(My Sportsbook) - It was 2003 when Bill Parcells rode into Dallas, assumed head coaching and a large share of personnel responsibilities, and turned a Cowboys team that had posted three straight 5-11 seasons into a surprising 10-6 playoff entry.

If Parcells could work that kind of magic in year one, folks surmised, then surely this team was on the verge of returning to the league elite.

But that version of the script didn't quite make it to film, as Dallas never reached double-digit wins again during Parcells' three remaining years on the job.

It's that history that merits repeating when discussing the near future of Parcells' current employer, the Miami Dolphins.

Though Tony Sparano is the head coach in Miami, and Jeff Ireland is nominally the general manager, Parcells is and remains the architect of the Dolphins' larger structure.

Parcells worked wonders with the organization in his first full season in South Florida, with the Fins' improvement from 1-15 to 11-5 matching the greatest single-season turnaround in NFL history.

But, as was displayed during his tenure in Big D, that success guarantees nothing, especially in a division that will only get stronger via the return of Tom Brady in New England and introduction of Terrell Owens in Buffalo.

What's more, no one is going to be taking the Dolphins lightly one season after they won their first AFC East title since 2000, and the "Wildcat" scheme the team patented last year is going to be gameplanned for each and every week.

There is more uncertainty on this roster than you would usually find in a reigning division winner, with the quarterback picture a murky one including three different faces - veteran Chad Pennington, second-year man Chad Henne, and rookie Pat White - a work-in-progress offensive line, and a secondary that is going to have to grow up quickly to deal with the likes of Owens and Randy Moss within its own division.

One thing Parcells doesn't have to worry about in Miami is a meddlesome owner, at least as can be applied to football decisions, though Parcells and new Chairman of the Board Stephen Ross don't exactly seem like birds of a feather.

The next time the Tuna escorts one of Ross' celebrity friends from the Miami sideline, the tension between the two is going to be ratcheted up, and the kind of discontent present in Parcells' relationship with Jerry Jones could soon be evident.

Though it's a decidedly glass-half-empty view, there is certainly history to suggest that Parcells' tenure with the Dolphins could end with a thud. Miami fans are hoping that the team's exploits on the field don't drop with the same sound.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Miami Dolphins, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 11-5 (t1st, AFC East)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Baltimore, 27-9, in AFC Wild Card Game

COACH (RECORD): Tony Sparano (11-5 in one season with Dolphins, 11-5 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Henning

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Paul Pasqualoni

OFFENSIVE STAR: Chad Pennington, QB (3653 passing yards, 19 TD, 7 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Joey Porter, LB (47 tackles, 17.5 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 11th rushing, 10th passing, 21st scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 10th rushing, 25th passing, 9th scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB/WR Pat White (2nd Round, West Virginia), WR Patrick Turner, (3rd Round, USC), G Joe Berger (from Cowboys), C Jake Grove (from Raiders), DT Tony McDaniel (from Jaguars), DE Jason Taylor (from Redskins), CB Vontae Davis (1st Round, Illinois), CB Sean Smith (2nd Round, Utah), S Gibril Wilson (from Raiders)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB John Beck (to Ravens), WR Ernest Wilford (to Jaguars), WR Tab Perry (not tendered), C Samson Satele (to Raiders), C Al Johnson (to Patriots), OL Matt McChesney (released), DL Vonnie Holliday (released), LB Kelvin Smith (released), ILB Derek Smith (not tendered), CB Andre' Goodman (to Broncos), FS Renaldo Hill (to Broncos)

QB: Pennington was exactly the tonic needed for the Miami offense last year. If the Jets castoff had taken care of the football a little less efficiently, had been a little less smart, or had shown a little less leadership, there's no way the Dolphins go 11-5 and make the playoffs in a year where the margin for error was slim. His reward for being so terrific in 2008? A quarterback controversy. Miami wants 2008 second-round pick Chad Henne (67 passing yards) to be its signal-caller of the future, and if he gets a chance to play for any reason, Pennington might never get his job back. The "X" factor in this scenario is the rookie White, who was almost definitely chosen in the second round to be the team's eventual "Wildcat" quarterback. Still, White was slow to learn the offense during the preseason and might start his rookie year as a Sunday inactive.

RB: There was major question whether Ronnie Brown (916 rushing yards, 33 receptions, 10 TD) would be able to recover from a major knee injury suffered during the 2007 campaign and build on the progress that he had made during that season. Brown answered those naysayers with his first career Pro Bowl appearance, and will go down in history as a lynch pin of the league's first "Wildcat" attack. Brown might not have the goods to be a 1,500-yard back, but does a little bit of everything well and will remain a vital cog in the machine. Behind the former No. 2 overall pick are two very good backups, Ricky Williams (659 rushing yards, 29 receptions, 5 TD) and Patrick Cobbs (88 rushing yards, 19 receptions, 3 TD). The finally dependable Williams played in all 16 games and had over 800 all-purpose yards, while Cobbs made several "splash" plays on offense and helped out on special teams. Lousaka Polite (6 receptions) returns for another season at fullback. Lex Hilliard, a 2008 sixth-round draft pick, looks likely to spend the year on the practice squad.

