2012 NFL Offseason Prospectus: Miami Dolphins

It almost seems irrelevant to talk about the 2012 Miami Dolphins through the lens of last year's team because the two will hardly resemble one another. 

Tony Sparano's ground and pound ideals will be replaced with a more open passing offense under former Packers coach Joe Philbin.

The old 3-4 defense will be replaced with the more traditional 4-3 system under long-time former defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle.

Changing defenses is considerably more surprising considering the Dolphins' strength last year was its physical defense.

After starting the year 0-7, the Dolphins finished 6-3, thanks mostly to the superior play of that defense.

That being said, this is an offensively-challenged team and although Matt Moore was decent last year, David Garrard was signed to compete for the job and whispers have grown to shouts about the Dolphins drafting Ryan Tannehill.

You'd expect the Dolphins to draft a quarterback early, but they'll have to decide what kind of price they're willing to pay in order to get him.

Despite having a top 10 defense last year, there are some concerns in the secondary and finding a pass rusher opposite Cameron Wake, particularly in this new defense will be paramount.


Offense
This offensive line could use an overhaul. Outside of Jake Long, there isn't a lot to work with here and new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman, a former offensive line coach, knows the value of winning up front.

Artis Hicks, signed from the Browns, is a veteran offensive lineman, but is long in the tooth and isn't a long-term solution there.

Getting an offensive lineman or two in the draft will be a top priority.

Receiver is another major concern with the Dolphins trading Brandon Marshall to the Bears without much left beyond him. Legedu Naanee was signed to pick up some of the slack, but much like Hicks, Naanee isn't going to write any headlines with his play.

Adding another wide receiver could help whomever will be under center for the Dolphins.

The quarterback situation is the hardest to peg. Ryan Tannehill didn't even play quarterback for his whole time under Mike Sherman and whether or not Sherman can convince Philbin or Dolphin management that Tannehill is the guy remains to be seen.

If Tannehill makes it to the eighth pick, he'll be hard to pass, but there are enough holes on this team and enough quality quarterbacks in this draft to wait until the second or third round to get their young quarterback.

I have a feeling Philbin, having seen the success of Ted Thompson, will push to wait on a quarterback until the value is right. Whether or not he wins out, we'll find out on draft day.

Key Free Agents: Vernon Carey G, Marc Colombo OT, Chad Henne (signed w/ Jaguars), J.P. Losman QB, Lydon Murtha OT (re-signed w/ Dolphins), Chad Pennington QB, Steve Slaton RB (re-signed w/ Dolphins)

Defense
Part of the legacy Sparano will leave in Miami is the physicality his team played with on both sides of the ball. There wasn't a tremendous talent pool on this front, but they finished 3rd in the league against the run.

When you consider Miami finished 25th in the league against the pass, but still managed to wind up 6th in points, this group played adversity defense on a high level.


Jamaal Westerman was signed from the Jets, and Gary Guyton from the Patriots to bolster this linebacker group.

Guyton becomes the presumptive starter in the middle with Westerman fighting for an outside linebacker spot opposite Carlos Dansby.

To boost the secondary, Richard Marshall was signed from the Cardinals, as was Tyrell Johnson from the Vikings. Both could be starters for this team.

There are some young players on the defensive line who do have some potential. They don't have a true 4-3 end on the team, but Wake is an elite-level pass rusher and should be effective no matter where they line him up.

Getting another end and creating more pressure will be an important step to compete in the AFC East.

Key Free Agents: Ikaika Alama-Francis LB, Will Allen FS (signed w/ Patriots), Ryan Baker DE (signed w/ Dolphins), Yeremiah Bell S, Kendall Langford DE (signed w/ Rams), Phillip Merling DT (re-signed w/ Dolphins), Igor Olshansky DT, Paul Soliai NT ( re-signed w/ Dolphins),

Draft Targets

Needs: OL,QB,WR,LB,TE,S
Round 1 (Pick 8): David DeCastro G Stanford (Pos. Rank: 1, Overall Rank: 9)

I have a feeling that a team other than Miami will trade up for Tannehill. Cleveland could certainly take him at #4. Either way, DeCastro is the second-best lineman in this draft and is the kind of guy who could be a 10 year starter on this team along side Jake Long. He's extremely smart (the guy went to Stanford). DeCastro is equally adept in the run and passing game and uses his excellent blend of power and quickness to wall defenders. He can improve his technique using his hands, but he's not going to get out-worked or out-hustled in the NFL and he has a chance to be a Pro Bowl guard for the Dolphins.

Round 2 (Pick 42): Rueben Randle WR LSU (Pos. Rank: 6, Overall Rank: 43)

If Kirk Cousins is rated ahead of Brandon Weedon on Miami's board, I can see him being the pick here. If I'm the Dolphins, I'd much rather get a top-tier talent in the first round than reach for a second round talent (Tannehill), when I can get a second round talent (and this may shock you) in the second round. If Cousins isn't the pick, expect a receiver. Randle has the big body the departed Marshall did, but is much more athletic and ran sub 4.4 at his pro day. It's tough to know just how good Randle is because he's never played with a quality quarterback, nor has he played in a pro style passing offense. The physical talents are there though and he has a chance to be a big-time sleeper in this draft.

Round 3 (Pick 72): Brock Osweiler QB Arizona State (Pos. Rank: 6, Overall Rank: 64)

To me, there isn't much difference between Osweiler and Tannehill in terms of having the potential to be good without being a finished product. If you think about it, Tannehill would have been ranked behind Matt Barkley and Landry Jones had those two declared. Tannehill is second-round prospect. Osweiler has a better natural feel for the position and has better accuracy. His ability to read defenses is a work in progress and he will stare down his reads occasionally. He didn't play with great playmakers around him at Arizona State, especially compared to Tannehill and with time to learn, Osweiler has a high ceiling with his big frame and underrated athletic talents.

  Round 3 (Pick 73 F/ Bears): Bruce Irvin OLB West Virginia (Pos. Rank: 5, Overall Rank: 71)

With Wake coming off one edge, having Irvin coming off the other would create serious match-up problems for opposing offenses.Irvin would be undersized playing end in the 4-3 and would have to move to linebacker, but has the speed and quickness to play well in space. Whether or not he has the instincts will only be known if and when he has the chance to play there. The Dolphins could use him much like Von Miller in Denver. In passing situations, Irvin could play end and then play linebacker on first or second down. Irvin would give them tremendous versatility and would allow them to be creative with personnel, even potentially keeping some of the 3-4 looks that were so good for this defense last year.
 
Overall

I hope, for the Dolphins sake, they wait on finding a quarterback until the value makes more sense. There are two Day 1 starters in this draft, the potential quarterback of the future, and a future starter at linebacker. Randle, Osweiler and Irvin are all projects of sorts, but have some of the highest ceilings of any player at their respective positions in the 2012 class. A draft like this would give new coach Joe Philbin a slew of young, talented players to develop. If Philbin is anything like his former boss, Mike McCarthy, Philbin will want to get his guy and work with him. Whether or not it's Osweiler, we won't know until next week, but Miami certainly will get someone to develop at that position.

Final Thought
Even if the Dolphins go with a quarterback early, David Garrard or Matt Moore will, in all likelihood, be the opening day starter. Whether or not they finish the season may rest with how well the Dolphins play. Can they keep the momentum from last year's finish moving forward? With so many changes in personnel and with the coaching staff, it's hard to imagine they can. Just like it is with any new coach, the first draft is always the most important because it lays the foundation for this team moving forward. I can't see them mortgaging their future for a guy like Tannehill,  but I've been wrong before.