Next up is the AFC East with the first team being the Miami Dolphins

Last season the Dolphins 11-5-0 and won the AFC East division. This came after a 2007 season where the Dolphins finish 1-15-0 and received the first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Miami lost to the Baltimore Ravens 27-9 in the Wild Card round of the 2008 Playoffs.

Offense: Miami started using the Wildcat offense last year and it was a huge part of the offensive attack for the Dolphins. Most plays consisted of quarterback Chad Pennington lining up as a receiver and a direct snap going to running back Ronnie Brown. Brown could either run it or try and pass it, with most teams not sure how to handle this formation. Now the Dolphins have drafted the perfect quarterback to run the Wildcat offense in scrambler Pat White of West Virginia. With White, Miami should continue to improve on the offensive end from an offense ranked 21st in points scored last season.

Defense: Miami’s biggest off-season concern was making their pass defense better than the 25th ranked unit they had last season. The Dolphins did their best, drafting Vontae Davis out of Illinois with their first pick in the NFL draft, and taking two more defensive backs in the draft. They also signed free safety Gibril Wilson, who had over 100 tackles last season, and resigned strong safety Yeremiah Bell, who had 120 tackles last year. If these players can help against the passing game, Miami should have a very strong defense this season after ranking 9th in the league in points allowed last year.

Star Power: Pat White of West Virginia has a chance to become one of the most dynamic players in the league. With his skills as a runner and a passer in the Dolphins Wildcat offense will give him many chances to play this year. Teams will not be able to key in on just the run from the Wildcat like they were with running back Ronnie Brown getting the direct snap. White is a very underrated passer and he will bring a new dimension to the Wildcat attack.

Biggest Addition: Last season free safety Gibril Wilson was able to record 129 tackles with the Oakland Raiders. Now Oakland was on defense a lot last season, but this number is still an impressive feat. Wilson was the leading tackler of any player that did not play linebacker in the league last year, and teamed with hard hitting Yeremiah Bell, the Dolphins should have a set of playmaking safeties for years to come.

Biggest Loss: Quarterback John Beck was released this summer, and he is the biggest loss for what the pick could have been. Players that were drafted after Beck include quarterback Trent Edwards, linebackers LaMarr Woodley and David Harris, Running back Le’Ron McClain, and tackle Tony Ugoh. Any one of these players would have filled a hole on the roster that season, but instead the Dolphins went with Beck, and then sent him packing two years later.

Biggest Game: Monday September 21st the Indianapolis Colts come to town in Week Two. Quarterback Peyton Manning will test the new and improved pass defense of the Dolphins in this game. If they can keep Peyton from breaking out and having a big game it will be huge for the confidence of this team going forward.