Dolphins Release First Depth Chart Of 2014

The Miami Dolphins did not have a depth chart yesterday. I know because I looked. In fact there was no option on the menu for a depth chart. Today there was and low and behold the team has officially released their depth chart ahead of this Friday’s game against Atlanta. If the depth chart was up yesterday morning or the day before, well I didn’t look then, I looked last night.

The NFL mandates that teams release depth charts before each game starting with the exhibition season. So were there any surprises?  A few but I wouldn’t call them surprises necessarily.

Starting with the offensive line I found it interesting that Nate Garner is the 2nd team left tackle behind Branden Albert and not right tackle. Behind James on the right side Jason Fox is the 2nd team unit. Left guard has Daryn College as the first unit starter with Shelley Smith behind him. At right guard it’s Dallas Thomas who is listed first with Billy Turner 2nd and David Arkin 3rd. Center shows Mike Pouncey but it’s Sam Brenner who is on the 2nd team and then Samson Satele and Tyler Larsen.

Wide receiver has a little bit of interesting depth swaps as well with Rishard Matthews ahead of Armon Binns behind Mike Wallace. Hartline is backed up on the other side by Damian Williams and Kevin Cone. Brandon Gibson is still holding the top spot in the slot and Jarvis Landry is on the 2nd unit. Interestingly the team does in fact list Marcus Thigpen with the wide-outs. He is the third unit slot receiver but he is still listed as both the kick and punt returner.

Tight end should be an interesting competition this year as well and of course Charles Clay is number one but it’s Dion Sims over Michael Egnew and Kyle Miller for the number two spot with Arthur Lynch followed by Gator Hoskins after that. There is talk that the Dolphins could keep five tight ends.

Running back has only one mild surprise and that is Knowshon Moreno being ahead of Damien Williams for the fourth running back. Moreno hasn’t practiced at all since OTA’s. Daniel Thomas is listed as the 2nd team running back ahead of Mike Gillislee.

Quarterbacks? Yes, Pat Devlin is still ahead of Lobato but interestingly enough, Brock Jensen is not listed at all after being re-signed two days ago.

Defensively there are not a lot of surprises on the line. Cameron Wake lines up at left defensive end and Olivier Vernon is on the right. Behind Wake is Derrick Shelby and behind Vernon is Dion Jordan and rookie Terrence Fede. Randy Starks and Jared Odrick get the DT nods as does Earl Mitchell. A.J. Francis backs up Mitchell.

At linebacker it’s Wheeler, Misi, and Ellerbe and they are backed up respectively by Jonathan Freeny, Jason Trusnik, and Jelani Jenkins. The rookies fall in line behind them.

Brent Grimes opens at one corner and it’s Cortland Finnegan that opens across from him. Finnegan is having a very good camp thus far. Jamar Taylor is with the 2nd unit behind Grimes and Will Davis backs up Finnegan. At safety it’s Louis Delmas and then Jimmy Wilson and Reshad Jones followed by Don Jones.

All and all the depth chart lines up pretty clearly with what many thought it would. The depth chart prior to week three of pre-season will be closer to what we can expect for opening day.