The Miami Dolphins Spotlight

Dolphins sign RB Tristan Davis to practice squad

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:56 PST

With an opening on the practice squad after last week's promotion of linebacker J. D. Folsom, the Miami Dolphins have signed rookie running back Tristan Davis to fill the vacancy.

Undrafted out of Auburn in 2009, Davis signed with the Detroit Lions in late August and spent the first seven weeks of the regular season on the team's practice squad.

Background

An Atlanta native, Davis redshirted at Auburn University in 2004 before appearing in 12 games for the Tigers as a running back and safety in 2005. He rushed for 209 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries as a redshirt freshman.

Davis did not have a carry during his sophomore and junior seasons as a reserve tailback behind Kenny Irons, Ben Tate and Brad Lester.

However, he did set an Auburn single-season record with 756 kickoff return yards in 2006, while also recording 13 tackles as a safety and special teams player.

Davis contributed in all facets as a senior in 2008, rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown, adding 42 yards as a receiver, racking up 657 yards and two touchdowns as a kick returner, and recording two tackles and a forced fumble on special teams.

Despite running a 4.38-second 40-yard dash in March, Davis (5-10, 212) was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft and remained unsigned during NFL training camp.

He eventually signed with the Detroit Lions on Aug. 24, appearing in the team's final two preseason games and rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown, including a 79-yard score against the Buffalo Bills in the preseason finale.

After being waived during final cuts on Sept. 5, Davis was re-signed to the Lions' practice squad, where he remained until his release on Oct. 29.

As a practice squad player, Davis will make $5,200 per week and will not count toward the 53-man active roster or be eligible to play in games. He can be signed to another team's active roster at any point, so long as the signing team keeps him for at least three weeks.

Analysis

A borderline NFL prospect, Davis is one of those running backs that doesn't do any one thing supremely well and doesn't have any measurables that jump out at you. He's just a solid all-around back with a good build, good speed and the ability to play special teams.

It seems a bit curious the Dolphins replaced Folsom on their practice squad with a tailback, as the team already has four on the active roster and there doesn't seem to be much need for another for practice purposes.

It's possible that Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams is more banged up than we know, and Davis will help rest the big boys in practice. It could mean the team isn't all that impressed with Lex Hilliard and Kory Sheets, and wanted to take a look at someone else. Or, it could just mean that the Dolphins are doing their due diligence and taking a look at another NFL prospect.

One thing that is certain is that Davis is likely very far from being activated and seeing playing time on Sundays. His potential as a return man and special teams tackler helps his chances of sticking around, but he's really just auditioning to stay with the team on a day-to-day basis.

Week 9 Video Recap: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:35:27 PST

The Miami Dolphins' offense struggled for the second straight week as the team was handed their first loss of the season against a division opponent, falling to the New England Patriots 27-17 in Week Nine.

The game started promising with a spectacular interception by Vontae Davis in coverage of Randy Moss, but things soon unraveled.

The Dolphins' defense was unable to put pressure on Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, while the Miami offense sputtered trying to implement the spread option.

The Dolphins fall to 3-5 with the loss, tied with the Buffalo Bills for the worst record in the AFC East.

While the playoffs seem unlikely, the the Dolphins at least have to chance to put together a few wins in the month of November, with their next three games against questionable opponents in Tampa Bay, Carolina, and Buffalo.

Until then, here's my video recap of the Dolphins' performance against New England:

Offense

Defense & Special Teams

Week 9 Video Highlights: Dolphins at Patriots

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:13:36 PST

Vontae Davis interception against Randy Moss

Ricky Williams option touchdown run

Ronnie Brown touchdown pass to Joey Haynos

Game highlights

Week 9 Live Chat: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:58:58 PST

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots - 11/8/09

Dolphins promote LB J. D. Folsom; waive LB William Kershaw

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:11:02 PST

The Miami Dolphins have made a minor move a day before their Week Nine game against the New England Patriots, promoting rookie linebacker J. D. Folsom from the practice squad while waiving linebacker William Kershaw.

The move, which was first reported Saturday evening on the twitter account of the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, comes less than two weeks after Kershaw was re-signed by the Dolphins.

Waived in September during final cuts, Kershaw was re-signed by the Dolphins on Oct. 27 after cornerback Will Allen was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a torn ACL.

Kershaw, who appeared in one game for the Dolphins last season, played in the team's 30-25 victory over the New York Jets in Week Eight, but did not record any statistics.

The Miami's Dolphins' seventh-round pick in 2009, Folsom joins the active roster after spending the first eight weeks of the season on the team's practice squad.

A Gardner-Webb alum, Folsom was a two-time All-Big Sky selection at the collegiate level.

Analysis

This move isn't too surprising, as Kershaw doesn't offer much upside and is pretty limited to special teams. He's played in five games in three pro seasons and had eight stints with six pro teams since going undrafted in 2006.

Though he's a solid special teams player, Kershaw obviously didn't showcase himself enough to stick around, and the Dolphins likely felt they should see if Folsom could at least perform at Kershaw's level.

