Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: A St. Louis Rams helmet sits on the field against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With the #8 pick in the NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have traded their pick to the St. Louis Rams who selected Tavon Austin out of West Virginia.

Great quick receiver and great punt returner out of West Virginia, can stretch the field and make this passing offense better. They brought in Jake Long, offensive tackle from the Miami Dolphins to help protect Sam Bradford, so giving him the time he needs, this team should be able to put up decent numbers through the air.

They also lost Danny Amendola to the New England Patriots.

Good trade by the St. Louis Rams.

New York Jets are now on the clock.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was optimistic on the Rams ability to get things resolved with Saffold, but it has actually been Saffold’s willingness to not hold out that has avoided a major issue. Saffold is not going to hold out despite being disappointed with the move to right tackle, and he’ll want to receive big left tackle money when he hits the free agent market next offseason. Such is the nature of the business, the blindside protectors receive the big bucks.

Saffold is playing things pretty classy, all told, or maybe he just realizes that he has little leverage at this point (the team almost always holds the leverage in these cases). According to the Rams official site, Saffold has reported to the team’s first voluntary offseason workouts today, and it’s not often that a disappointed player shows up for voluntary workouts. The Rams are expected to shop Saffold and see what they can get out of him, which is reportedly expected to be a mid-round pick.

It is apparent that Saffold is not going to try and skip out of anything this offseason, as his agents stated recently that Saffold would attend OTAs and all offseason functions. I doubt he goes anywhere this season, and Saffold will most likely play out his final year with the Rams before getting paid like a left tackle in free agency. The Rams have little reason to trade him, and he, as stated earlier, doesn’t hold any leverage going into a contract year. Really, the only way I can see Saffold not playing for the Rams next year is if the Rams get a trade offer they cannot turn down. I highly doubt he receives an extension from the Rams.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Dec 2, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins tackle Jake Long (77) is introduced before a game against the New England Patriots at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long is the best available free agent on the market. And as the Dolphins have focused on signing Mike Wallace and pursuing Jared Cook they could lose their franchise left tackle.

Jake Long will visit the St. Louis Rams first, and they’ll, have the first crack at signing him Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports.

Free agent OT Jake Long has a visit set up with the Rams.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 12, 2013

If Jake Long gets the money he is looking for he’ll get roughly $11 million anually. Many remain skeptical that he would command that kind of money.

Many are speculating he could get something more along the lines of $8-$9 million annually and that Long would be wise to take it.

Jake Long is a #1 overall pack for the Miami Dolphins having played his entire career there. He is a four time pro bowler and was once a first team All-Pro and once a second team All-Pro. He has started 74 games in his NFL career and could help a fellow #1 overall draft pick in Sam Bradford succeed. The Rams had a strong record in their division and could look to compete in the NFC West next season.

Sept 9, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Miami Dolphins tackle Jake Long (77) blocks Houston Texans outside linebacker Connor Barwin (98) during the second half at Reliant Stadium. The Texans won 30-10. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Out of all the free agents on the market, the best player might be Miami Dolphins offensive left tackle Jake Long. And when you’re the best player on the market, and at a crucial position like left tackle, it shouldn’t come as any surprise you’d be coveted by many NFL teams.

“As it turns out, he is going to be very sought after in this market,” reported Schefter on ESPN’s SportsCenter.

While that wasn’t “breaking news,” Schefter went on to name 4 teams that are pursuing Long heavily: Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Rams, and the Miami Dolphins. The Eagles gave up 48 sacks last season, 5th highest total in the NFL. The Bears came in at #8 with 44 sacks. The Dolphins who had Long last season by comparison gave up 37 sacks.

Long is trying to get a deal that would average out to $11 million annually but $9 million might be more reasonable.

Who knows where he’ll wind up but you’d have to think the favorites to resign him would be the Miami Dolphins. They’re a growing organization he is familiar with. Chicago would be the second team I think he’d sign with. They’re potential contenders who have solid pieces in place and can get into the playoffs.

I don’t know why he’d want to go to St. Louis to play in a division with some of the toughest defenses and on a mediocre team. The Eagles were the worst team in the NFC East and the transition their makes them a wild card with an uncertain future. I don’t know if he’d want to be part of that rebuilding phase.

