Two-a-Days: Previewing the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 NFL season I am going to take a look at two teams a day. I will give you the impact players on offense and defense, a breakout player, and the biggest training camp question.

Offense
QB - Chad Henne
RB - Daniel Thomas (r)
RB - Reggie Bush (acquired in free agency)
WR - Brandon Marshall
WR - Davone Bess

Defense
ILB - Karlos Dansby
OLB - Cameron Wake
OLB - Koa Misi
CB - Vontae Davis
S - Yeremiah Bell

Breakout: Daniel Thomas - The rookie out of Kansas State will be given every chance to win rookie of the year. Someone needs to take the pressure off of Chad Henne and will already know Reggie Bush is only good for 10-to-15 touches per game. For the Dolphins to win games they will need to eat clock. Thomas looks like the game with the best chance to eat away at opposing defenses.

Biggest Training Camp Question: The Dolphins current depth chart is full of talent, but also unproven talent. Other than Cameron Wake on defense, who broke out last year, the defense needs to make big strides. On offense Henne should not be written off yet because he's only made 27 career starts, but after he reaches the 35 start mark this season it will time to either take a look at Andrew Luck 1st overall or ride Henne to the playoffs.

Last year's record: 7-9

Projected finish: 2-14 (4th in the AFC East)

Offense
QB - Donovan McNabb (acquired in trade)
RB - Adrian Peterson
TE - Visanthe Shiancoe
WR - Percy Harvin
WR - Bernard Berrian

Defense
DT - Kevin Williams
DE - Jared Allen
MLB - E.J. Henderson
OLB - Chad Greenway
CB - Antoine Winfield

Breakout: Brian Robison - With Jared Allen drawing double teams on the other Robison, who steps into a more fulltime role this season, will have a chance to flourish. Ray Edwards benefited from one-on-one to the tune of 17 sacks in his final two seasons in Minny. I think Robison has a chance to give similar production to what Edwards did a season ago, which is 28 tackles and eight sacks.

Biggest Training Camp Question: Is Donovan McNabb another trip down washed up QB lane or will they get a rejuvenated Mac-5 that can take this team with some big pieces back to the playoffs? McNabb was so bad in Washington last year he got benched for Rex Grossman. I think they expect a little better from McNabb this year. He longer needs to win game though, he just cannot afford to lose any for the Vikes.

Last year's record: 6-10

Projected finish: 6-10 (4th in the NFC North)

** Check back tomorrow to look at the Patriots and Saints