The Dolphins are only 3 weeks away from the start of training camp, where many positions will be decided and when Hardknocks kicks off. So far, we have a little view of how players are doing from what has been reported from various OTAs and minicamp. From these report, we can build a basic view of how the training camp depth chart is going to look and where different players are slotted in it. So, let's get started.
Offense
Quarterback
David Garrard-Matt Moore-Ryan Tannehill-Pat Devlin
At the QB position, there are no real surprises. For an in-depth look at the QB candidates, check out this article. Garrard has been the best QB thus far by a lot, and seems to have an inside track at the starting spot. Moore has held his own, and has deserved a backup role while Tannehill has shown to be struggling with the speed of the game, which is to be expected given how raw he is coming out of college. However, Moore has been turning the ball over quite a bit thus far, while Tannehill has also made some brilliant throws, so these two are in flux for now. Pat Devlin rounds out the depth chart, and looks to be better suited for the waiver wire than a roster spot.
Halfback
Reggie Bush-Daniel Thomas-Lamar Miller-Steve Slaton-Marcus Thigpen
Reggie is of course the top dog here, while Thomas' power running gives him the second spot. Miller has been turning a lot of heads, but we will still have to see how his shoulder holds up when the pads come on and the real hitting starts. I think he will decline a bit then. Slaton is a good fit in this system and is overall a good backup while Thigpen has been good on special teams thus far and may make the team as a returner.
Halfback/Fullback
Jerome Messam-Jonas Gray
Messam was brought in from the CFL due to his versatility as a huge RB with a decent amount of speed. He wad a surgery, which may affect his stock, but he is still the top option here. Jonas Gray was brought in as and undrafted rookie, and is a typical short-yardage powerback. Imagine a younger Lousaka Polite and you would have Gray. If either of them make the roster, they will most likely hae a role similar to that of John Kuhn in Green Bay last year.
Fullback
Charles Clay-Jorvorskie Lane-Ryan Mahaffey
Clay is the only one in this group that is any sort of sure bet to make the roster. Clay is a great pass catcher and decent blocker. He can also take carries if needed and is actually more of an H-back (FB/TE hybrid) than a true FB, but he is listed as a FB, so I have him here. Both Lane and Mahaffey are little more than camp fodder at this point, but I put Lane ahead because he has experience in Sherman's West Coast offense. Lane is a typical bowling ball type back, short and stout that can run opposing defenders over like bowling pins. Mahaffey is more of a blocker, and can help other RBs with that. Both of them will have to shine in camp to make the roster.
Tight End
Anthony Fasano-Micheal Egnew-Les Brown-Will Yeatman-Jeron Mastrud
Fasano is currently the top TE in the stable, but expect to see a varied rotation at this spot. Fasano is a great blocker and a decent pass catcher, and happens to be a solid red zone target. Egnew was brought in to be the future of this position, and he could very well do it. He has good speed, soft hands and runs fluid routes. He just needs to work on his very weak blocking abilities. Les Brown comes in no. 3, and he seems to be too raw for a roster spot, and will more than likely end up on the practice squad. Yeatman and Mastrud round out the position, both of them competing for maybe one spot on the roster, considering Clay can play TE as well. Yeatman has monstrously huge hands, and could be a developmental TE, while Mastrud has done well enough in backup duty in the past.
Wide Reciever
Davone Bess-Brian Hartline-Legedu Naanee-Chad Johnson-Roberto Wallace-Julius Pruitt-Clyde Gates-Marlon Moore-Jeff Fuller-Rishard Mathews-BJ Cunningham-Chris Hogan
This is probably the most competitive spot on the roster, with all of these players competing for 6 spots. Davone Bess is still an elite possession receiver, and is the clear no. 1 guy here. Hartline has familiarity with the team, is a good fit in the system, and could very well end up the no. 1 guy at the end of training camp, but ends up behind Bess for now due to the fact that he missed a lot of the offensive installment and will be behind on the playbook due to his appendectomy. Naanee comes up as the 3rd WR, having wowed many watchers early in OTAs and looking like a great target. Chad Johnson did the same thing later in training camp, but ends up behind Naanee for the same reason Hartline is behind Bess, he missed much of OTAs and didn't practice with the team till minicamp. Roberto Wallace has looked like a great young receiver thus far, and has even been compared to ex-Dolphin Brandon Marshall, and could very well jump higher on the chart. Julius Pruitt has been described by special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi as "the best special teams player [he] has ever seen" and had a great showing as a WR on the final day of mini-camp, putting up a 3 TD show. Clyde Gates seems to have disappeared in practice thus far, but the high-draft pick used on him keeps him this high. Moore seems to be adjusting to the WCO well, but hasn't really stood out thus far. Jeff Fuller, on the other hand, has. He has been described as the best of the rookie WRs, has great size and is familiar with the system. Rishard Mathews has shined on special teams so far, so that, and his upside keep him this high. BJ Cunningham has had a rough minicamp and was worse in the OTAs, dropping passes left and right and not really being the playmaker he was at Michigan St. Chris Hogan is nothing more than a training camp body, and will most likely not make the active roster or practice squad.