Of course, money talks so he’ll entertain all possibilities.

UPDATE:

Ian Rapoport says on NFL Network the #Colts are looking at OT Jake Long.

— George Bremer (@gmbremer) March 12, 2013

Jan 20, 2013; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker (83) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Corey Graham (24) during the fourth quarter of the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

As the beginning of Free Agency looms later this afternoon, a ton of stories have emerged from all over cyberspace regarding which teams should target which players when this massive feeding frenzy is set to start. Now, the Chicago Bears have been a relatively quiet team thus far in the off-season following the hiring of new Head Coach Marc Trestman. However, what is well known is the Bears’ need to shore up their pass protection, and the Bears have already been linked to 3 top OTs: Vikes OT Phil Loadholt, Saints OT Jermon Bushrod, Dolphins OT Jake Long, and in addition Jets OG Brandon Moore. Also, the Bears have been in need of a true dynamic TE ever since they traded Greg Olsen in 2011 to the Carolina Panthers, and one name that has surfaced with the Bears is Titans TE Jared Cook. So, why am I discussing the plausible idea of adding yet another top play-maker into the receiving corps of the Bears that is led by one Brandon Marshall?

Well, here’s the biggest thing, he’s practically the only dependable target in the entire Bears’ receiving corps to begin with. As of right now, designated slot receiver Earl Bennett hasn’t quite lived up to the contract extension he signed back in the 2011 season, and Devin Hester has no desire to play the position anymore. Also, Alshon Jeffery is very young, and he’s coming off a season filled with multiple injuries. In addition, versatile RB Matt Forte has been banged up with ankle issues of his own in the recent past. Plus, Matt Forte’s overall role in this new offense is relatively unknown, as is the use of TEs. The final straw, is the TE market in Free Agency being extremely shallow, where Jared Cook is easily the most wanted name of that market. Still not convinced?

Here’s another area to consider in this potential signing, the Green Bay Packers. Their OL is not exactly a good bunch either, yet the primary reason why QB Aaron Rodgers is having so much success in the passing games, directly relates to the sheer number of targets they have in their receiving corps. Virtually every single WR on their roster is a starting caliber player on any roster in the NFL. Over the years, Green Bay has surrounded and maintained a deep receiving corps for Aaron Rodgers to mature with in their system that’s been a force the past few seasons. Compare that to Chicago, where its Brandon Marshall, then everybody else. The more open targets you have available to you, the faster your QB is able to get the ball out of his hands and pass the rock to move the chains. Building a strong OL is indeed key to a strong passing game, but so is the amount of weapons available to your QB. That, my friends is where WR Wes Welker comes in.

Keep in mind that I’m not the first person to come up with this theory, nor is there any confirmed interest by the Bears as of this minute. But back to the issue, the Chicago Bears need to add a target who would take advantage of the double, sometimes even triple coverage secondaries would have on Brandon Marshall. Alshon Jeffery seems to be the guy that can develop and play adjacent of Brandon Marshall as the #2 to the outside, so the Bears need a target in the soft interior. This is where Wes Welker has done most of his damage, as since he ever first dawned on the fabled patriot on his helmet in 2007, he’s been the shifty workhorse for Tom Brady. In 5 of his last 6 seasons, he’s recorded over 110 recs and 1,100 yards. Even Brandon Marshall has to be impressed with that, and I’m sure he’d be happy to see someone else get locked in by the secondary instead of being locked up himself. It’s not that Brandon Marshall ever had a tough time getting open, it’s just a ton of punishment on your body to be asked and depended on as the only reliable option for Jay Cutler. Adding Wes Welker in the slot, would force teams to pick and choose, as well as end any hopes of double covering Brandon Marshall. So…what about fixing the offensive line?

