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Chris Chambers Ezra Shaw/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 84 Chris Chambers WR 80 David Boston WR 81 Randy McMichael TE 74 Wade Smith LT 78 Jeno James LG 68 Seth McKinney C 69 Taylor Whitley RG 72 Vernon Carey RT 7 A.J. Feeley QB 28 Travis Minor RB 44 Rob Konrad FB 10 Olindo Mare K Defense No. Player Pos. 99 Jason Taylor DE 64 Larry Chester DT 95 Tim Bowens DT 93 Adewale Ogunleye DE 52 Morlon Greenwood SLB 54 Zach Thomas MLB 55 Junior Seau WLB 23 Patrick Surtain CB 29 Sam Madison CB 24 Sammy Knight SS 20 Arturo Freeman FS 1 Matt Turk P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 1 Vernon Carey T Miami 4 Will Poole CB USC 5 Tony Bua S/LB Arkansas 6 Rex Hadnot C Houston 7 Tony Pape OL Michigan 7 Derrick Pope LB Alabama Outside the Huddle Close, but no cigars Since 1994, the Dolphins have the fourth-best record in the NFL, at 96–64, behind only Green Bay, San Francisco and Denver, each of which won at least one Super Bowl. The Dolphins and Broncos are the only teams that have not made a top-10 draft pick during that time. Shutting it down? The Dolphins scored 124 points in the second quarter last season but just 119 in the third quarter, fourth quarter and overtime combined. In fact, the Dolphins were outscored 120–116 in the second half. Little local love The lack of faith in Dave Wannstedt and Jay Fiedler has led to the creation of several critical Web sites, including firedavewannstedt.com and jayfiedlersucks.com. Five firsts There are five former first-round choices on the Dolphins' roster: Ricky Williams, David Boston, Tim Bowens, Junior Seau and Antuan Edwards. Bowens is the only one the Dolphins drafted. Starting at a deficit The Dolphins will be playing catch-up in the draft again in 2005. They will be without a second-round pick for the second consecutive year after trading it away to Philadelphia for quarterback A.J. Feeley. 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "We aren't [a good team], we can't win a big game." -- Zach Thomas The Lie: "Jay Fiedler might have earned more respect during the time he missed last season ... " --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

Early in the offseason Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga made it clear his team better reach the postseason in 2004 or there were going to be major changes. Then on July 25, everything changed. Star running back Ricky Williams announced his retirement at the age of 27.

The enigmatic Williams decided his heart wasn't into the game of football anymore, leaving the Dolphins with a huge hole and few offensive weapons to fill it.

Dave Wannstedt already had problems before the Williams bombshell. Angry fans called for the coach's head, but Huizenga chose instead to extend Wannstedt's contract through 2006, citing his 41-23 record in four years. Huizenga simply took personnel power from Wannstedt, promoting Rick Spielman to have "final say."

Even though he did give Wannstedt an extension, Huizenga was very frank about the team's goals when he thought No. 34 was going to be carrying the ball. "We have to make the playoffs this year," said Huizenga. "That's all there is to it. Now, if we don't make the playoffs and there is a good reason, if a bunch of guys get broken legs, well then, OK, maybe that's something else. But our goal is, we have to make the playoffs. And then it starts all over again."

It will be interesting to see if Huizenga hold the Dolphins to the same standard without Williams.

Jay or A.J.? Fiedler or Feeley? That will be the question all offseason, after the Dolphins traded a second-round draft pick to Philadelphia for Feeley, who went 4–1 in his only NFL starting stint in 2002, and then surprisingly retained Fiedler, who has gone 35–17 in four Dolphins seasons.

Wannstedt has faith in Fiedler. But Huizenga clearly prefers someone new. Spielman targeted Feeley after veteran Mark Brunell became too expensive. Feeley is younger and bigger than Fiedler but doesn't move as well and hasn't played in nearly as many important games -- the former fifth-round pick only started eight games at the University of Oregon. Spielman is projecting great things for him, much as he did when he tried to acquire Green Bay backup Matt Hasselbeck four years ago.

Ricky Williams' decision to retire at the end of July left the Dolphins in a difficult spot. It was too late to address the position in the draft (the Dolphins traded up for the No. 19 pick and Williams-clone Steven Jackson was selected at No. 24), and they missed the opportunity to pursue free agents such as Eddie George and Antowain Smith.

Travis Minor entered camp as the starting running back, although Miami is still looking at other options. Minor has never started a game, but the Dolphins were expecting to use the former Florida State star more this season to take pressure off Williams.

At 5-foot-10, 210 pounds, Minor won't be mistaken for the bruising Williams, but he has averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his three years with the Dolphins.

Unless Miami picks up another back before the season starts, look for Sammy Morris and Leonard Henry to also pick up some of the rushing load.

