From: chf0@newshost.gte.com (Curtis Fennell)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Dolphin Position Changes for 92 (Dolphin Digest Article)
Date: 17 Aug 92 12:52:26 GMT
Reply-To: chf0@gte.com
Organization: GTE Laboratories, Waltham, MA

Reprinted without permission from the Dolphin Digest:

		Several Starting Jobs Available
		-More Uncertainties Than Usual-
			by Andy Cohen, Editor
			 Dolphin Digest

	
	Some years, figuring who's going to be in the Dolphin's
starting lineup on opening day is easy pickings. But this summer
there are more uncertainties than there have been in a long time.  
	The way Don Shula sees it, this is nothing but good news. 
	"Competition," Shula says, "is what makes you a better
football team." 
	If that's the case, the Dolphins figure to be a lot better. 
	Although things can always change in a hurry, especially when
injuries are involved, at the moment it appears that seven of the 22
starting spots are up for grabs. And five of those seven are on
defense.   
	The following is a closer look at the competition that is
just starting to heat up. 
	HALFBACK - Mark Higgs vs. Bobby Humphrey. This is perhaps the
most publicized of the starting battles. 
	On one hand you've got Higgs, the surprise of the 1991
season, a player who emerged into the starting lineup and led the
Dolphins in rushing with 905 yards.  Little Higgy now has a big, fat
contract and a lot of confidence. He emphatically states that he
plans on holding on to his starting job. 
	On the other hand you've got Humphrey, the big offseason
acquisition, a player who put together back-to-back 1000 yard seasons
with the Denver Broncos.  Humphrey is anxious to become a star in
South Florida.  His contract expires after this season, and he
intends to show the Dolphins he is worth big, big bucks. 
	Early Favorite: Humphrey.
	RIGHT OFFENSIVE TACKLE - This job currently belongs to Mark
Dennis, a player who is consistent, though not flashy. Dennis will be
challenged by veteran Jeff Dellenbach, who has started both at tackle
and center during his eight previous seasons with the Dolphins.
 	Dellenbach provides excellent depth, but he desperately wants
to return to the starting lineup.  The left sign of the line is
occupied by Richmond Webb and Keith Sims, so that doesn't figure to
change. Center belongs to Uhlenhake, thought that isn't written in
stone.  The right guard is Harry Galbreath, who is coming off an
excellent season.
	That leave Dennis as the one starter who appears to be most
vulnerable. Injuries always seem to come into play on the offensive
line, and that could make the decision an easy one.  But if everyone
stays healthy, Dennis and Dellenbach figure to wage the most
interesting competition.
	Early Favorite: Dennis
	NOSE TACKLE - A three-man race between Shawn Lee, Alfred
Oglesby and Chuck Klingbeil and this one could go down to the wire.
Each has the ability to make a strong case for starting status.
	Klingbeil started the final four games of the 1991 regular
season and played well, finishing with five quarterback sacks and two
fumble recoveries.  He literally came out of nowhere to earn a spot
on the team last season and is an intense, hard-working player.  He
is, however, currently out with a knee injury. [he's expected back
before the season opener - curt]
	Lee spent most of the 1991 season on injured reserve with a
bum knee. He did start two games early in the season and performed
well.
	He has returned this season in the best shape of his life at
a rock-hard 285 pounds and is determined to reclaim his starting job.
	Oglesby also started four games last season before going down
with an injury and showed an ability to come up with some big plays.
It is possible that the third man out won't make the final cut.
	Early Favorite: Lee
	LEFT DEFENSIVE END - The Dolphins are desparately trying to
upgrade their defensive line and that is the position that has
attracted the most attention. T.J. Turner is the incumbent and has
shown through the years to be proficient against the run, but
lacking as a pass rusher.
	The question remains: Who's going to unseat him? Second-round
pick Eddie Blake appeared to have the best shot heading into camp,
but Blake must first work his way back from a foot injury. For the
time being, the spotlight has shifted to third round pick Larry
Webster, a big, strong player out of Maryland. But Webster still has
much to prove.
	Early Favorite: Turner 
	LEFT INSIDE LINEBACKER - The incumbent is veteran Cliff Odom,
but he is being pushed to the limit by John Grimsley, who would have
been the starter had he not blown out his knee early in last year's
training camp.
	It still isn't clear whether Grimsley is back to 100 percent,
though he is taking part in workouts. Odom is an excellent player who
rarely makes mistakes.  Grimsley is a superb run-stopper.
	Rookie Dwight Hollier and second-year player Mark Sander
could also make things interesting, as could Ned Bolcar when he
returns from a minor knee injury.
	Early Favorite: Odom  [I don't agree with this. I think it
will be Grimsley - curt]
	LEFT OUTSIDE LINEBACKER - Once they are both signed and in
camp, David Griggs and Marco Coleman should have quite a battle on
their hands.
	Griggs has shown over the last few seasons to be an excellent
talent, a player capable of big things.  He finished second on the
team in tackles last season and added 5.5 sacks. Adding to his value
is the fact that he can also play inside linebacker.
	Coleman, the 12th overall pick of this year's draft, wasn't
taken to sit on the bench, which certainly isn't good news for
Griggs. The Dolphins envision Coleman being an every-down player who
is used as linebacker on the base defense and a down lineman in
passing situations.
	Early Favorite: Coleman. [Especially after the Broncos game
-curt]
	RIGHT CORNERBACK - You can ink in rookie Troy Vincent as one
of the starting cornerbacks, probably on the left side.  The Dolphins
have too much invested not start Vincent from the very beginning.
	That will leave some interesting competition on the other
side.  The three leading candidates are JB Brown, Vestee Jackson and
Chris Green. 
	Brown figures to have the inside track.  He has been the
starter the past two seasons and has done some good things.  However,
he only has one career interception and is coming off a poor showing
against the Jets in last season's final regular season game.
	Jackson also started last season, but he might be better
suited as a nickel back. He is an intelligent player who is better in
zone coverages than in man-to-man alignment.  But if Brown slips,
Jackson could certainly move in.
	Green is a young player with a lot of potential, a player who
showed some good things a year ago, but who needs to come on strong
during this preseason.
	Early Favorite: Brown

*******************END OF ARTICLE********************************

So the starting defense looks like this, according to the Digest:

Up Front:     Turner, Lee, Cross
Backers:  Coleman, Odom, Offerdahl, Cox
CB's		Vincent, Brown
Safeties	Oliver, Williams

I agree, but I'd substitute Grimsley for Odom at LILB (that is, if
Coach Shula calls and asks 8-)

And the offense looks like this:

Up Front:   Webb, Sims, Uhlenhake, Galbreath, Dennis, Edmunds
WR's:		Clayton, Duper
RB's:		Saxon, Humphrey
QB:		Marino

Kicker:		Stoyanovich
Punter:		Roby
  

-- 
Curt Fennell			* chf0@gte.com
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