DRAFT CHOICES SIGNED

--OT Jake Long (1/1): $57M/5 yrs, $30M guaranteed.

--DE Kendall Langford (3/66): Terms unknown.

--OG Shawn Murphy (4/110): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--RB Jalen Parmele (6/176): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--OG Donald Thomas (6/195): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--RB Lex Hilliard (6/204): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

--NT Lionel Dotson (7/245): 4 yrs, terms unknown.

DRAFT CHOICES UNSIGNED

--DE Phillip Merling (2/32).

--QB Chad Henne (2/57).

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACKS
Starter -- John Beck. Backups -- Josh McCown, Chad Henne.

Dolphins quarterbacks threw just 12 touchdown passes with 16 interceptions last season for a combined passer rating of 69.6, so there's no way to go but up with any of the three aforementioned quarterbacks. While all three are expected to start with the first team in the upcoming preseason games, the starting job seems to be Beck's to lose. He had a nightmarish rookie season playing with inexperienced receivers and backup running backs. He seemed to regress down the stretch, fumbling seven times in five games, including four losing starts, but did close on a positive note by throwing his first touchdown pass in a losing effort against the Bengals. Beck has added muscle and changed his delivery. If he falters again, look for McCown to step in as a stopgap before Henne takes the reins in 2009.

RUNNING BACKS
Starter -- Ronnie Brown. Backups -- Ricky Williams, Jalen Parmalee.

Brown was on his way to his first Pro Bowl berth when he tore an ACL in his right knee, ending his season after seven games. He was leading the NFL in all-purpose yards (991) at the time of his injury, and that was with a makeshift offensive line and ineffective passing attack. Now with promising rookies LT Jake Long and RG Shawn Murphy, as well as improving RT Vernon Carey and solid veteran LG Justin Smiley, Brown and Williams should prove to be a solid tandem and possibly surpass their combined rushing yardage of 1,650 accomplished the last time they played together in 2005. Williams returned from another drug suspension but had just six carries before his season ended after sustaining a torn pectoral muscle in a 3-0 loss to the Steelers on Nov. 26. Both are far ahead of schedule and are expected to open the season, particularly, Williams, who recently turned 31 and seems to have shed his self-destructive demons that has derailed a potential Hall of Fame career. Parmalee, a sixth-round pick out of Toledo, has shown explosiveness in non-contact drills. He dominated the MAC his final two seasons, compiling over 2,600 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.

TIGHT ENDS
Starter -- Anthony Fasano. Backups -- David Martin, Justin Peelle, Sean Ryan.

Once Fasano recovers fully from shoulder surgery he is expected to take the starting job away from an inconsistent Martin, chiefly because Fasano is considered a better run-blocker in the double tight-end formation. Fasano had been stuck behind Pro Bowl TE Jason Witten in Dallas, and was a Parcells-Ireland second-round draft pick in 2006. Ryan was also a Parcells' draft pick before he shipped him to the Jets. Peelle has no ties to the new regime but wherever he's gone, he has proven to be a solid backup with his versatility. Ryan is considered an above-average blocker and has a shot of beating out Peelle because of his more affordable salary.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Starters -- Ted Ginn, Ernest Wilford. Backups -- Derek Hagan, Greg Camarillo, David Kircus, Davone Bess.

Ginn may never live up to his overall No. 9 draft position of a year ago, but he has the potential to be an impact No. 2 receiver. Although he had just one catch beyond 40 yards last season, his speed presents a threat downfield once he improves his pass-route skills. Wilford, a 6-4 veteran, instantly becomes the Dolphins most reliable receiver, particularly near the goal line, however, he only had five touchdowns over the past two seasons in Jacksonville. Hagan has the size and speed to dominate shorter defensive backs, but his hands have let him down repeatedly. Kircus and Camarillo are sure-handed and hungry, but have yet to prove they could be front-line starters, while Bess offers Wes Welker-type of potential in the slot as well as in the kick return game.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Starters -- LG Justin Smiley, LT Jake Long, C Samson Satele, RG Shawn Murphy, RT Vernon Carey. Backups -- G Steve McKinney, G Ikechuku Ndukwe, G Trey Darilek, T Julius Wilson, T Dan Gore, T Daren Heerspink, C Mike Byrne, C Steve McKinney.

