Youth may be served soon in Miami

By Darrell Laurant  |   Thursday, November 01, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

Miami Dolphins
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Bye weeks, at this point in the season, are always a time for reassessment. So with the Miami Dolphins currently 0-8 and in the midst of an 11-game losing streak, perhaps it's not too premature to consider what the team might look like in 2008.

It will have Joey Porter at linebacker, despite the former Pittsburgh Steeler star's injury-plagued and underachieving 2007 season. Porter's $4.8 million contract next year is guaranteed, and there's not much chance that the Dolphins will trade him to anyone at this point.

On a more positive note, Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor should be back, along with emerging linebacker Channing Crowder. Matt Roth has played decently, if not spectacularly, at one defensive end. Vonnie Holliday should remain at DT; Keith Traylor probably will not. Injuries have thinned the secondary this year, and cornerback Mike Lehan will be a free agent.

Despite their record, the Dolphins have a number of young players who are ranked second or third on the depth chart but have been mostly or completely inactive.

John Beck is, of course, the poster child for that group, but head coach Cam Cameron has been reluctant to plug him in at quarterback for the inconsistent Cleo Lemon. One reason for that might be that Cameron was the quarterback coach for the Washington Redskins in 1994, when rookie QB Heath Shuler was force-fed into a starting role, lost his confidence, and was out of the league four years later.

Still, Lemon will be a free agent in the offseason, Trent Green has his concussion issues, and the Dolphins need to see what Beck can do before they can make serious plans for next spring's free agent and draft season. If the team's free fall continues, the Dolphins may well have the first overall pick in April's draft. Or do they take the best quarterback available if Beck fails to impress?

Similarly, if Ronnie Brown's knee doesn't respond to rehab, does Miami employ an early pick on a Darren McFadden or a Mike Hart? Or can Jesse Chatman, Patrick Cobbs, Samkon Gado or Lorenzo Booker handle the position by committee until Brown can return? The Dolphins haven't used Booker, a rookie, yet, and they need to.

Meanwhile, Miami has already jettisoned WR Chris Chambers, leaving Marty Booker and Derek Hagan as starters. Ted Ginn Jr., considered the wideout of the future, has only caught seven balls, averaging over 20 yards per reception. We may see him involved in the offense a lot more in the second half.

The offensive line has been improving, the defense isn't all that bad (although the secondary has some holes and only four interceptions).

Yet given the current doldrums, Miami may be in the market during the offseason for a few players who are proven winners and could elevate the clubhouse mood.

In the meantime, Cameron should begin to find playing time for some of the younger players like defenders Paul Soliai and Rodrique Wright, Travis Daniels, Derrick Robinson, Abraham Wright and Edmond Miles.

After all, things can hardly get worse.
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