A position that hasn’t really been much of the talk this offseason has been the running back position. This is partially because it is one of the positions with the most depth on the Dolphins offense. That being said there are definite questions on how coach Philbin will both distribute the carries and utilize the Dolphins best playmaker Reggie Bush.

There has already been talk of Reggie Bush being used more as a receiver and could be used in a role similar to Darren Sproles in Bush’s old stopping grounds in New Orleans. Should Bush be able to stay healthy, he should be a focal point in the Dolphins offense again this season.

Bush has set high goals for himself even mentioning earlier in the offseason that he would like to contend for the leagues rushing title. While that will be a difficult goal to reach with Bush
never gaining over 1,500 rushing yards in his career, you cannot question Bush work ethic and determination. Since coming to the Dolphins you would be hard pressed to find a player working harder than Reggie Bush.

That being said the Dolphins are hoping that last year’s rookie disappointment second rounder Daniel Thomas can mature into a more complete back. Thomas left plenty on the field last year and didn’t take advantage when was given opportunities. Thomas has also set a personal goal of topping 1000 yards this season however first the Dolphins must see growth in his game and better consistent running. Thomas often left fans frustrated last season as he did not translate his tough running style from college into the big leagues.

To make things more complicated for the Dolphins they also drafted Miami native Lamar Miller in the 4^th round this year. Miller was seen as a bit of a draft steal and could prove to
be useful this season. Miller gives the Dolphins depth at the position and a plan b should Daniel Thomas not develop into the runner the Dolphins have hoped. It is unclear how many carries Miller will get this year, but his play in the preseason should impact his playing time in 2012.

After your done looking at the top 3 backs on the roster, there are questions on whether how the Dolphins will use a true fullback. Charles Clay is expected to exclusively be a tight end this offseason and while he might be occasionally be used in the backfield is not expected to be used as a fullback much this season. Jerome Messam a big back from the CFL was seen as a potential fullback but with offseason injuries Messam will have to fight for his spot on this roster. Messam did have a lot of success in the CFL as a 1000 + yard physical rusher. Steve Slaton a player this coaching staff seems to like will most likely also have to fight for a roster spot this offseason.

While this position is full of depth, it is very unclear how the carries will be distributed and only one man knows the answer to that. ( Coach Philbin)

It’s been over 4 weeks since my last blog but I have a pretty good excuse, as I have been having the time of my life on an experience of a lifetime exploring Thailand. That being said the focus is now shifted back 100 % to the best team in pro sports: the Miami Dolphins. I want to thank Mick and JP who stepped up on the site while I was gone.

While I have a lot of catching up and reading to do, a couple of things have become apparent to me.

1) It would appear as if it is David Garrard’s job to lose. This would leave serious questions as to whether Moore will even make the roster however I believe his attitude on and off the
field will leave him with a spot on this roster.

Garrard starting should not be taken as a knock on Tannehill, if Philbin does not deem Tannehill ready then we should all be okay with the idea of not feeding him to the wolves and
screwing up his maturation process as an NFL QB. I also would not worry too much on the fact that Ryan has not signed yet.

2) The WR position is still very much up in the air. While we know Bess and Hartline will most likely be the main focuses, questions on Ocho and the remaining receiving core are still some
of the biggest this team has. From what I have been reading I would be surprised however if Ocho plays a larger role then most of his skeptics will predict.

3) Hard Knocks trailers. I am sure we are all anxiously awaiting the behind the scenes of what is going on at Dolphins training camp. Hard Knocks will give us fans an opportunity to see a side
of the Dolphins we have never seen before. That being said there is definitely room for failure in this little venture.

While I was gone I would email several people of the Dolphins twitter fan base on what exactly I have been missing while away, the answer has always been the same: NOTHING.

With that being said I look forward to getting back in the game and blogging as much as I can.

On a side note, this upcoming Monday the 23^rd I have a one on one private dinner with Adam Schefter in NYC, I will be sharing all upon my arrival back home.

PhinsUp

Follow me on twitter : @PhinsDaniel

    This site is dedicated to both fact and opinion for the Miami Dolphins.  Over the weeked, as Dolfans we all learned about the Miami Dolphins communication with the League Office regarding a potential logo change for 2013.  Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post wrote about this very idea that the Dolphins might be changing the logo for the first time since 1997.  His article can be read at the following link:

http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/thedailydolphin/2012/07/12/miami-dolphins-communicating-with-nfl-headquarters-about-a-logo-change-for-2013/

Maybe it was the Logo 7 Marino jersey that I received as a youngster from my Tía from Miami Lakes that sparked my interest in the Dolphins color scheme so much so that I would draw jerseys of Marino in aqua and orange markers or colored pencils. 

The Miami Dolphins jersey and pant combination is one of the best in my biased opinion.  All white at home, aqua pants and white jersey on the road and the occasional aqua jersey on the road, and aqua only at home for night games.

