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The one major question about the Miami Dolphins the entire offseason was never sufficiently answered.

So what is the deal at quarterback, anyway?

Chad Henne was the unequivocal choice of general manager Jeff Ireland and coach Tony Sparano at this time last year. There was boundless confidence that the team’s second-round pick in 2008 was ready to take the reins of an offense that was expected to be made more proficient by the addition of wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The results were not pretty. On five occasions, all at home, Henne had the opportunity to win or tie a close game with a fourth-quarter scoring drive, and on all five he failed. Three of the subsequent losses were to also-rans Buffalo, Detroit and Cleveland, leaving Miami with a second straight 7-9 finish.

The failures almost cost Sparano his job, as owner Stephen Ross took a run at Jim Harbaugh, and for a time it seemed Henne might be replaced when Ireland engaged in negotiations for Denver’s Kyle Orton that ultimately came up empty. When the dust settled, former Carolina Panthers QB Matt Moore had been brought in as a backup, but nothing had really changed. Henne was still the one.

The team around him does appear to have gotten better. Coordinator Mike Nolan’s defense, sixth in the league a year ago, has remarkable depth on the defensive line and is better at linebacker with the additions of Kevin Burnett and Jason Taylor. Ireland addressed a deficiency in speed at the skill positions with the acquisitions of Reggie Bush and fourth-round wideout Clyde Gates. First-round pick Mike Pouncey, a center, has brought stability to the offensive line.

But in the 12 years since Dan Marino retired, it has always come back to the quarterback. This year is no different.

Even Marshall, who at one point late last season said he was “not sure” he and Henne could coexist, had good things to say about his beleaguered quarterback, who was actually booed at one preseason practice at Sun Life Stadium.

“Chad has been amazing this summer, getting the guys together,” Marshall said. “He’s been the face of leadership.”

Sparano was even more forthcoming.

“I’ve seen more people going to Chad for answers,” he said. “You would have to envision when you’re at Indianapolis or a place like that people are going to Peyton [Manning] for the answers. Well, more people are going to Chad for the answers now, and that’s a direct reflection of what this young man has done.”

Henne and Peyton Manning in the same sentence … now that’s a stretch for even the most loyal Dolphins fan.

Five days after Sparano made those comments, Henne started the first preseason game at Atlanta and was intercepted twice in five throws while Moore, playing with and against second-teamers, was solid.

It may or may not happen, but certainly all the pieces for a year of quarterback controversy are in place.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Bush and rookie Daniel Thomas make people forget Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams? From 2005-10 either Brown or Williams led the Dolphins in rushing, and four of those six years they finished 1-2. Both are getting older -- Williams is 34, Brown 29 -- and the running game ranked 30th in yards per carry (3.7) and 21st in yards per game (102.7) last season. Ireland decided it was time to move on. Thomas, a second-round pick, led the Big 12 in rushing at Kansas State the past two seasons and at 6 feet and 230 pounds, he can pound the middle. Bush, who has missed 20 games to injury the past two seasons, expressed a desire to be the feature back upon his arrival but seems more likely to line up all over the field. “The lack of experience is definitely a concern,” admitted Sparano, whose stable of backs also includes unproven Kory Sheets and Lex Hilliard.

2. How will the season unfold for Marshall? The simple fact that Marshall was perceived to have a down year when he had 86 catches last season -- tied for second in franchise history behind O.J. McDuffie’s 90 in 1998 -- demonstrates how high the expectations are for the man known as “The Beast.” Marshall’s off-field problems, which included the arrest of his wife after Marshall was found stabbed at his home in April, culminated with him being diagnosed and treated for borderline personality disorder this offseason. In camp this summer, it seemed every time Marshall went out for a pass, Henne was the one throwing it. If Gates can be the home run threat Miami lacked after trading Ted Ginn Jr. last season, Marshall could benefit greatly.

3. Will new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll bring spice to a boring offense? Miami’s top two receivers last season, Marshall and Davone Bess, averaged 11.8 and 10.4 yards per catch, respectively. No wonder Henne came to be known as “Checkdown Chad.” But in the Dolphins’ first scrimmage this year, Daboll unveiled four-receiver sets and had Bush lined up everywhere from the backfield to wideout. Despite having Josh Cribbs, Daboll’s offense didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard in Cleveland, finishing 29th in total offense and 25th in yards per play. Sparano prefers the ground-and-pound, but Henne and Daboll must demonstrate they can keep up with prolific offensive units, such as New England, San Diego and Houston -- which happen to be Miami’s first three opponents.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

If a former first-round pick can qualify as a surprise, second-year defensive end Jared Odrick has earned that distinction. Odrick was lost early in the opener against Buffalo last season with a broken leg. His comeback was then stopped six weeks later by a broken ankle, ending his season. Worse, it turned out his first injury was eerily similar to one he suffered as a sophomore at Penn State, raising questions as to whether he could remain healthy enough to be counted upon. But in the early weeks of camp, Odrick was a force, as he and partner Tony McDaniel moved ahead of last season’s starters, Randy Starks and Kendall Langford, in team drills. That quartet, as well as Phillip Merling and Ryan Baker, give Miami inordinate depth at defensive end.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

After losing Justin Smiley to chronic shoulder injuries, the Dolphins had a vacancy at right guard in 2010 and drafted John Jerry out of Mississippi in the third round. Jerry, the younger brother of Atlanta defensive tackle Peria Jerry, got 10 starts but struggled to beat out journeyman Pat McQuistan. When Miami selected Pouncey in the first round of this year's draft, Richie Incognito, who played both guard spots at times last season, was put on the left side and John Jerry was given the opportunity to win the right guard spot. After seeing unsatisfactory results in the first two weeks of camp, Sparano moved Vernon Carey over from right tackle and brought in free-agent Marc Colombo, who had been let go by Dallas.

