Looking for some help

Marino needs a running game for Miami to win

After almost quitting at the end of last season, is this Jimmy Johnson's year to take the Dolphins back to the Super Bowl? AP

The Miami Dolphins, who lost to the Denver Broncos in the second round of the playoffs in '98, open their 1999 training camp at Nova University in Davie, Fla., on July 27. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Dolphins this season.

Dr. Z wants to know

1) Will the whole season come down to the two December games against the Jets? If so, why not play them right away and save a lot of waiting around?

2) Runners come, runners go, the offensive line keeps getting reshuffled, every summer we read about the commitment to the running game, and yet ... and yet ... when the final tallies are in, the ground attack still finishes mid-to-low in the rankings (last year, 24th). My question, and this goes back to the Don Shula days: Will a serious running game ever emerge while Dan Marino is the quarterback?

3) Marino will be 38 in September. That's not a question. I know he'll be 38 in September. The question is ... well, you know what the question is.

4) Two long-ball threats, Yatil Green and Tony Martin -- one can't stay healthy and the other one's facing a money-laundering trial that starts in August. Which one, or both, or none, will be around in September?

5) Can Jimmy Johnson work his magic with Cecil Collins, the rookie runner with the troubled past, or will Miami be facing another Lawrence Phillips fiasco?

The Dolphins can make the playoffs if: Johnson finds the right combination in the backfield and finally gets the power running game going; either Green or Martin emerges as the deep threat the Dolphins desperately need; and Marino continues to complete a high percentage of his passes without having to make more than a few key plays per game. Johnson wants his quarterback to throw fewer than 30 passes per game. Marino still has a cannon and great sense of timing, but seems ready to defer to the ground game if that's what it takes to finally get his ring.

Dolphins Facts 1998 record: 10-6 (second in AFC East) Coach: Jimmy Johnson (71-57 overall, 27-12 in three seasons with Dolphins) Stadium: Pro Player Stadium (75,192, grass) 1998 rankings: Offense -- 24th run, 10th pass, 16th overall. Defense -- sixth vs. run, sixth vs. pass, third overall. Depth chart 1998 results 1998 player statistics 1999 schedule CNN/SI Projection: 9-7

Pivotal games: Sept. 13 at Denver; Dec. 27 vs. New York Jets. The Dolphins open against Bubby Brister, who's got something to prove, on Monday night. That figures to be the toughest test of the first half. But the second half is a doozy. The Dolphins play the Jets twice in three weeks in December -- including another Monday nighter.

On the hot seat: Returning starters Karim Abdul-Jabbar (tailback) and Stanley Pritchett (fullback). Twelve tailbacks are in camp competing for four jobs. The logjam makes sense when you consider the Dolphins were the worst short-yardage team in the NFL last season. Abdul-Jabbar, who's decent but lacks speed, will be tested by Collins, rookie J.J. Johnson, second-year man John Avery and free agent Tyrone Wheatley. At fullback, Pritchett faces a challenge from rookie Rob Konrad and free agent Roosevelt Potts. After a promising rookie year in '97, Pritchett carried the ball only six times from the line of scrimmage last season.

Up-and-comer: Collins. Another character gamble by Johnson, Cecil the Diesel could be a franchise player -- or a flop. Some experts tabbed him as the best back in the draft, but Collins comes with plenty of off-the-field baggage. He played only six collegiate games, having been booted out of both LSU and Division I-AA McNeese State. And he must be on his best behavior in Miami, since he's serving a four-year probation and a misstep could land him in jail for up to five years. Collins pulled a hamstring in his first minicamp -- not exactly an auspicious start -- and later hurt his back. But his running style has been likened to that of Jerome Bettis and his speed is drawing comparisons to Mercury Morris.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Greg Jeffries, CB, from Det. Rich Owens, DE, from Wash. Roosevelt Potts, RB, from Bal. John Bock, C, re-signed Robert Jones, LB, re-signed Hunter Goodwin, TE, from Min. Karim Abdul-Jabbar, RB, re-signed O.J. Brigance, LB, re-signed Shane Burton, DT, re-signed Anthony Harris, LB, re-signed Larry Izzo, LB, re-signed Stanley Pritchett, RB, re-signed Zach Thomas, LB, re-signed Shawn Wooden, S, re-signed Frank Wainright, TE, Bal. Klaus Wilmsmeyer, P, Car.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 2 39 James Johnson RB Mississippi St. 2 43 Rob Konrad FB Syracuse 3 72 Grey Ruegamer C Arizona St. 5 134 Cecil Collins RB McNeese St. 5 142 Brian Jones OLB Oregon St. 6 192 Brent Bartholomew PK Ohio St. 7 232 Jermaine Haley DT 7 244 Joe Wong OG Brigham Young