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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: Chad Pennington)

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: Vernon Carey, Jake Long (Honorable Mention: Todd Wade)

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)

Taylor is the team’s greatest individual defender; won the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Ogunleye was a pass rushing machine (15 sacks in 2003); stupidly traded to the Bears by Dave Wannstedt.

 

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)

Madison is third all-time in interceptions, Surtain fourth. Surtain may be the best cornerback in team history.

 

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.