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  Scott Cunningham/Getty ImagesThe Dolphins hope that pick Clyde Gates will be able to stretch the field like Ted Ginn Jr. did.
  Two relatively obscure rookies provided two of the more intriguing storylines of training camp. Gates, of Abilene Christian, whose father was released from prison last fall after serving a lengthy sentence for first-degree murder, was one. Seventh-rounder Jimmy Wilson of Montana, who spent 26 months in jail before being acquitted of a first-degree murder charge, was the other. Gates, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 at the combine despite nursing a sore groin, provides needed speed at wide receiver, and Wilson is a big hitter and ball hawk in the secondary.
• While first-round pick Pouncey was drawing favorable comparisons to his Steelers All-Pro twin brother, Maurkice, for his blocking and intelligence, his struggles snapping the ball were an ongoing concern as camp progressed. Mike Pouncey, who moved to center as a senior at Florida after his brother left early, had some nightmarish games on shotgun snaps with the Gators and clearly doesn’t have the technique down yet.
• Marshall isn’t known for being shy around a microphone, but he wasn’t in a talkative mood the first three weeks of camp. He spoke only once, to reveal his diagnosis for borderline personality disorder, and took only a handful of questions. Of course, Marshall was in the middle of the Henne soap opera last season, so there was speculation he didn’t want to stir up the water this year as he continues to undergo treatment for his disorder.
• The only real battle for a starting job in camp has been at free safety. Third-year man Chris Clemons, last season's starter, was trying to hold off Reshad Jones, who made a favorable impression in limited opportunities as a rookie in 2010. Jones had a sack and an interception against Tennessee in one of his two starts and seems to be more of a playmaker.
• The biggest mystery in camp surrounded the status of Pro Bowl tackle Jake Long, who was put on the physically unable to perform list early and did not work at all the first three weeks. Sparano said Long’s injury did not involve his knee, which along with his shoulder required surgery after last season.ÿ

Quite recently, the Miami Dolphins' running game was considered vibrant, cutting-edge and borderline dominant.

The Wildcat unleashed all sorts of possibilities for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in 2008. They were an envied backfield tandem. Brown went to the Pro Bowl.

In 2009, with Brown battling injuries, Williams rushed for over 1,100 yards. The Dolphins tied for the NFL lead with 22 rushing touchdowns. They ranked fourth in run offense and eighth in average yards per carry.

Perceptions swung 180 degrees last year. The Dolphins went from a model of rushing excellence to anemic. They ranked 11th in carries, but 21st in yards. Their average carry plummeted 0.7 yards to a measly 3.7. Only the Cincinnati Bengals were worse.

What in the world happened?

A combination of inconsistent offensive line play, creeping age and lack of an offensive identity were to blame. Now, the two running backs many Dolfans thought could run for 1,000 yards apiece in the same season are free agents who might not be wanted anymore.

Before the draft, Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano told reporters at the NFL owners' meeting in New Orleans he thought Brown and Williams were fine last year.

"I honestly thought both players played well for us," Sparano said. "I really did. I said it during the season, I didn't have a problem with how either guy played."

Even with All-Pro left tackle Jake Long in place and the reliable Vernon Carey at right tackle, Sparano cited the offensive line's inability to bust holes into the defense's second level as a serious problem.

ESPN Stats & Information came up with data to back that sentiment. The Dolphins ranked fifth in runs up the middle with 247 attempts, but their average tied for 27th at 3.5 yards. Of their runs up the middle, they scored a touchdown on only 2 percent (tied for 24th) and gained a first down on only 18.6 percent (26th).

No wonder they drafted Florida center Mike Pouncey with the 15th overall pick. The Dolphins also traded up to make Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas their second-round pick, adding him to a depth chart that also includes Lex Hilliard and Kory Sheets, who's coming off an Achilles injury.

But back to the offensive line for a moment. The Dolphins have been plagued by Sparano's seemingly uncontrollable tinkering on the interior. Pouncey should become the Dolphins' fourth starting center in as many seasons. At guard, they've shuffled through draft picks, waiver claims and street free agents. Sparano, an old offensive line coach himself, fired his first O-line assistant after just one season.

That's a significant reason why Brown went from hip to a blip. He's now an NFL afterthought at 29 years old.

NFL.com senior analyst and former New York Jets executive Pat Kirwan recently rated Brown no higher than 31st among all running backs and trending down from there. Kirwan wrote: "Teams seeking a backup for 10 carries and a Wildcat role should value Brown."

ESPN.com's fantasy football crew rated Brown the 45th-best running back.

Williams, 34, has a worse outlook. Kirwan didn't list him at all. In fact, three other Williamses did make the chart, and one of them was Arizona Cardinals rookie Ryan Williams. On the fantasy rankings, Ricky Williams was the 53rd running back.

At the end of last season, Williams took a couple of swipes at Sparano's penchant for micromanaging. But on Wednesday, Williams tweeted "I'd love nothing more than to finish my career winning a Super Bowl with the Dolphins, but that's gonna take some cooperation from others."

