Predicting the 53 Man Roster

Two preseason games in, and it's time for us to take a look at our roster and start making prediction on who will and who will not make the 53 man roster. As in years past I'm sorting this not by position, but by overall value to the team, meaning that the top choice is the most valuable member of the time while the bottom choice is the most expendable.

1. Jake Long: Miami's most consistent player, Long also plays arguably the second most important position on offense, LT. I thought about dropping him a slot due to his injury, but let's be honest - we know he's going to be healthy to start the regular season. A no brainer at #1 overall.
2. Cameron Wake: The only other player you could reasonably place at #1 overall, Wake exceeded expectations in 2010, racking up a ton of sacks and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. This defense needs pass rush, and outside of Wake we really don't have a lot, making him that much more valuable to the team.
3. Brandon Marshall: Marshall, despite a disappointing (at least by his standards) 2010 campaign, remains our most talented skill player on offense. This season, he's simply too driven and too talented to be contained. I predict big things for the man known as "Beast" - 100 catches and 1200 yards isn't out of the question.
4. Vontae Davis: This is a make or break year for VD. I tend to be optimistic, as I see him finishing the year as one of the NFL's ten best CBs, knocking on the top 5. His ascention has been fun to watch, as he started his career as an up-and-down rookie before coming on strong last season.
5. Paul Soliai: Does anyone remember what happened when Soliai missed a few games last season due to injury? Soliai is quite literally a mountain on defense, and a key component of a top 5 defensive unit.
6. Karlos Dansby: An underrated ILB, Dansby was a perfect fit in Mike Nolan's defensive scheme last season. It will be interesting to see how he does this season, as I think he will be more comfortable and make even bigger plays.
7. Kendall Langford: Keeping with the defensive theme, let's talk about Kendall Langford. In many respects, he's the best kept secret on defense, a prototypical 5 technique that does all of the little things right. Underrated and underappreciated by some.
8. Davone Bess: Remember when everyone was mad when we traded Wes Welker to the Patriots a few years ago? Who would have thought that we would find another undrafted gem in Bess? While he isn't a burner, Bess is a sure-handed and shift slot guy that simply moves the chains.
9. Mike Pouncey: While there's no denying that we've invested a lot of picks and a lot of money in the offensive line, don't let that cloud your opinion of Pouncey, who is as close as you can get to a lock to start at center for the Dolphins. This may be a little high for him, but I think he's going to be a very solid player for us, and I also think that center is one of those unheralded positions that's very important to the offense.
10. Reggie Bush: We traded for the guy so clearly the front office likes him. The front office seems determined to put him into a feature role. While I have some misgivings about possibly misuing him, it's obvious that he's going to be a big part of what we do (or at least what we try to do) on offense.
11. Randy Starks: Starks is a consistely good 3-4 DE. A lot of folks don't understand that what he does isn't so much Dwight Freeney as it is Ted Washington - meaning he is asked to take up blockers and occupy space. He had a bit of a down year last season, but he's still a very reliable - and very talented - NFL player.
12. Sean Smith: It's time for Sean Smith to take that next step to being a great CB. Let's hope that hand implant he got this offseason helps him out.
13. Anthony Fasano: We don't give Fasano a lot of credit, as it seems we always want an upgrade at the TE position. Still, for the role he plays Fasano is solid - and that's something we shouldn't overlook.
14. Koa Misi: It'll be interesting to see what progress Misi makes in his second year. It is my belief that he could develop into a stud SOLB opposite Wake, though I don't get the clamor about kicking him inside, as his game doesn't scream ILB to me.
15. Richie Incognito: Incognito had a solid year last season, but will that continue this year? Or is he going to go back to being inconsistent, as he has in the past?
16. Kevin Burnett: Burnett steps into Channing Crowder's shoes. While I will miss CC's quotes and general antics, I'm excited by the possibility of a LB making a play behind the Line of Scrimmage.
17. Yeremiah Bell: Enjoy watching him folks. I could see this being a swan song for him somewhat. Bell has slowed in coverage but remains a tackling machine and a staunch run defender. He's still playing at a high level but isn't quite where he was a few years ago.
18. Chad Henne: Yes, he'll be on the opening day roster as the starting QB.
19. Daniel Thomas: You don't trade up for a guy and then not use him. Despite the focus on Bush, I expect Thomas to get his fair share of carries. I'm cautiously optimistic about what we will see from him if and when we use the Wildcat formation this season.
20. Chris Clemons: I think Chris Clemons has an outside chance to develop into a very solid Free Safety, though he's still a bit reckless in coverage.
21. Lousaka Polite: A big drop for Lou, who went from snubbed Pro Bowler to average in the course of one season. I'm predicitng a bouceback this season, but another below-average campaign could spell the end for him in Miami.
22. Jared Odrick: I would like to think that 2010 was an aberration for Odrick, and that he will rebound this year. It's going to be tough for him to see a lot of time, as Starks and Langford have the two end positions pretty much locked down. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing some 4-3 looks and kicking Odrick inside to the under tackle spot.
23. John Denney: An underrated player on perhaps the most overlooked position on the team.
24. Dan Carpenter: Just imagine what he could do if he didn't have to kick off the infield dirt for the first quarter of every season.
25. Brandon Fields: I once heard that Bill Parcells wanted to build a franchise around Fields. True story.
26. Matt Moore: Before the second preseason game, I had a sinking feeling that Matt Moore was going to see some significant time this season for the Dolphins. As it stands I'm hoping he stays on the sidelines. Still, as an understudy to the most important position on the team, chances are good he'll make the team.