That’s the one question I or anyone else would have to ask themselves before considering this move. The Chicago Bears currently have but $6-7 mil in cap space depending on where you search. That, is not a lot of money to throw around in Free Agency, let alone compete with the New England Patriots, who essentially have an entire bank at their disposal in comparison. As of this minute, the Bears have been talking to LB Brian Urlacher, and it is completely unknown how that situation is working out. There is a considerable “x” factor that would lead to this idea being a possibility instead of a complete impossibility, and that is GM Phil Emery. He likes it to be this quiet in the off-season, where he doesn’t tip his hand to anyone in the media until the day of that move. It allows for him to work in secrecy, and prevent other teams from interfering with his work. Classic example: the trade for Brandon Marshall just this past off-season. Absolutely nobody expected that move to happen, especially for just a pair of 3rd round picks. The Bears have pulled of surprise moves before that, as they also completely wowed everyone in 2009 by landing QB Jay Cutler in a surprise trade. And, the Bears can be very quick when it comes to modifying their roster and players’s contracts to compensate for a large move, case point in restructuring Julius Peppers’s deal last summer and also extending Lance Briggs’s contract by two seasons. So, the Bears could make a few moves in secrecy regarding their own players under contract, then make a huge splash in Free Agency by landing an OL or two, and then signing Wes Welker. Wes Welker is also 31 years old, where he’s not generating nearly as much interest as WR Mike Wallace is right now in the open market. I can’t put a real dollar value on Welker, given how he’s generally played in the slot yet has the stats that tops most wideouts in the NFL. Yet, he may not cost nearly as much as some may feel, and for the sake of argument he would be a huge addition for a team making every attempt at winning the Super Bowl “now”. Plus, there is the draft as well, where the Bears could pick up even more OL and a talented TE to develop.

Of course in an off-season that’s seen more action from the league in general than it has in past years, anything could happen. Right now at least, there is no official word on the Bears pursuing Wes Welker, most if not all talk is “hype” for now at least. But, seeing how the Chicago Bears have shocked people in a big way over the recent few years, do not ever rule the Bears out of any talk that would involve adding a dynamic play-maker to their offense. Bears Head Coach Marc Trestman and Phil Emery have made it crystal clear they aim to help Jay Cutler in any way they can, and providing him such a dangerous target in the receiving corps to compliment Brandon Marshall, would do just that.

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace (17) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne (24) during the game at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

In an off-season that has been filled with big cuts by numerous teams, plenty of Pro Bowl talent is being expected to find itself sitting in prime position for signing contracts with new teams. So much so, that we could see another true “dream team” being built as teams are continuing to make new deals or cuts that will free up cap space.

Of course, in today’s NFL, offense is what sells the tickets, and there will be no shortage of talent expected to be available, especially on the Offensive Line where no fewer than 3 different Pro Bowl LTs are poised to make themselves available for a new team hungry to solve their issues on the “blindside”. To begin our list, our first big name is:

Jake Long, LT, Miami Dolphins – He is one of the 3 Pro Bowl LTs that are currently expected to land themselves in free agency, with Jermon Bushrod (Saints) and Branden Albert (Chiefs) being the other two. Now, he may not be the best out of those 3, but he’s easily the biggest name, as before his recent injury history and resulting decline of his overall play, he was an elite LT that had certainly seemed to deserve the #1 overall selection status made long ago (pun not intended). And, he’s still able to play at a high level for any team wanting to take a chance on this guy, so it’s not like he’s in his late 30′s and on his last legs. Rather, he’s but 27 years old, and again he’s still a very effective LT, it really depends on where he lands. Of course, he will still be looking for a top 5 contract in terms of LT type money, the question will be if he gets to see that money. Nevertheless, there are teams who absolutely need a LT, and his list of suitors will be a lengthy one. Possible suitors: St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears.

Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers – In a receiver class that may include both Wes Welker (Patriots) and Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs), he’s well on his way to becoming a free agent, a free agent that will be an extremely hot commodity in this pass happy league. What he has going for him, is his well known reputation for being a prime example on what a legitimate deep threat looks like. He’s got speed, a lot of speed, and he does not drop a lot of his passes. To summarize, you let him beat you deep, then it’s likely 6 on the board. Unlike the OT market, the other two players I mentioned (Welker & Bowe) may both be locked up by their respective teams, so he could be set to become the headliner of this WR free agency class. The type of contract he will be seeking is a contract that will pay him like a top receivier in the league, and he’s young enough at 26 as well as extremely explosive where he would provide the signing team a player who’s entering their prime. This could be a player who will be the center of a major bidding war. Potential suitors: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams.