"Cooperation," in this case, almost certainly is synonymous with "lovely contract."

Maybe Williams' change of heart has to do with Brian Daboll replacing Dan Henning as offensive coordinator. Daboll oversaw an impressive Cleveland Browns run game that featured Peyton Hillis.

Sparano has said Miami still will emphasize the run under Daboll.

"We're going to continue to run the football because that's my nature," Sparano said. "That might not be popular with everybody, but that's what I like to do. So we're going to continue to run the football."

And they will -- with or without Brown and Williams, running backs who were trendy a year ago, but aren't considered to be much of anything anymore.

The Miami Dolphins traded into the second round to grab Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas with the 62nd selection Friday night.

Why the Dolphins took him: The Dolphins sent three picks (Nos. 79, 146 and 216) to the Washington Redskins to move up. Thomas is 6-feet, 230 pounds. He rushed for 2,850 yards and 30 touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 428 yards in two seasons. He might also be the next Wildcat pilot. He ran a similar offense in junior college and completed 7 of 12 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas State.

How it affects the roster: The Dolphins are close to a blank slate. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are on expired contracts. Thomas likely slotted ahead of Lex Hilliard on the depth chart.

Scouts Inc. says: Lacks great top-end speed. Does not show ideal burst to consistently turn the corner in the NFL. But he does have a bit of a second-gear when he reaches the second level and can bounce some runs to the outside. Most importantly, he has excellent lateral agility for a back his size. Displays short-area burst to get to and through the line of scrimmage. Slippery runner. Can slither through a tight crease as well as any big back in this draft. Nimble on feet and shows good lateral movement/change-of-direction skills to make defenders miss in confined areas.

Nobody can say for sure when the 2011 NFL season will begin or what the free-agency period will resemble.

But we do know there will be a draft in April.

Rather than depress everybody with labor musings, let's focus on the only player personnel activities we can count on.

To set the stage for draft season and the NFL scouting combine in two weeks, I canvassed four evaluators I respect to compile a list of positional needs for the AFC East.

I asked National Football Post scouting guru Wes Bunting, Scouts Inc. draft analyst Steve Muench, Pro Football Weekly senior editor Nolan Nawrocki, and CBSSports.com senior analyst Rob Rang to share their rundown of shortcomings for each club.

I merged their insights to come up with a consensus. From there, I targeted some candidates who fit the profile of need combined with draft position.

The new collective bargaining agreement can impact these projections significantly. If a CBA can be hammered out before the draft, then perhaps teams will be able to address some needs via free agency. Otherwise, front offices will have more roster uncertainties than usual when they're on the clock in Radio City Music Hall.

Buffalo Bills

Pick: Third.

Consensus needs: Offensive line, quarterback, defensive tackle, outside linebacker.

Analysis: An asterisk should be affixed to any Bills forecast. Few experts would have rated running back as a target area last year, but they selected C.J. Spiller ninth overall out of Clemson. So who knows what they're thinking?

All four analysts rated offensive line either first or second among the Bills' most needful areas. Nawrocki and Muench were specific about tackles -- a position the Bills haven't drafted earlier than the fifth round since 2002. Nawrocki called tackle the No. 1 priority.

Muench and Bunting rated quarterback as the most important position.

The good news for the Bills is that they likely will be able to take the first quarterback or tackle off the board if they choose.

But none of the analysts projected the Bills to take an offensive lineman third overall. The best prospects simply aren't considered worth that high of a slot.

"Ryan Fitzpatrick is an excellent backup and stopgap, but he's an adequate at best starter," Muench said. "If the Bills can get Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert at No. 3, then I think they pull the trigger."

Rang labeled defensive line Buffalo's biggest concern, noting opponents averaged a gaudy 169.6 rushing yards last season, and this year's draft class is deep along the defensive front.

Who could be there: Alabama defensive tackle Marcell Dareus and Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers are top candidates. Gabbert should be on the board when the Bills pick. Auburn quarterback Cam Newton almost certainly will be available. The two teams drafting ahead of the Bills, the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, aren't expected to take a quarterback.

Miami Dolphins

Pick: 15th.

Consensus needs: Running back, interior offensive line, quarterback.

Analysis: Of the four AFC East teams, the Dolphins presented the most straightforward consensus among the panel. Three of four rated running back as the chief concern. Three of four listed guard second.

Two experts listed quarterback, with Bunting deeming it the greatest deficiency. Even so, Bunting added Alabama running back Mark Ingram is an attractive possibility in the first round.

Free agency mysteries could put the Dolphins in a backfield bind. Contracts for Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are about to expire.

"Running back is an obvious concern," Rang said. "Lex Hilliard could surprise if given a real opportunity, but many believe the Dolphins will be tempted by Ingram in the first round."

Muench found quarterback to be an interesting position for Miami in the draft.

"The argument could be made that quarterback is the Dolphins' top need," Muench said, "but not from a draft perspective. Miami won't find a better quarterback than Chad Henne at pick 15, and trading up will prove difficult.

"If the Dolphins have decided to move on from Henne, then signing a free agent or trading for a quarterback makes the most sense. Regardless, they should take a chance on a developmental prospect in the middle rounds."

