A look at who made the Miami Dolphins 2015 roster

Aug 16, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Rishard Matthews (18) catches the ball for a touchdown over Tampa Bay Buccaneers free safety Bradley McDougald (49) and defensive back Anthony Gaitor (30) during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

WIDE RECEIVERS

The Dolphins did indeed keep six wide-receivers on their roster. In addition to Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, and Rishard Matthews, Matt Hazel made the team.

Hazel started off training camp rather slow but over the course of the last two weeks he really picked it up and had two good games in pre-season and elevated his practice opportunities. There is still no definitive answer on whether it will be Stills or Matthews who starts against Washington but both players will see significant playing time this year.

TIGHT ENDS

The Dolphins have raised a few eyebrows by dropping to only two tight ends. Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims. While no one really put much stock into Tim Semisch making the roster (he is a practice squad candidate) those same people didn’t think that Miami would part ways with Stoneburner. Especially after they released Gerrell Robinson earlier this week. Stoneburner isn’t a great pass catcher but he is solid as a blocker.

The Dolphins will likely and should likely look across the league cuts to find an additional tight-end.

RUNNING BACKS

Whether or not LaMichael James was making the roster was a hot topic heading into this week. He has, for now. Mike Gillislee on the other hand has not. The Dolphins could have placed injured Jay Ajayi on the six week IR list but opted not to. Doing so would have kept a spot open on the 53 man roster. Instead the Dolphins kept the rookie and Gillislee was released. In his career with Miami, Gillislee never really impressed. Last season many believed that he would be cut but the Dolphins stashed him on the IR on cut day.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The release of Sam Brenner means the Dolphins will use Jacques McClendon as the primary back-up to Mike Pouncey. McClendon hasn’t looked all that good through pre-season so it’s anyone’s guess why they chose him over Brenner. In addition to McClendon making the roster the Dolphins opted to go with nine offensive lineman. The line could be a place the team looks into free agency for better options.

SPECIAL TEAMS

A rookie punter, Matt Darr, and a rookie kicker, Andrew Franks, will open the season handling the two specialist positions. The Dolphins have yet to decide on a return specialist but LaMichael James has handled most of the work this pre-season. Christion Jones who also saw time returning kicks was released.