First depth chart of regular season: Couple of nuggets to chew on

The Miami Dolphins released their first depth chart of the regular season this afternoon and it offers some interesting nuggets.

Receiver Kenny Stills has apparently regained a starting receiver role from Rishard Matthews. Matthews, you'll recall, had been the team's starter the past month -- a spot he gained when Stills missed multiple weeks with an injury and one Matthews maintained even after Stills returned to practice three weeks ago.

And yet, Stills, more of a deep threat than Matthews, is back with the starters.

Interestingly, Stills and quarterback Ryan Tannehill spent extra time after practice on Monday working on deep throws on stop-and-go routes. Tannehill worked with other receivers as well on the deep throws.

Another interesting revelation is that LaMike James is listed as both the kickoff returner and punt returner. Coach Joe Philbin had declined to say on Monday if that would be the case. Last season, Jarvis Landry handled both duties.

The Dolphins are also saying via this depth chart that Brice McCain has won the cornerback job over Jamar Taylor. That is interesting. So McCain, signed to handle slot cornerback duties, gets the job over the presumed starter who is bigger and been with the team and in the defense longer.

Taylor obviously would still play a lot of snaps as he's a third cornerback -- assuming the depth chart is to be believed -- but the fact he didn't win the job outright is not great news for him.

The Dolphins have told rookie Jamil Douglas that he is the starting right guard. For now. And sure enough, the depth chart shows that.

It also shows the Dolphins have Koa Misi at strongside linebacker with Kelvin Sheppard at middle linebacker and Jelani Jenkins at weakside linebacker. Chris McCain, who was working as a starting strongside linebacker when training camp began, will probably get more of a role in pass-rush situations, perhaps as a secondary rusher when Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon are not in the game.

The Dolphins also have other odd fronts that included Vernon, Wake, and McCain as rushers. In the base defense, however, McCain is listed as a backup.

Finally, the Dolphins list Branden Albert as their starting left tackle. That's not a wish. That's an expectation. He's the starter on Sunday unless something goes horribly wrong in practice the next three days.