How the Dolphins can reach the Super Bowl

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Thursday, February 12, 2009  |  Comments( 2 )

Miami Dolphins
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After a new regime took over last season, the Miami Dolphins’ roster received a massive overhaul. There were several casualties as Miami emptied the cupboard by parting ways with the likes of veterans Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.

To the surprise of many, the Dolphins enjoyed a quick turnaround from a dismal 1-15 campaign in 2007. Miami’s 10-game improvement resulted in an 11-5 record and an AFC East crown.

The key for the Dolphins will be sustaining their recent success and even building on it. With Bill Parcells vowing to stick around through 2009, this is Miami’s time to firmly plant itself back on the map as a contender in the NFL.

The first priority for the Dolphins will be re-signing key contributors whose contracts have expired. Linebacker Channing Crowder should be the team’s top priority given his production over the past four seasons in Miami. Crowder racked up 113 tackles last year and has compiled 379 stops throughout his young career.

After Crowder is locked up, the Dolphins’ focus should shift to offensive tackle Vernon Carey and safety Yeremiah Bell. There has been talk about Carey moving inside to guard, but he possesses the necessary attributes to man the tackle position.

Tackles historically get paid at higher rate than guards and Miami needs to determine where Carey will end up along the offensive line if he returns. There will certainly be a team out there in desperate need of a starting tackle, willing to shell out a lucrative contract to the 27-year-old lineman.

Bell broke on the scene in 2008, making an astonishing 120 tackles after netting just five stops the prior year. Like Carey, if Bell isn’t brought back, teams will be lining up for the services of a productive safety.

Sure, the Dolphins will have to navigate through the toughest schedule in the league next season, but the Pittsburgh Steelers did just that in 2008 en route to their sixth championship.

Is Miami next? Dolphins' fans sure hopes so. After back-to-back titles in 1972 and '73, fans in South Florida are itching at the opportunity to bring home the Lombardi Trophy and end a 36-year drought.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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