The second part of Miami Dolphins Nation's Training Camp preview features possibly the most talented and deep position on the Dolphin's roster. The Dolphin's rush offense ranked 11th in the league last season which is pretty impressive considering defenses didn't have to respect the deep pass could commit more to stopping the run. There is no reason to think Miami won't improve that ranking this season with a revamped offensive line and with Ronnie Brown at full strength after having a full off-season of workouts.
Projected Depth Chart
1. Ronnie Brown: There is no doubt Ronnie is the most talented back on this team and maybe the most talented player. The only question is how good can he be. We have seen glimpses of greatness from him throughout his career, whether it be the five TD's against the Patriots, him leading the league in total yardage in 2007 before going down with a tore ACL, or all of those highlights of him trucking defenders. However, it just doesn't seem like he has ever reached his full potential, whether it be the ACL injury or him splitting carries with Ricky Williams. I mean its hard to believe that Ronnie has only made it over the 1,000 yard barrier once in his career. But, this season I just get the feeling that this kid is due for a great year. In my opinion he has the talent to be a top 5 back in this league, but it just hasn't all come together for him yet. On this team it would be hard for anyone to run for 1500 yards, with Ricky getting 100+ carries and the potential for Pat White to get some reps in the wildcat formation. However, during OTA's Ronnie looks to be in the best shape of his life and getting the majority of the carries. This might finally be Ronnie's year to finally be the stud we all know he is. Expect new career highs in yardage and touchdowns.
2. Ricky Williams: Ricky did a great job of contributing last season with over 600 yards and provided a great one-two-punch with Ronnie. He is getting up there in age and is obviously not the same back that he used to be but, he still has the talent to be a great number two in this league. However, expect his production and carries to drop some this season as Ronnie becomes more of the featured back in this offense, but at least he has played his way out of being hated by Dolphins fans as most people don't even remember the early retirement and failed drug tests.
3. Patrick Cobbs: This guy does it all, he was all over the field last year rushing, receiving, and playing special teams. He is not the most talented guy out there, but he is just a hard-nosed do it all guy. Cobbs didn't even run for 100 yards last year, but when called upon averaged over seven yards a carry. Cobbs led all Dolphins running backs with 295 receiving yards, including a 80 yard touchdown, which is pretty darn good for a number three. Expect, Cobbs to continue to have a role in this offense and on special teams this year, and maybe even get more opportunities.
4. Lex Hilliard: Was a 6th round pick out of Montana in the 2008 draft. Didn't get any playing time last year during the regular season but carried 24 times for 68 yards in the pre-season.
5. Anthony Kimble: Is an undrafted free agent out of Stanford. Kimble posted very good numbers at Stanford running for 717 yards on only 120 carries and 6 touchdowns.
Position Battles: There really are no position battles depth chart wise besides Hilliard and Kimble and that will likely be for a roster spot. However, Ronnie and Ricky will battle for a split carry role or Ronnie being more of the featured back. Early signs show that Ronnie's role is already increasing but, Ricky will still get his opportunities especially early on. As of right now expect Ronnie carries to increase from last season and Ricky's will most likely decrease but, if Ricky can get hot he will continue to get carries.
Roster Spot Battles: Lex Hilliard will battle with Anthony Kimble for the final running back spot on this roster as the Dolphins will most likely only keep four running backs. Hilliard has the size as he weighs in at over 240 but Kimble is a faster back. Who can make the biggest impact on special teams will most likely decide this battle.
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Pretty nice breakdown. Thanks for sharing it.
I believe that RW is the more talented back, though. He's certainly done more through the course of his career. RB has had that one 1,000 yd season to date.
I know; its debatable. RB still has a lot to prove.
Like you, I would expect RB to get more carries. I think he'll be given the opportunity to prove that he's the most talented running back on the team with increased carries.
To be honest; IMO Jake Long, Pennington, Taylor and even Porter are more talented players.dolfan7171 likes this. -
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Where is Lousaka Polite in all of this?
As for Ricky, we'll see, I suspect he will start really strong this season as he has been back in football for an entire calendar year now, whatever he has left in the tank will be maximized and on display.late again likes this. -
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He was widely thought of as a bust in NO, and his yards per carry as a Dolphin weren't any more impressive than Ronnie. The only difference between the two is that we ran Ricky into the ground while Ronnie has split carries.
Not to mention Ricky only had one great year and one slightly above average for us. And the great year can be attributed to an excessive amount of carries.Fin D likes this. -
The stride he hit in that seattle game when he went untouched for 6 was a beautiful thing to watch, untouched being the key word though. He lost the violence in his game last year...lets hope he finds it again and committs some crimes on the football field again.
