Zach Bahner is an analyst at NFL Draft Hub. Bahner is a Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan, which is an odd combination when one considers that most Miami Dolphins fans are Miami Hurricanes fans. Bahner’s team has some personnel fresh to this project and I’m intrigued with what he intends to do with them. What I like about Banher’s team right away is that his players tend to be second- and third-year veterans on the verge of their prime. Stay tuned for the Q&A.

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Offense

Quarterback Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
QB1		Jake Locker	10.5	He’s a versatile player than can run and pass efficiently. He’s only in his second year, so he can lead this team for a decade.
QB2		Dennis Dixon	1	Dixon is an underrated player. He also has a similar skill set to Locker, so the offense wouldn’t need to be amended for him.
QB3		Scott Tolzien	0.5	Tolzien has the potential to develop into a solid No.2 QB.

Running Back Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
RB1	Returner	Reggie Bush	5.5	Will be the No.1 RB and No.3 WR. Picked for his versatility. Will also be a KR.
RB2		Roy Helu	4.5	No. 2 back. He will be on the field with Bush and Tolbert often. Another player chosen for his versatility.
RB3		Vick Ballard	1	Will get about five touches a game. He will need to mature quickly in this offense.
	Returner	Dujuan Harris	0.5	Will get his touches mainly as a KR. The goal is not to have him on the field as a RB.

Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
WR1		Percy Harvin	8	Harvin was also chosen for his versatility. Will occasionally line up as a RB. Will run a full route tree.
WR2		Brandon LaFell	3	I expect him to have a break out year in 2012. Will have a full route tree but will mainly be used as a deep threat.
WR3		Devery Henderson	2.5	Will be used in a similar capacity to how the Saints use him. He is mainly a deep threat.
WR4		Jordan Shipley	2.5	Will be used in the slot most of the time when he is on the field.
WR5		David Clowney	0.5	Picked mainly for his special team abilities.

Fullback and Tight End Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
TE1		Kyle Rudolph	3	Rudolph will be on the field for most of the offensive plays. Will need to be a go-to receiver for Locker to succeed.
TE2		Coby Fleener	2.5	Fleener will see the field often due to the heavy use of two=TE sets. Will be the Gronkowski to Rudolph’s Hernandez.
TE3		Tony Moeaki	1.5	Moeaki will see time at TE, H-Back, and FB. He will also contribute on speical teams.
FB		Mike Tolbert	3	Tolbert will be a traditional FB as well as a pass catcher and short yardage back.

Tackle Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
LT1		Matt Kalil	8.5	Will anchor this offensive line for a decade. Has the ability to run and pass block.
RT1		Jason Smith	3	Smith will need to step up if he wants to keep the starting job at RT after his first year with this team. Weakest starting position on this team.
RT2		Jonathan Scott	1	Will be the backup for both Smith and Kalil.
LT2		Lydon Murtha	1	Could be a healthy scratch on this roster with Scott backing up both Smith and Kalil.

Guard Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
LG1		Nate Livings	4.5	I wanted to save money and take Mike Pollack here, but he doesn’t have the run blocking ability that Livings has.
RG1		Ben Ijalana	2.5	I was surprised to see his low cost. Will make for a solid interior offensive line.
RG2		Mitch Petrus	1.5	If Ijalana can’t keep the job locked down, Petrus can step right onto the field.
LG2		Trai Essex	1	Essex has a lot of starting history with the Steelers. He isn’t the best option, but his experience will be good if he’s needed.

Center Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
C1		Mike Pouncey	6	Pouncy will develop into a top-flight center in the league. I was willing to sink this amount of money into the position due to upside.
C2		JD Walton	1	Walton is a starting center in the NFL. He could step in at guard or center if he’s needed.