Sparano and Parcells are huge believers in huge offensive linemen and that's how they've begun to build in Miami with the drafting of the massive Long with the first overall pick and by signing 311-pound free agent Smiley as soon as free agency started last March. Smiley seems recovered from last year's shoulder injury. They've shifted Carey from left tackle back to the more comfortable right side and are hoping that Satele continues to show that he can be a fixture in the middle for years to come. Offensive coordinator Dan Henning and Sparano want versatile linemen who can play nearly every spot on the line, so they've been mixing and matching in the offseason OTA days. Darilek and McKinney, once he heals, provides depth at several spots, as does Ndukwe who could beat out Murphy for the starting job with a good preseason.

DEFENSIVE LINE
Starters -- LE Vonnie Holliday, RE Phillip Merling, NT Jason Ferguson, DT Randy Starks. Backups -- E Matt Roth, E Rod Wright, E Kendall Langford, NT Anthony Torbio, NT Paul Soliai.

Ferguson, a Parcells favorite from three different franchises, seems recovered from a torn triceps that limited him to one game last year, brings toughness and an anchor at the nose not seen since Keith Traylor was in his prime. Starks will spell the 33-year-old Ferguson and also play end in obvious rushing situations. Holliday seems to be peaking and should benefit from Ferguson's presence and the 3-4 scheme, and possibly revert to 2006 when he had seven sacks. Although Roth is the incumbent starter, he was slowed by a groin injury and has yet to prove his short arms will ever make him an effective pass rusher, so look for Merling to quickly supplant him. If Wright can ever stay healthy, he too could push Roth off the roster. Second-year NT Soliai was a huge bust as a rookie, and the Dolphins' brass seem to have a collective man crush on Torbio, an undrafted rookie who grew up in Miami.

LINEBACKERS
Starters -- WLB Charlie Anderson, MLB Channing Crowder, SLB Joey Porter. Backups -- Charlie Anderson, Reggie Torbor, Quentin Moses, Akin Ayodele, Edmond Miles.

A resurgent Porter and blossoming Moses could pick up the slack following the Jason Taylor trade. Crowder should be over his knee injury in time for the final few preseason games and seems ready to fulfill his destiny as Zach Thomas' heir apparent in the middle. Still, Crowder has yet to show he has game-turning playmaking skills. Porter is stronger and no longer bothered by a bum knee or waffling defensive coordinator (Dom Capers), who too often had Porter with his hand in the dirt against oversized linemen instead of freelancing from the outside where he helped carry the Steelers to a Super Bowl triumph in 2005. Anderson, Ayodele and Miles add depth to the linebacking corps and special teams units. LBs Junior Glymph, Kelvin Smith and Kelly Poppinga may make the squad because of special teams skills.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Starters -- LCB Andre' Goodman, RCB Will Allen, FS Chris Crocker, SS Yeremiah Bell. Backups -- CB Michael Lehan, CB Travis Daniels, CB Nate Jones, S Renaldo Hill, S Jason Allen, S Keith Davis.

This unit accounted for just nine picks last season so jobs are definitely up for grabs. However, veterans' Allen and Goodman, enter the season as the best cover corners, particularly Allen who played at a Pro Bowl level on a 1-15 team. Goodman seems to have moved past shoulder and knee ailments, and even if Lehan pushes him for the starting spot, will certainly be on the field in nickel and dime situations. Parcells and Co. brought in Dallas DBs such as Davis and Jones to provide depth in run support. Jason Allen finally lived up to his first-round draft status of 2006 late in the season with three picks, and seems to have grasped the mental aspects of playing safety in the NFL. Crocker will probably edge Hill for the starting free spot because of his penchant for coming up with picks (seven interceptions in the past two seasons with the Falcons). Also, Hill, coming off a serious knee injury, may not be ready for the season opener. If Bell could stay off injured reserve, he still has Pro Bowl potential.

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Jay Feely, P Brandon Fields, LS John Denney, KR Ted Ginn Jr., K Dan Carpenter, KR Davone Bess, KR Jayson Foster.

Feely's amicable relationship with the media doesn't sit well with the paranoid Dolphins regime, but when you convert 21 of 23 field goals giving articulate quotes to reporters won't get you cut. Feely is expected to improve on his seven touchbacks because Sparano won't be calling for squib kicks because of his lack of confidence in special teams ala Cam Cameron. Feely had 16 touchbacks the season before. Fields has no competition in camp and is expected to improve upon his solid net average of 36.6 yards. He placed 10 punts inside the 20. Ginn may give up one of his return gigs to Bess or Foster to keep him fresh at receiver, but if not for special team gaffes would've had three returns for touchdowns last season instead of just one. He still was sixth in the NFL with a 9.6-yard average on punts.

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