I literally used to feel sorry for the opponent in the 4th quarter when ricky ran the way ricky can....hope your reading this 34mullingan likes this. -
to me it doesn't matter who is more talented: Ricky of 5 years ago, Ricky now, Ronnie up to now, or Ronnie in the future ... no matter, they are both healthy and will have likely the best line either of these 2 have seen by the end of this year. They are a very good tandem ... used effectively, they will continue to punish defenses
the 'battle' to watch is as indicated the 4th RB ... Hilliard vs Kimble ... this battle could have lasting effects on our starting tandem come next year.PhinsRock likes this. -
One great year ...ok :pity: I will do the work for you, it does not matter were he got his carries he ran them
2000 -1000 yds
2001 -1245 yds
2002- 1853 yds
2003- 1372 yds
2005 -750 yds
After that he decided his smoking was more important then his career . Those numbers dont come from being lucky my friend the guy has it but decided to waste his life. :cry:Tone_E and late again like this. -
I'm having trouble with copying and pasting so you'll have to take my word for it, but..
99 - 253 /884 yds rushing 172 yds rcv
00 - 248/1000 yds rushing 409 yds rcv
01 - 313/1245 yds rushing 511 yds rcv
Those were his NO stats. DO you really think he was viewed as a bust?
I think he was viewed as an oddball that a previous coach had overpaid for and someone that Haslett didn't want to deal with anymore. He wanted Deuce McAllister which made RW expendable. -
Ronnie is without a doubt one of the most complete backs in this league.
Fin D likes this. -
Lucky for Ronnie we are committed to what he knows best & has always been successful at: the Tandem.
Ronnie & Ricky will run in Tandem. There will be no featured back, unless one of them is injured. Would not sell Williams short, plenty of tread left on those wheels. I see an excellent RunningGame for 2009.late again likes this. -
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By that same measure he's been a bust for Miami as well. One great year and one decent year as a starter was certainly a great deal less than what they envisioned when they gave up to #1s for him. -
not that it matters, but Ricky lacked success in NO - mainly because he was too big ... he dropped weight when he came here, kept his power and brought back his speed. Then we decided to abuse him. He deserved a better fate in the NFL, and he has it now - here .... even though it costs him touches, i believe that Ronnie has benefitted greatly from having Ricky around.
mullingan likes this. -
No problem it happens,Dont get me wrong i dont agree with lots of people who think he is a bust,I just dont think he nothing special like i thought he would be.
He really dissapointed me but then again i wanted an LT and adrian P type of palyer and they dont come easy. -
Those arent the stats of a player who had an entire draft traded for him, solid but not great. -
He quit, plain and simple. -
Michael Turner and Ronnie Brown are classic examples of high YPC guys who don't necessarily wow you with their speed. Shaun Alexander was another guy who didn't wow anyone but put up a few amazing seasons.mullingan likes this. -
For the most part, his TD's were inside the 20.
I confess to only seeing AP in highlights on SportsCenter, but it seemed to me he's had quite a few in his young career. As far as last year, I couldnt tell you how many.Fin D likes this. -
yes, he did
if you want to get any longevity out of a RB, you don't run him like Wannabee did ... and knowing you would get no better all over again, i can understand why you would not want to ...
will never excuse it, but it is what it is ... people quit every day ... they quit on themselves, they quit on their fellow employees, they quit on their families, they quit on their spouses, etc, etc, etc ... -
Not saying that excuses Ricky for quitting, but I would have been a little hesitant myself.
I think everything happens for a reason. Because Ricky wasn't destroyed in that 2004 campaign, he is healthy for us now to be the perfect compliment to Ronnie during a superbowl run! :up:mullingan likes this. -
Polite has shown some ability to run the ball. His YPC isn't amazing, but it's really good for how he was used. 3.7 YPC is pretty good for someone whose carries overwhelmingly came as a fullback in I-formations in short yardage situations.
It isn't a big stretch that Polite gets some carries that aren't a yard and a cloud of dust.late again likes this. -
We talk about that 3 year window for draft picks to pan out. Well RW had that breakout season his third year in the league. He had a great 3rd year. 1700+ all purpose yards; over 1200 yds on the ground, etc.mullingan likes this. -
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That's actually been the story of his career (well one of them). I don't think that he was worth the two #1s we paid for that one great and one good year. And I don't think his 600+ yards was worth the $3 million or so he made last year. He's slated to make about $3.5 million this year and his numbers will probably decrease from last year (more touches for RB and Cobbs). I don't see him coming back at the same pay again. I think he'll have to take considerably less if he wants to play here another year after 2009. -
As DJ said, I don't think he ran with the same intensity last year that we were accustomed to, but I think him having another year under his belt he will be in better shape. On the other hand he is also a year older so somethings have to dimish, its just how it is. Still I think this team is lucky to have a backup as good as Ricky Williams on our team.late again and djphinfan like this.
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