Predicting the first round of Miami Dolphins cuts

The Miami Dolphins have this weekend to make some tough decisions, but those decisions will pale in comparison to the cuts that loom on September 5th. For now the focus is on this weekends game against the Falcons but cuts are mandated by the league on September 1st and the Dolphins, like everyone else will need to get to a 75 man roster.

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As of the writing of this post, the Dolphins have 88 players on their roster (MiamiDolphins.com roster). That means they have to shave 13 players from their squad on the first of September. It’s hard to predict the players that will or will not make the roster and just because it’s only 13 players and the first cut doesn’t mean it’s easier.

All that being said, it’s still fun to try. Here are the 13 players as of today that I believe will be looking for work on Wednesday. Oh, and Chris, this is for you…no power point presentation as requested!

1: Kendall Montgomery– DE – The Dolphins can afford to let one or two defensive ends go early. Especially since they have been trying out Chris McCain at the position at times. There are other areas of need that they will need to keep if for no other reason than playing time in the 4th game. The Dolphins could enter the 4th week with six DE’s. Two of whom will not likely play. Wake and Vernon.

2: Bryant Browning – G – Miami has a problem with their guard position but I suspect they will try and get as much work in with the guards in the 4th pre-season game. I do however think that Browning is a player that can be taken off the roster. Billy Turner, Dallas Thomas, and Jamil Douglas will not sit out the 4th weekend so they should see continual playing time.

3: James Davidson – LB – Miami needs to get a better look at some of their un-drafted guys like Jeff Luc and Mike Hull. Both along with Zach Vigil will see extensive time in P4. Davidson likely won’t and he has no chance of making the final roster.

4: Cobi Hamilton – WR – The Dolphins are stacked up front with wide-receivers and I would be a little surprised if more than two at the most were released next week. The Dolphins still need to play some players and field a team in P4. Jennings, Landry, Parker, and Stills will all most likely sit most of the game and Rishard Matthews and Matt Hazel will see extra time. Laron Byrd will also see time. The Dolphins are still evaluating Christion Jones as a kick returner so I fully expect him to stay for another week.

5: Phillip Thomas – S – With the injury to Louis Delmas the Dolphins need to see more out of Walt Aikens and Michael Thomas which means this Thomas could be packing up. Reshad Jones won’t play much if at all and that still leaves Miami with five safeties to play in the final pre-season game.

6: Demetrius Bronson – RB – Lamar Miller won’t play and Damien Williams will see action through the first half. LaMichael James will also be used throughout the first half until he gives over to Mike Gillislee and hopefully Jay Ajayi who has yet to not only make an impact of any kind but has also been nursing a nagging minor injury. Bronson could last if Ajayi won’t be ready to participate.

7: Jacques McClendon – OL – McClendon is buried on the depth chart and for good reason. He hasn’t done anything. He was supposed to compete for a back-up position but he is now competing for a back-up to a back-up. The Dolphins have to make some cuts and this is one of those players that is possibly playing his last game this weekend. If McClendon can’t show up and play he won’t be playing in week 4.

8:  Tyler McDonald – WR – Like Cobi Hamilton the Dolphins have some spare change at wide-receiver and can platoon Hazel, Jones, Byrd, and Kevin Cone the entire game. One too many bodies heading into week four.

9:  Andrew Franks – K – the Dolphins wanted to give Caleb Sturgis some competition but through two pre-season games it has been Sturgis kicking field goals and alternating with Franks on kick-offs. If Franks isn’t given a shot in week three to kick field goals it’s a very good indication that he has no real chance of making the roster and he won’t be around week four.

10: DeAndre Coleman – DT – This is kind of a push for me because I could see the Dolphins keeping Coleman for another week and releasing C.J. Mosley instead. Mosley just hasn’t impressed and it’s going to be hard for him to make the roster. I think in the end Mosley gets one more shot at week four while the Dolphins opt to send Coleman out instead.

11:  Matt Darr – P – Darr has been pushing Brandon Fields for his job and has punted well but it’s not likely Miami will part with Fields at all. Unless they plan to sit Fields in the final game of the pre-season Darr has nothing to offer the team by staying. Fields could use the work after a down season and let’s face it, it’s not like he is on the field for 30 plus snaps in a game.

12: Mike Hull – LB – Hard to predict this position given the likelihood of starters sitting after Q1 or even series one. That being said the Dolphins must make cuts and so far Hull hasn’t given the team a lot to think about regarding his future with the team at this point.

13: Damarr Aultman – Aultman is simply battling uphill for a practice squad spot. He hasn’t played bad at all but again, the Dolphins are thick at wide-receiver with a good idea of who will make the roster in the top five or maybe six spots. Aultman at this point is a rep body for the pre-season games and the Dolphins don’t really need him in week 4.

Why no TE’s?

I considered this position hard in the first round of cuts and Tim Semisch was at the top of my list. In the end it comes down to playing time. Jordan Cameron won’t play much if anything at all in week four and Dion Sims will play at most a quarter. The Dolphins are still evaluating Jake Stoneburner and Gerell Robinson with Robinson having the edge. With only two viable options for a good portion of the game, I suspect Miami will hold on to Semisch another week.

Why no QB’s?

Ryan Tannehill will sit and Matt Moore will play the first quarter or half. That leaves two players to play in the 2nd half. It’s very possible that the Dolphins could opt to let one QB play out the second half against Tampa Bay and that would obviously free up one of the above mentioned  players to remain on the roster. If I were guessing, and based on the nature of the article, I am, I would say Josh Freeman would be the released QB.

Why so few Olineman?

The Dolphins have depth problems at Oline and are seriously needing someone to step up. We won’t see Branden Albert, we will see very little of Mike Pouncey and Ja’Wuan James if any, and that leaves a slew of guys fighting for opportunities and pre-season playing time. I think they wait another week until they have to really cut it down.

Why no CB’s?

With the injury to Jamar Taylor who will not play and Brent Grimes sitting out, the Dolphins need a good rotation of corners. They only have six remaining on the roster after Taylor and Grimes so it’s a need position for the week.