Get it?  The Dolphins logo was the same until 1997 when Jimmy Johnson was coaching in Miami.  After one season and an 8-8 record, the Dolphins logo was given some toughness in a more confident Dolphin jumping through a hoop representing the sun.  Was it Jimmy Johnson's affinity for the Cowboy Navy that sparked the change after the 1996 season?  It is a bit peculiar that all of a sudden, the Dolphin jersey sported a navy stripe on the jersey numbers after Jimmy Johnson was at the helm.   Frankly, I liked the incorporation of the Navy into the color scheme, but it meant having to keep up with the latest trends and purchase a Zach Thomas jersey for $250 plus tax on the Dolphins website. 

At this point, the Dolphins have not indicated any drastic changes to the logo.  However, one could speculate  that there could be changes on the horizon based on the bizarre tweet from fellow Dolfan

@Robi2184 on July 10th: New Dolphins Uniforms Coming In 2013 – Do We Have Our First Leak?, http://www.pigskinbuzz.com/new-dolphins-u …

As you can see there is a first picture with a gentlemen wearing a silver Miami Dolphins helmet with a logo that appears to represent the Miami Dolphins.  Please take a look! 

In reality, the changing of a logo for the Miami Dolphins represents welcome change in making strides to look better on the field and sell more jerseys and hats.  However, the changing of a logo also means that the Dolphins are unlike the Steelers, Packers, Browns, and any other team that has not fiddled with their logo and color scheme for over 50 years! 

I say that tradition is what keeps the NFL great and that changing something for the sake of changing the image of the franchise would be terrible for the fans and watching the games...could you imagine the Dolphins playing the Patriots and both are wearing the same colored helmet???

Please continue to read on as we will be delivering news where ever we see it. 

Oh what a crazy offseason it has been for the Miami Dolphins!

Nothing about the moves they've made this offseason have been as flashy as the night clubs in South Beach.

Despite the momentary splash during the draft with Ryan Tannehill, Miami failed to take a wide receiver until the 6th Round of the draft when they selected B.J. Cunningham of Michigan State and then later Rishard Matthews in Round 7.

Today Josh Gordon, formerly of the University of Utah and transfer from Baylor, ran a 4.53 40 at the Supplemental Scouting Combine in Houston, Texas. 

The Dolphins would be giving up a 3rd round pick select him in the Supplemental Draft, but it's not a guarantee that they wind up with him since other teams that are willing to take a chance on him are in front. 

It is rumored that an NFC East team such as the Cowboys might want to pick him to fortify their receivng corps. 



Tony Pauline: An avid college scouting guru from Sports Illustrated had this to say about Gordon:

“I would be surprised if he doesn’t go before the mid- to late part of round two,” Pauline said. “There are some who believe if he really had a huge year (in 2011), he would’ve been the first receiver drafted.” (Per Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post).

Josh Gordon stands 6'4" and 220 pounds and could give the Dolphins that size and speed lost with the Brandon Marshall trade. 

Of course, there is some risk with drafting Gordon in the supplemental draft since he has not played for a year after transferring from Baylor to Utah because of an arrest. 

However, if Gordon is as good as advertised, he could be better than the top 3 receivers on the Miami Dolphins going into camp.

Photo Credit (Bleacher Report)


@DolphinMick

Thanks for reading!!!

13-3...that was the amazing turnaround that one San Francisco Bay Area team had under a new regime with Jim Harbaugh and his sidekick from college Vic Fangio. 

Fast forward to offseason 2012, when things were looking pretty bleak for the Miami Dolphins despite the new coaching change and promise of an NFL experienced staff with Coach Mike Sherman and Coach Kevin Coyle; and not landing the Franchise QB in Peyton Manning or anyone with a passer rating higher than 90. 

Coach Joe Philbin in 16 days will be ready to lead this team through training camp and prepare the Dolphins for 16 games and a chance to play 19 games.

The expectations are high because Steve Ross places high expectations on all of his investments.  While his real state business has done well, his ownership of his team has yet to outperform the rest of the AFC East.  Steve Ross wants this team in the playoffs and he wants it to happen now.

Which is why Philbin has a plan that the Dolphins players will follow. 

Knock on wood, but there have been no arrests this offseason.  There has been almost 100% participation by all players in the aqua and orange.

Distractions of contract holdouts, abrupt retirements, and an incomplete roster have been minimized greatly! 

When players such as Reggie Bush have griped about the fast paced offense that doesn't allow time to collect oneself, the implication by Reggie is that this offense will be difficult to stop and keep the rest of the NFL on their toes.  Offense.  Something that has not been seen since the likes of...some QB drafted in 1983.

History tells us as fans not to buy into this idea of an OC becoming a great coach in Miami, in fact, it has yet to happen...but let's look at the future in Miami as being bright, not because of one player or coach, but because of a collective understanding of 53 guys and 20+ coaches that will make this team go.  Not to mention a front office that is skilled with evaluating talent with Jeff Ireland and Brian Gaine. (Fans will gripe about the lack of execution by Ireland, but they have never been a GM and are only basing their intelligence off of fantasy football.)

The question is, can the Dolphins win this season to satisfy the insatiable thirst for victory that Steve Ross sees around him as he enters the airspace of South Florida?

Two words: Joe Philbin.