Camp Countdown: Linebackers

Training Camp 2010 is scheduled to begin with the first practice in the afternoon of July 30, and it figures to be an intriguing summer for the Dolphins. We take a look at the Dolphins heading into camp by breaking down the team by position with an analysis of the biggest issue at each spot and a projection of the roster battles. This installment looks at the linebackers.

LINEBACKERS

On the roster: Erik Walden, Cameron Wake, Channing Crowder, J.D. Folsom, Quentin Moses,Charlie Anderson, Koa Misi, Chris McCoy, A.J. Edds, Austin Spitler, Tim Dobbins, Karlos Dansby

Number likely to be kept: 9

On the 2008 opening-day roster: Charlie Anderson, Akin Ayodele, Channing Crowder, Quentin Moses, Joey Porter, Jason Taylor, Reggie Torbor, Cameron Wake, Erik Walden

The big training camp question: Who will win the jobs as the starting outside linebackers?

Analysis: There's no position on the team that's undergone as big a transformation as the linebacking corps, which saw the departures of starters Jason Taylor, Joey Porter and Akin Ayodele and the arrival of prized free agent Karlos Dansby, as well as four draft picks — Koa Misi, A.J. Edds, Chris McCoy and Austin Spitler. We also should mention Tim Dobbins, who came over in the draft-day trade with San Diego and could challenge Channing Crowder for a starting job at inside linebacker. The Dolphins have a lot of players here with a lot of potential, but there also are a lot of question marks.

Who will make the team: Dansby, Misi, Crowder, Dobbins, Anderson, Wake, Moses, Edds, Walden