Dolphins News for the week of 8/18

[The_Philster]

Post Dolphins news here please

[The_Philster]

No clear front-runner for final cornerback spot with Dolphins
With four players competing for what they hope will be one roster spot, daily competition has been fierce among the Dolphins' younger cornerbacks. Miami is stocked at the position with Pro Bowl players Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain starting and former first-round picks Terrell Buckley and Jamar Fletcher in reserve.

If Miami opts to keep a fifth cornerback -- a possibility amid the team's injury woes -- an unfamiliar name might suddenly become known. Each of the players competing for that potential final spot comes complete with a different résumé....
more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6557487.htm)

[The_Philster]

Edwards or Henry likely to be released
Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said Sunday the team will ''probably not'' carry four running backs this season, meaning one reserve will be cut.

Ricky Williams, the NFL's leading rusher a year ago, is the starter, and Travis Minor is the established backup. That leaves Robert Edwards and Leonard Henry -- who have played well this preseason -- vying for one spot.

''Travis has had a really good camp, as has Robert Edwards and Leonard Henry,'' Wannstedt said. ``Those guys have two more games.''..


more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6557489.htm)

[The_Philster]

MIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins traded fullback Deon Dyer to the Houston Texans in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2004.

Dyer, entering his fourth season, was involved in a battle for a back-up spot behind starter Rob Konrad. The Dolphins fourth-round draft pick in 2000 fell behind Obafemi Ayanbadejo and Sedrick Irvin on the team's depth chart this week.

"Deon did a good job for us but we're in position right now where we felt like this was best for him to get in a new situation," coach Dave Wannstedt said....more (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/football/nfl/08/19/bc.fbn.dolphins.texanst.ap/index.html)

[The_Philster]

DAVIE -- It will be a few weeks to see how much Junior Seau has left.

Seau, whose performance in the first exhibition game prompted announcer Ron Jaworski to say he was over the hill, insisted Tuesday he was not worried with how he had played. Seau said his only concern was where his performance level will be when the regular season starts.

"It's a process," he said. "My process is to learn the fabric of the defense and make sure you're not a liability out there. This is a defense that has been around. It's a system that has been proven....

more (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/sports_f3249e3c4037e0c70060.html)

[The_Philster]

DAVIE -- In the first quarter of Friday's exhibition game against Jacksonville, Jay Fiedler saw Chris Chambers wide open downfield. It was a sure touchdown if Fiedler put the ball in the right spot.

But the pass was long and fell incomplete. Coach Dave Wannstedt said the deep game must improve for the offense to have success this season.

"You have to make big plays to score quick," Wannstedt said. "Without making big plays, it's too tough to go 80 yards at 3 yards a clip. You have to somehow, some way get a big play, and that's where the deep passing game will usually come in."...

more (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/sports_f3249e0c403740070030.html)

[The_Philster]

Although Arturo Freeman's agent was hoping otherwise, coach Dave Wannstedt said Tuesday that the strong safety will remain with the Dolphins.

Drew Rosenhaus said he had approached them Monday about trading Freeman, who lost his starting position to Sammy Knight early in preseason. Rosenhaus said he was denied permission to seek a deal. "It's pretty simple," Rosenhaus said. "He's not in on any of the defensive packages, and he's too good to be sitting on the bench."

Wannstedt, though, doesn't want to lose a player who can start at either safety even though it appears Shawn Wooden has moved ahead of Freeman in the pass-defense packages....
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolnotes20aug20,1,4182051.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

[The_Philster]

DAVIE -- Roster moves and injuries that may do little more than chip at the edge of the Dolphins' offensive and defensive depth are doing nothing less than sapping experience from the special teams.

Because of that, if the Dolphins hope to field units as capable as those of 2002, generally solid overall, they'll have to get an influx of young players up to speed.

That job falls to third-year special teams coach Keith Armstrong, who, after two exhibition games, is still trying to figure out exactly what he has to work with....
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolphins20aug20,1,6349333.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

[The_Philster]

Rookie left tackle likely to open season as starter
Outstanding value at a reasonable price.

The unofficial motto left tackle Wade Smith developed for the restaurant chain he studied for his degree in finance is exactly what the Dolphins are hoping they received in him.

If not, Smith could become part of the unofficial epitaph on Dave Wannstedt's time as Dolphins coach....more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6576085.htm)

[The_Philster]

After saying the team probably ''would not'' keep four running backs on the regular season roster earlier in the week, Dolphin coach Dave Wannstedt changed his stance a bit on Wednesday.

It was expected Robert Edwards and Leonard Henry would compete for the third and final spot behind Ricky Williams and Travis Minor. Now, however, both may make the team.

''I just want those guys to keep competing like they're competing and playing like they're playing,'' Wannstedt said. ``They're both doing a great job. We were talking the other day. We may keep all four of them. There's nothing written in stone that we couldn't or we wouldn't.''...

more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6577618.htm)

[The_Philster]

Dolphins receiver McKnight knows being fast can usually secure a roster spot
Speed.

