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Dolphins fullback Lousaka Polite
PRO BOWL POSSIBILITIES, PART 1
Breaking down the Dolphins players on offense who have the best chance of being selected
By ALAIN POUPART
Dolphin Digest Associate Editor
Making the Pro Bowl always is a nice reward, but it might be even more special for Dolphins players this year considering the 2010 all-star game will be played in South Florida.
The AFC and NFC teams will be announced on the NFL Network on Tuesday, and there are a few Dolphins players who have a legitimate chance to be selected. Fan voting counts for one-third of the voting process, with the other two-thirds coming from coaches and players.
Here's a breakdown of the Dolphins' Pro Bowl candidates, listed in order of probability.
In Part 1 of this two-part feature, we look at the players on offense.
The Dolphins have ranked among the best rushing teams in the league all season, while their passing game has been criticized on the regular basis. Therefore, it should surprise no one that the best Pro Bowl candidates on the Dolphins offense feature prominently in the passing game.
- Tackle Jake Long - Long made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement as a rookie last year and he's probably been more consistent this season. Long led the AFC offensive tackles in the fan voting, which gives him a good start toward getting a nod. The three AFC tackles initially selected to the Pro Bowl last year were Buffalo's Jason Peters, Tennessee's Michael Roos and Cleveland's Joe Thomas. Peters now plays in the NFC as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, while Roos very well could repeat given the success of running back Chris Johnson. History dictates that once an offensive lineman establishes a reputation as a Pro Bowl player, it's hard to dislodge him. That makes Long, whose play would merit consideration regardless, a very likely Pro Bowl selection.
- FB Lousaka Polite - Count Jason Taylor among those who feel Polite should make the Pro Bowl in his first full season with the Dolphins. "If Lousaka doesn't make it, I am going to boycott something," Taylor said. "I don't know what it is going to be, but I am going to boycott something." The one guy standing in Polite's way might be Baltimore's Le'Ron McClain. McClain got the nod last year and he leads all AFC fullbacks this season with 152 yards rushing. But here's why Polite deserves the spot over McClain. First, Polite is a better blocker than McClain, and it might not even be close. Second, Polite isn't that far behind McClain in rushing yards at 105. But most important is Polite's work on third-and-short and fourth-and-short situations. The Dolphins fullback is a perfect 9-for-9 on third-and-1 or fourth-and-1, and last Sunday against Tennessee he gained 7 yards on a third-and-1. Polite has produced first downs on 16 of his 30 rushing attempts, a percentage of 53.3. That's the best percentage of any AFC running back with at least 15 rushing attempts on the season. McClain is second at an even 50 percent. This might be a close call, but on merit Polite deserves it.
- RB Ricky Williams - Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones-Drew and Thomas Jones earned the three halfbacks spots for the AFC team last year, and it would be a shock if both Johnson and Jones-Drew didn't make it again. But when it comes to the third halfback, there are plenty of worthy candidates. And Williams is right in the mix. Williams is sixth in the AFC in rushing with 1,055 yards, but keep in mind he was a backup until Ronnie Brown went down with his foot injury in the Nov. 15 game against Tampa Bay. Williams' average of 4.8 yards per carry currently ranks third among AFC running backs with at least 1,000 yards behind Johnson's 5.7 and Ray Rice's 5.4. Rice, Cedric Benson and Jones have more yards rushing than Williams, but it's Rice who might be his biggest obstacle to the Pro Bowl. In addition to his rushing yards, Rice also has 669 yards on 73 receptions. Williams has the advantage when it comes to getting into the end zone - he is tied with Johnson for second in the AFC behind Jones-Drew with 13 touchdowns.
Outside of Long, Polite and Williams, there really isn't anyone else on offense who figures to have any kind of chance to make the Pro Bowl. Brown would have been involved in the discussion had his season not ended up prematurely.
DOLPHINS PRO BOWL PLAYERS ON OFFENSE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS
2008 - RB Ronnie Brown, T Jake Long
2007 - None
2006 - None
2005 - WR Chris Chambers
2004 - None
2003 - None
2002 - RB Ricky Williams
2001 - None
2000 - C Tim Ruddy
1999 - None
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