Armando Salguero covers the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, and is also a presence on South Florida radio.

You can find his work at:
http://www.miamiherald.com/armando_salguero/
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/

His Twitter feed is:
www.twitter.com/armandosalguero

He hosts a Monday through Friday 6am to 10am radio-show on 640 WFTL, which can be found at: http://www.640wftl.com/

With Miami arriving in Baltimore this weekend, Mr. Salguero generously provided some information on the Dolphins.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Dolphins enter the game this weekend with the 13th highest ranked offense in-terms of yards per game, but more importantly are just 23rd overall in points per game (19). What needs to improve for Miami to put more points on the board?”

Armando Salguero: “The Dolphins offense is 31st in the NFL in total touchdowns because it has yet to find the proper chemistry that good offense requires. On some plays quarterback Chad Henne fails to make the proper throw, or the timing is off, or perhaps the wide receiver will drop the pass, or the blocking breaks down. Sometimes the momentum of the offense is broken with inexplicable calls from coaches. Sometimes the opposition simply makes a good play.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Miami appears strong at the Tackle positions with Jake Long, and Vernon Carey. What can you tell me about the interior starters?”

Armando Salguero: “The Dolphins have been searching for consistency from their interior offensive line for three years. They’ve signed high-priced free agents (Jake Grove and Justin Smiley) and it didn’t work out. They’ve invested some draft picks (Shawne Murphy) and it didn’t work out. They’ve had some injuries. The bottom line is the interior line is a constant source of concern for Miami that will be addressed once again this offseason because Richie Incognito will be a free agent and an upgrade will be sought at center.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In his first year with Miami, Brandon Marshall is on pace for his 4th consecutive 100 reception season. Opposite of Marshall, the other starting receiver is 2009 4th rounder Brian Hartline. The Dolphins had a chance to grab Moss, were you surprised they passed?”

Armando Salguero: “The Dolphins did have an opportunity to add Moss and didn’t post a waiver claim for him. They have refused to explain their reasoning. Davone Bess took over the starting job from Hartline in last week’s game against Cincinnati.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Is the TE Anthony Fasano currently Henne’s second-best option as a pass receiver? Is he perceived as a good blocking TE?”

Armando Salguero: “Anthony Fasano is not the second-best receiver option. Davone Bess is Miami’s next best option after Brandon Marshall. Fasano is inconsistent as a pass-catcher. He is slightly better as a blocker.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Ronnie Brown enters the game this weekend with just 92 carries in 7 games. He has not had more than 19 carries in any game. I know he is coming off the foot-injury in 2009, but do the Dolphins need to find additional touches for Brown?”

Armando Salguero: “The Dolphins need to add additional touches for both Brown and Williams. The team is passing around 60 percent of the time and wants to strike more of a balance. The plan every week is to find that balance but so far, the running game has suffered from lack of production to the point that the Wildcat package — Miami’s downhill running set — has been shelved in three of the past four games. Miami hopes to get more out of the running game and Ronnie Brown has to deliver more for that to happen. Some better blocking would help, too, by the way.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “As you mentioned, hand-in-hand with Brown is Ricky Williams. Williams is coming off of his own 1,000 yard rushing season (his first since the ’03-’04 year). Has Williams appeared comfortable going back to sharing carries?”

Armando Salguero: “Ricky Williams has been more than willing to share carries with Brown. It isn’t really his call anyway.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Henne has been picked off in 5 straight games, but overall seems to have taken a step forward in his 3rd-year in the league, and 2nd-year as a starter. I am surprised to see how many passing attempts he is getting a game (Averaging 39 attempts per game over the last 5 games) though. Are Dolphins fans pleased with his progress? Do you believe he is the long-term answer?”

Armando Salguero: “Chad Henne has the work ethic, the skills, and the desire to become a good NFL quarterback. Is he there yet? Not yet. He is still something of a game-manager and that’s how the Dolphins often handle him. That, of course, goes out the window when they fall behind. It’s impossible to say what Dolphins fans think of him because just as Henne is sometimes on and sometimes off, they are sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with his play.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Miami runs a 3-4 defense, with former University of Maryland Terrapin Randy Starks at RDE. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the D-line?”

Armando Salguero: “Last season, Starks was the best player on Miami’s defensive line. This season he was expected to be the starting nose tackle and that plan changed when starting right end Jared Odrick got injured in Game 1 versus Buffalo. After working at nose tackle the entire preseason, Starks was moved back to end and has been good, but not as good as he was last year. Miami’s greatest defensive line strength has been its depth.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I really like the Dolphins Linebackers. I know the Rookie Koa Misi is having an impact at the LOLB, and former CFL star (and Maryland native) Cameron Wake is having a similar impact on the right-side. Inside of course there is the mainstay Channing Crowder, and Free Agent addition Karlos Dansby who signed the large contract to join Miami. The Dolphins have played some other teams with good LB’s (NYJ, Pitt), does Miami believe they have the best group of starting LB’s in the league?”

Armando Salguero: “The Dolphins have a very good, very young linebacker corps. Everyone knows it. It is hard to argue and in the case of Wake and Misi, they both have their best games ahead of them because both are young and gaining experience.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “There are a couple of former 1st rounders (Vontae Davis, and Jason Allen) starting at CB for the Dolphins. Who typically lines-up against the best opposing receiver? Thoughts on the Secondary as a whole? Nolan Carroll is another former Terp on the Miami roster who was selected by Miami in the 5th round of the 2010 draft. Do the Dolphins like what they have seen out of him?”

Armando Salguero: “Vontae Davis is the pride of the Miami personnel department because he is everything they expected him to be and, in his second year, is showing signs of being an elite cornerback. Jason Allen has lost much of his playing time recently after starting earlier in the year. He has not surprisingly struggled in coverage, which was the story of his career prior to his brief moment of clarity earlier this season. Nolan Carroll has done most of his work on special teams and specifically as a kick return specialist. This was a good week for Carroll. His mother was elected Lieutenant governor of the state of Florida.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Dolphins are 4-3 entering this game, having won all four games on the road and losing all three games at home. Which Miami team are Ravens fans going to see this Sunday here in Baltimore? Predictions on the game?”

Armando Salguero: “As we established earlier, the Dolphins are often inconsistent to so predict what team will show up is begging to be wrong. This is certain: The Dolphins are physical, they typically play hard until the final play of the game, and their wish is to get the opponent in a game that is decided in the final minutes. They may not be the most talented team in the game, but believe they are the most mentally disciplined team every time they play. It sounds trite, but it works for them. Ask the more talented Green Bay Packers about that.”

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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