The mere thought of it makes personnel gurus drool with excitement. Prospects can drop several rounds in the NFL draft -- and lose millions -- because of a poor 40-yard dash time. With a good time, those same millions can be earned quicker than cashing a lottery ticket.

With the season set to open in less than three weeks, the Dolphins' fastest player, James McKnight, is entrenched as the No. 3 receiver and set to collect his 10th season of NFL paychecks.
...more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6580636.htm)

[The_Philster]

Larry Chester can lift cars and squat more than 1,000 pounds. But the Miami Dolphins want him to do a better job of throwing around 220-pound quarterbacks.

Chester is one of the NFL's best run-stopping defensive tackles, but has never had more than three sacks in his five pro seasons. Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said he'd like to see Chester improve on that total.

"He's an excellent player against the run because of his strength and toughness," Wannstedt said. "But Larry has the ability to rush the passer. We can't get into that mode where we say, " OK, Larry, you're going to get in there and stop the run." They throw the ball as much on first-and-10 as they will on second and third down. He's got to be a complete player."...

more (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/sports_f34484e84037a1d40034.html)

[The_Philster]

For the second time in a week, a Dolphins safety is hoping for a trade. But unlike Scott McGarrahan, coach Dave Wannstedt has no plans to deal Arturo Freeman.

Freeman's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, approached the Dolphins about trading Freeman, last year's starting strong safety who lost his position to Sammy Knight. But Wannstedt said Freeman is not going anywhere because he can play both safety positions and is a valuable member on special teams.

"He knows I think he's doing a good job," Wannstedt said Wednesday. "He's one play away from being in there, and he's involved a lot."...
more (http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/auto/epaper/editions/thursday/sports_f34484d5403712c600f3.html)

[The_Philster]

DAVIE -- It appears wide receiver Oronde Gadsden is determined to give the Dolphins one fewer reason to release him.

Although hobbled by an ankle injury suffered on July 30, Gadsden is noticeably slimmer than when he reported. Wide receivers coach Robert Ford said Gadsden is ready to prove he's in shape when he weighs in this week.

"He is in great spirits," Ford said. "He said I would be very surprised when he gets on the scale. He was very proud to make sure that I know that, so I am going to check it out....
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolphinsnot21aug21,1,5575582.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

[The_Philster]

As quarterback Jay Fiedler's pass sailed beyond the grasp of receiver Chris Chambers last Friday in Jacksonville, a potential 58-yard touchdown fell to the ground -- and the red flags among Dolphins fans went up.

Will the Dolphins ever have an upgraded deep-passing element to their offense? Will they have the ability to put games away with one big play in a key situation?

That is why the subtle issues that usually play out during the exhibition season will be put aside for a couple of plays when the Dolphins play host to Atlanta at 8 tonight....

more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6589974.htm)

[The_Philster]

Young players state cases as roster cuts loom
The Dolphins defeated the Falcons 30-21 Friday evening, delivering some relief to any skittish fans who fretted the Super Bowl bandwagon had somehow been derailed after two previous preseason losses.

''We're almost ready,'' defensive end Jason Taylor proclaimed after the victory. ``Obviously this wasn't a real game and not real situations, but I'm happy where I am right now and where this team is.''...

more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6598551.htm)

[The_Philster]

Might impact rushing game, too
The education of receiver Chris Chambers appears to be stalled and, as a result, the Dolphins' hopes for a deep passing game are troubled.

In the second quarter Friday night in an exhibition game against Atlanta, Chambers dashed down the field on a post route, covered by Falcons cornerback Ray Buchanan.

Chambers had his body between Buchanan and the ball at the Atlanta 10-yard line. A gain of approximately 50 yards looked easy, even if the ball was thrown slightly off-stride....
more (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/6598565.htm)

[The_Philster]

There is nothing more difficult in sports than replicating your own greatness, meeting expectations you have created, not disappointing fans after spoiling them. It is something only the most remarkable accomplish. It is Barry Bonds leading in average one season after smacking 70 home runs. It is Wayne Gretzky setting an assist record the year after setting a goal record. It is Michael Jordan always dominating in a different way.

What will it be for Jason Taylor?

"It's going to be difficult," Taylor said, after another typically strong, if short, performance Friday night, during a preseason that suggests his encore might be special. "It's not like I'm going to sneak up on anybody. I know where I'm at. They're not going to just let me walk in there and do what I want. But there are ways to beat double-teams, ways to beat triple-teams. You just have to find those ways."...
more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-skolnickspec23aug23,1,7938230.column?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)

[The_Philster]

If, as the Dolphins have suggested, the third exhibition game is a true indication of where they're at, then Ricky Williams could have a tough time running this season against teams that scheme to stop him.

Williams carried nine times against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night at Pro Player Stadium and finished with -1 yard, including a long of 3. He also fumbled once and, though he recovered it himself, it was a reminder that Williams had seven fumbles in 2002.

Williams was done after two series in the first quarter, and that, plus Atlanta's aggressive 3-4 scheme, was why Williams and the Dolphins weren't ready to panic. ...

more (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolsid223aug23,1,7515121.story?coll=sfla-dolphins-front)