Allen experienced in his first go-round with the Jaguars

More than 300 rookie free agents will report to NFL training camps within the next two weeks, and most of them won't enjoy the type of season Allen experienced in his first go-round with the Jaguars. Only 30 rookie free agents made opening-day rosters in 2009, roughly the leaguewide average for the past five seasons. According to ESPN Stats & Information, only two such youngsters, Indianapolis cornerback Jacob Lacey (nine) and Allen, started at least five games as rookies in 2009.

Both defenders, even if they don't play another down in the NFL (unlikely), are Reggie Nelson incredible success stories. The subject of an column last fall, Lacey helped contribute to the Colts' run to Super Bowl XLIV. He was one of eight players who entered the league as undrafted free agents to start in the title game. But his story is only slightly more compelling than the Cinderella tale that Allen spun.

"He is a first-class individual in every way," Jacksonville linebackers coach Mark Duffner recently told the club's website.

Whether the soft-spoken Allen becomes a first-teamer, at least for the early stages of his sophomore season in the league, remains to be seen. Just a year after starting at every position in the 4-3, and one game in the 3-4 scheme the Jaguars football jerseys used for a while, Allen, who played a number of linebacker positions at San Diego State, figures to contend with three-year veteran Justin Durant for the starting weakside spot.

Even if he doesn't win the No. 1 job, Allen - who is admired by virtually every coach and Maurice Jones management official in the Jacksonville organization -- should be on the field for plenty of snaps. If Allen doesn't beat out Durant (a former second-round pick), he and his work ethic should still be good examples for those hundreds of undrafted free agents preparing for camps at the end of the month.

"You've got to get over the disappointment of not being [drafted] and just get ready to play ball," said Allen, who recently received words of praise and encouragement by phone from one high-ranking franchise official. "When you're coming off your final [college] season, you're getting ready for the combine, your pro day, whatever. … It's kind of like preparing for a track meet. But after that, it's all about football, and you need to get focused on that. You have to bring it."

 Ex-Dolphin Jason Taylor predicts a breakout: ``He's a heck of a player. His David Garrard pass rush skills are better than mine during my career.''

But coaches want more evidence he will be stout against the run and, as linebackers coach Bill Sheridan said, at least adequate in pass coverage.

A veteran NFL executive said the Dolphins have been telling people how pleased they are with Misi, and teammates like how quickly he gets off the ball. The Dolphins gave Charlie Anderson a lot of first-team work in May and June before moving him to the second team. One player said Anderson deserves the chance because ``we didn't have any drop-off when he filled in for Joey Porter'' against Tampa Bay. Miami sees more upside in Wake and Misi.

• Defensive end: Phillip Merling is battling Jared Odrick to start opposite Kendall Langford. Merling, facing a felony charge of battery on a girlfriend, was the starter entering 2009 camp, but Randy Starks shot past him. Now, with Starks starting at nose tackle, the Dolphins gave Merling most of the first-team snaps in the offseason program, with Odrick getting first-team work in short-yardage and goal-line.

Teammates like Odrick's motor and quickness, but one player said he made a lot of mental mistakes.

``From a team standpoint, they would prefer Odrick start, if he plays like a first-rounder,'' WFOR-CBS 4 anchor and ex-Dolphin Kim Bokamper said. ``Odrick, Starks, Langford is a pretty athletic down three.'

• Cornerback: Vontae Davis, Sean Smith and Will Allen are battling for two starting jobs. Davis drew raves this offseason, and he's the most likely to start. Allen traditionally has held receivers to fewer yards per catch than Smith as a rookie. But Allen must prove he's 100 percent after a knee injury that affected him in June practices.

``You hate to retard the growth of the two rookies,'' Bokamper said. ``If you put Will in as a starter, you retard them.''

• Wide receiver: It's a toss-up for the spot opposite Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins see Brian Hartline as a faster version of Greg Camarillo, but this job should be contested deep into preseason.

``Hartline gives you a little more than Camarillo -- more of a downfield guy,'' Bokamper said. Hartline was 19th in yards-after-catch per reception, Camarillo 94th.

But Dolphins people warn not to underestimate Camarillo, the only NFL player who had at least 50 catches and no drops in 2009. Davone Bess is best in the slot role, but Tony Sparano is giving him a chance to compete to start.

``You've got to give the edge to Camarillo,'' WQAM's Danny Kanell said. ``More than a year off the knee injury, he will be 100 percent, and he knows the system better than Hartline. But they're almost interchangeable.''

• Guard: Kanell said the Dolphins ``would like to see John Jerry win the left guard job, but he'll have to make calls he didn't have to in college.''