Folsom will almost certainly be active against New England this weekend, with Dolphins starting inside linebacker Channing Crowder already ruled out with a shoulder injury. The rookie will serve as the team's No. 3 inside linebacker behind starters Akin Ayodele and Reggie Torbor against the Patriots, but will primarily be limited to special teams.

I personally am interested to see if Folsom gets any snaps on defense. He seems like a pure special teams prospect and certainly is this early in his career, though based on the depth chart he'll be one injury away from serving as an inside linebacker in the team's base 3-4 scheme.

That being the case, it's always possible the Dolphins could opt to use any one of their outside linebackers, such as Charlie Anderson, if a replacement was needed. More than likely we'll see Folsom play kickoffs and punts tomorrow, but nothing more.

Week 9 Game Predictions

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:22:03 PST

Just like last week, I did extremely well in the early games, but bombed in the later games. Hopefully I can put together an all-around good weekend this time.

Last week's record: 8-5
Season record: 79-37 (68.1%)

Falcons over Redskins — Atlanta really got Michael Turner and the ground game going despite shooting themselves in the foot against New Orleans, but they should have no problems with the lowly Redskins.

Bears over Cardinals — Chicago hasn't been too impressive lately, but Kurt Warner has really begun to show his age this season and I like the Bears at home in this one.

Ravens over Bengals — This is a great divisional matchup again now that Cincinnati is back to normal, but I still like a very strong all-around Ravens team.

Colts over Texans — How can you pick against Peyton Manning? The Texans have the firepower to stay with the Indianapolis offense even without Owen Daniels, but I can't pick them here.

Patriots over Dolphins — As much as I'd like a Miami win here (especially with game against Tampa Bay, Carolina and Buffalo coming up), the Patriots are easily the best team in the division right now and have to be the pick at home.

Packers over Buccaneers — The Packers should win the Battle of the Bays now that they aren't playing the Vikings anymore, especially against a rookie quarterback in Josh Freeman.

Jaguars over Chiefs — I expect a big game for new Kansas City starting running back Jamaal Charles, but Jacksonville has the better team and should put out a win.

Saints over Panthers — Carolina got things going in a bit of an upset over Arizona last week, but it's hard to imagine them topping a New Orleans team that's simply on fire right now.

Seahawks over Lions — Seattle is hardly an impressive team, but I still like Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks' talent over anything Detroit has.

Giants over Chargers —New York has had some tough games lately, but I still like the club's talent and they should get back on track eventually. I think that turnaround begins here.

49ers over Titans — Tennessee came out of nowhere last week with a big division win over the Jaguars, but I'm inclined to think it was an aberration. I like the Niners.

Eagles over Cowboys — In what should be a fantastic game, I like the Eagles' dynamic offense at home over the Cowboys.

Steelers over Broncos — The Broncos suffered their first loss last week at the hands of a tough AFC North team, and I think that trend continues this week against Pittsburgh.

Miami Dolphins Alumni Update (October 2009)

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:52:52 PST

In a new feature which I plan to roll out at the end of every month, I'll be sharing brief updates on all the transactions around the NFL (and possibly other leagues as well) involving players that used to be under contract with the Dolphins.

As someone that follows the league as a whole, I'm always interested in the day-to-day transactions, and always keep an eye out for Dolphins alumni.

This monthly feature should allow you to do a bit of the same, without being anywhere near the nerd I am. Enjoy!