27. Will Allen: I wouldn't be opposed to moving Will Allen to FS. Coming off an ACL injury, it's likely that he's lost a step and he wasn't all that fast to begin with. Moving him to FS reminds me of what the Steelers did with Rod Woodson back in the day. As a CB he's a veteran and offers a lot in terms of on the field coaching to our young secondary.
28. Tony McDaniel: It's nice to have him back in the fold. McDaniel is a nice complimentary player whose skill set meshes well with the other members of the defensive line.
29. Brian Hartline: The spotlight is all on Hartline to begin this season, as he has a rookie barking at his heels. This is the mystical year three for Hartline, so it's time for him to put up or shut up.
30. Nolan Carroll: Most likely will be fighting with Will Allen to fill the nickel CB role.
31. Reshad Jones: Could push both Clemons and Bell for a starting position, either this season or next. It's nice to have such an amount of talent in the secondary.
32. Clyde Gates: It may be a bit low for him, but I'm not sold on Gates yet. Yes he's fast, but so was Ted Ginn. Let's see how he does on the field before we move him up any farther.
33. Vernon Carey: Big Vern is dropping down the ranks rapidly. I disagree with the decision to move him to guard as it seems like an addition by subtraction move to me. I would have preferred signing a Bryan Waters over Marc Columbo and keeping Carey at RT. Still, I expect him to rebound a little bit from last season, though his skill set is starting to deteriorate.
34. Lex Hilliard: Lex is in line to get the Patrick Cobbs workload this season. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.
35. Nate Garner: Garner is a valuable player because he can play several positions along the offensive line, which is key for a reserve lineman. I wouldn't be opposed to starting him at RT, as I feel like he's better than the other alternatives we have.
36. Joe Berger: Like Garner, Berger can play all of the interior line spots for us, something that's important. Let's just hope we aren't planning on asking him to start an entire season for us again.
37. Benny Sapp: Sapp isn't much of an NFL CB, but he's a decent blitzer and should hopefully ony see the field in dime packages.
38. John Jerry: I don't get this regime and drafting linemen outside of the first round. This guy started the season in the doghouse and I've seen no signs of him getting out at this point.
39. A.J. Edds: I'm somewhat excited to see what A.J. Edds does for us this season. Don't forget that we moved up to get him. Along with Odrick we've essentially gotten two redshirt players back to a defense that was already stacked to begin with.
40. Lydon Murtha: Murtha still plays too tall and gets pushed around, but he's an okay backup with enough athleticism to play LT in a pinch, though he's obviously no Jake Long. Could crack the starting lineup at RT thanks to the decision to kick Carey inside.
41. Jason Taylor: It's an odd-numbered year, which means that Jason Taylor is once again a Dolphin after being rented out to another team for a year. I know it's the Jets. That's why Taylor falls as low as he does. I expect this to be his last season.
42. Charles Clay: I can't remember a mid-round pick being asked to deliver more than Charles Clay. There's a lot of high expectations for a guy who went in the 5th round. I'm hoping that he can at least contribute a little bit in the red zone, though he's most likely a year or two away from really making an impact.
43. Philliip Merling[/b]: Merling to me has looked out of shape and under motivated the last several seasons. At some point we are going to need to make a decision with him, as he's in line to be squeezed out by more talented players along the offensive line.
44. Marc Columbo: I'm going to be brutally honest: I have no idea why the Dolphins brought this guy in. He looked completely washed up last season in Dallas and there had to be better options out there than him. I'm very, very scared of how he will perform for us this season.
45. Pat Devlin: I had figured that Miami would at least kick the tires on a veteran QB, but it appears we're rolling with Henne. Devlin can spend the year holding a clipboard. His position is tenuous; while I project him to beat out O'Connell he's certain expendable. Another option would be the Practice Squad.
46. Austin Spitler: To me this reeks of a double-up pick between Edds and Spitler. It seems like they were looking for a very specific player. I'm keeping him on the team on the basis of adding value to Special Teams.
47. Roberto Wallace: Wallace has the size and athleticism to be a red zone target for us, something that's important given our (lack of) depth at the TE position.
48. Jeron Mastrud: I'm being a K-State homer and giving Mastrud the benefit of the doubt as our #2 TE. Make no mistake though, I'm not really comfortable with it.
49. Mickey Shuler: Then again, it's always possible that Mickey Shuler could develop into a very good TE #2 for Miami. I feel like Harry in Dumb and Dumber - "So you're telling me there's a chance!"
50. Frank Kearse: I'm going with Kearse, who has the ability to play every position along the offensive line, over Ronald Fields. My theory is that if Kearse sees the field it will be due to a Soliai injury, which would mean we'd likely run a lot more 4-3, which suites Kearse over Fields.
51. Ikaika Alama-Francis: His position on the team is certainly not a given, as any number of OLB candidates could take his roster spot. I'm sticking with IAF, as I feel like the others can be stashed on the practice squad for the time being.
52. Tyrone Culver: I'm taking Culver over another passrusher here, as he's a decent veteran and a special teams contributor.
53. Jonathan Freeney: My Mr. Irrelavant. I'm going with Freeney as this regime has had a pretty good success rate with undrafted players and Freeney could be the next to prove the rule. I have to confess I haven't scouted him much, though I would think he could play several spots at LB.

So there you have it. I'm sure that there are some players I overlooked, and you have every right to quibble over the ratings. This was extremely difficult to do, as this team has a significant amount of talent, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Overall I'm impressed with the talent that we continue to accumulate, and I'm cautiously optimistic about our upcoming season.