All-Rookie selections are tip of the iceberg for Dolphins’ youth movement

By Hugo Guzman  |   Sunday, January 18, 2009  |  Comments( 4 )

Miami Dolphins
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On Friday, the Pro Football Writers Association named Jake Long, Kendall Langford and Dan Carpenter to the NFL All-Rookie team. All three were certainly deserving, but they represent only a cross-segment of the youth movement that appears to have taken hold within the Miami Dolphins' 53-man roster.

Here's a breakdown of other young movers and shakers who will likely form the nucleus of this squad for years to come:

Donald Thomas -- Though not as heralded as fellow offensive lineman Jake Long, Thomas showed a lot of promise in 2008, earning starting honors and playing admirably in Week 1 despite what proved to be a season-ending foot injury. If Thomas can come back healthy and strong, he could help shore up the interior of Miami's line and play a pivotal role in the offense's success for a while.

Anthony Fasano -- He won't turn 25 until April, yet the tight end has already become a significant contributor in just one year as a member of the Dolphins (seven touchdowns in '08). The former Notre Dame standout could become an even bigger contributor in 2009 and beyond.

Davone Bess -- Despite limited reps early in the season, Bess finished with an impressive 54 receptions for 554 yards. After stepping in to fill the void left by Greg Camarillo's injury, Bess has shown that he is a legitimate possession receiver with a good mix of hands and elusiveness.

Ted Ginn Jr. -- Don't forget that this '08 was just his second year in the league. Ginn still needs to prove that he can produce consistently, but he flashed quite a bit of big-play ability this season. Don't be surprised if Ginn solidifies his No. 1 status and eclipses the 1,000-yard plateau in Year 3.

Chad Henne -- The rookie signal caller only played in game, mopping up for an ineffective Chad Pennington in a Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. Still, he seemed to have a strong arm and a solid command of the offense, and with the cerebral Pennington guiding his progress, the former Michigan standout should have a positive future ahead of him.

Phillip Merling -- Langford, Merling's counterpart, got the All-Rookie accolades, but it was Merling who came up with a huge interception return for a touchdown in Week 17 that helped catapult Miami into the postseason. Paired with Langford, Merling should continue to flourish going forward.

The preceding list highlights the most notable names, but there are surely other youngsters who will also help form the nucleus of this franchise. Moreover, the 2009 draft will help inject even more youth into the roster. That said, perhaps the most important "youngster" doesn't even suit up on Sundays. He's 47 years old and his name is Tony Sparano.
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About Hugo Guzman

Co-founder of RealFootball365.com. Born in Argentina, of Dominican descent, living in Hoboken, but from Miami through and ...
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