Miami Dolphins Season Preview

It's probably a bit early for Saban to be thinking about hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as he did that giant crystal egg awarded to national champion LSU in 2003. Saban inherits a team that was 4-12 with an anchor in 2004, and contended with unspeakable traumas such as the hasty, eve-of-training camp retirement of Pro Bowl running back Ricky Williams and mid-season resignation of head coach Dave Wannstedt.

But the proud tradition of the Dolphins and Saban's solid NFL background (he was defensive coordinator with the Browns from 1991 to 1994 and secondary coach with the Oilers in 1988 and 1989) gives him a fighting chance to pull the Fins from their watery abyss. The hard-nosed head coach has already set to changing the culture that gradually became poisoned under player-friendly-to- a-fault Wannstedt, has orchestrated more than a couple of savvy personnel moves in his first few months on the job, and at the time of writing has made at least one rookie cry.

Whether south Florida sports fans are shedding tears of woe or joy at the end of 2005 remains to be seen, but it seems that Saban has the blueprint to make his tenure with the Dolphins a friendly, or shall we say collegial one. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Miami Dolphins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2004 RECORD: 4-12 (4th, AFC East)
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2001, lost to Baltimore, 20-3, in AFC Wild Card Game
COACH (RECORD): Nick Saban (First season with Dolphins, first overall)
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Scott Linehan
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Richard Smith
OFFENSIVE STAR: Chris Chambers, WR (69 receptions, 898 yards, 7 TD)
DEFENSIVE STAR: Jason Taylor, DE (67 tackles, 9.5 sacks)
OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 31st rushing, 21st passing, 28th scoring
DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 31st rushing, 2nd passing, 20th scoring
FIVE KEY GAMES: Denver (9/11), New England (11/13), at Cleveland (11/20), Buffalo (12/4), N.Y. Jets (12/18)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Gus Frerotte (from Vikings), RB Ronnie Brown (2nd Round, Auburn), RB Ricky Williams (returned from retirement), FB Heath Evans (Seahawks), G Damion Cook (Browns), T Stockar McDougle (Lions), DT Keith Traylor (Patriots), DL Kevin Carter (Titans), DE Matt Roth (2nd Round, Iowa), DE Vonnie Holliday (Chiefs), LB Donnie Spragan (Broncos), LB Channing Crowder (3rd Round, Florida), CB Mario Edwards (Buccaneers), S Lance Schulters (Titans), S Tebucky Jones (Saints), S Travares Tillman (Panthers)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Jay Fiedler (released), FB Rob Konrad (released), RB Brock Forsey (released), DT Tim Bowens (released), DT Bryan Robinson (to Bengals), DE Jay Williams (released), LB Morlon Greenwood (to Texans), S Sammy Knight (to Chiefs), S Arturo Freeman (released), S Shawn Wooden (released), CB Patrick Surtain (traded to Chiefs for 2005 second-round draft choice)

QB: Much will be made of the duel between incumbent starter A.J. Feeley (1893 passing yards, 11 TD, 15 INT), who was inconsistent at best last season, and 34-year-old Gus Frerotte, who has a detailed knowledge of new coordinator Scott Linehan's offense but has averaged less than three starts a year over the past seven seasons. The smart money is on Frerotte, who has more experience, but both quarterbacks will have to be ready on a team that is thin across the line. Sage Rosenfels (264 passing yards, 1 TD, 3 INT), who made the first start of his career in the 2004 season finale against Baltimore, will likely begin the year third on the depth chart. Rookie Brock Berlin (Miami (FL)) has a chance to make the practice squad.

RB: Miami used the second pick of the draft on Auburn's Ronnie Brown, and will try to make him the foundation of its offensive attack. At 233 pounds, Brown is solid enough to withstand the pounding he is sure to take while operating behind this year's Dolphin line, and is also a pass-catching threat out of the backfield. Back to challenge for playing time is prodigal son Ricky Williams, who comes out of retirement this season but will have to serve a four-game suspension due to his violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. Ahead of Williams on a crowded running back depth chart are former starters Lamar Gordon (64 rushing yards, 13 receptions), Sammy Morris (523 yards, 6 TD, 22 receptions) and Travis Minor (388 yards, 3 TD, 13 receptions). At least one member of that trio is likely to be excised by the time final cuts are determined. At fullback, Heath Evans was brought in from Seattle to clear a path for the running backs, and Jamar Martin should make the team as a backup.

WR/TE: Though Dolphin quarterbacks often struggled to get them the ball last season, Miami receivers Chris Chambers (69 receptions, 7 TD), Marty Booker (50 receptions, 1 TD) and Derrius Thompson (23 receptions, 4 TD) performed as well as could have reasonably been expected under the circumstances. That core is back, as is Bryan Gilmore (15 receptions, 1 TD), who should be the fourth receiver. Production from the receivers should improve under Linehan, as should that of tight end Randy McMichael (73 receptions, 4 TD). McMichael is facing legal troubles stemming from an altercation with his wife, but is not expected to miss any games. Donald Lee (13 receptions, 1 TD) will again be the No. 2 tight end.

