SUNDAY BUZZ COLUMN

With their playoff hopes realistically gone, the Dolphins have gone into evaluation mode, sorting through looming personnel decisions.

Some are already obvious, such as the need to procure at least one impact linebacker, preferably one who can man the middle, and guard help.

Here are five other decisions that must still play out, with the remaining games shaping the team’s mindset:

### Do the Dolphins try to keep both Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby, and how much do they offer?

The Dolphins want to add at least one defensive end (likely in the draft) and they’re likely to keep one or two among Cameron Wake (under contract for 2016 but coming off an Achilles’ injury), Vernon and Shelby.

Miami hasn’t conveyed its intentions to Vernon and Shelby, who want sizable deals because of the demand for skilled defensive ends. Quinton Coples said he was told he’s in the 2016 plans, but likely at a reduced salary.

And keep this in mind: It will be difficult, if not impossible, to find anyone better than Vernon or Wake in a mediocre free agent class.

Pro Football Focus rates Vernon 11th among edge defenders. The only other impending free agents rated in the top 30 are No. 8 Robert Ayers (just two sacks for the Giants), No. 13 William Hayes (2.5 sacks for the Rams) and No. 26 Aldon Smith (suspended).

The Dolphins always have valued Shelby’s work against the run, but PFF said his run-stopping has diminished greatly in recent weeks and ranks him 79th against the run among edge defenders.

Shelby hopes to get starter’s money somewhere, and he’s not going to get that here if Vernon re-signs or if Wake returns with a restructured deal.

Vernon would love guaranteed money in the range of $30 million to $35 million, but the Dolphins might not be willing to go that high. They also have the option of placing the transition tag on him for one year, which would pay $12 million but also would leave Miami at risk of losing him if the Dolphins don’t match an offer, which happened with Charles Clay.

Placing a $15 million franchise tag is also an option but not an ideal one for Miami.

After producing 11.5 and 6.5 sacks the past two seasons, Vernon has four in 2015. But he has had four sacks taken away by penalty and he has been very good as a pass rusher the past three games, with two sacks, 11 hits and eight hurries.

Pro Football Focus rates him 11th among edge defenders as a pass-rusher but just 91st against the run, which is a concern.

“The sacks are going to come; I’ve got to be patient,” he said. “If I think about sacks all the time, it will drive you crazy. I’ve been pretty good this year. I’ve been getting more attention since [Wake’s injury].”

### How much are the Dolphins willing to pay to keep Brent Grimes?

The Dolphins know they need at least one starting cornerback (unless Bobby McCain plays brilliantly in the next month), and they might need two, depending on how Grimes closes the season.

Grimes, 32, is due $7.9 million next season, with a $9 million cap hit if he’s on the team, $3 million if he’s not. The Dolphins' preference is to keep him. But he could be asked to take a pay cut if he keeps struggling.

This is worrisome: In two recent games against Buffalo’s Sammy Watkins and the Jets’ Brandon Marshall, Grimes allowed 17 of 20 passes thrown against him to be caught by those two, for 299 yards. Grimes also ranks in the bottom 12 of the league in yards allowed per catch and has slipped to 61st in PFF rankings of cornerbacks.

### What should the Dolphins do with veterans Koa Misi and Earl Mitchell?

Neither is especially expensive, but the issue is whether Miami can upgrade at either spot.

Misi has a $4.9 million cap hit if he’s on the team, $1.2 million if he’s not. If Miami moves on from Misi – which wouldn’t be a surprise - free agent options include Seattle’s Bruce Irvin (10th by PFF), Minnesota’s Chad Greenway (50th), Buffalo’s Nigel Bradham (77) and Cincinnati’s Vincent Rey (52nd).

Mitchell has struggled getting off blocks at times, and Pro Football Focus grades him the worst run defender in the league among all qualifying NFL defensive tackles.

He’s due to make a reasonable $2.9 million next season, with a $3.5 million cap hit if he’s on the team, $1 million if he’s not. A strong finish would give Miami some incentive to keep him.

### Does Jay Ajayi do enough in the final month to make the Dolphins re-think what they offer Lamar Miller?

Miami is expected to try to re-sign Miller, who was second in the league in yards per carry average last season, at 5.1, and 10th this season, at 4.8.

But Ajayi’s development over the final five weeks could make the Dolphins less flexible in negotiations. He’s averaging 6.0 per carry on 18 attempts.