Steve Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams – It would be a real shame to watch his legacy come to an end in St. Louis, as he’s been the face of their franchise for quite sometime now. And, the St. Louis Rams are aiming at bringing this bruising RB back for another few years to be the main security blanket for Sam Bradford, in an offense that could use all the talent it can put together. But, if that doesn’t happen, then he will be joining the likes of Reggie Bush (Dophins) and Michael Turner (Falcons) in a not so deep class of RBs, that teams from all over will come to pursue. He is on the gradual decline of his career, where he is 29 years old, which is ancient for a RB. But, one thing that helps his cause, is his playing style. Teams that feature a dynamic and more finess type of passing game, will take a hard look into adding a RB who can pound defenses into committing against the run game, which would then open things up like play action opportunities. Rest assure, if he does part ways with the Rams, he will sign with someone, albeit to a smaller contract given how the league shys away from long term contracts with RBs. Potential suitors: Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals.

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Atlanta Falcons – He publically stated that the 2012 season would be his last season in the NFL, where he hoped to end his story much in the way Ray Lewis had with the Ravens by winning the Super Bowl. Well, it didn’t happen quite like that, where the Falcons were bounced by the San Francisco 49ers at home in the NFC Championship Game, and surprisingly enough, Tony Gonzalez has yet to file his retirement papers. It is well known the Atlanta Falcons’ top priority this off-season, is bringing him back for one last season, but if it doesn’t pan out then there could be teams looking to use his services short term to help boost their passing game. Seeing how the next available options could be Jared Cook (Titans) and Jermichael Finley (Packers) he will draw interest simply because of his name, as well as the perception he could sign a very small 1-2 year contract with a championship caliber that’s considerably smaller than what either Cook or Finley could fetch on the open market. His age will be a major focal point in any major negotiation (he’s 38), but seeing how he still went over 1,200 receiving yards last season, he could still help a contending team in need of a major threat in the middle. Potential suitors: Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots.

Matt Moore, QB, Miami Dolphins – To round out our top 5, we dive into the extremely shallow QB class, where there are more teams that are looking into a new starting QB, than there are available in Free Agency. Of course, the biggest names right now are Joe Flacco, who has zero chance of being moved out of Baltimore, and Alex Smith, where he’s still under contract with the 49ers, and thus only available in a trade. So, in a class that is defined by a very long list of back-ups, starting from Drew Stanton (Colts) and Jason Campbell (Bears) then going on down, Matt Moore is perhaps the only QB available in the market that could warrent any serious consideration as a starter on another team, that won’t cost any draft picks to obtain. He’s never been really impressive at any point of his career, but he’s also been named the starting QB for the season only once in his career (2011) where he didn’t perform too badly in an offense that was severely limited in it’s capabilities. He’s shown enough where he can be brought in to a team absolutely desperate for a new QB, and be allowed to compete for a job. Or, he could be brought in as a capable back-up much like what the other QBs could wind up doing. Potential suitors: Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars.

Who do you believe are the top names available in free agency? Who do you want your team to sign on the offensive side of the ball? List them all in the comments section below. And, feel free to add any of the latest cuts onto this page, as only more cuts are bound to happen as time passes from now until March 12.

Aug. 4, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (right) signs autographs after a scrimmage at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Since making the playoffs in 2008, the Miami Dolphins have had three consecutive losing seasons with 2011 being the worst one yet. The ‘Fins finished the year 6-10, but they were better than their record suggested. Although their offense was subpar, they had one of the best defenses in the league and were more than stout against the run, holding opponents to merely 3.7 yards per carry. According to an expected win and loss formula on Pro Football Reference based on the Pythagorean formula, the Dolphins should have went 8-8 and were victims of poor luck.

Looking at their schedule, the Dolphins had a +15 point differential and lost four games by four points or less while winning three games by 20 points or more. They were 18th in the league in passing yards per attempt allowed and also 18th in passing yards per attempt on offense. As far as the running game goes, they were right in the middle (15th) in yards per carry and third in yards per carry against. Turnovers were a big problem, as the Dolphins had a -6 turnover differential due to a huge differential in fumbles. The Dolphins lost 12 fumbles on offense while recovering just three on defense (+3 INT differential).