10/2 - The Toronto Argonauts (CFL) activated wide receiver P. K. Sam from the injured list. Sam was on the Dolphins' practice squad for part of 2006 and played for the team during the 2007 preseason.
10/2 - The Calgary Stampeders (CFL) activated defensive end Mike Labinjo from the injured list. Labinjo was a linebacker for the Dolphins in 2005 and 2006, but did not appear in a game.
10/6 - The Baltimore Ravens placed linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo on injured reserve with a ton quadriceps. Ayanbadejo played 32 games for the Dolphins from 2003 to 2004.
10/8 - The Cincinnati Bengals waived cornerback Geoffrey Pope and re-signed him to the practice squad. Pope spent the 2007 preseason with the Dolphins after signing with the team as an undrafted rookie out of Howard, and went on to earn a Super Bowl ring with the New York Giants.
10/11 - The California Redwoods (UFL) released wide receiver Bobby Sippio. Sippio spent part of the 2004 season with the Dolphins on injured reserve.
10/12 - The St. Louis Rams re-signed linebacker K. C. Asiodu to their practice squad. Asiodu spent part of October on the Dolphins' practice squad.
10/13 - The Seattle Seahawks placed offensive tackle Brandon Frye on injured reserve with a neck injury. Frye spent part of last season with the Dolphins as a reserve offensive lineman, but was waived during final cuts on Sept. 5.
10/14 - The New England Patriots re-signed linebacker Junior Seau. The future Hall of Famer played three seasons with the Dolphins from 2003 to 2005, recording 189 tackles and five sacks.
10/14 - The Seattle Seahawks signed offensive tackle Damion McIntosh to their active roster, and signed guard Mark Lewis to their practice squad. McIntosh started 43 games for the Dolphins from 2004 to 2006, while Lewis attended 2009 training camp with the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie.
10/14 - The BC Lions (CFL) signed wide receiver Kerry Reed and defensive end Abraham Wright to the practice roster. Reed played in one game with the Dolphins in 2007 as an undrafted rookie, while Wright spent his only season with the Dolphins on injured reserve after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
10/17 - The New York Jets released defensive tackle Howard Green, only to re-sign him to three days later on Oct. 20. Green spent 2006 training camp with the Dolphins but did not make the team.
10/19 - The Calgary Stampedes (CFL) placed wide receiver Teyo Johnson on the injured list. Johnson attended training camp with the Dolphin in 2006 as a tight end, but did not make the team.
10/19 - The California Redwoods (UFL) placed safety Norman LeJeune on injured reserve. LeJeune spent part of the 2004 and 2005 seasons with the Dolphins, recording two tackles in seven games.
10/20 - The Seattle Seahawks released guard Mark Lewis from the practice squad.
10/20 - The Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) signed offensive lineman Matt Spanos to the practice squad. Spanos attended 2008 training camp with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent, but did not make the team.
10/21 - The Detroit Lions signed defensive tackle Joe Cohen to the practice squad. Cohen spent part of the 2008 season on the Dolphins' practice squad and attended training camp with the team in 2009.
10/21 - The St. Louis Rams promoted linebacker K. C. Asiodu to the active roster.
10/21 - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed guard Shawn Murphy off waivers from the Dolphins. Murphy was the Dolphins' fourth-round pick in 2008, but did not play a game with the team.
10/21 - The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver Anthony Armstrong to the practice squad. Armstrong spent the 2008 and 2009 preseasons with the Dolphins and also spent the entire 2008 regular season on the team's practice squad.
10/26 - The California Redwoods (UFL) signed offensive tackle Cory Lekkerkerker. Lekkerkerker played on 11 games (two starts) for the Dolphins in 2007.
10/27 - The San Diego Chargers signed offensive lineman Joe Toledo to the practice squad. The Dolphins' fourth-round pick in 2006, but did not play a game in two seasons with the team.
10/29 - The New Orleans Saints placed fullback Heath Evans on injured reserve with a knee injury and signed fullback Kyle Eckel. Evans played six games (two starts) for the Dolphins in 2005, while Eckel spent Sept. 2005 to Sept. 2007 but was never active.
10/29 - The Montreal Alouettes (CFL) placed defensive tackle Eric Wilson on the injured list. Wilson spent 2004 and 2005 with the Dolphins as an offensive lineman, but did not appear in a game.
10/29 - The Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) placed wide receiver Maurice Mann on the injured list. Mann spent part of the 2004 season on the Dolphins' active roster, but did not appear in a game.

Dolphins re-sign TE John Nalbone to practice squad

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:38:57 PST

The Miami Dolphins re-signed tight end John Nalbone to the practice squad as expected Tuesday, three days after waiving the rookie to make room for linebacker Matt Roth on the active roster.

Drafted in the fifth round out of Monmouth in 2009, Nalbone spent the first seven games of the regular season inactive as the third tight end behind Anthony Fasano and Joey Haynos.

Analysis

The Dolphins obviously liked something in Nalbone with they selected him in the fifth round this year, but he's clearly not ready to contribute and isn't on the same level as Fasano and Haynos.

In a bit of a surprise, the Dolphins released wide receiver James Robinson from the practice squad, keeping tight end Kory Sperry as the fourth tight end.

The fact that Sperry was also kept means the team is just more comfortable with four tight ends in the organization at any given time for practice purposes. It also could mean that Nalbone could see a promotion back to the active roster at some point this season.

Nalbone's four-year rookie contract is now torn up, and he'll make $5,200 every week he's on the practice squad. Any promotion to the active roster (or future contract in 2010) will likely be a two-year deal for the league minimum.

Week 8 Video Highlights: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:26:49 PST

Ricky Williams 28-yard reception

Joey Haynos touchdown reception

Dan Carpenter 48-yard field goal

Jason Taylor fumble return touchdown

Ted Ginn, Jr. highlights

Game highlights

Week 8 Video Recap: Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:04:37 PST

It wasn't pretty, but the Miami Dolphins were able to pull off the two-game sweep of the New York Jets in 2009 with a 30-25 victory over their division rival in Week Eight.

The Dolphins offense sputtered all game, but big plays gave Miami a victory as Jason Taylor returned a fumble for a touchdown and Ted Ginn, Jr. returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

At the 3-4, the Dolphins are not in ideal position to make a playoff run, but are not dead either. They play the AFC East-leading New England Patriots in Week Nine, and a Miami upset could catapult the Dolphins back into legitimate contention.

Until then, however, here is my video recap of the Dolphins' victory over the New York Jets:

Offense

Defense & Special Teams

Should the Miami Dolphins re-sign Chris Chambers?

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:28:12 PST

Many Miami Dolphins fans were upset with the team traded wide receiver Chris Chambers to the San Diego Chargers for a second-round pick during the 2007 season.

