Earl Mitchell is the defensive player on the Miami Dolphins who has the greatest risk of losing his starting job in training camp. It is now time to choose a player from the offensive side of the ball. This pick is going to hit home for many Miami fans because the player on offense whose starting spot is in greatest jeopardy is hometown hero Lamar Miller.

It would be easy to pick one of the two guards for this dubious distinction, but neither Dallas Thomas nor Billy Turner really count because they are not cemented at their spots. Everyone who follows the Dolphins knows that the privilege to start at guard will come after four weeks of stiff competition. Therefore guard is eliminated from this equation.

Miller was a 1,000-yard rusher last season in his first full chance as Miami’s lead running back. Yet, it never seemed as if he embraced that bell cow. Although, he possesses good hands and decent blocking ability, Miller is not the prototypical three-down back that NFL teams covet. The ex-Miami Hurricanes’ speedster never seems to hit the holes quick enough either. Some of the blame for that could be placed on the bad offensive line play, but the great runners make their own space too. Aside from a team record 97-yard touchdown run in the season finale against the New York Jets, Miller lacked the breakaway ability he showed in college.

In the fifth round of this spring’s draft, the Dolphins selected former Boise State running back Jay Ajayi. The bruiser has the power the Dolphins have been searching for from a rusher and also is a tremendous third-down back. Ajayi set all kinds of rushing records in college and was a steal for Miami on the third day of the draft. He is being brought to South Beach to provide the thunder to Miller’s lightning, but a huge training camp may push him ahead of the man Miami currently has at the top of the depth chart.

Former Oklahoma Sooners’ rusher Damien Williams is also on the roster, but his place on the team let alone the starting lineup, seems shaky. A sleeper to start at running back is ex-Oregon Ducks’ speedster LaMichael James. He was brought back to Miami this offseason to provide some spark from the offensive backfield. While his real contribution may come in the kick/punt return game, it is no secret that Miami head coach Joe Philbin is a fan of James. He is the same type of runner Miller is with more speed to burn. It’ll be interesting to see in camp how much time James spends with the starting unit.

It may prove to be harmful to the development of fourth year quarterback Ryan Tannehill to place a rookie starter behind him like Ajayi. There has to be some familiarity between Tannehill and Miller that has former over the past couple of seasons as well. If Ajayi shows this summer that he was indeed worthy of being picked much higher than the middle rounds, however, it will be Miller who sees his starting time taken away.

Nik Zirounis is an NFL/Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @realnikz and like him on Facebook.