The Dolphins looked dead at the beginning of the season but like the Arizona Cardinals, they had a much better second-half with the defense being a key catalyst.

2011 Record 6-10

Key Additions

QB Ryan Tannehill, 1st round draft from Texas A&M

QB David Garrard

WR Chad Ochocinco

LB Gary Guyton

RB Lamar Miller 4th round from Miami

RT Jonathan Martin 2nd round from Stanford

LB Josh Kaddu fifth round from Oregon

WR Legedu Naanee

CB Richard Marshall

Key Losses

WR Brandon Marshall traded to Chicago Bears

QB Chad Henne

DE Kendall Langford

CB Will Allen

S Yeremiah Bell

Offense

Besides HBO Hard Knocks, the most interesting storyline surrounding the Miami Dolphins is the quarterback competition between David Garrard and Matt Moore. Last season, Moore was above-average with a healthy TD:INT ratio, a decent completion percentage, and a solid quarterback rating of 87.1. While he isn’t an ideal starter, you could do much worse than Moore. He was one of the better quarterbacks in the year last year, because he is accurate and doesn’t get phased while under pressure. Moore took his chances deep on 26.1% of his passes for a 47.5% completion percentage on those throws (the highest in the AFC).

First-round choice Ryan Tannehill is the quarterback of the future in Miami, but he’s not going to be starting this year. Rookie quarterbacks almost always struggle, no matter how good they end up being two years later (Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford are two examples who come to mind).

So while Tannehill isn’t challenging last year’s starter, former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard is. He missed all of last season with an injury, and he’s 34. On the bright side, quite a few people have said that he looks great in new head coach Joe Philbin’s west coast offense. He was a pretty good QB for the Jags and is one of the strongest QBs in the league. Like Moore, he’s an above-average, unspectacular passer. Garrard has a big arm, but he’s not going to make plays and is rarely ever “great”. However, Garrard is consistently above-average, and it looks like he has the offense down.

At the end of the day, it comes down to health for Garrard. With the way people are talking about his training camp performances, you would think that he’s going to get the job. The Dolphins aren’t going to name a starter until the offense is fully installed, which will probably be sometime after the preseason or late into the preseason. Moore is younger and much healthier, but he isn’t better than Garrard. He proved that he can be a good spot-starter for a talented rookie like Tannehill. Whoever loses the starting quarterback gig will likely be traded to a team that needs a quarterback, and that bodes better for Moore than Garrard due to age and health concerns. Garrard has little trade value and has more value to the Dolphins than anyone else, and he’ll likely get the job. Moore has looked shaky in training camp, but we’ll get a better idea of these two during the preseason. At this point, Garrard is the favorite despite what Moore did last year. As for Tannehill, Philbin is impressed with him.

Reggie Bush’s goal is to lead the league in rushing in the 2012 season. While that isn’t likely, he has emerged as one of the most dangerous backs in the league (finally). He is easily their best offensive weapon after the Brandon Marshall trade, and he averaged a hefty 5.1 yards per carry en route to 1,097 rushing yards. One of the best pass-catching RBs in the NFL, Bush also hauled in 43 passes and had seven touchdowns overall (six on the ground). Backup Daniel Thomas looked awful last season and averaged just 3.5 yards per carry, while Steve Slaton is a back the coaches really like.

Thomas had a rough rookie year, but he’s still the No. 2 back over both Slaton and rookie Lamar Miller. In fact, Thomas could be in line for more carries (165 last year), but that 3.5 YPC last year looked ugly. Slaton is still on the road back, and he was considered a very expendable player on the roster. However, he is in line for playing time next season, as the coaching staff likes him. Miami Hurricanes product Lamar Miller looks like the second best back on the team besides Bush, as he runs a terrific 4.4 forty and is probably the fastest back on the team. He should be getting a major role as a rookie, and he is definitely one to watch for in the future.

Wide receiver is a position of concern on the Dolphins roster due to the departure of superstar wideout Brandon Marshall. He was easily their best pass-catcher last season, as he caught 82 passes for 1,227 yards and six touchdowns. Marshall averaged 8.6 yards per target. Only Brian Hartline and Anthony Fasano averaged at least eight yards per target, but neither of them caught 40 passes. In fact, no other Dolphins receiver caught 50 passes last year.

