A busy day at Dolphins' camp, just got considerably more newsworthy. Jason Allen, not Sean Smith, will reportedly open up the season as starting cornerback opposite Vontae Davis.

Smith had a disappointing training camp and preseason, while Jason Allen quietly came from nowhere. Allen got the nod over Smith against the Falcons two weeks ago, but reports suggested that was purely disciplinary. Give Allen all the credit in the world for having a huge bounce back camp after four seasons of playing like a bust of a first-round pick, but something tells me this is a really bad sign.

I don't think the Dolphins would halt the progression of Smith unless he is so bad right now they are beginning to question if he has what it takes to be a quality starter, or Jason Allen has emerged as a very solid corner. Has Allen improved? Sure. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here.

He's still done nothing, in my eyes anyway, that would suggest he's starting material. I'm not questioning the coaches in saying Allen is ahead of Smith right now. Maybe he is. But if that's the case, it likely has a whole lot more to do with Smith taking a huge step backwards, then it does Allen's transformation.

What does that mean for the secondary? When you throw Will Allen going on IR to the pot, it's probably going to take Mike Nolan working miracles with his exotic blitzes for this secondary to avoid finishing in the bottom half of the league again.

I hate to bring anymore negatively to a team who's been surrounded in it for most of the preseason, but it's just hard to see a secondary people expected to make huge strides this season fall apart like this on paper. On paper is the key word in this sentence.

You never know in this league, but you can't tell me your not licking your chops game planning for this secondary if your an opposing coach or quarterback. Maybe they will prove everybody wrong, maybe they won't.

And just because improvement may have to go on hold against the pass, it's no time to abandon playoff hopes before they even play a game. Despite a few lackluster performances, the offense still has the pieces to break out this year, and the front seven has all the potential in the world.

Let's just hope the secondary doesn't prevent this team from going places it's capable of.

The Dolphins aren't done just yet. Omar Kelly is also reporting that they have cut defensive end's Marques Douglas and Charles Grant, and have claimed former Brown's defensive end Clifton Geathers and former Ravens practice squad offensive tackle Joe Reitz off waivers.

Nothing has been confirmed yet, but Brian McIntyre tweeted that the Dolphins have claimed defensive lineman Rob Rose, and the New Orleans Times is reporting they have claimed offensive tackle Jeremy Parnell, who, according to Ben Volin, has also played defensive lineman and tight end.   no comments

The relief was short lived for offensive guard Cory Procter. A day after learning he had made the 53-man roster, Adam Schefter is reporting that he has been cut. The Dolphins have most likely claimed a guard from the waiver wire, along with another player with Will Allen expected to go on injured reserve. no comments

Ethan J. Skolnick of the Sun-Sentinel is reporting that a source close to the team has confirmed that the Dolphins plan to put Will Allen on injured reserve, effectively ending his 2010 season.

This is arguably the worse news yet to hit Miami from the injury front. Although the Dolphins have two promising corners in Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, Smith had a rough training camp and preseason, and a healthy Allen could have pushed him for some snaps in the base defense.

What is sure to take a huge blow is the nickel package. Allen, without a doubt, would have been the nickel corner, but now the newly acquired Benny Sapp or rookie Nolan Carroll will handle those duties. Both struggled somewhat in the preseason.

Carroll reportedly had a fantastic camp, but was picked on a bit by the opposition's slot receivers in the four exhibition games. Sapp on the other hand, was a little better, but still conceded a few receptions in the final two preseason games after he was brought over from Minnesota for Greg Camarillo. Both are pretty big dropoffs from a healthy Will Allen, though.

Expect the Dolphins to announce a new addition from the waiver wire very soon. The new opening could be used for more corner depth, but a tight end or guard would also fill a need.