The outrage certainly seemed warranted, as Chambers was quite possibly the team's most-talented receiver of the decade, highlighted by a 1,100-yard, 11-touchdown performance on the way to a Pro Bowl selection in 2005.

It looks like the Dolphins may have gotten the better end of that deal however, selecting future franchise quarterback Chad Henne with the pick acquired for Chambers.

Meanwhile, Chambers struggled to establish himself in San Diego, with his numbers declining each of his three seasons with the team, culminating in his release on Nov. 2.

Chambers had just nine receptions on the season prior to his release, and at 31 years of age it seems he has lost his ability to separate and be an impact player.

That being the case, the Dolphins receiving corps is certainly one of the worst in the NFL and devoid of play-makers, and an argument can be made Chambers is still more talented than anyone at the position currently on the team's roster.

So should the Dolphins look for a reunion with Chambers? Check out this video to find out what I think:

Live Chat - Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:30:02 PST

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=469246bb82" &amp;amp;gt;Miami Dolphins at New York Jets - 11/1/09&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Dolphins activate LB Matt Roth; waive TE John Nalbone

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:38:01 PST

The Matt Roth saga seems to have come to a happy conclusion, as the Miami Dolphins activate the outside linebacker from the non-football injury list, where he'd been inactive since the beginning of training camp.

To make room for Roth on the 53-man roster, the Dolphins waived rookie tight end John Nalbone. The fifth-round pick out of Monmouth made the team following the preseason, but had been inactive for the Dolphins' first six games of the 2009 season.

Matt Roth analysis

The Roth situation during training camp was one of the strangest things I've ever seen in all my time as a Dolphins fan.

It involved seemingly phantom injuries, made-up illnesses, rumored contract displeasure and flat-out lying to head coach Tony Sparano.

That being the case, whatever was the problem then is apparently gone now, as Roth is back practicing and appears ready to contribute this season

Though the Dolphins have certainly survived without their best run-stopping outside linebacker, ranking third in the NFL in rushing defense, Roth's addition can't do anything but help.

Joey Porter has stepped up his game and become a more complete player, and Jason Taylor has been a solid all-around performer as always, but Roth still trumps both of them when it comes to run defense.

Roth will likely rotate with Jason Taylor at strong-side linebacker, with Taylor playing obvious pass situations and Roth playing some early downs.

Like two platooning baseball players who each hit one type of pitcher well, this is a great fit for both and should maximize their production by letting them do what they do best and keeping both fresher during games—especially the 35-year-old Taylor.

During a week in which the Dolphins lost their best veteran corner and will be forced to start two rookies in the secondary, this is good news for the front seven and should help lessen the impact of Will Allen's loss.

Roth should be active in Week Eight against the New York Jets and will likely serve a situational role. His arrival could eventually spell the end of Quentin Moses' tenure in Miami, who has been inactive for the team's last two games and isn't as good a special teams player as fellow backup Erik Walden.

John Nalbone analysis

Like Brian Hartline or J. D. Folsom, the selection of Nalbone in the 2009 NFL Draft was curious not because of his prospects as a pro, but because of the timing. Hartline was projected to be a seventh-rounder and was grabbed in the fourth-round, while Nalbone, like Folsom, was probably not going to be drafted.

Yet the Dolphins chose Nalbone in the fifth round. Despite the injury and release of David Martin, Nalbone was unable to see playing time during the Dolphins' first six games of 2009 and has not dressed for a game as a pro.

In Nalbone's defense, Joey Haynos has been a solid No. 2 tight end, catching the passes thrown to him and contributing as a blocker to one of the league's best rushing attacks.

If Nalbone clears waivers on Monday at 4 p.m. ET (and I expect he will), he will likely be re-signed to the team's practice squad. Such a move would likely spell the end for current practice squad tight end Kory Sperry.

2009 Week 8 Game Predictions

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 07:56:26 PDT

After sweeping the 1 o'clock games (admittedly, most were gimmes), I pretty much bombed the later games, including a switched pick from New Orleans to Miami that didn't pay off in the end.

Last week's record: 9-4
Season record: 71-32 (69%)

Texans over Bills — Houston's offense is firing on all cylinders, while the Bills are a mess despite a win against an equally disappointing Panthers team last week. The Texans have to be the pick.

Bears over Browns — Chicago has been horribly inconsistent and forgot to show up against the Bengals last week, but the Browns are the worst team in the league and shouldn't be picked against anyone.

Cowboys over Seahawks — I'm inclined to believe Seattle's route of the Jaguars a few weeks ago was an aberration, and I expect a hot Dallas offense to put up way too many points for Matt Hasselbeck and Co. to manage.

Rams over Lions — What an ugly game this should be. It's hard to pick a winner here, but I like the potential offense of Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson better than the alternative.

Colts over 49ers — It's hard to imagine anyone going undefeated, but it's also hard to pick against Indy right now. Alex Smith had an impressive game last week, but he's no match for Peyton Manning.

Dolphins over Jets — Miami lost a heartbreaker against New Orleans last week, but did certainly play a good half of football. I think the running game gets going again against the Jets.

