Taking a look at the depth chart

Miami’s evaluators have their lineup for Week 1

With Sunday’s regularseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week away, it is time to take a look at how the Miami Dolphins decision-makers have assembled the team’s initial 53-man roster. Here is a breakdown of every unit, spotlighting the roster’s strengths and weaknesses. QUARTERBACKS (2) Starter: Jay Cutler. Backup: Matt Moore

Cutler, a 12-year veteran, had one of his best NFL seasons (92.3 passer rating) with coach Adam Gase serving as his play-caller in Chicago back in 2015, and now they plan to pick up where they left off. Cutler has thrown for 32,467 yards and 208 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons, but Gase’s biggest challenge is getting Cutler to minimize his turnovers (146 interceptions and 38 fumbles lost). Moore has a 15-13 record as an NFL starter. This is his seventh season with the Dolphins, and second in this offense. TAILBACKS (4) Starter: Jay Ajayi. Backups: Damien Williams, Kenyan Drake and Senorise Perry

The Dolphins hope Ajayi can build off his dominant 2016 season, where he gained 1,272 yards and scored eight touchdowns in 15 games. The biggest question is whether or not this former Boise State standout can handle a 300-carry workload. Williams begins his third season as Miami’s thirddown back, and Drake’s speed makes him an ideal change-of-pace option for when Ajayi needs a break. Perry, who is nursing a knee injury, shouldn’t get comfortable because Miami is actively looking to find a young back with some upside.

RECEIVERS (5)

Starters: DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills. Backups: Leonte Carroo and Jakeem Grant

Parker, Landry and Stills work well together, complementing one another’s strengths enough to space the field. Stills is a deep-ball specialist while Landry, Miami’s spot receiver, runs physical routes between the hashmarks. Parker, a 2015 first-round pick, appears ready to blossom, becoming the team’s primary target in the passing game. But can Parker stay healthy for an entire season? Carroo and Grant had respectable preseason games and will continue to be developed. TIGHT ENDS (3) Starter: Julius Thomas. Backups: Anthony Fasano, MarQueis Gray

The Dolphins hope Thomas will resemble the tight end who scored 24 touchdowns in his two seasons with the Broncos more than the aged and fragile player who was a non-factor in Jacksonville the past two seasons. Fasano’s one of the best in-line blocking tight ends in the NFL, and will often come onto the field

to assist the running game. Gray has blossomed nicely in his short time in Miami, and appears ready to become a regular contributor. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)

Starters: Laremy Tunsil, Jesse Davis, Mike Pouncey, Jermon Bushrod and Ja’Wuan James.

Backups: Ted Larsen (injured), Anthony Steen, Jake Brendel, Isaac Asiata and Eric Smith

The Dolphins are holding out hope that Ted Larsen, who has been sidelined for the past four weeks with a biceps injury, will be cleared to play next month. That’s the only reason he hasn’t been played on injured reserve yet. Until Larsen returns, Davis and Steen will battle it out to determine who starts at left guard. Pouncey will practice once a week, so Brendel will apparently serve as his backup, taking those center snaps in his absence. Davis and Smith will serve as the backup tackles early, but don’t rule out Miami re-signing Sam Young later this season, just like they did last year. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) Starters: Andre Branch, Ndamukong Suh, Davon Godchaux and Cameron Wake. Backups: William Hayes, Jordan Phillips, Vincent Taylor, Charles Harris and Terrence Fede. Branch, Wake, Hayes and Harris

will be used in a four-end rotation, with Hayes primarily playing on running downs, and Harris getting snaps on obvious passing downs. The hope is that Hayes helps Miami’s defensive line set the edge better. Suh, Godchaux and Phillips will be used in a defensive tackle rotation where someone sits out every third series. Taylor and Fede need to be strong special teams contributors to keep their roster spots. LINEBACKERS (6)

Starters: Lawrence Timmons, Mike Hull and Kiko Alonso.

Backups: Rey Maualuga, Chase Allen and Justin March-Lillard

Timmons is a durable 11-year veteran who has produced five consecutive seasons with 100-plus tackles. Alonso led the Dolphins with 115 tackles last season, and recorded two interceptions and four fumble recoveries. If those two stay healthy, the Dolphins should be decent at linebacker, especially if Mike Hull or Rey Maualuga step up and play well at inside linebacker. Depth in this unit is an issue, and could become problematic if someone suffers a season-ending injury. Neville Hewitt, who was waived injured on Saturday, could potentially be re-signed once his shoulder injury heals. But Miami claimed March-Lillard off the

waiver wire hoping that this third-year veteran can help on special teams immediately. CORNERBACKS (7)

Starters: Xavien Howard, Byron Maxwell and Bobby McCain. Backups: Alterraun Verner, Cordrea Tankersley, Walt Aikens and Torry McTyer

Howard, the Dolphins’ 2016 second-round pick, is beginning to blossom into a respected NFL starter, but Miami’s coaches have to be nervous about the other two cornerback spots. McCain has been inconsistent as Miami’s nickel cornerback, and Maxwell and Verner, the two veterans competing to start opposite Howard on the boundary, have each lost a step because of their advanced age. The Dolphins need to speed up Tankersley’s development to get the rookie on the field. SAFETIES (4) Starters: Reshad Jones and

Nate Allen. Backups: T.J. McDonald (doesn’t count toward 53-man roster due to suspension), Michael Thomas and Maurice Smith

The Dolphins desperately missed Jones’ playmaking last season because of the shoulder injury that got him shut down after five games last season. His return could lead to more turnovers

and a better run defense. Allen will serve as Jones’ partner at safety while McDonald serves his eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. When McDonald returns, don’t be surprised if he immediately unseats Allen. Thomas, Miami’s special teams captain, is the primary backup at both free safety and nickel cornerback. SPECIALISTS (3)

Starters: Kicker Cody Parkey, punter Matt Haack, long snapper John Denney and return specialist Jakeem Grant (already counted as a receiver)

Parkey, whom the Dolphins claimed on Sunday off the waiver wire, replaces Andrew Franks, who had kicked for two years. Haack, a rookie from Arizona State, unseated Matt Darr for the starting punter spot. Denney begins his 13th season as the Dolphins’ long snapper, and Grant will serve as Miami’s primary kickoff and punt returner. If he struggles fielding kicks and punts like last season, don’t be surprised to see Jarvis Landry or Kenyan Drake get involved with the return game.