Defense

Cornerback and Safety Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and/or fit within the system)
LCB1		Morris Claiborne	6.5	He can do it all. He will be a stud starting corner for this team for years.
RCB1		Tracy Porter	3	Porter is no spring chicken, but he will be a quality starter while Kareem Jackson develops. Will cover slot in three-WR sets
RCB2		Kareem Jackson	1	Jackson will move over to the right side when Porter is in the slot. Will eventually start for this team.
LCB2		Zackary Bowman	1	Not the strongest corner, but he has plenty of experience.
SS1		Tyvon Branch	5	Branch will be a tackling machine on this team.
FS1		Jairus Byrd	5	This team needed a ball hawk. Byrd is one of the best in the league.
FS2		George Iloka	1.5	Iloka will be a solid third option at safety, but he will have to earn his way on the field with special teams play.
SS2		Abram Elam	1	Elam has starting experience, so I am very comfortable with him backing up Branch. Will contribute on special teams.
LCB2		Jarrett Bush	0.5	Will mainly contribute on special teams, but has all the ability to on defense, as well.

Linebacker Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
MLB1		Pat Angerer	6	Angerer is a good young linebacker. He can play the 34 or 43, so if this team ever made a switch, he’d still be capable.
WLB1		Zach Brown	3.5	I’ll be excited to see how Brown performs as a rookie. I’m not terribly comfortable with his backup seeing the field often.
SLB1		K.J. Wright	4	Wright rounds out a linebacker corps that could be very strong.
WLB2		A.J. Edds	0.5	Edds will be a solid contributor on special teams.
		Bobby Carpenter	0.5	Carpenter can fill in at all three LB positions, but he isn’t very strong at any of them. He will be a special teams player.
SLB2		Kirk Morrison	0.5	Morrison is a bit underrated. He would likely be the first one in at either of the OLB positions.
MLB2		Gary Guyton	1	Guyton will be a sold backup for Angerer.

Defensive End and Tackle Depth Chart
Starting Position	Role (optional)	Name	Value	Commentary (Why you picked the player: specific skills and talents you like, potential upside, and fit within the system)
LDE1		Derrick Morgan	6	The goal for this defense is to sack the QB. Morgan is the first of those pass rushers.
RDE1		Will Smith	5	I know Will Smith is suspended right now, but when he comes back he will be an important pass rusher for this squad.
DT1		Cam Thomas	4	Thomas will play on the nose and be integral in collapsing the pocket and run stopping.
DT2		Linval Joseph	3	Joseph can also play on the nose, but he will spend more time as a three technique.
RDE2		Vinny Curry	4.5	Curry will rotate in at both DE positions. He will mainly be a pass rush specialist, but will start the season while Smith is out.
LDE2		Derrick Harvey	0.5	Harvey will be a rotational player on the defensive line.
DT3		Aubrayo Franklin	2	Franklin will get playing time at both nose and three technique.
DT4		Stephen Paea	0.5	Paea will see 10-20 snaps a game in the DT rotation.
		Torell Troup	0.5	With this big, strong group of DTs, Troup will have trouble dressing on a consistent basis. He’s great for depth, though.

Final Special Teams Roster
		Kicker and Punter Depth Chart
	Starters	Name	Value	Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
	K1	Dan Bailey	2	Bailey proved last year that he is an accurate kicker with good strength. He was well worth the money.
	P1	Pat McAfee	1.5	McAfee has a strong leg and can fill in at kicker if needed.

	Kick Coverage Team
Role (optional)	Name		Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
OU5	David Clowney
OU4	A.J. Edds
IN2	Bobby Carpenter
IN3	Zackary Bowman
OU3	George Iloka
OU2	Abram Elam
OU1	Jarrett Bush
IN4	Gary Guyton
IN1	Mike Tolbert
IN5	Tony Moeaki
OU6	Jordan Shipley

	Punt Coverage Team
Role (optional)	Name		Commentary (Why did you choose the player for special teams and what Role (optional) will he play?)
PP	Mike Tolbert
RT	Vinny Curry
RG	Jonathan Scott
LS	JD Walton
LG	Derrick Harvey
Backup	A.J. Edds
LT	Bobby Carpenter
Gunner(SE2)	Zackary Bowman
SB1	George Iloka
SB2	Abram Elam
Gunner(SE1)	Jarrett Bush