Giants over Eagles — This is a very tough matchup that could completely go either way, but I've been more impressed with the Giants this season and think they'll prevail.

Ravens over Broncos — Baltimore presents one of the best opportunities for Denver to lost a game this season, and I like their chance this week.

Jaguars over Titans — Tennessee probably won't go 0-16, but it's hard to pick them on any given week, especially when they are starting Rhodes Scholar Vince Young.

Chargers over Raiders — There is just no reason to ever pick the Raiders, ever. JaMarcus Russell will lead his team to defeat yet again.

Packers over Vikings — Minnesota got the best of Green Bay in their first meeting due to the Packers' lack of a line, but that unit is playing better and they'll have homefield advantage. If there is any justice in this world, Brett Favre will get demolished this week.

Cardinals over Panthers — Carolina just can't seem to get things going, even with their running game, so I don't expect them to be able to match the amount of points Arizona will put up.

Falcons over Saints — The Saints have to lose sometime (don't they?) and I'm picking the big upset from the Falcons on the road.

Dolphins release DE Derrick Jones, sign FS Nate Ness to practice squad

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:20:19 PDT

The Miami Dolphins made a minor transaction Tuesday, signing safety Nate Ness to the practice squad and releasing defensive end Derrick Jones.

The Dolphins signed Jones to the practice squad on Oct. 7 after Phillip Merling suffered an ankle injury against the Buffalo Bills.

An undrafted rookie out of Arizona, Ness was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent, and has also had brief stints with the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks.

Background

A California native, Ness began his collegiate career with two seasons at El Camino Community College in Torrance. He earned junior college All-American honors both seasons, as well as a Mission Conference co-Defensive Player of the Year award as a true freshman.

Ness transferred to the University of Arizona in 2007, playing two seasons for the Wildcats. He started six of 12 games as a junior, recording 32 tackles and five interceptions.

As as senior in 2008, Ness recorded 75 tackles, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery.

Ness was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in May 2009, but was waived in July.

He then spent just under two weeks with the New York Jets during the 2009 preseason, appearing in three games before being waived on Aug. 31.

Ness was briefly picked up by the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 2, only to be waived during final cuts three days later. He has been a free agent since.

As a practice squad player, Ness will earn $5,200 a week with the Dolphins. He does not count toward the active 53-man roster and can be signed to another team's active roster at any time.

Analysis

It's no secret that Dolphins starting free safety Gibril Wilson has been an epic free-agent bust this season, and at first glance, the signing of Ness might seem to be related.

Still, I don't think this transaction is quite that significant. Tyrone Culver may be and should be a threat to Wilson's job, but Ness is barely on the NFL radar and is a long way from ever contributing at the pro level.

More likely, this is your typical practice squad transaction, just taking a look at another young player. It doesn't hurt that Ness spent part of the preseason with the Dolphins' upcoming opponent in the New York Jets, but I'm not sure how much he can contribute in that area.

As with all practice squad players, Ness is on an extremely short leash and could be cut at any time, be it tomorrow, in a week or whenever. If he lasts the entire season, he could be brought back to compete for a roster spot in 2010, but that's a long way off.

I KNEW DARREN SHARPER DIDN'T SCORE ON THAT PLAY!!!!!!1

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:10:28 PDT

Dolphins place CB Will Allen on IR; re-sign LB William Kershaw

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:54:59 PDT

In addition to losing a heartbreaker to the New Orleans Saints in Week Seven, the Miami Dolphins also lost one of their top defenders in starting cornerback Will Allen.

The veteran defensive back suffered a torn ACL in the team's loss to the Saints and has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Instead of signing another cornerback to replace Allen on the roster, the Dolphins have re-signed inside linebacker William Kershaw.

Kershaw was with the Dolphins for part of the 2008 season and was waived during final cuts in August prior to the 2009 season.

Background

After starting for two seasons at the University of Maryland, Kershaw went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent and spent most of his rookie season on the team's practice squad. Kershaw appeared in one regular season game for the Chiefs as well as a first-round playoff game.

Kershaw appeared in the 2007 regular season opener with the Chiefs, but was waived on Sept. 20. He was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad during the season, then signed to the active roster of the Houston Texans.

After appearing in one game for the Texans, Kershaw was waived on Dec. 18 and finished the rest of the 2007 season back on the Eagles' practice squad.

Kershaw signed with the Denver Broncos in February 2008 but waived in April. Kershaw then signed with the New Orleans Saints, but was waived during final cuts on Aug. 30.

After initially joining the Miami Dolphins' practice squad in October 2008, Kershaw was promoted to the active roster in December when fullback Casey Cramer was waived. Kershaw went on to appear in one game for the Dolphins, recording two tackles and a forced fumble on special teams.

Despite a 17-tackle performance with the Dolphins in the 2009 preseason, including a seven-tackle outing in the finale against New Orleans, Kershaw was waived during final cuts on Sept. 5. He has been a free agent since.

Kershaw becomes the team's fifth inside linebacker, along with starters Channing Crowder and Akin Ayodele, backup Reggie Torbor, and practice squad rookie J. D. Folsom. He will wear No. 58, which has not been taken since he was last with the team in the preseason.

