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As the 2009 season draws to a close, I’ve taken a
look back across the decade to identify the best Dolphins at each position.
Here are my picks.
OFFENSE
Quarterback: Jay Fiedler (Honorable Mention:
Third all-time in attempts, completions, passing yards
(11,040), and touchdowns (66).
Halfback: Ricky Williams (Honorable Mention: Ronnie Brown)
Second all-time in rushing yards, could surpass Larry
Csonka by next year.
Fullback: Rob Konrad
(Honorable Mention: Lousaka Polite)
Better receiver than runner; good blocker. Retired
after six seasons.
Tackles:
Long, already a two-time Pro Bowler, could surpass
Richmond Webb as the greatest left tackle in team history. Carey has played
left and right tackle during his career.
Guards: Rex Hadnot, Justin Smiley
(Honorable Mention: Jeno James)
Hadnot was durable, nasty, and tough; an especially
good run blocker who played all three interior line positions. Smiley, a locker
room leader, is a dominant run blocker and solid pass protector.
Center: Tim Ruddy
(Honorable Mention: Samson Satele)
Tough, dependable, and intelligent. Snapped for Dan Marino
and Fiedler.
Wide
Receivers:
Chris Chambers, Ted Ginn, Jr. (Honorable Mention: Oronde Gadsden)
Chambers is fifth in team history in receptions and
fourth in yards and touchdowns. Ginn gets the nod here over a weak field as he
led the team in combined yardage his rookie year (2007), led the team in
receiving yards last year (2008), and became the first player in NFL history to
return two kickoffs 100 or more yards for touchdowns in a single game this
season.
Tight
End:
Randy McMichael (Honorable Mention: Anthony Fasano)
#1 in receptions for a tight end in team history (283
for 3,096 yards).
DEFENSE
Defensive/Nose
Tackles: Tim Bowens, Keith Traylor (Honorable Mention: Jason Ferguson)
Dominant run stoppers at the heart of the defense for most
of the decade.
Defensive
Ends: Adewale Ogunleye, Jason Taylor (Honorable Mention: Kevin Carter, Kenny Mixon)
Outside
linebackers:
Channing Crowder, Joey Porter (Honorable Mention: Morlon
Greenwood)
Crowder played his first three seasons at OLB before
moving inside in 2008; good all-around player. Porter earned a Pro Bowl berth
in 2008 with 17.5 sacks (third most in a season in team history)
Middle
Linebacker:
Zach Thomas (Honorable Mention: none)
The team’s all-time tackles
leader (1,041), a record that may never be broken.
Cornerbacks: Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain
(Honorable Mention: Will Allen)
Safeties: Brock Marion, Yeremiah Bell
(Honorable Mention: Renaldo Hill)
Hard hitters. Tough against the run and excellent
cover men.
KICKERS
Olindo Mare (K), Matt Turk (P) (Honorable Mention: Dan Carpenter, Donnie Jones)
Mare is the Dolphins all-time scoring leader and the
finest kicker in team history. Turk has the third-most punts in team history,
the most in a season (98), and is fifth in gross average.