I think the rebuilding of the Dolphins offense is going to take some time.  I feel bad for Trent Green and Ronnie Brown that they have to play behind one of the worst offensive lines in all of football.  Cam Cameron will need to use all of the tricks in his playbook to move the ball with this offensive line.  In fact, I don’t see Green making it the whole season healthy.  The defense is getting old and one of these days it will start to decline.  Take the under.

The Miami Dolphins have a young offensive line and that could be a problem against the Redskins.  The Dolphins would prefer to run the football with RB Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman but it might be tough against the Redskins’ linebackers (MLB London Fletcher, OLBs Marcus Washington and Rocky McIntosh) who make plays from sideline to sideline.  If the Dolphins can’t run the ball look for them to try to spread the Redskins defense out with 3 WR sets with Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and Ted Ginn Jr.  vs. CBs Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers.  If Trent Green has time he will be able to take advantage of the Skins’ corners but he must beware of the best young safety tandem in the NFL in rookie SS LaRon Landry and FS Sean Taylor. 

The Redskins will likely strap their chinstraps tight and run the football against the Dolphins.  The Redskins have one of the best offensive lines in football and the Dolphins have one of the best linebacking corps in the league so something will have to give.  RBs Clinton Portis and LaDell Betts will likely challenge LBs Channing Crowder and Zach Thomas on the inside and DE/LB Jason Taylor and OLB Joey Porter on the perimeter.  The Dolphins have a poor secondary so if they don’t get pressure on Jason Campbell he should be able to get the ball downfield to WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.  Also TE Chris Cooley will be a weapon if the Dolphins bring heat against Campbell.

It will be fun to watch K Shaun Suisham and P Derrick Frost dealing with Ted Ginn Jr. of te Dolphins.  He can take any kick to the house.  But, it will also be interesting to watch Jay Feely kicking to Rock Cartwright and rookie Punter Brandon Fields kicking to Antwaan Randle El.

PREDICTION: This will be a low scoring game that the Redskins will sneak away with as the victors.

The Dolphins have cut TE Courtney Anderson.  This was a bit of a surprise as he outplayed both David Martin and Justin Peelle during the pre-season as he caught 4 passes for 69 yards (17.3 avg).  Anderson will likely get another chance at some point this season because he’s a decent football player.  The Dolphins also claimed OL Gene Mruczkowski off waivers from the New England Patriots and he should provide depth along the offensive line which the Fins need.

The Miami Dolphins have cut veterans Cory Schlesinger and Az-Zahir Hakim as neither of them did much in the pre-season.  Schlesinger was beat out at fullback by rookie Reagan Mauia who is a 6’0″, 270 pound battering ram as a lead blocker from Hawaii.  Schlesinger carried the football 4 times for 6 yards (1.5 ypc) and Az-Zahir Hakim didn’t even catch 1 pass in the pre-season.

The Dolphins didn’t even show up for their game with the Saints on Thursday Night.  Rookie John Beck started the game and he completed 8 of 15 passes for 63 yards with 2 interceptions.  Gibran Hamdan finished up completing 3 of 7 passes for 31 yards and 2 pickoffs.  Patrick Cobbs was busy as he carried the ball 15 times for 44 yards (2.9 ypc) and he also caught 5 passes for 39 yards (7.8 avg).  Rookie RB Lorenzo Booker carried the ball 7 times for 11 yards (1.6 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 5 yards.  The Dolphins finished up with 62 yards rushing on 24 carries (2.6 ypc) and they completed 11 of 22 passes for 59 yards.

The defense was bending but they didn’t break.  The Saints rushed for 167 yards on 44 carries (3.8 ypc) and they completed 17 of 26 passes for 159 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270830018