in really good shape given the potential production of those two other players.

Submitted by Joe from NM

Q: Do you think W. Allen will start over S. Smith or V. Davis?

Answered 07/30/10 09:27:42 by Jeff Darlington

A: I don't have a single source suggesting one way or the other how that position will shake out (nobody knows for sure at this point), but I have a feeling Allen will make a strong push to retain his job in place of Sean Smith. Keep in mind, I believe Smith will be a stud in the league for a long, long time. And I believe that time is coming sooner than later. But right now -- looking no further than Week One of the regular season -- I'm thinking Miami might choose to use Smith's tall frame as a situational asset and a perfect nickel option while Allen gets the repetitions with the first team. Again, that's not fact. Just a little pre-camp speculation.

Submitted by Brandon from SLC, UT

Q: With the recent signings of Douglas and Stanley which will heat up competition for the nose tackle position, and Phillip Merling being out for the season. What is the possibility of the trifecta keeping Randy Starks at the end where he has proven to be the best option at that position? Who will start at the opposite end of Kendall Langford?

Answered 07/30/10 09:23:45 by Jeff Darlington

A: No chance, Brandon. The Dolphins are very committed to moving Randy to nose tackle. If he can succeed, he's the guy there -- now and into the future. Even if he isn't a star at the position right away (I anticipate he'll be just fine), this team is going to have a pretty high level of patience when transitioning him. Douglas, by the way, will play defensive end not nose tackle. And I don't imagine Stanley will make much of a push. I've got to think Soliai will still have every chance to back up Starks, with Stanley, Tony McDaniel and Ryan Baker fighting for those final two roster spots. Baker is practice-squad eligible, so that could be the way the depth chart works out there.

Submitted by HP in PA from York, PA

Q: Any word if anyone failed the conditioning test or that will be riding the bike instead of practicing today?

Answered 07/30/10 09:19:07 by Jeff Darlington

A: No Haynesworths just yet! By the way, I'd like to point out that Matt Roth made it trendy to fail a conditioning test wayyy before Big Al. I wonder if this saga will end just as badly.

Submitted by Brian from Providence RI

Q: Will you be posting videos via twitter during training camp? and who in your opinion will be returning kicks?

Answered 07/30/10 09:15:56 by Jeff Darlington

A: I'm actually working on a new feature this year that will give you a quick, 1-minute look into the day at camp. It won't be quite the same type of live streams that I provided at OTAs and minicamps, but it's still something that I hope you'll enjoy. Since I can't archive more than a minute of footage (per league rules), this new feature will allow me to make the videos available to everyone at anytime. So to answer your question, YES! Follow me at Jeff_Darlington. As for who will be returning kicks, that's one of the most underrated questions of camp. And quite frankly, I have no idea. Not sure the coaches do at this point, either.

Submitted by Terry Holt from Dayton, Ohio

Q: with the injury to Merling, does it seem like a big mistake to let Jason Talyor go?

Answered 07/30/10 09:10:28 by Jeff Darlington

A: No, Terry. Totally unrelated. In a 3-4 system (even when it's slightly hybrid), Merling and JT play two different positions. Whether it was a mistake to let JT go will instead depend on the performance from guys like Cameron Wake and Charlie Anderson.

Submitted by nikita charlton from nassau bahamas

Q: How is Patrick Cobbs' health?

Answered 07/30/10 00:56:45 by Jeff Darlington

A: He's 100 percent -- ready to roll. And from what I hear, he's also gotten his golf game down to a pretty respectable score this offseason. Pat likes to hit the links at Fort Lauderdale Country Club with a regular group of guys Saturday mornings. Now, though, he'll put the sticks away and wear a different kind of cleats.

Submitted by Mike from Toms River, NJ

Q: I think Cameron Wake is going to be the biggest surprise for us this year. The guys got a motor that doesn't stop. He has a lot of upside. What are your thoughts and the coaches thoughts on Wake?