The Dolphins ideally prefer Miller and Ajayi as a 1-2 punch, and it would be surprising if Miller moves on. But most teams are reluctant to pay big money for running backs, and Miami’s bargaining position will increase if Ajayi continues to thrive.

### What to do with Rishard Matthews and Jordan Cameron?

Cameron hasn’t contributed in the passing game nearly as much as expected (he’s 25th among tight ends in receptions) and it’s almost unfathomable to envision him returning under terms of the current contract, which carries a $9.5 million cap number if he’s on the team next season (and a $7.5 million salary), but a $2 million cap hit if he’s cut. His close to the season will determine whether Miami is inclined to restructure or simply move on.

Matthews (43 catches, 662 yards, four touchdowns) has exceeded all expectations, but Miami hasn’t made him an offer and knows it needs to create snaps for DeVante Parker.

Cheap and productive Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills aren’t going anywhere. So though Miami wants to keep him, there’s a good chance Matthews will find a team willing to pay him more. Matthews, incidentally, will miss Sunday's game with cracked ribs.

CHATTER

### Among the things Mark Richt wants in his offense: a power running presence and lots of play action passes. And Canes fans will like this: He doesn’t want his quarterback looking to the sideline before plays because it gives defenses a chance to make adjustments and can lead to delay of game penalties.

His philosophy is to let the quarterback make adjustments before the snap, as he told WQAM's Joe Zagacki and Don Bailey.

### Richt said "you need some beasts" to play an attacking 4-3 defense, citing the Miami teams of their glory years.

"I'm not into trying to trick everybody and outscheme everybody," he said. "If I'm going to spend most of my time offensively, I need the right guy to lead the defense."

### Though Richt was always the top choice, UM also very much liked TCU’s Gary Patterson, who conveyed he was staying put.

### Jonathan Vilma and Vinny Testaverde ended up being good resources for UM’s Blake James on hardcore football questions (as James indicated on WQAM), but Jimmy Johnson said his role was limited.

“I only visited Blake when the search was just starting,” J.J. emailed from near Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where he's working Sunday's Fox pre-game show. “Mark Richt is a proven, experienced winner. Now the key is recruiting and putting together the right staff."

### Offensive coordinator James Coley has interest in staying --- his family very much likes living here, associates say --- and he has spoken to Richt. Talks are ongoing.... Willie Martinez, who was Georgia's defensive coordinator for Richt from 2006 until his firing in 2009, has been speculated among high school coaches as a possibility for defensive coordinator at UM. He's now defensive backs coach at Tennessee...

With tight ends coach John Lilly widely expected to follow Richt to UM (as Manny Navarro noted), some around the program have wondered whether Larry Scott could move from tight ends coach to offensive line coach. The current offensive line coach, Art Kehoe, played with Richt at UM. Scott will have his choice of job options.

### Richt, who has begun recruiting in the past 24 hours, asked UM for game tapes for the last two years for all 17 UM oral commitments.

### Though he wants to watch some pre-bowl practices, "I don't want to be a distraction," Richt told WQAM. But "the more I learn, the better I can make decisions in regard to staff and recruiting."

### You saw how Nick Saban imploded on a player who committed a penalty during today's SEC Championship? Richt told ESPN's Dan Le Batard on Friday that he doesn't like doing that sort of thing, that teaching can take place in private after the game, and that the focus during games should be on what to do next. Like that approach.

### UM sold 500 new season tickets Friday after the Richt announcement. Golden Cane seats are also approaching a sellout.

### Richt is well regarded by local high school coaches. Under Richt, Georgia lured one five-star player from South Florida (Sony Michel), six four-stars and 11 three-stars from here.

### Eye-opening: Richt is 19-3 vs. ACC teams, compared with 17-18 for Al Golden at UM and 16-16 for Randy Shannon.

### Butch Davis, asked if he got a fair shot with UM and if he was comfortable with how everything went down, replied: “You will have to read the book.”

### This is pretty remarkable, considering Goran Dragic’s reputation: Players he guards are shooting 35 percent this season entering Saturday's game against Cleveland. That 35 percent is 7.8 percent lower than those players shoot overall. That 35 is also lowest (best) for all NBA starting point guards.

### With five wins in a row, the Panthers are suddenly tied with Pittsburgh for the seventh and eight spots in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers, usually stout defensively, are eighth-best in the league in goals allowed per game.

They're 18th in goals per game, but have risen to ninth in power play success rate, scoring on 20.7 percent of their chances. Last year, the Panthers were 24th in that category, scoring on 16.3 percent of their power-play opportunities.

Twitter @flasportsbuzz