Preview of ‘07 Dolphins
By Adam Kiefaber
AFC EAST PREVIEW
The Questionable
MIAMI DOLPHINS
2006 Record: 6-10
Last Year Summary: Last offseason, the Dolphins traded for QB Dante Culpepper. In ’04, Culpepper had one of the greatest seasons a QB has ever had- throwing for 4,717 yards with 39 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions (he completed 69.2% of his passes). Culpepper injured his knee in ’05 and struggled into the ’06 season with Miami. 
Culpepper started the first four games and led Miami to a 1-3 record including a disappointing 16-6 loss at home against Buffalo and a 17-15 loss on the road to the Houston Texans. QBs Joey Harrington and Cleo Lemon filled in and didn’t do much better. RB Ronnie Brown had another solid season rushing for 1,008 yards and five touchdowns in his second NFL season. Due to the QB problems, WR Chris Chambers had a down year with 59 catches for 677 yards and four touchdowns (compared to 82 catches for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns in ’05). The Dolphins defense was strong last year allowing the fourth least amount of yards in the NFL. LB Zach Thomas finished with an NFL-leading 165 total tackles and three sacks while Pro-Bowl DE Jason Taylor had 13.5 sacks.
Additions: LB Joey Porter (Pittsburgh), QB Trent Green (Kansas City), DE Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (San Diego), FS Cameron Worrell (Chicago), OT Mike Rosenthal (Minnesota), FB Cory Schleslinger (Detroit), TE David Martin (Green Bay) and K Jay Feely (NYG).
Subtractions: QB Dante Culpepper, OL Bennie Anderson, RB Darian Barnes (to NYJ), DE David Bowens (to NYJ), DE Kevin Carter (to TB), OG Toniu Fonoti (to ATL), QB Joey Harrington (to ATL), OG Jeno James, WR Eric Kimble, K Olindo Mare (to NO), OT Damion McIntosh (to KC), OL Seth McKinney (to CLE), TE Randy McMichael (to STL), RB Travis Minor (to STL), RB Sammy Morris (to NE), WR Wes Welker (to NE), DT Jeff Zgonina (to HOU) and P Donnie Jones (to STL).
2007 Season Prediction: This year Miami is losing a bunch of players that shouldn’t hurt them that much. The biggest losses include, WR Wes Welker, TE Randy McMichael and a lot on the offensive line. The Dolphins could either be very good or terrible. The team did acquire two key players this offseason. LB Joey Porter should help out what already is a good defense. Most of Miami’s success depends on the play of QB Trent Green. Last year, Green wasn’t himself after being knocked out by Bengals DE Robert Geathers in Week One. However from ’02 through the ’05 season, Green has been spectacular. Dolphin fans wanted their team to pick Brady Quinn with the ninth overall pick in ’07 NFL Draft, but Miami went with WR Ted Ginn Jr. Miami did draft QB John Beck from BYU with the 40th overall pick and will be groomed as the QB of the future. The tougher road games this season include Philadelphia (Nov. 18), Pittsburgh (Nov. 26) and New England (Dec. 23). The tougher homes games will be Dallas (Sept. 16), New England (Oct. 21), Baltimore (Dec. 16) and Cincinnati (Dec. 30).
Best Rookie: RB Lorenzo Booker- Ronnie Brown figures to the starter, but Booker feels like he has a lot to prove after dropping all the way down to the third round of the ’07 NFL Draft. Personally, I don’t think Ted Ginn Jr. is ready to have a breakout season as a rookie (good returner- but not as a WR). And second-rounder John Beck will ride the bench this season. Booker will be able to step in right away and be a solid third-down back.
Big Games of the Year: vs. NY Giants (Oct. 28- 1:00pm in London), at Pittsburgh (Nov. 26- 8:30pm-Monday), at New England (Dec. 23- 1:00pm) and vs. Cincinnati (Dec. 30- 1:00pm)
Projected Record: 7-9
Futures (Bets): The current odds for the Dolphins to win the AFC East is 12/1. The win total betting is set at seven games. Currently, the Bills odds to win the Super Bowl are set at 75/1.