Answered 07/30/10 00:55:01 by Jeff Darlington

A: We'll see, Mike. I anticipate a pretty solid competition between Wake and Charlie Anderson for the weakside linebacker spot. And I'll say this: From what I hear, the team is not opposed to creating a rotation of linebackers, meaning Wake could continue to be a third-down sackmaster without it being a disappointment to the coaching staff. I know Wake really wants to turn into a three-down backer, but he'll need to keep improving his run support and pass coverage to get there. In the meantime, don't be too alarmed if you see him continuing as that third-down specialist you saw him become last year. It really wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, especially if Anderson was living up to his end of the deal on first and second downs.

Submitted by Rob from Lumberton, Texas

Q: Hey Jeff, With all this talk about replacing Merling and concern at getting more players in at end coupled with not alot of talk about Jared Odrick, I'm starting to wonder if perhaps the Fins aren't seeing what they thought they saw in him. Wasn't he expected to compete for a starting spot at end? What's the word?

Answered 07/30/10 00:48:56 by Jeff Darlington

A: Funny, Rob. I had a traditional "Training Camp Eve" dinner at Runway 84 tonight with one of my league sources, and he made what I considered to be a pretty bold prediction: That Marques Douglas would start opposite Kendall Langford at defensive end. That, of course, would mean Jared Odrick would be relegated to reserve duties. Now, keep in mind. That's just a prediction (albeit an educated one) -- and I don't necessarily share the same opinion. I think Odrick will be starting, but this source said he's heard from a few Dolphins players that Odrick still has a long way to go before he cracks that lineup. That's not an insult to his talent. Instead, the source said, the transition from a 4-3 college end to a 3-4 NFL end is pretty drastic. We'll see. I can tell you one thing with more certainty: Langford is impressing everyone. He's a solid player. Maybe even a breakout candidate. I fully expect him to be one of the starters.

Submitted by Dave from Wayne,NJ

Q: Hey Jeff. How is Ronnie Brown's health up to now? Is he on schedule to be ready for game 1? Thanks.

Answered 06/07/10 11:22:59 by Jeff Darlington

A: I've been very impressed by what Ronnie has shown during OTAs and minicamp. He looks far less ginger than I expected. So given what I've seen -- as well as what he has said -- I'd be surprised if Brown wasn't 100 percent by the start of the season.

Submitted by Dennis from Santa Fe

Q: Jake Long went #1, I believe Ryan Clady went #12, and i know hes injured. How do they compare? Both great players. Did we get the best player in the draft? Is he just as good as or better than Clady?

Answered 06/07/10 11:21:38 by Jeff Darlington

A: I know Clady had a very solid few seasons in Denver, but I don't know enough about him to make a direct comparison to Long. I'll say this: Long has not been a disappointment. Not as the first overall pick. And not as the highest-paid tackle in the NFL. He's earning it all, and I think he'll continue to do so for the next 8-10 years. As he grows more comfortable with the league, I think you'll also see him become a great leader, too. So while I can't say whether he's better than Clady, I can say he's a perfect fit for Miami. That's probably more important than anything else.

Submitted by patata from ny

Q: is it true ricky was voted Player of the Year ?

Answered 06/07/10 11:19:16 by Jeff Darlington

A: He was named the Dolphins' MVP of 2010, an award that's voted on by the players.

Submitted by Joe from Chicago

Q: Jeff, While I love Ronnie Brown and think Ricky is a great #2 to have - are there any thoughts of giving one of the young guys more carries to start building for life after Ricky (or even after Ronnie?) I watched Kory Sheets run here in Big Ten country and I think he has some skills, but was curious if he will get a chance.

Answered 06/07/10 11:18:16 by Jeff Darlington

A: It will be important for the Dolphins to get some repetitions for those young guys, like Hilliard and Sheets, but I don't think the Dolphins will abandon their plans for Ricky and Ronnie simply as a means to prepare for the future. If there comes a point in the season when the team can afford to get them some carries, then I'd absolutely expect to see whichever running backs make the team. As for Sheets, I've said it a few times before, but for me, he was one of the biggest highlights of the last minicamp. That guy has some wheels. Tough to tell his potential without any contact, but the man can move.