Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens fullback Vonta Leach (44) leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown (25) in the second quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

Numerous reports are flying around media land this afternoon that three time Pro-Bowl fullback Vonta Leach is prepping to board a plane and fly to Southbeach.  To actually meet with the Miami Dolphins.  Leach is one of the most talented and effective lead blockers in the NFL and his departure from Baltimore came after the two sides could not agree to a restructured deal.  Leach was scheduled to make 3 million dollars on the season.

With 17 million and change the Dolphins are still in position to make moves to improve their roster and there is little doubt that Leach would in fact do just that.

The question becomes what does a move to acquire Leach mean for incumbent FB Javorskie Lane who looked to get better as the season wore on last year?  Lane is a popular player in Miami known to take head on tacklers and drop them to the ground but make no mistake, he is not a Pro-Bowl FB.  Not even close…yet.

Leach got his career started in 2004 with the Green Bay Packers and spent time with the New Orleans Saints and the five years with the Houston Texans before moving to Baltimore for the last two seasons.  His nine year career is clearly in the twilight stages but he is not only effective but coming off a solid contribution season that led to a Super Bowl victory.  The Dolphins will not be the only team in play for Leach.  They are, at this point, only the first team scheduled to meet with him.

Kansas City and Denver both have been rumored to have some interest and the Ravens haven’t ruled out a return either.

May 21, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Cameron Marshall (6) during organized team activities at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2013-2014’ NFL season quickly approaching us, the Miami Dolphins are a team that could come out and shock the world. This past offseason, the Dolphin faithful witnessed something that has been absent over the past decade; aggressiveness. That’s right, for the first time in a while; we got to see Jeff Ireland and the front office go after top tier free agents, while making moves in the draft to trade up into the top three. With the talent now in place, we will just have to wait and see how it will translate to on the field play.

For the past decade, fans around the league have had to watch Tom Brady and the New England Patriots dominate the NFL, making an appearance in five Super Bowls and many more AFC Championship games. Being a Dolphin fan, we probably got a chance to witness Brady play more than anyone else. Although I am not a fan of the Patriots by any means necessary, I am honored to watch Tom Brady carve up every defense in the league. No matter how good of a defense you have, he always finds a way to get past it.

While Brady and the Patriots are expecting yet another run at yet another division title, I am here to tell you why that will not happen. Mark my words, this season; the Miami Dolphins will win the AFC East. Yes, this might be a bit of a bold statement, but it is a statement that needs to be out there. Year after year, we Dolphin fans were forced to hear about how good the New England Patriots are and how they are always favored to defeat the Dolphins.

Well, this year it is going to be a little different. After a fantastic offseason, the Miami Dolphins and its coaching staff will come out and start off the season strong. For everyone who is questioning whether or not Mike Wallace will be worth the money that he was given, he will be. For everyone questioning whether or not Lamar Miller is going to be able to be a quality starting running back for the Phins this season, he will be. And for everyone questioning whether or not Ryan Tannehill will have a sophomore slump, he won’t. In fact, I’ll go on record saying that out of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin and Russell Wilson; Ryan Tannehill will have the best sophomore season out of the four of them.

If you look at what the Dolphins have done in order to progress the development of Tannehill, you have to be impressed. They went out and signed a brand new tight end, while also bringing in a multitude of different wide-outs that can not only stretch the field, but play in the middle of it too.

May 3, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Jelani Jenkins (43) during practice drills at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern University. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Not only will the offense look good this season, but the defense will be place in the top ten yet again. Although they lost Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett, they gained four new linebackers who are faster, stronger and have more upside. With the signings of Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler and the drafting of Dion Jordan, one new linebacker who isn’t getting enough recognition is rookie Jelani Jenkins out of the University of Florida. After a great high-school career, Jenkins was able to translate his great combination of size and speed, being one of the top players on the Florida Gators defense. Although the chances of him starting this season are slim, he is a great piece for the future of this defense. If he gets the chance to prove himself this season, I think the Dolphins coaching staff will fall in love with his great football skill.

This season should be a really good one for the Dolphins. It looks as if everything is finally headed in the right direction. The team finally has a quarterback that they could trust, a good set of skilled players and a young defense that is hungry for change in the AFC East. Although they probably won’t win the Super Bowl this year, I guarantee a division title this season. With the Patriots era finally looking like it’s on the decline, this young Miami Dolphins team will have a great opportunity to come out stronger than ever and give New England a run for their money. I am looking for the Dolphins to finish with either a 11-5 record or a 10-6 record this season. Regardless of whether they win 10 games, 11 games, or 16 games, this team will come out and surprise a lot of people and will shut the mouths of anyone who has any doubt in them.

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