Analysis

Some say Allen's play this season has been inconsistent or even sub-par, but I think those people are kidding themselves.

Allen has been a fantastic cover corner ever since he arrived in Miami, and was playing well this season. It's not all up to the corners, and I think we all know the safety support from Gibril Wilson and Yeremiah Bell has been lacking this season.

The loss of Allen to the secondary is significant, because he was the only player in the unit that had both experience and great coverage skills. The Dolphins will now go with two talented, albeit young, rookies in Sean Smith and Vontae Davis at cornerback.

Allen's injury also means more playing time for Nathan Jones and Tyrone Culver, who will both see plenty of action in nickel and dime packages. 2006 first-round disappointment Jason Allen could also be forced to play some defense in addition to his normal special teams role.

It wouldn't surprise me to see the Dolphins add a veteran cornerback, though the options out there are limited. One possible, but unexciting option is Joey Thomas, who was with the team last season and is currently a free agent. The Dolphins did seem to prefer Thomas over Jason Allen on defense in 2008.

As for Kershaw, he'll serve the same role he did with the Dolphins late last season, which is that of the No. 4 inside linebacker and a special teams player. He's certainly talented in the latter capacity and could be active on game days as soon as this coming weekend.

Kershaw was likely signed over practice squad linebacker J. D. Folsom because he is more experienced and NFL-ready than the Dolphins' rookie seventh-round pick. Kershaw doesn't have much upside as a defender, but he knows the scheme and has the talent to be a backup in this league.

That being the case, there's no guarantee Kershaw's second stint in Miami won't be short-lived. The Dolphins only have four corners on the active roster, and could choose to bring another one on-board at any time.

2009 Week 7 Recap: Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:15:02 PDT

Coming off to wins against division opponents, the Miami Dolphins started strong against the undefeated New Orleans Saints, jumping out to a 24-3 lead during the second quarter.

The Dolphins were unable keep up that momentum, however, with the Saints scoring 36 points in the second half, including 22 unanswered in the fourth quarter alone.

At 2-4, the Dolphins are on the outside of the playoff race looking in, and might at 2010 as their next chance at contention.

The Dolphins will visit the New York Jets for their second match-up of the season in Week 8, but until then, here is my recap of their game against the Saints:

Offense

Defense & Special Teams

Week 7 Highlights: Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:08:24 PDT

Game highlights

Ronnie Brown touchdown run

Ricky Williams touchdown run

Ricky Williams highlights

Vontae Davis touchdown-saving tackle

Tyrone Culver interception

Reggie Torbor interception

Live Chat - Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:45:29 PDT

Miami Dolphins vs. New Orleans Saints - 10/25/09

2009 Week 7 Game Predictions

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:15:54 PDT

Sorry about my lack of predictions for last week's games—my move and lack of internet prevented me from posting them in time. I ended up going 9—5, which is pretty meh. I'll do better this week though, I promise. Please don't hit me.

Last week's record: 9—5
Season record: 62—28 (69%)

Packers over Browns — There's really no reason to ever pick Cleveland at this point, who in addition to being just plain awful are now flu-infested. Green Bay has to be the choice.

Chargers over Chiefs — I thought San Diego had a chance to defeat the undefeated Broncos last week, but it was not to be. Still, I like them to get a win against a much less-talented division rival this week.

Colts over Rams — Another lop-sided matchup, it's hard to envision St. Louis beating a Peyton Manning-led team right now.

Steelers over Vikings — Somewhat of an upset pick, I just think Minnesota has to return to earth at some point, if only for a moment, right? I think Pittsburgh gets to Brett Favre better than anyone has so far this year and hands the Vikings their first loss.

Patriots over Buccaneers — Tampa Bay is simply a mess right now, and New England is as hot as they've been all season. You have to go with the Pats here.

Texans over 49ers — A battle between two teams that are better than one would have thought, I like the Houston offense led by Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels in this one.

Jets over Raiders — New York has certainly received a reality check in recent weeks, with Mark Sanchez playing more like the rookie he is. That, combined with an upset by Oakland over the Eagles last week, still isn't enough to make me pick the Raiders. I'm going with the Jets on the rebound.

Panthers over Bills — Carolina has underachieved at times this year, and looked downright awful at others, but they seem to be getting their running game going. Meanwhile, the Bills are dropping like flies and just keep getting worse, so I have to pick the Panthers.

Bengals over Bears — Both of these teams seem to be two-faced at this point, playing really well at one point then getting stomped the next. I'll go with the Bengals and a better offense at home.

Falcons over Cowboys — I'm a fan of this Dallas team, but they can't seem to put it together consistently, and Atlanta is playing very well right now. I like the Falcons on the road.

Saints over Dolphins — As much as I hope Miami pulls off the upset, I can't really justify picking them against a high-powered New Orleans offense. If the Dolphins can control the clock like they did against Indianapolis, they might be able to stay close and eek out a win.

Giants over Cardinals — New York suffered a tough loss to the Saints last week, but they are still one of the NFL's elite and should be able to top the Cardinals this week.

