Team still has question marks

Dolphins addressed some of their needs

The Miami Dolphins had a goal of upgrading their pass rush and run defense in the offseason, and both were addressed with defensive end Charles Harris, the team’s first-round pick in the NFL draft from Missouri, and linebacker Lawrence Timmons, the free-agent signee from Pittsburgh.

But the Dolphins had other needs, too. The offensive line and defensive tackles needed depth, tight end needed to be reworked, and the secondary needed a tweak or two.

Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ roster as it stands after the NFL draft, not including undrafted rookie free agents, to see where upgrades were made:

Quarterbacks: Starter — Ryan Tannehill; Backups — Matt Moore, Brandon Doughty, David Fales

Tannehill (19 TDs, 12 INTs, career-best 93.5 passer rating in 2016) is the key to any improvement at this position. On paper, he has a strong complement of wide receivers and tight ends, and his running game should be solid. If Tannehill takes the expected step forward in his second year in head coach Adam Gase’s offense and makes players around him better, improves his numbers on third down, in the red zone and fourth quarter he has a shot at being a Pro Bowler. Verdict: Slight improvement

Running backs: Starter — Jay Ajayi; Backups — Damien Williams, Kenyan Drake, Storm Johnson, Senorise Perry

Ajayi (1,272 yards, 8 TDs, 10 runs of 20 or

more yards) energized the running game last season with three 200-yard games and a 100-yard game, and made the Pro Bowl. But he also had nine games of 61 or fewer yards rushing. Drake (179 yards rushing, 46 yards receiving) is versatile and a good all-around back who Miami wants to see more consistency from. Williams (115 yards rushing, 3 TDs; 249 yards receiving, 3 TDs) has been decent as a third-down back. Verdict: Roughly the same

Wide receivers: Starters — Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills; Backups — Leonte Carroo, Rashawn Scott, Isaiah Ford

Landry (94 receptions, 1,136 yards, 4 TDs), a Pro Bowl selection last season, is the leader of the group. Stills (42 receptions, 726 yards, career-best 9 TDs) and Parker (56 receptions, 744 yards, 4 TDs) complete the trio that probably forms the best unit on the team. Isaiah Ford, the seventh-round pick from Virginia Tech, will have to fight for playing time. Among Landry, Stills and Parker the Dolphins seem to have options short, midlevel and deep.

Verdict: Best unit on team Tight ends: Starter — Julius Thomas; Backups — Anthony Fasano, MarQueis Gray, Chris Pantale

Thomas was a star when he previously teamed with Gase (Denver’s offensive coordinator at the time) but questions have arisen the last couple of years because of injuries. Fasano is mostly a blocker, but he could be a factor in the red zone. Thomas could help Tannehill immensely, if he can remain healthy. Verdict: Unclear, Thomas staying healthy will be key

Offensive lines: Starters — C Mike Pouncey, LG Ted Larsen, RG Jermon Bushrod, LT Laremy Tunsil, RT Ja’Wuan James; Backups — G Isaac Asiata, C/G Kraig Urbik, C Jake Brendel, C/G Anthony Steen, T Avery Young, T

Jesse Davis, T Sam Young

Pouncey (hip) was limited to five games last year, and that’s the major concern. Tunsil moving to left tackle should help him have more of an impact. Asiata, the fifth-round pick from Utah, figures to battle Larsen for a starting guard job, but he could compete with Bushrod, too. The offensive live was decent last year at run blocking (ninth in rushing at 114 yards per game) and the pass protection wasn’t bad (allowed 30 sacks, 10th fewest in NFL) but depth is needed. The offensive line’s success this coming season will largely depend on Pouncey, Tunsil and James, but injuries are always a factor at this position.

Verdict: Slight improvement, health is a big question

Defensive line: Starters — DE Cameron Wake, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Jordan Phillips, DE Andre Branch; Backups — DE Charles Harris, DE Arthur Miley, DE Julius Warmsley, DE Terrence Fede, DE William Hayes, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Vincent Taylor, DT Lawrence Okoye, DE Nick Williams

Wake (11.5 sacks) and Suh (career-best 72 tackles, 5.0 sacks) both made the Pro Bowl last season but there’s a big drop-off behind them. Branch (5.5 sacks) and Hayes should help set the edge and defend the run. The Dolphins need Harris to be a strong pass rusher and for Godchaux, the fifth-round pick from LSU, and Taylor, the sixth-round pick from Oklahoma State, to be rotation players. If the Dolphins don’t improve against the run, it’ll be a long season for the defense again. Verdict: Pass rush good, run defense questionable Linebackers: Starters — MLB Lawrence Timmons, OLB Kiko Alonso, OLB Koa Misi; Backups — Raekwon McMillan, Deon Lacy, Mike Hull, Neville Hewitt, Lamin Barrow, Trevor Reilley, Brandon Watts

Timmons, who has five consecutive 100-tackle seasons, should bring a muchneeded aggressive attitude and tone to a unit that’s lacked both. Alonso (115 tackles, 2 INTs) figures to

move to the weakside and McMillan, the secondround pick from Ohio State, and Misi, who is recovering from a neck injury, figure to battle for the strongside starting job.

Verdict: Timmons and Alonso are good, others questionable

Defensive backs: Starters — CB Xavien Howard, CB Byron Maxwell, S Reshad Jones, S Nate Allen, Slot/nickel Bobby McCain; Backups — CB Tony Lippett, CB Cordrea Tankersley, CB Jordan Lucas, S T.J. McDonald, S Michael Thomas, S Walt Aikens, S A.J. Hendy, CB Lafayette Pitts

The Dolphins have options at cornerback among Lippett (4 INTs), Maxwell (2 INTs) and Howard (40 tackles). Tankersley, the third-round pick from Clemson, might be able to enter the fray, too. McCain (46 tackles, 1 INT) returns as the starting slot defensive back but could get competition from Howard among others as the Dolphins move people around during organized team activities, minicamp and training camp. Jones, a Pro Bowl selection in 2015, missed most of last season with a shoulder injury but should be healthy. Allen and Thomas will likely battle for the starting safety job opposite Jones.

Verdict: Should make more plays with Jones back, but not a strong unit overall Specialists: Starters — K Andrew Franks, P Matt Darr, LS John Denney, KOR Kenyan Drake, PR Jakeem Grant

Grant had a 74-yard punt return touchdown against Tennessee and Drake had a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown against the New York Jets. Both were solid threats, but Grant needs to work on his ball-handling skills. Darr (44.3 yards per punt, 22nd in NFL) took a bit of a dip after a sensational rookie season and Franks (16 of 21 FGs) needs to be more consistent. Verdict: Improvement is needed all around

Tannehill

JIM RASSOL/STAFF FILE PHOTO Guard Jermon Bushrod (74) could get pushed for the starting job when training camp rolls around. Depth and health is still an issue on the offensive line.