For better or worse, Cameron’s plan falling into place

By Hugo Guzman  |   Tuesday, May 15, 2007  |  Comments( 19 )

Miami Dolphins
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
Thus far this offseason, the Miami Dolphins have gotten rid of five major offensive contributors from a year ago. They have also made a host of offensive acquisitions via free agency and the draft, which for the most part have left both the fan base and the media scratching their heads.

Gone are notable skill players such as tight end Randy McMichael and wide receiver Wes Welker, journeyman signal-caller Joey Harrington, and O-linemen Jeno James and Damion McIntosh. Instead, new head coach Cam Cameron and General Manager Randy Mueller elected to go with relative no-names like former Green Bay Packers TE David Martin and ex-BYU QB John Beck, unproven athletes like WR Ted Ginn Jr. and running back Lorenzo Booker, and a pair of powerful Samoans -- Samson Satele and Reagan Mauia -- who played in relative anonymity at the University of Hawaii.

Not one of these imports is anywhere close to proven at the NFL level, and yet all but two -- Beck and Mauia -- are expected to contribute immediately to a Dolphins offense that was near the bottom of the barrel in virtually every important offensive category last season.

But apparently, Cameron wouldn't have it any other way. Clearly, the offensive-minded coach is dead set on completely overhauling the unit, and based on the current trend, he intends to do so with a healthy blend of youth, power and athleticism.

Of the six previously mentioned players who have been brought in, Martin is the oldest, and he just turned 28. And he's a young 28 at that, having served as an apprentice under veteran Bubba Franks for the past five seasons. NFL Network's Adam Schefter was recently interviewed on a Miami-area talk show, who intimated that the Packers were high on Martin and equally disappointed when they lost him to the Dolphins. Though Martin has battled with injury issues at times, he is essentially a wideout trapped in a tight end's body, showcasing a blend of speed and quickness that McMichael could never muster. And just like the guy Cameron worked with in San Diego, star TE Antonio Gates, Martin is a former basketball player.

Nobody is saying Martin is the next Gates, but he fits that mold and will likely be utilized in the same manner.

And what about the other guys? Ginn and Booker are both shifty speedsters capable of scoring every time they touch the ball. Ironically enough, this is exactly the type of playmaking ability the fan base has been clamoring for since the last millennium, but now that they've gotten a double dose all they've done is complain, for the most part.

They bickered that Ginn -- an ex-Ohio State WR -- is unproven and unworthy of the No. 9 overall pick despite the fact that the guy most of them wanted, Brady Quinn, is also unproven and slipped from a perceived top-five selection to the 22nd choice overall.

They groused about Booker because they assumed that Ricky Williams would be back in the Dolphins' backfield come September, nullifying the need for a backup to Ronnie Brown. Now, in light of the recent revelations regarding South Florida's most famous pot smoker, Cameron's selection of Booker has been vindicated.

Both of these guys will likely get full vindication if and when they break off an electrifying touchdown jaunt -- something both were known for during their college careers.

Satele and Mauia fit into the "build from the inside out" mentality that Cameron shared during his first official press conference. Clearly, he is convinced that power and outright aggression are key building blocks for offensive success, because both of these guys are big and mean.

Beck is the only guy in this group who doesn't quite fit the mold in that he's not young, not especially fast, and not overly powerful. But he's a smart quarterback who reminds many of another passer whom Cameron worked with in the past, Drew Brees.

A lot of people seem to be focusing on the current rumors swirling around the statuses of veteran quarterbacks Daunte Culpepper and Trent Green; however, regardless of whether one (or both of these guys) ends up on Miami's 53-man roster come September, the truth of the matter is that these brittle veterans are little more than stopgaps at this point.

The future of Miami's offense rests with its youth, so patience is the key. As time unfolds, it will be seen whether Cameron's plan will fall into place.

RealFootball365.com: Where there's never an offseason for Miami Dolphins football! Tell your friends about us.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (19)

About Hugo Guzman

Trying to bring an objective approach to NFL analysis.
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 19  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
jax		09:00 AM
05/15/2007
This is all good. The offense cant get any worse than the last 10 years (except the one Linehan/Frerotte year.) Culpepper,...
No.2
Ian		10:01 AM
05/15/2007
I'm curious as to why all the writers keep saying that Beck doesn't have a strong arm. Every game clip I have ever seen of him...
No.3
Nugget		10:05 AM
05/15/2007
Cam's making the changes we've sought for. Jax your crazy if you think BROWN and CHAMBERS are the next to go. I can't see where...
Team News  |  View All Dolphins Content
Henne takes baby steps, Wake...
In a game filled with mental mistakes and execution errors, the Miami...
1 year, 3 months ago   |   Henne takes baby steps, Wake takes giant strides in Dolphins win over Packers ( 4 )
For Dolphins, it’s not how t...
Dolphins fans are fretting because of Miami's two-game slide, and with...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   For Dolphins, it’s not how they start, it’s how they finish ( 1 )
Wait until the Dolphins’ off...
As exciting as a second straight road win is for the Miami Dolphins, w...
1 year, 4 months ago   |   Wait until the Dolphins’ offense catches up with the defense ( 2 )
Random observations from Dol...
If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that a win is a...
1 year, 5 months ago   |   Random observations from Dolphins’ Week 1 win at Buffalo ( 11 )
Dolphins Ginn in New York
Returning a kickoff for a touchdown is a very rare thing in the NFL. W...
2 years, 3 months ago   |   Dolphins Ginn in New York ( 1 )