OL: The Dolphin offensive line was arguably the worst in the league during 2004, and Saban has made some progress toward getting that unit turned around. Free agent right tackle Stockar McDougle, a 16-game starter in Detroit during each of the past two seasons, is the foundation of the transition. Former Raider starter Frank Middleton should battle for a spot at guard, and Damion Cook, who started six games with Cleveland last year, will add depth at tackle. Offensive line coach Hudson Houck is also counting on 2004 first-round draft pick Vernon Carey, who was disappointing as a backup last year, to make a smooth transition from right to left tackle. If he falters, either Cook or 2004 regular Damion McIntosh will likely take over. The interior line appears more secure, as center Seth McKinney and guards Rex Hadnot (right side) and Jeno James (left) got better as 2004 wore on. Fifth-round draft choice Anthony Alabi (TCU) will be seeking a backup job on the line, as will 2004 part-time starters John St. Clair, Wade Smith, and Taylor Whitley.

DL: The Miami defense will be undergoing a transformation, as Saban and new coordinator Richard Smith will be inserting a 3-4/4-3 hybrid scheme. That means All-Pro defensive end Jason Taylor (67 tackles, 9.5 sacks) will be used at times as an outside linebacker, as will holdover end David Bowens (41 tackles, 7 sacks) and second-round draft choice Matt Roth (Iowa). At defensive tackle, the team acquired former Titans star Kevin Carter (49 tackles, 6 sacks with Tennessee) and former Chiefs standout Vonnie Holliday (13 tackles with Chiefs), as well as Keith Traylor (28 tackles with Patriots) to help stop the run. Holdover Jeff Zgonina (63 tackles, 5 sacks) was a positive addition to the defense last year, and has a chance to start at nose tackle.

LB: Though they lost Morlon Greenwood (108 tackles) to free agency, the Dolphins have the potential to feature one of the top linebacking corps in the league. Middle linebacker Zach Thomas (145 tackles, 2 sacks) shows no signs of slowing down, perennial Pro Bowler Junior Seau (57 tackles, 1 sack) appears to have recovered from a pectoral injury that cost him the final eight games of 2004, and former Bronco starter Donnie Spragan (66 tackles with Denver) should fit in nicely within the new scheme. Eddie Moore (34 tackles) and Derrick Pope (43 tackles) will again provide depth at linebacker, as will rookie Channing Crowder (3rd round, Florida). As mentioned above, usual defensive ends Jason Taylor, David Bowens, and Matt Roth will likely be featured at outside linebacker when the team plays a 3-4.

DB: Apart from the change in scheme, the biggest shift on the defensive side of the ball concerns secondary personnel. Gone are cornerback Patrick Surtain (58 tackles, 4 INT), and safeties Sammy Knight (98 tackles, 4 INT) and Arturo Freeman (33 tackles, 4 INT), all of whom were 2004 starters. Battling to replace Surtain will be rookie Travis Daniels (4th round, LSU) and holdovers Will Poole (31 tackles) and Reggie Howard (27 tackles), while offseason acquisitions Tebucky Jones (102 tackles, 1 INT with Saints), Lance Schulters and Travares Tillman will compete for the safety slots along with holdover Yeremiah Bell. The lone certainty in the secondary is cornerback Sam Madison (47 tackles), who will look to return to his Pro Bowl form of 1999-2002.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Olindo Mare (12-16 FG, 18-18 XP) is pencilled in as the Dolphin kicker for the eighth consecutive season, despite a 2004 in which he battled injury problems. Back to punt is Matt Turk (41.7 avg.), who will have to hold off former Seahawk Donnie Jones (38.0 avg. with Seattle) during training camp. Wes Welker (10.8 punt return avg., 23.0 kickoff return avg., 1 TD) had a breakthrough rookie season with the Dolphins, and sits atop the depth chart at both punt and kickoff returner.

PROGNOSIS: The Dolphins had a disastrous 2004, but their climb back to the top of the NFL mountain should be easier than for teams like the Browns and 49ers. Nick Saban inherits a talented defense that includes mainstays like Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas, and Sam Madison, and that unit should be able to keep the team in games if healthy. Offensively, the running game has been upgraded with the drafting of Brown and un-retirement of Williams, but perhaps the number one culprit in last year's offensive struggles - the line - appears only marginally better. If Miami fails to make progress up front, the first back- to-back losing seasons for the franchise since the 1960s will become a reality. If there is better play in the trenches, the Dolphins have a shot at making a 3-5 game improvement and moving out of the AFC East cellar in their first year under Saban.

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