Who could be there: The Bills' slot is the only one in the AFC East that comes with some clarity. The middle of the first round is dicey to predict. Will Ingram still be on the board? The Dolphins also could be tempted to grab Newton if he's still waiting by his phone or Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, although multiple reports suggest Mallett's stock is plummeting. As for interior linemen, the 15th slot seems way too soon for anybody in this year's class. The top candidate is Florida guard Mike Pouncey, younger brother of Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey.

New England Patriots

Pick: 17th and 28th.

Consensus needs: Outside linebacker, offensive line, running back, defensive end.

Analysis: The Patriots have a pair of first-round choices to address their needs. They also have two picks each in the second and third rounds. With so much inventory to wheel and deal, it's hard to speculate what Bill Belichick will do or where he will end up picking within the first couple rounds.

None of the four analysts prioritized the same top position for New England, but all of them ranked outside linebacker among their top three needs.

Nawrocki was specific in stating the Patriots need a five-technique defensive end, although veteran Ty Warren is returning from a hip injury that sidelined him for 2010.

Bunting's emphasis was on a do-it-all running back. BenJarvus Green-Ellis had a nice campaign as the AFC East's lone 1,000-yard rusher, but he's not a threat in the passing game. Danny Woodhead is a top-notch complementary player, but he doesn't have the size to be a workhorse.

Three of the four analysts viewed New England's offensive line as an issue dependent upon the ability to re-sign Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins and ambiguity over the futures of veteran left tackle Matt Light and right guard Stephen Neal.

"Light has been a solid bookend for the past 10 years, but he turns 33 this offseason, and explosive edge rushers gave him problems last year," Muench said. "It's also worth pointing out that New England wants its young tight ends making plays downfield and not helping in pass protection."

Who could be there: Pass-rushers always are a hot commodity, and this year is no different. Defensive ends and outside linebackers can be difficult to sort because teams will project them into different roles. UCLA outside linebacker Akeem Ayers and Missouri outside linebacker Aldon Smith are strong possibilities. It's foreseeable New England will be considering the fifth or sixth best defensive end on its board at No. 17 -- if you believe the Patriots will keep that pick, of course. Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan and Wisconsin's J.J. Watt project in that range. Illinois running back Mikel Leshoure is considered second in this year's class behind Ingram.

New York Jets

Pick: 30th.

Consensus needs: Outside linebacker, wide receiver, defensive line, safety.

Analysis: Analysts were fragmented on the Jets, and a major reason for that is their volume of free agents and the degree of difficulty general manager Mike Tannenbaum will have in re-signing the most important ones.

"Collectively, their roster is one of the strongest in the league, but they do have some questions to answer," Nawrocki said.

For instance, receiver either could be a huge offseason weakness or a major strength. Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Brad Smith are free agents, but Tannenbaum stated he intends to re-sign them all. The likelihood of that happening is dubious, as illustrated by three of the four panelists rating wide receiver either second or third for the Jets.

Nawrocki and Rang each listed outside linebacker first.

"The Jets must account for the failure of Vernon Gholston, who likely will be released soon, and get younger at outside linebacker," Nawrocki said.

Gholston was the sixth overall selection in the 2008 draft and has failed to record an NFL sack. Jason Taylor had five sacks last season, but he'll turn 37 at the start of next season and might not be back.

"The Jets need a pass-rusher to take the next step," Rang said. "If there is a 3-4 outside linebacker prospect they like on the board at No. 30, he's the favorite."

Muench rated free safety as the Jets' biggest need. Not only could the Jets stand to upgrade that position, but also Brodney Pool and Eric Smith are free agents.

"As good as this defense is," Muench said, "imagine if Rex Ryan had a safety that can match up with receivers and play a center-field role like he had with Ed Reed in Baltimore."

Who could be there: Draft boards are highly unreliable by the end of the first round. Prospects you thought would go in the top 15 drop into the 20s. A player expected to be available early in the second round is long gone. Nawrocki's mock draft has Ayers slipping to the Jets. Bunting and Rang each have Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor slotted 30th.

From one special teams coach to another, Mike Westhoff sent his regards to John Bonamego.

The Miami Dolphins fired Bonamego on Tuesday morning. Westhoff, the New York Jets' coordinator, said he reached out to let him know others were thinking of him.

"I'm the guy to do it," said Westhoff, who's in his 28th NFL season. "I've been around the longest. I think I know enough that I can talk from experience on both sides of it, from having good days and bad days. ... I know one thing. I know he appreciated it when we talked."

The Dolphins fired Bonamego hours after the New England Patriots annihilated them 41-14. The Patriots scored 21 points off special teams gaffes: a 103-yard kickoff return, a blocked punt and a blocked field goal.

Westhoff called a play that helped the Jets block a Dolphins punt the week before. As a result, the Dolphins cut linebacker Erik Walden supposedly for not picking up Jets safety Eric Smith on that punt block.

"I helped it happen," Westhoff said of the Bonamego's dismissal, "but it's happened to everybody."

Westhoff coached for the Dolphins from 1986 to 2000. His tenure ended when Dave Wannstedt fired him.

Westhoff said he was disappointed in the Dolphins' decision and sounded bothered Bonamego took the fall alone, with no players getting released, too.

One Dolphins player was at fault for two of the three special teams implosions, Westhoff claimed.

"It's interesting that there was one particular guy that was involved in two of those major breakdowns," Westhoff said. "Frankly, I don't think he could play. I don't want the guy either."

Who could this player be?

"I'm not going to tell you," Westhoff said. "That wouldn't be fair, but there was a common denominator."