Eagles over Redskins — Philadelphia is coming off a pretty shocking loss to the Raiders, but the Redskins are a mess right now and I can't see the Eagles dropping two in a row.

Dolphins waive '08 fourth-round pick Shawn Murphy; Sign OT Lydon Murtha

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:27:18 PDT

The Miami Dolphins announced Tuesday they have waived second-year guard Shawn Murphy and signed rookie offensive tackle Lydon Murtha.

A fourth-round pick out of Utah State in 2008, Murphy was inactive for all 22 games with the Dolphins since entering the NFL last season.

Murtha was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Nebraska and had spent the entire regular season to date on the Lions' practice squad.

Background

A Homestead, Fla. native, Murtha redshirted at the University of Nebraska in 2004 after suffering a leg injury during the spring.

Murtha appeared in 23 games for the Cornhuskers over the next two years, starting six of them at left tackle while serving as a top reserve lineman for the rest.

As a junior in 2007, Murtha started eight games at right tackle before being sidelined with an injury.

Murtha earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors for the second consecutive season as a senior in 2008 after starting eight games and helping Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz set the school record for passing yards in a season.

Murtha was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft. He appeared in three of the team's four preseason games this year, but was waived during final cuts on Sept. 5.

Murtha had spent the 2009 regular season on the Lions' practice squad. Because he was signed directly off the practice squad by the Dolphins, he must remain on the active roster for at least three weeks.

Murtha likely signed a two- or three-year contract with the Dolphins for the league minimum. He will don No. 76 in Miami.

Analysis

Some seem to be surprised by the waiving of Murphy, but I'm not one of them. The only thing that surprises me about his time in Miami is that it lasted as long as it did.

People made excuses for Murphy since he was drafted by the Dolphins in the fourth round of last year's draft. But the simple reality is, he was a mid-round pick with plenty of college experience and never even gained consideration for playing time during his rookie season.

That wouldn't be so bad if the Dolphins had had a mainstay at the right guard spot. But Donald Thomas—a sixth-rounder in the same draft that walked on to the UConn football team and didn't play ball in high school—was able to come in as a rookie and earn the starting job out of camp, while Murphy was relegated to the bench.

Then, when Thomas went down following the 2008 season opener, the Dolphins tried almost everyone they could find (with little success, mind you) and still never gave Murphy a shot. They started one player they picked up off waivers right before the season (Andy Alleman) and another they signed in the middle of the season (Evan Mathis). But nope, no Murphy.

In 2009, it was my firm belief that Murphy was still on the team only because of his draft status, and that he would have one more camp and preseason to prove his value before the team parted ways with him. I was slightly surprised when he opened camp as the "favorite" at right guard even with Thomas' injury, but I never believed for a second Murphy actually had a chance to beat out a healthy Thomas for the job.

It took a little longer than expected with Murphy surviving final cuts, but he again was inactive for every game this season. The Dolphins finally decided his progress just wasn't enough, and parted ways with the highest draft pick bust of the Parcells-Ireland-Sparano era to date.

Murphy will pass through waivers on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, after which time he will become an unrestricted free agent if unclaimed. My guess is he lands on another team's practice squad, as he's not really worth an active roster spot at this point, but could be worth a look-see as a developmental candidate.

It's always possible the Dolphins could re-sign Murphy to the practice squad if he clears waivers, but it's unknown at this point if either party would be interested in such an arrangement. Armando Salguero wrote yesterday about some potential bitterness on Murphy's end, so this split could very well be permanent.

As for Murtha, while he appears to be a better prospect than Murphy, he's still a long way from contributing and may never do so. He has prototypical size, good athleticism and a solid college résumé, but injuries plagued him throughout his amateur career and it's hard to imagine those things ever completely going away.

In the short term, Murtha will likely be inactive on game days and not on the 45-man roster that dresses. He'll likely work behind second-year man Nate Garner at right tackle, though one could be waived and relegated to the practice squad at some point in the near future. Keep in mind, Murtha must remain on the Dolphins' active 53-man roster at least three weeks since he was signed off another team's practice squad.

Temporary absence

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:43:47 PDT

Hello faithful readers (all three of you) - I'm currently in the process of moving and do not yet have the internet set up at my new place. That being the case, posting will be a little difficult until I get things up and running again. I'm typing this from my iPhone, but there's no way I'll be writing any lengthy articles that way.

I'll continue to update you, so don't go drinking that antifreeze just yet. I shall return momentarily!

Dolphins lose RB Patrick Cobbs for season; sign RB Kory Sheets

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:01:55 PDT

The Miami Dolphins have lost their third-string tailback and a valued special-teamer for the remainder of the 2009 season, as running back Patrick Cobbs has been placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL.

Cobbs suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the Dolphins' 31-27 victory over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.

A fourth-year player out of North Texas, Cobbs has appeared in 37 games for the Dolphins over four seasons, rushing for 172 yards while adding another 313 yards as a receiver.

Replacing Cobbs on the Dolphins' roster will be rookie running back Kory Sheets, who was signed off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad.