Offensive Line
Left Tackle: Jake Long-Will Barker-Dustin Waldron
Left Guard: Richie incognito-Nate Garner-Ray Feinga-Derek Dennis
Center: Mike Poucey-Ryan Cook
Right Guard: Artis Hicks-John Jerry-Josh Samuda
Right Tackle: Jonathon Martin-Lydon Murtha
There are very few surprises here, as most of the spots were not up for much debate. Jake Long, Richie Incognito and Mike Pouncey are already locked into their spots, so i'm not going to get into them, but the rest get interesting. Hicks seems to be holding John Jerry off from the starting spot, but that may change if Jerry somehow manages to drop 20 lbs before training camp starts, which I doubt. Jonathon Martin aslo will be neck-to-neck with Lydon Murtha, with the position most likely being undecided until game 2 or 3 of preseason. behind the starters, at LT, Will Barker and Dustin Waldron are competing for a practice squad spot. Neither of them are really final roster material, but it will be necessary to have an OT on the pracice squad in order to have 10 offensive lineman practicing (two full O-lines). Ryan Cook seems to be locked in as the backup C/G, and is a cheap solution to that spot. Jerry will make the roster as a backup, meaning there is one spot left. Nate Garner seems to be the most well-qualified for that spot, but he holds a hefty $1.6 mill price tag, and the team may want a cheaper backup guard. In that case, Ray Feinga seems to have the inside track for the spot, but young players Derek Dennis and Josh Samuda may have something to say about that. Either way, those two are probably also competing for a pracitice squad spot.
Defense
Defensive Line
LE: Cameron Wake-Jamaal Westerman-Jacquies Smith-Derrick Shelby
LDT: Paul Soliai-Tony McDaniel-Isaako Aaitui-Chas Alexih
RDT: Randy Starks-Ryan Baker-Kheeston Randall
RE: Jared Odrick-Olivier Vernon-Jarrell Root
Just like in the O-line, there are not many surprises here. Wake, Soliai, Starks and Odrick are currently locked in at their spots, while Olivier Vernon is a lock as the primary rotational DE. After those 5, the battles start. Jamaal Westerman seems to be the best bet to make the roster as the 4th DE, but is currently being pushed by youngsters Jacquies Smith, Jarrell Root and Derrick Shelby, who also happen to be competing for a spot on the practice squad. Tony Mcdaniel seems to be the odds-on bet for the backup DT spot, but he commands a hefty price tag, and the team may want to go cheaper. In that case, Ryan Baker would be the primary rotational DT, while 7th round pick Kheeston Randall, 2nd year man Isaako Aaitui and UDFA Chas Alexih battle for the final DT spot. If the team decides to take up Mcdaniel's contract, then those 4 will be competing for a practice squad spot.
Linebackers
OLB: Kevin Burnett-Josh Kaddu-Johnathon Freeny
MLB: Karlos Dansby-Austin Spitler-Cameron Collins
OLB: Koa Misi-Gary Guyton-Jason Trusnik-Shelly Lyons
There will be a lot of attention directed towards the LB corps, as they adjust to the new 4-3 scheme. Burnett and Dansby are definitely upper-echelon starters, and will hold down their spots. Koa Misi and speedy free agent pickup Gary Guyton will be competing for the starting OLB role opposite Burnett. Misi will most likely win this role due to his tenacious run defense. Austin Spitler played well last year as the backup MLB, and will return in that role, while 5th round pick Josh Kaddu earns a backup OLB job. This leaves one more LB spot open to competition. Returning player Jason Trusnik, whose special teams blunders push him down the chart, pass rushing LB Johnathon Freeny, and UDFAs Cameron Collins and Shelly Lyons will most likely be competing for the remaining roster spot, and in the case of Collins and Lyons, a practice squad spot.
Cornerbacks
CB1: Vontae Davis-Johnathon Wade-Nolan Carroll-Marcus Brown
CB2: Sean Smith-Vince Agnew-Quinten Lawrence-Kevyn Scott-Trenton Hughes
Nickel CB: Richard Marshall
Vontae Davis, Sean Smith and Richard Marshall are already locked into their roles as the top 3 CBs, which leaves 2 spots open to contention, assuming the Phins decide to keep 5 CBs. For now, it seems to be a 4 man competition for those two spots, as former 3rd rd pick Johnathon Wade, last year's UDFA Vince Agnew, former 5th rd pick Nolan Carroll are the top three, and UDFA Quinten Lawrence is the wildcard. Wade and Agnew have played very well in practice so far, and Carroll has experience with the team. After those 3, Lawrence, Kevyn Scott, Marcus Brown and Trenton Hughes are competing for a practice squad spot.
Safeties
SS: Reshad Jones-Tyrone Culver-Tyrell Johnson-Anderson Russell
FS: Chris Clemons-Jimmy Wilson-Kelcie McCray
Reshad Jones and Chris Clemons seem to be the best bets for the starting spots, but Jimmy Wilson will be pushing them hard all camp and all season. Jones is a ballhawk who may occasionally give up a big play in an attempt to pull down an INT. Clemons is the complete opposite, he is not a playmaker, but will not give up a big play and is overall solid. Wilson is a hard-hitting S, with great explosiveness and playmaking ability. Tyrone Culver is the steady old veteran of the group, whose experience makes him a valuable asset. Competing with him for one, maybe two spots are free agent signing Tyrell Johnson, whose ability to guard even the top TEs makes him a good option, and UDFA Kelcie McCray, who was one of the most sought after UDFAs after the draft, receiving calls from over 20 teams. UDFA Anderson Russell will be competing for a practice squad spot.
And that wraps up my pre-training camp Phins depth chart, leave comments below for any changes you would make.
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