Oct 20, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; LSU Tigers defensive end Barkevious Mingo (49) in action against the Texas A

The Miami Dolphins will be attending the NFL Scouting Combine that will kick-off in four days. They will interview, time, test, and watch prospect after prospect. While some players will rise and some players will fall, the Dolphins, like most teams will use this period to confirm what their own scouts have already worked on.

The scouting period for NFL teams is a year long adventure. One that even GM Jeff Ireland get’s into personally. The entire season is a scouting combine but teams are not allowed to talk with the college players. Until next week. That is when they will get the chance to ask the questions about a players character, their ability to understand a playbook, and yes sometimes about their parents.

This year, the Dolphins attentions will be on defense.

Offensively the Dolphins have little need to for a running back. They have no need for a starting QB and while they have needs on the offensive line and at WR they have far more needs on the other side of the ball.

The Dolphins will enter free agency needing a pass-rushing linebacker and possibly the need for two corner-backs. They also will need to gain another defensive end as well as safety to play opposite Reshad Jones. The Dolphins may be set along the defensive line but that won’t stop them from looking at depth. Especially knowing that they could lose DT Randy Starks.

With 9 draft picks and 5 of those coming in the first three rounds, Jeff Ireland will confirm all the research he and his scouts have done this past season. The process will begin next week and culminate in the finalization of their draft boards following the individual pro-days. The Dolphins will likely base their visits to those pro-days on what they see at the NFL Combine.

Offensively, look for the Dolphins to spend some time watching the aforementioned offensive line with closer attention to the TE position where the Dolphins need to upgrade. WR will also play a focus as Ireland has vowed to improve the talent at that position. He hasn’t had a good track record since joining the Dolphins with Bill Parcells.