The receiver who came the closest to 50 was Davone Bess, and he was extremely disappointing last season. It never seemed like Bess and Matt Moore clicked, but Bess has been said to be the best receiver at training camp so far. Talent-wise, he is easily the best receiver so this isn’t surprising; encouraging is the right word.

Chad Ochocinco has looked solid in training camp, and he should be the second most targeted wide receiver on the team with Brian Hartline and Legedu Naanee being third and fourth respectively. Ochocinco is trying to prove that he has something left, and he should be about average. Hartline missed minicamp with an appendectomy and has struggled with a hamstring injury this offseason. He’s a question mark after catching just 53% of the passes thrown his way but was stlil the team’s second best receiver last year (not exactly a testament to the players behind Marshall). The alignment should definitely be Bess in the slot and Hartline and Ochocinco playing out wide for the ‘Fins.

Tight end Anthony Fasano is still one of the most underrated TEs in the NFL, because great run blocking by a TE is always overlooked in a league where the great pass-catching TEs are always talked about. Fasano is a great tight end to have, but the problem is that he doesn’t fit the Dolphins offense. This is the final year of his contract, and he just doesn’t fit with Philbin’s fast WCO. He isn’t the best pass-catcher out there, but he is a terrific blocker. Fasano was solid as a receiver last year with five receiving touchdowns, a 59.3% catch rate, and an 8.4 yards per target average.

Athletic backup tight end Michael Egnew has more upside in Philbin’s offense, and the Missouri tight end should be able to usurp Fasano. He isn’t better than the top run blocker, but the ‘Fins want a pass-catcher more than a good blocker. H-Back Charles Clay has been heavily involved with the offense, and expect that to continue as the year wears on. He looks like he could be dangerous lining up at TE, WR, or FB, and the Dolphins really like what he can do. As an H-Back he won’t get many opportunities, but Clay looks like he can make a big play when he gets his chance.

Left tackle Jake Long is one of the best players in the league, but he didn’t enjoy a strong season in 2011. He wasn’t bad, but Long was a bit disappointing in a down year by his other-worldly standards due to some big injuries. He’s said he’s feeling a whole lot better, so get ready for another great season from Long.

At right tackle, second-round pick Jonathan Martin is trying to make the transition from protecting the blindside in college with Stanford. He’s a top talent, but the transition hasn’t been easy. Playing at RT is more run blocking oriented, and Martin looks more like a high upside project player. In fact, Lydon Murtha could be the Dolphins starter at the position if things don’t speed up for Martin.

Artis Hicks beat out John Jerry for the starting right guard spot, as Jerry’s playing weight is too high. The fact that Jerry hasn’t beat out the former Cleveland Browns veteran is discouraging, and things are looking worse for Jerry every single day. At left guard, Eric Steinbach is the primary backup and can also slot into RG if neither Jerry nor Hicks prove to be effective (that wouldn’t be surprising). Richie Incognito is firmly in the starting spot on the left side, with the young and talented Mike Pouncey comfortably slotted in as the center and second best OL on the team.

Defense

Even though the Miami Dolphins lost one of the better 3-4 DEs in the NFL in Kendall Langford, the defensive front is still a big position of strength for Miami. Paul Soliai and Randy Starks make up a stout interior, with Jared Odrick and superstar Cameron Wake lined up on the outside. Wake is an absolute monster, and he had an outstanding 24 QB hits and nine sacks last year. What makes things even more scary is that one of the game’s premier pass rushers is actually better as a WDE in the 4-3 than a pass rushing OLB.

Odrick finally got to play after missing his rookie season, and the former Penn State star did not disappoint with six sacks and eight QB hits in 11 games. He and Wake will be terrorizing pass rushers, along with Randy Starks in the middle. Starks is expected to get a big long-term deal after being used as trade bait the previous offseason. After an incredible year in 2011 that confirmed Starks’s place among the best 3-4 DEs/4-3 DTs in the league, the Dolphins are glad that they never dealt him.