Let's try to figure it out.

We can eliminate the blocked field goal as a play Westhoff was referring to for two reasons: 1) It was pretty obvious left wing Lydon Murtha simply let Patriots safety Pat Chung blow right past him; 2) nobody on the field-goal unit was on for punt protection or kickoff coverage.

Only four players were on both the punt and kickoff units: Bobby Carpenter, Patrick Cobbs, Lex Hilliard, Tim Dobbins and Tyrone Culver.

We can eliminate Dobbins and Culver from the discussion because they lined up on the right side for the punt, and Chung's block came through the left. Carpenter was the left tackle. Hilliard was the left wing. Cobbs was the personal protector.

On Brandon Tate's 103-yard kickoff return up the sideline, when he "broke around the edge, he had two unblocked guys," Westhoff said. "Make the tackle."

Carpenter was the first to miss. Nolan Carroll appears to be the other unblocked pursuer Westhoff referred to, and he's not on the other units.

Carpenter, a backup linebacker, was the first-round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 2006, when Dolphins consultant Bill Parcells and general manager Jeff Ireland were there.

"If they had included some personnel with [Bonamego's dismissal], I might have not felt so bad," Westhoff said. "That bothers me. I know the guy worked hard. It's their business. It's not mine. They have the right to decide their own. I respect that, but I'm disappointed when those things happen."

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Game plans will be an exercise in speculation. There's always a healthy dose of mystery heading into opening weekend. Teams withhold much of their playbooks throughout the preseason, creating wonder about how a new player will be utilized or how much coaching philosophies might have changed since the year before. Whoever guesses best likely will win Sunday's matchup between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Ralph Wilson Stadium. New Bills coach Chan Gailey has installed his offense and has switched the defense to a 3-4. The Bills also will show their full backfield for the first time. Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch return from injuries sustained in the preseason opener. With them out, rookie lightning bolt C.J. Spiller was limited to tailback duties. Where will Spiller line up now? Could be anywhere. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Gailey has been watching Denver Broncos film and trying to project how Nolan will use the Dolphins' roster.

The New England Patriots defense could be in for a long afternoon. The Patriots better have something up their sleeves for the Cincinnati Bengals. Otherwise, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens will have plenty to crow about. How will the Patriots contain the Bengals, who have placed an emphasis on their passing game? They added T.O. and drafted tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first round to help quarterback Carson Palmer. The Bengals have a strong enough rushing attack to keep any defense honest. Straight up, the Patriots appear to be at a disadvantage against the pass. The Patriots have the NFL's least experienced cornerbacks in Darius Butler and rookie Devin McCourty. As for a pass rush, the Patriots haven't had an effective one for a couple of years.

Don't dismiss the possibility of a big game from Darrelle Revis. The All-Pro cornerback had one week of practice to get ready for Monday night's opener against the Baltimore Ravens. He missed training camp and all four preseason games during his contract dispute. But that doesn't mean Revis will be rusty. Remember when the Jets signed cornerback Ty Law off the street in November 2008 for a Thursday night game against the Patriots? Law was 34, and they lined him up against Randy Moss. In the first half, Moss had zero receptions. He finished with three catches for 23 yards, and it took a pinpoint Matt Cassel rollout pass and a sensational sideline grab to beat Law for a 16-yard touchdown. Revis isn't 34 years old, and he wasn't signed off a free-agent scrap heap just before Thanksgiving. Revis kept himself in shape while AWOL, working out with a fellow Aliquippa, Pa., native named Ty Law.

If you have Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams on your fantasy team, start them. Heck, fourth-stringer Lex Hilliard might be a decent option against the Bills' run defense. The Bills' transition to a 3-4 defense hasn't made them noticeably better against the run, and they ranked 30th last year. The Bills were on the smallish side to begin with, and they're dealing with injuries at linebacker. Starting outside linebacker Reggie Torbor and backup inside linebacker Antonio Coleman won't play. Top inside linebacker reserve Kawika Mitchell was placed on season-ending injured reserve Friday. Newly acquired inside linebacker Akin Ayodele will be deactivated until he learns the system. On top of all those circumstances, Buffalo boasts a formidable secondary. Motivation for Miami to throw will be low.

Left guard, not quarterback, could turn out to be the Jets' weakest link. All eyes will be on Mark Sanchez on Monday night. So they might not see the peripheral blurs attacking him in the pocket. Left guard is among the chief concerns. The Jets featured a mimeograph offensive line over the past two seasons. That's 33 games of continuity for one of the best units in the league. But the Jets cut Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca, and his potential replacements have been shaky. Matt Slauson won the job by default over disappointing rookie Vladimir Ducasse. As head coach Rex Ryan acknowledged in "Hard Knocks," there's not a lot of faith in either of them to keep Sanchez off his back.

Some observations from the Miami Dolphins' 10-7 victory in their preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Sun Life Stadium ...