On Thanksgiving, the nation saw what Dolphins fans would like to see more of: the best of Chris Chambers. He had three of his 11 touchdowns that day. Entering his fourth season, he has the speed and body control to be an elite player if he isn't limited again by problems on the offensive line and at quarterback.

The addition of David Boston may help Chambers finally reach 1,000 yards. The Dolphins paid a modest price -- a conditional 2005 sixth-round choice and cornerback Jamar Fletcher to San Diego -- considering Boston had a 1,598 yard season as recently as 2001. Boston has had injury and off-field problems since, but the Dolphins' new receivers coach, Jerry Sullivan, served as Boston's mentor when the receiver posted those sterling 2001 numbers in Arizona.

If Boston flops, the Dolphins may have problems. Derrius Thompson struggled as a starter. Other contenders: holdovers J.R. Tolver and Sam Simmons, returner Terrence Wilkins and Kansas City washout Marvin Minnis.

Tight end Randy McMichael has 88 catches in his two-year career, but he needs to show more consistency.

Perhaps a year too late, the Dolphins have started over. Jamie Nails, Tim Ruddy, Todd Perry, Todd Wade and Mark Dixon are all gone. Wade Smith, who stepped in at left tackle when Dixon got hurt again, had an awful game against the Colts' Dwight Freeney, but otherwise held up fairly well as a rookie. Athletic and smart, the former tight end just needs more strength and experience.

Jeno James, a Super Bowl starter for Carolina, takes over at left guard, and Seth McKinney, who split time with Ruddy, finally gets a full-time shot at center.

The right side is not so settled. The Dolphins failed to sign a pair of premium free agents, guard Damien Woody and tackle John Tait, and had to restructure the contract of tackle Damion McIntosh after they discovered the extent of his ankle injury.

If first-round draft choice Vernon Carey is ready to start at right tackle, swing player John St. Clair, who had his struggles with the Rams, can compete at right guard, with holdovers Taylor Whitley, Billy Yates and Greg Jerman.

For years, the Dolphins' primary strength was at the corners or up the middle. Now it's on the ends.

Jason Taylor and Adewale Ogunleye again combined for 28 sacks in 2003, most of any end duo in the league. The question is whether they'll be working together in 2004, too. Ogunleye is looking for a long-term contract and is threatening to sit out at least the first 10 games rather than play for the team's $1.8 million tender. If they can't work something out with Ogunleye, the Dolphins will turn to David Bowens, Jay Williams and Otis Grigsby. However, losing Ogunleye would be a huge blow.

Inside, the Dolphins still have a veteran three-man rotation -- Tim Bowens, Larry Chester and Jeff Zgonina -- that gives them stout play against the run but not much pass rush.

Zach Thomas has held up through eight seasons. He says he's still getting better, and he remains one of the most prepared -- physically and mentally -- linebackers in the game. On the weak side, Junior Seau enters his second Dolphin season after a Hall of Fame career in San Diego. He was fine on the field, and a sunny locker room influence, but he's not the dominant player he once was. That's why Morlon Greenwood, now in his fourth year, needs to keep showing improvement -- and make more big plays. Eddie Moore, who missed the entire season after the Dolphins chose him instead of receiver Anquan Boldin, must contribute as a backup, because depth is limited.

Patrick Surtain isn't the 'other' cornerback anymore. Once in the shadow of Sam Madison, Surtain has now made two consecutive Pro Bowls. He has 13 interceptions during the past two seasons.

Madison restructured his salary to remain in Miami. Not the flashy ballhawk he used to be, he remains a respectable second cornerback. The Dolphins now have good depth, after signing Reggie Howard, a Panther starter in the Super Bowl. Arturo Freeman, who lost his starting safety spot to newcomer Sammy Knight last season, gets another shot, this time at free safety, replacing Brock Marion. Freeman has adequate range but has to avoid the lapses that marked his 2003 play, while calling the signals as Marion did for five years. Knight, known as a big-play maker in New Orleans, needs to make more now that he's comfortable. The reliable but limited Shawn Wooden is among the likely reserves.

Asked why he kept Wannstedt after failing to make the playoffs again, Huizenga said, "I'd rather not blame the coach. I'd rather blame the kicker."

This might sound strange, considering Olindo Mare still ranks third in NFL history at 82.35 percent. But aside from his strong kickoffs, he has had two down years, and two failed kicks against the Patriots cost the Dolphins a critical early season game. Matt Turk returns as the punter, after re-joining the team in midseason, and doing well with his positional kicks. Another key return: long snapper Ed Perry, back from injury.

Everyone is worried about the offense, which is natural, considering the Dolphins finished 24th in the NFL in yardage when they had Williams last season. But the defense might finally crack, after years of carrying the squad. Eight of the team's 11 projected starters will be at least 29 by the time the season starts. If Williams was aboard, a return to the playoffs would have been likely, but now the Dolphins will be lucky to reach .500. And if the team starts slowly, it could get ugly quickly.

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