Middle linebacker Karlos Dansby is one of the best in the league, and he was at his best last season for the Dolphins. A terrific run-stopper, Dansby had another 100+ tackle season at the heart of the ‘Fins defense. Even more scary? He’s a whole lot better as an MLB than a 3-4 ILB; watch for a huge year. Along with a top defensive line, Dansby and Kevin Burnett helped shut down the run. Burnett moves to outside linebacker as a WILL and could be in line for another 100 tackle season. Backup MLB Gary Guyton is a solid cover linebacker, and he can play as a backup MLB or backup WILL. Guyton is one of the better backup linebackers in the league.

SAM linebacker Koa Misi never fit as an OLB for the Dolphins 3-4, because he isn’t a good pass rusher. He is, however, a good player in coverage. He is coming off of a disappointing run stopping year, but he’s a good fit on the strong-side. SAM linebackers need to be good in coverage, because they are lined up with the opposing tight end more often than not, and Misi fits that bill.

Incoming cornerback Richard Marshall is going to be starting as a nickel corner for the Miami Dolphins. Nickel corners are becoming a premium position, and Marshall is a corner who is comfortable playing outside or inside. We’ll see if he has the skills for the inside. He gets burned quite a bit, but he’s fast and doesn’t give up many catches; that last trait is especially important for an NCB. Marshall won’t be challenging starter Sean Smith for the LCB spot next to star Vontae Davis, but Smith is coming off of a horrible and very disappointing season in 2011 after playing at a high level in 2010. This is a big year for Smith, and a bounce back would give the Dolphins one of the better cornerback groups in the league.

The Dolphins no longer have veteran 100-tackle strong safety Yeremiah Bell, but they do have Chris Clemons as the new starting SS. The problem is that he barely played last year. Tyrell Johnson, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, was supposed to be a big challenger against Clemons. He has been a flop so far, so the inexperienced Clemons is the safety. At FS, Reshad Jones was solid last year in 12 games with over 60 tackles and a couple of picks. He has been picking off passes at a high rate this offseason, and there is no question that he is the starter.

Coaching

This is Joe Philbin’s first NFL coaching gig, and he has come a long way since serving under Kirk Ferentz’s staff at Iowa from 1999-2002. In 2006, Philbin served as the Green Bay Packers offensive line coach after first being hired to the team in 2003. In 2007, Philbin was named the Packers offensive coordinator and consistently helped field one of the best offenses in the NFL. His fast-paced west coast offense is one of the more specific schemes out there, and it works with the right personnel.

So far, it is difficult to gauge how things will be in Philbin’s first year. The Dolphins fan base is one of the strongest in the NFL, so there are usually high expectations associated with the job. The expectations are realistic and relatively low, given the team’s 6-10 finish last year and the state of the receiving corps. A .500 finish is likely the goal for the Dolphins, and it is an achievable one, but it hinges on a bounce back season from Bess and the emergence of another receiver on the roster.

Breakout Player

It is almost impossible to pick a possible breakout player on the Dolphins, aside from H-Back Charles Clay. There aren’t any other options to choose from, unless if you’re bullish on wide receiver Roberto Wallace. Clay struggled at some points during training camp, but I don’t think training camp gave a proper scope of his skills. Clay has solid hands and can be a big playmaker. He can create mismatches as the H-Back in Philbin’s WCO, and he only needs a few chances in a game to make on big play. He isn’t going to be a focal point of this offense, but he’s definitely going to get more than the 405 snaps he had last year. Look for Philbin to give Clay more opportunities in games, as they believe he is legit playmaker and have given him plenty of offseason reps to prove it.

2012 Prediction 7-9

Overview

I was flipping between 7-9 and 8-8 in my head, because the offensive line and running backs will be better this year. The defense will also be terrific, especially since more players are slotting into more natural positions. The big problem is the passing game, because the winner of the QB battle will have a subpar group of receivers at their disposal. Davone Bess should be good, but Hartline is mediocre and Ochocinco and Naanee are question marks. Chris Clemons is the only true weak link on this defense, because I am one of those people who believes in cornerback Sean Smith’s overall talent and ability to bounce back in 2012. The passing game will hold this team back and cause them to be a game back from a .500 finish.

Dolphins left tackle Jake Long tore his biceps during the game, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. Long left the game early in the second quarter and did not return, according to multiple reports.

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