• Rough night for Miami's first-team offense to make a strong impression. Conditions were sloppy the entire game, but especially at the start. A downpour on a field that features the Florida Marlins' infield made handling the ball tricky.
• Here are some sloptastic stats: The Bucs fumbled seven times, losing three of them. The Dolphins didn't fumble once, but shotgun snaps were dicey. The teams combined on 13 penalties for 103 yards.
• Chad Henne played four possessions. He completed 5 of his 11 passes for 19 yards with no sacks or interceptions.
• In his Dolphins debut, Brandon Marshall dropped the only two passes thrown to him. The ball was wet, but you'd still like to see a star receiver make those catches. The second one was a perfect pass, albeit a fastball, that sailed right through his hands.
• Miami's first-team offense: 15 plays, 39 yards, two first downs.
• You saw some signs of new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's aggressive defense. When cornerback Sean Smith made an easy interception (he could have signaled for a fair catch), he tried to pitch it to safety Chris Clemons. Nolan encourages these types of plays. But Smith thought twice as Bucs receiver Reggie Brown spun him to the ground. Expect to see some defensive laterals on interception and fumble returns this year.
• The defense was a mixed bag in general. Miami missed way too many tackles, helping Tampa Bay break off 10 plays of 15 yards or longer. That's bad news for Tony Sparano, who stresses the importance of chunk yardage.
• Tampa Bay converted 47 percent of its third downs. Eep.
• But the Dolphins' defense also made some great plays. They showed a nose for the ball with 10 tackles for losses, five forced fumbles and four turnovers. Look out.
• Nice night for defensive tackle Paul Soliai. On back-to-back defensive snaps at the end of the second quarter -- with a Miami possession in between -- Soliai recovered a fumble and stuffed Bucs running back Derrick Ward for a loss.
• Tyler Thigpen relieved Henne and played all but the final two minutes, when Pat White mopped up. Thigpen did OK against Tampa Bay's second- and third-stringers. He was 10-of-19 for 145 yards.
• On Miami's lone touchdown drive, Thigpen completed four of five attempts for 63 yards.
• I don't understand the point of sending White into the game to hand off once and then kneel twice to run out the clock.
• Chad Pennington dressed but didn't play. He doesn't need to make a preseason appearance. He's coming back from reconstructive shoulder surgery and has been around long enough that the Dolphins don't need to see what he can do. They already know.
• Rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll continues to be a delight. Nate Ness, a free agent cornerback who went undrafted in 2009, also saw considerable action and showed quite well.
• There was a Patrick Turner sighting. Turner, a third-round draft choice last year, had zero catches as a rookie. He made two big catches Saturday night, including a 34-yard gain.
• Competition for the final receiver slot will be tough. Is there room for Marlon Moore? His stat line was identical to Turner's: two receptions for 44 yards with a long of 34 yards. Moore's big play was to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line and set up Lex Hilliard's eventual 2-yard touchdown run.
• Dolphins punter Brandon Fields had a punt blocked for the first time in his NFL career. His inexperience in dealing with the moment showed when he jumped on the ball and, not hearing a whistle, got up and tried to run.
• Fields otherwise had a monster day. He successfully punted seven times for a 53.1-yard average. He boomed a long of 63 yards, but also had a 62-yarder (to the Tampa Bay 5-yard line), a 61-yarder and a 50-yarder (to the Tampa Bay 10).

In an ESPN Insider column, Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson takes a look at four of the NFL's most intriguing backfield situations heading into the summer.

At the top of the list is the Miami Dolphins.

Williamson presents some compelling points about how Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown should be deployed.

Even assuming everybody is healthy, Williamson asserts Williams, who will turn 33 this week, should be the primary back because he "still can play at a very high level" and "runs with a nasty edge." Williamson adds Brown should be used in a complementary role and as a weapon in the pass game.

But what caught my eye most was Williamson's take on how the Dolphins should address Brown's future with the team. Brown is entering the final season of his contract.

Brown is coming off yet another injury. He is up for free agency at the end of the season, and it seems highly unlikely that Miami brings him back, so he is another guy that the Dolphins should not hesitate to wear into the ground. That might sound harsh, but this is a business. If used in a rotation, Brown still can be effective. Even going back to his days at Auburn, Brown has never shown to be a true workhorse runner. He does catch the ball well. He needs to re-establish himself in this capacity, which should be a goal for 2010.

Williamson adds third-year back Lex Hilliard has shown some promise in his limited opportunities, but the Dolphins should make running back "a very high priority" next offseason.

The Miami Dolphins will look back on Weeks 15 and 16 and wonder how they could sleepwalk into a pair of critical games.

With their postseason prayers at stake, the Dolphins were overwhelmed early for a second straight week and couldn't recover, losing 27-20 to the Houston Texans in Land Shark Stadium.

The Dolphins almost survived a similarly poor start last week against the Tennessee Titans, but they've lost two games in a row and three of their five games since Thanksgiving.

The Texans were relentless in the first half. They scored all of their 27 points before the Dolphins managed any. Matt Schaub threw two touchdown passes, and running back Arian Foster ran another one in.

In the second half, as they did last week against the Tennessee Titans, the Dolphins put up a fight. But not enough to overcome their poor start.

Chad Henne threw 52 times to beat the New England Patriots three weeks ago and to give the Dolphins revitalized hope after starting the season 0-3. Henne fired a career-high 55 attempts, completing 35 of them for 322 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Ricky Williams was ineffective before injuring his shoulder in the third quarter. He ran 10 times for 35 yards. Lex Hilliard scored on a Wildcat-type handoff from Pat White to get the Dolphins within 10 in the fourth quarter.

Buffalo Bills

• Rochester Democrat & Chronicle reporter Sal Maiorana explores the possibility of letting Brian Brohm play before the end of the year.
• Allen Wilson of the Buffalo News takes a look at the Bills' inability to reach the red zone, much less score touchdowns from there.
• Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan shakes his head over the Bills' decision to draft defensive end Aaron Maybin for a supposed must-win season.

