2010 RECORD: 7-9-0
(3rd in AFC East)
HEAD COACH: Tony Sparano
Offense: There will be a revamped attack in 2011 for the Dolphins as the backfield duo of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are gone and the load will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Chad Henne.
Henne (3,301 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, 19 interceptions) is the starting quarterback and will have Matt Moore (857 pass yards, five TD, ten INT with Carolina last year) and Kevin O' Connell as backups.
Reggie Bush comes over from the New Orleans Saints and will be in the backfield with rookie Daniel Thomas (Kansas State) and fullback Lousaka Polite. Lex Hillard is also available. Veteran Larry Johnson was also signed recently for a look.
Bush compiled low output numbers last season (150 rushing yards and 34 receptions for 208 yards and one TD) by his standards. He will be looking for a rebound year in a new system, so it may take some time. Bush can also serve as a punt returner.
The wide receivers are on more solid ground for Miami entering the 2011 season.
Brandon Marshall (86 catches, 1,014 yards and three TD) led Miami in receiving last year and Davone Bess (79, 820, five TD) also returns. Brian Hartline, who made 43 receptions for 615 yards and a score, will be given a chance to possibly start this season. The tight end is Anthony Fasano (39, 528, four TD).
Up front for Miami is center Mike Pouncey, guards Vernon Carey and Rich Incognito and tackles Lydon Murtha and Mark Colombo.
Miami finished 21st overall last year offensively, gaining 323 yards per game, with 220 passing yardage per game. The Dolphins finished 30th in the NFL in scoring with 273 points.
Defense: This is definitely the strength of the team, finishing in the top ten in all the categories last year.
The run defense allowed 100 yards per game (7th), the passing D allowed 209 yards (8th) and overall Miami was sixth in the NFL, giving up just 309 yards per game.
The Dolphins employ a 3-4 look and have Paul Soliai at nose tackle with Randy Starks and Kendall Langford at the ends. Tony McDaniel, Ronald Fields, Phillip Merling, Jared Odrick and Jason Taylor provide depth for the Dolphins.
The linebackers are Karlos Dansby and Channing Crowder on the inside with Cameron Wake (14 QB sacks in 2010) and Koa Misi playing outside. Jason Taylor, back for yet another year with Miami, can also line up as a linebacker.
In the defensive backfield are safeties Chris Clemons and Yeremiah Bell and cornerbacks Sean Smith and Vontae Davis.
The Dolphins intercepted only 11 passes a year ago, even with a decent pass rush that produced 38 sacks.
OUTLOOK: This is a team that seems to be in transition as Head Coach Tony Sparano enters his fourth season at the helm.
Henne has to improve, especially needing to cut down on the turnovers. The running game will need some time to get into the groove with three new backs taking over.
The defense should be able to keep Miami in games, as has been the case the last two seasons.
But the Dolphins, who do play the Jets tough (they split with them a year ago), have an uphill battle with New England and the Jets looming large in the AFC East. Miami split with Buffalo last year and will most likely battle the Bills for third place in 2011.
A 6-10 finish seems to be the best Miami will do this season, as they look to get things back in order with the new offensive personnel this year.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. New England
Week 2- vs. Houston
Week 3- at Cleveland
Week 4- at San Diego
Week 5- BYE WEEK
Week 6- at NY Jets
Week 7- vs. Denver
Week 8- at NY Giants
Week 9- at Kansas City
Week 10- vs. Washington
Week 11- vs. Buffalo
Week 12- at Dallas
Week 13- vs. Oakland
Week 14- vs. Philadelphia
Week 15- at Buffalo
Week 16- at New England
Week 17- vs. NY Jets
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