The Dolphins have acted quickly to replace the injured Yeremiah Bell as they have signed free agents Donovin Darius and LaMont Thompson.  Darius played in 10 games last season and he made 48 tackles and defensed 3 passes.  Darius has played in 115 games in his NFL career and he has made 613 tackles, has defensed 49 passes, has 2 sacks, forced 8 fumbles and had 14 interceptions.  Darius is a great run support safety with a mean streak.

Thompson played in all 16 games last season for the Titans and he made 73 tackles, defensed 8 passes and intecepted 3 passes.  Thompson has now played in 77 games in his NFL career and he has made 234 tackles, has defensed 20 passes, has 1 sack, forced 2 fumbles and intercepted 9 passes including 1 that he returned for a TD.

The Dolphins may lost Yeremiah Bell for the season with an Achilles Injury.  Bell had 5 tackles in the game Sunday against the Redskins before he injured himself.  This is a shame for both Bell and the Dolphins as he played pretty well last season.  Traveras Tillman (who lost his job to Bell last season) and Cameron Worrell will battle it out to replace Bell in the starting lineup.  Worrell had 4 tackles and Tillman had 2 in the season opener.

The Dolphins offense just couldn’t get anything going in this football game.  QB Trent Green completed 24 of 38 passes for 219 yards with 1 TD pass.  Ronnie Brown couldn’t get much going on the ground with 32 yards on 11 carries (2.9 ypc) but he also caught 6 passes for 40 yards (6.7 avg).  Jesse Chatman was also busy with 7 carries for 15 yards (2.1 ypc) and 6 catches for 48 yards (8.0 avg).  Chris Chambers led all Dolphins receivers with 92 yards on 6 grabs (15.3 avg).  The Dolphins finished up with only 66 yards rushing on 20 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 38 passes for 207 yards.

DE Jason Taylor (5 tackles, sack) and MLB Zach Thomas (13 tackles, sack) both played their hearts out but the Redskins got a lot of yardage against the Dolphins.  The Redskins carried the football 41 times for 191 yards (4.7 ypc) and they completed 12 of 21 passes for 209 yards.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=270909028

I think the rebuilding of the Dolphins offense is going to take some time.  I feel bad for Trent Green and Ronnie Brown that they have to play behind one of the worst offensive lines in all of football.  Cam Cameron will need to use all of the tricks in his playbook to move the ball with this offensive line.  In fact, I don’t see Green making it the whole season healthy.  The defense is getting old and one of these days it will start to decline.  Take the under.

The Miami Dolphins have a young offensive line and that could be a problem against the Redskins.  The Dolphins would prefer to run the football with RB Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman but it might be tough against the Redskins’ linebackers (MLB London Fletcher, OLBs Marcus Washington and Rocky McIntosh) who make plays from sideline to sideline.  If the Dolphins can’t run the ball look for them to try to spread the Redskins defense out with 3 WR sets with Chris Chambers, Marty Booker and Ted Ginn Jr.  vs. CBs Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers.  If Trent Green has time he will be able to take advantage of the Skins’ corners but he must beware of the best young safety tandem in the NFL in rookie SS LaRon Landry and FS Sean Taylor. 

The Redskins will likely strap their chinstraps tight and run the football against the Dolphins.  The Redskins have one of the best offensive lines in football and the Dolphins have one of the best linebacking corps in the league so something will have to give.  RBs Clinton Portis and LaDell Betts will likely challenge LBs Channing Crowder and Zach Thomas on the inside and DE/LB Jason Taylor and OLB Joey Porter on the perimeter.  The Dolphins have a poor secondary so if they don’t get pressure on Jason Campbell he should be able to get the ball downfield to WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.  Also TE Chris Cooley will be a weapon if the Dolphins bring heat against Campbell.

It will be fun to watch K Shaun Suisham and P Derrick Frost dealing with Ted Ginn Jr. of te Dolphins.  He can take any kick to the house.  But, it will also be interesting to watch Jay Feely kicking to Rock Cartwright and rookie Punter Brandon Fields kicking to Antwaan Randle El.

PREDICTION: This will be a low scoring game that the Redskins will sneak away with as the victors.