Miami Dolphins

• Palm Beach Post columnist Dave George writes "Picture these Dolphins instead as a troop of those annoying carnival-game moles, the kind that won't stay down no matter how many times they get whacked."
• The Wildcat offense might be in hibernation more than it is extinct, Miami Herald reporter Jeff Darlington writes.
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Mike Berardino catches up with running back Lex Hilliard, something the family German shepherd had trouble accomplishing.

New England Patriots

• Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges tracks down Richard Seymour, who says "I know I could have helped" the Patriots this year.
• Albert Breer of the Boston Globe analyzes Bill Belichick's decision to kick four players out of the facility Wednesday.
• WEEI.com's Christopher Price writes about a leadership spark Kevin Faulk recently ignited in Tom Brady.

New York Jets

• Newsday's Bob Glauber writes the Jets are showing wise judgment in holding Mark Sanchez out for a game.
• George Willis of the New York Post looks at what might be Kellen Clemens' last shot to assert himself as somebody's starter.
• Dave Hutchinson of the Newark Star-Ledger gauges internal reaction to Rex Ryan's decision to start Clemens over Sanchez.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 13 .

The New England Patriots' defense was publicly humiliated on Monday, and they need to respond Sunday against the Miami Dolphins. Thankfully, Chad Henne is not Drew Brees. Greg Camarillo is not Marques Colston. And Lex Hilliard is not Mike Bell. The Patriots were able to handle the Dolphins' offense in Week 9, and that was before star running back Ronnie Brown suffered a season-ending foot injury. But since Monday night's dismantling in the Superdome, the Patriots can't assume anything. They need a strong bounce-back performance to pull together.

New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has turned his play up another level. He could have had three interceptions Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills. On the NFL Network, analyst Deion Sanders said he wasn't sure who the best cornerback in the league was, Revis or Charles Woodson. Maybe it's because I don't see Woodson on a weekly basis, but it has been a while since I've watched a cornerback a) superimpose himself on receivers like Revis does, and b) break on a ball like Revis does. As Matt Millen told Sanders "He's doing some things that I haven't seen done in this league since you were playing."

If the Dolphins don't win Sunday, they can pretty much count on a losing record for 2009. After starting the season 0-3, they had a glorious opportunity to get above .500 last week against the Bills, but lost. This could be the closest the Dolphins get to break even the rest of the way. A Patriots victory would drop the Dolphins two games below with four to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Toronto doesn't seem to care much about the Bills playing in their town. Maybe it was because I'd been in New Orleans three days earlier and experienced one of the best atmospheres I've ever been a part of, but Thursday night's Bills game in the Rogers Centre was only slightly less dull than last year's lukewarm reception. The only time I felt the Rogers Centre had any life was when the music was blaring. The crowd didn't carry the emotion, and I had a hard time telling who they were rooting for. Big Jets plays were cheered more than booed, but big Bills plays were cheered a little more loudly than Jets plays. I think.

Marshawn Lynch finally looked like himself Thursday night. Lynch used to be the AFC East's best running back, but his suspension for the first three games of the year and lackluster performances couldn't permit anyone to call him the best back on his team. That has been Fred Jackson. But Lynch finally showed signs of life. On the Bills' only touchdown drive against the Jets, he made his two longest runs of the season, a 35-yard dash followed by a 15-yard stomp into the end zone.

In previewing Thursday night's game against the Carolina Panthers, I noted the Miami Dolphins would have to dig deep to win without star running back Ronnie Brown.

Little did we know they would have to dredge the depths of their roster to pull it off.

The raggedy Dolphins found a way to defeat the Panthers 24-17 in Bank of America Stadium. The Dolphins have fought back to .500 after a 0-3 start and remain in the playoff picture.

Aside from getting shredded by the Panthers' ground game and a harrowing finish, the Dolphins were convincing in light of significant personnel problems.

The Dolphins had only three days to concoct a game plan sans Brown, their leading rusher and Wildcat triggerman. Ricky Williams responded with a three-score game. He ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns and caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Chad Henne completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 172 yards and no interceptions. Joey Porter recorded his first multi-sack game of the year.

Even more remarkable than winning without Brown, however, was the Dolphins' ability to survive a series of injuries throughout the game.

Center Jake Grove was hurt 70 seconds into the third quarter. Grove's replacement, Joe Berger, got hurt with about 10 minutes left in the game. Nate Garner, who started the game at left guard for Justin Smiley, became the third center. He went down with a leg injury with about five minutes left.

Got all that?

The biggest injury, however, was on defense. Nose tackle Jason Ferguson suffered a knee injury on the final play of the third quarter. He was carted to the locker room and didn't return.

Williams mysteriously didn't finish the game. Lex Hilliard took the critical carries when Miami tried to kill the clock in the waning moments. Williams appeared fine on the sideline, but was spotted having a serious talk with the team's training staff after his third touchdown. We'll update if there's an issue.

Those injuries could resonate for the rest of the season, but for now -- playing on Thursday gives the Dolphins a weekend off -- they can feel good about staying in the playoff hunt.

The Miami Dolphins' offense woke up in the second quarter and looked pretty impressive without Ronnie Brown, taking a 14-3 halftime lead over the Carolina Panthers in Bank of America Stadium.