WR/TE: The key to the Miami offense in 2009 could be the ability of a suspect group of wide receivers to develop. At the top of that list is 2007 first- round pick Ted Ginn Jr. (56 receptions, 4 TD), who led the team in catches and receiving yards but has not become the game-breaking receiver that the Dolphins envisioned when they selected him. The top candidates to start opposite Ginn are Devone Bess (54 receptions, 1 TD) and Greg Camarillo (55 receptions, 2 TD), both of whom logged starting minutes last year. Camarillo is looking to recover from an ACL tear that ended his 2008 season prematurely, and if he can recover, Bess will likely see most of his minutes in the slot. The status of all three players could be affected if third-round pick Patrick Turner (USC), a 6-5, 220-pound specimen, or intriguing fourth-rounder Brian Hartline (Ohio State), can adjust quickly to the pro game. Another holdover, Brandon London (3 receptions), has a chance to stick as well. More certain than the receiver situation is the deal at tight end, where Anthony Fasano (34 receptions, 7 TD) and David Martin (31 receptions, 3 TD) were both mainstays a year ago. Fifth-round draft pick John Nalbone (Monmouth) is battling holdover Joey Haynos (2 receptions, 1 TD) for the third tight end job.

OL: The offensive line received a major upgrade in the offseason, when the team signed ex-Raiders center Jake Grove and former Cowboys Joe Berger in free agency. This strengthening of the interior line, which will be increased by right guard Donald Thomas' return from a foot injury, should allow the team to run the ball better up the middle. Berger is expected to be insurance in case Justin Smiley, who broke his leg last year, can't return to his former level of proficiency at left guard. The tackle positions are set with 2008 No. 1 overall pick Jake Long on the left side, and the much-improved Donald Carey on the right. With Long and Carey in the lineup, the Fins allowed a modest 25 sacks in 2008. Along with Berger, holdover Brandon Frye and 2008 fourth-round pick Shawn Murphy are candidates to make the roster as backups.

DL: The Dolphins' three-man line was generally capable last year, but the team made an effort to get younger there by jettisoning veteran end Vonnie Holliday and promoting second-year-pro Phillip Merling (26 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) to his former job. Merling played in every game a year ago and should be ready for his close-up. The other end, 2008 third-round end Kendall Langford (31 tackles, 2 sacks), is also learning on the job. The graybeard of the group is nose tackle Jason Ferguson (22 tackles), who will turn 35 before the end of the season but should remain in his critical role at the literal center of the line. Randy Starks (29 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT) and ex-Jaguar Tony McDaniel (16 tackles with Jacksonville) should be part of the rotation at end, and former fourth-round pick Paul Soliai (3 tackles) is the likely backup to Ferguson at nose tackle.

LB: Though he sure looked like a free agent bust during the Dolphins' 1-15 season of 2007, outside linebacker Joey Porter revived his career with a sensational 17-and-a-half sack season in 2008. Porter turned 32 in March but does not appear to be in decline. Also trying to turn back the hands of time is former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Jason Taylor (29 tackles, 3.5 sacks with Washington), who the team re-signed at a bargain-basement price when the Redskins cut him in the winter. Taylor is 35 but should again be a force coming off the edge, especially while playing opposite Porter. Holdovers Charlie Anderson (27 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Quentin Moses (3 tackles) will be backups on the outside, and Matt Roth (53 tackles, 5 sacks) will be too if he can recover from a groin injury that knocked him out of the preseason. The inside corps appears set, with Channing Crowder (113 tackles), Akin Ayodele (75 tackles, 2 INT), and Reggie Torbor (17 tackles) the top three players there.

DB: The biggest change on the team, and arguably the most important one, will come in a secondary that was a major weakness at times in 2008. In addition to signing Gibril Wilson (129 tackles, 2 INT, 1.5 sacks with Oakland) to man the free safety spot, the Fins also used early draft picks on cornerbacks Vontae Davis (1st Round, Illinois) and Sean Smith (2nd Round, Utah). The big and physical Smith looked like an immediate starter during the preseason, but Davis might start the season behind incumbent Will Allen (50 tackles, 3 INT) on the other side. Former first-round pick Jason Allen (36 tackles, 1 INT) may also be in the mix, but it would not be surprising if he was released. The holdover at free safety is Yeremiah Bell (120 tackles, 1 sacks), who proved he could stay healthy for 16 games last season and ranked as the team's top tackler. Holdovers Courtney Bryan (3 tackles) and Tyrone Culver (35 tackles, 1 INT) are battling rookie Chris Clemons (5th Round, Clemson) for backup safety duties.

SPECIAL TEAMS: The main combatants in both the kicking and return games appear that they will retain their jobs. Kicker Dan Carpenter (21-25 FG) and punter Brandon Fields (43.9 avg.) were both reliable a year ago, and Devone Bess (11.0 punt return avg.) and Ted Ginn (20.5 kickoff return avg.) weren't spectacular on returns but were apparently good enough. John Denney begins his fifth season as the Fins' long snapper.

PROGNOSIS: The Dolphins may not have been one of the top 12 teams in the league from a talent standpoint last season, but figured out a way to do more with less and turned things around faster than anyone could have realistically expected. Building on that success is going to be extraordinarily difficult, both because the division is better and expectations are going to be higher based on last year's winning run. Miami should be a better team than it was a year ago, but the Dolphins have also been passed by resurgent New England, which leaves Sparano's club battling with the Bills and Jets for second-fiddle status. Because this club is so well-coached and tough, the Dolphins remain among a handful of favorites to claim one of the AFC's two Wild Card berths. They'll fight to get into position to make the postseason again, but don't be surprised to see the Fins fall a little short of that mark in 2009.