Background

A Connecticut native, Sheets red-shirted at Purdue in 2004. He earned Freshman All-American honors from The Sporting News in 2005 after rushing for 571 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Over the next two seasons from 2006 to 2007, Sheets rushes for 22 touchdowns and over 1,600 yards.

Sheets experienced his best season as a senior in 2008, rushing for a career-high 1,131 yards and 16 touchdowns on his way to honorable mention All-Big Ten honors.

After going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft, Sheets signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent. He appeared in all four of the team's preseason games in 2009, rushing for 177 yards and three touchdowns.

Sheet was waived by the 49ers during final cuts on Sept. 5 and re-signed to the practice squad, where he remained until being signed by the Dolphins on Oct. 14.

Sheets will wear No. 22 in Miami, which was most recently worn by cornerback Joey Thomas. Since he was signed off the 49ers' practice squad, Sheets must remain on the Dolphins' active roster for at least three weeks. He likely signed a two- or three-year contract for the league minimum.

Analysis

As unfortunate as it is, the loss of Cobbs is more emotional than practical. It sucks because he's a likable player and hard worker. He's a standout special teams player that contributed on offense occasionally.

That being said, Cobbs simply isn't vital to the Dolphins' success—especially on offense—and things are still going to run (no pun intended) without him. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, along with a powerful line, are what make the Miami running game go, and it will continue to do so.

With the injury, Lex Hilliard moves into the third-string running back role, and could see the occasional action on offense.

A fan-favorite in the '09 preseason, Hilliard has been purely a special teams player to this point. He showed some strength and power running the ball in the preseason, but it's hard to gauge just how good a guy actually is against other teams' camp bodies.

Sheets doesn't have much power as a rusher, but he does have good speed and athleticism. He also has experience as a kickoff returner, and could eventually compete for that role with the Dolphins given the fact that it was Cobbs' job and the team doesn't seem to want to use Ted Ginn, Jr. there.

However, it remains to be seen if Sheets will initially be active on game days for the Dolphins. He'll have to contribute on kick and punt coverage to be so, as he's pretty far from seeing any time on offense.

One positive from this whole thing is that the Dolphins now have two Kory's—Sheets and practice squad tight end Sperry—compared to the other 31 NFL teams' zero Kory's. So we have that going for us.

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets: Random Observations

cnelson13@gmail.com (Chris Nelson) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:53:54 PDT

I don't really have the time/place to make a few video recaps like I usually do, so instead I'm just going to offer my observations in boring ol' text form.

The Miami Dolphins advanced to 2-3 on the season this week, beating the division-rival New York Jets on a game-winning touchdown drive by second-year quarterback Chad Henne in the final seconds.

I apologize for not doing videos this week, and with the bye coming up in Week Six, that means you'll have to go two weeks without seeing my gorgeous mug. That is, unless you feel the need to watch some of my old video on YouTube.

Offense

I was extremely impressed with Chad Henne this week. Sure, he had the benefit of good pass protection and a productive running game, but he looked poised, confident, and made good decisions all night. He also came through when it counted, using his arm to get the Dolphins down the field a couple of times in the final quarter on scoring drives.
Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams continue to run hard and gain good yardage after contact. I thought Ricky looked a little slow getting going when he took snaps out of the wildcat, but the team doesn't do that much anyway.
Fullback Lousaka Polite, outside of a missed block on the final drive that could have scored Brown, played like a Pro Bowler against the Jets. He made devastating block after devastating block, clearing holes for the tailbacks all night.
After a few tough weeks, Ted Ginn, Jr. came through with a few big catches against the Jets. He had a big third-down grab early, and a great catch on the long pass from Henne late. One game doesn't make up for all the drops in recent weeks, but it was nice to see a confidence-boosting performance in the national spotlight.
Anthony Fasano finally woke up this week, doubling his reception total on the season and landing a big touchdown.
The offensive line performed very well this week, keeping Henne upright and opening up holes in the running game. Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins is a monster and made his share of plays, but overall the Dolphins dominated on the ground. I thought the guards, Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas, in particular did very well.

Defense & Special Teams

My only real qualm (yes, qualm) on the defensive side of the ball was the tackling, especially early on. I thought they let Leon Washington get way too many yards and missed way too many tackles.
Overall, the Dolphins did a good job of getting pressure on Mark Sanchez. If they didn't hit them, they at least pushed his own offensive linemen in his face and caused some poor throws. Jason Ferguson, Kendall Langford and Tony McDaniel stood out.
The linebackers did a much better job in coverage than they had earlier in the season. I thought Channing Crowder played one of his best games in a long time.
I thought the pass coverage was solid. Braylon Edwards made a few plays, but overall, the corners did a good job. The 49-yard pass interference penalty on Will Allen was bogus.
Gibril Wilson had an up-and-down game, but at least there were some ups too for a change. I'm not a big fan of the "hitting a defenseless receiver" rule they implemented this year, but I knew Wilson would be flagged for his hit and he should have known better. He also has to come up with the potential interception he dropped, even though it would have been negated by a Miami penalty.
Dan Carpenter played a mistake-free game, while punter Brandon Fields had one of his best games as a Dolphin.