The display is surprising given Brown's absence and the fact the Dolphins had only three days to devise a strategy that didn't include their most dynamic player.

Although center Jake Grove nearly short-circuited the drive with a pair of penalties, the Dolphins went 81 yards on nine plays for a touchdown with 3:57 left in the half.

The series was dotted by big plays. Chad Henne found Brian Hartline for 36 yards. On the next play, Ricky Williams ripped off a 17-yard run and closed it out with a 14-yard catch and run on third down.

The drive also marked the first NFL touches for Lex Hilliard, and he was remarkable. His first NFL carry went for 13 yards, but a Grove holding penalty erased it. But Hilliard contributed maybe the biggest play of the drive when he burst up the middle for 18 yards to convert a third-and-16.

Williams scored his second touchdown out of a Wildcat play. The Dolphins removed Henne from the game and inserted an extra blocker to help Williams make a 1-yard leap to the pylon just before the intermission.

Miami entered the game ranked fourth in run offense, but has leaned on the pass more than usual. Henne has attempted 18 passes, but running backs Williams, Lex Hilliard and Lousaka Polite have rushed a combined 11 times.

A few thoughts about what to consider Thursday night while watching the Miami Dolphins play the Carolina Panthers in Bank of America Stadium ...

The Dolphins must win to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. For any other 4-5 team, I probably wouldn't bother mentioning the postseason as a significant storyline, but the Dolphins are better than most teams with losing records. The Dolphins can make a run. They have a decent chance of heading into December a game over .500 with a win over the Panthers and another next Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins' remaining opponents are a combined 32-21. They haven't lost consecutive games since September and came close to knocking off the top two teams in ESPN.com's Power Rankings.

Miami is coming off one of its gutsiest games in recent years and will need to dig even deeper against Carolina. The Dolphins went into last week's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers without several key players, including outside linebacker Joey Porter, left guard Justin Smiley and tight end Anthony Fasano. Porter is expected to return Thursday night, but star running back Ronnie Brown is done for the year with a broken foot. Ricky Williams has been a phenomenal sidekick all year, but can he shoulder the load like it's 2004? The only other Dolphins running back with a carry this year is fullback Lousaka Polite.

The Wildcat could get even more creative, or it might disappear altogether. Without Brown at the controls, the Wildcat won't be the same. Williams has taken a few of the direct snaps, but what makes the Wildcat work is when he's in the high-speed motion role. If the Dolphins put Williams behind the center, then a critical pre-snap component of the formation is eliminated. It's hard to imagine reserves Lex Hilliard or Kory Sheets getting enough practice reps to make it work, never mind their drop-off in ability. But Miami's staff is imaginative. They could find more ways for scrambly backup quarterback Pat White to contribute. Although it's technically not a Wildcat play when White's back there -- a non-quarterback has to take the snaps to qualify -- his running of the option two weeks ago against the New England Patriots indicated there might be more surprises we haven't seen yet.

Porter needs to have a big game to back up his big mouth. Miami's yappy pass-rusher needs to make a statement on the field for a change. Porter has been battling a hamstring problem but didn't play last week because the organization benched him for disciplinary reasons. Last year's AFC sacks leader hasn't recorded a full sack since a Week 3 loss to the San Diego Chargers. The last time he was on the field, Patriots rookie left tackle Sebastian Vollmer shut him out in tackles and sacks. That was a few days after Porter popped off on the NFL Network, saying the Patriots should have asterisks affixed to their championships and that the league gave Tom Brady special treatment. Porter has been quieter, but not silent. On the NFL Network this week, he noted that the Dolphins' defense is good enough that the offense should need to score only 17 points to win.

Ricky Williams has been having a great season as a complement to Ronnie Brown.

We'll find out over the next two months if he's still capable of being a workhorse.

The Miami Dolphins on Wednesday placed Brown on season-ending injured reserve with what's believed to be a broken foot. With very little backfield depth on their roster, the load will fall on Williams.

On Thursday night, Williams should make only his second NFL start since 2005 when the Dolphins play the Carolina Panthers.

Brown handled more of Miami's workload. He had 42 more carries than Williams and was one of the year's most productive goal-line backs. Brown had six goal-to-go touchdown runs. Only Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner have more.

When you think of Williams during his glory years, you recall a relentless warrior. Former Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt would call Williams' number again and again and again. Williams owns two of the NFL's top 14 seasons for rushing attempts, carrying the ball 775 times in 2003 and 2004.

But Williams is 32 years old, a couple of years beyond the standard expiration date for running backs.

Through nine games, he has been extraordinary. But as players such as Edgerrin James, Shaun Alexander and Ahman Green can attest, a guy can smack the wall in a hurry when he's a thirtysomething feature back.

The only other running back with any carries on Miami's active roster is fullback Lousaka Polite, who is averaging 2.9 yards mostly on short-yardage attempts. Second-year pro Lex Hilliard has zero NFL attempts. The Dolphins recently signed undrafted rookie Kory Sheets.

But if Williams' performances to date indicates what he will do in Brown's place, then the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner will have a special season.

Williams was on pace to rush for 992 yards as the sidekick. If he stays healthy, that figure should go up. If he can reach 1,000 yards, he would break the NFL record for going six years between 1,000-yard seasons.

Williams has more yards from scrimmage than Brown on 38 fewer touches. Williams is averaging 6.1 yards for every rushing attempt or reception. Brown averaged 4.6 yards.