On Location: Miami Dolphins Training Camp: Part 1

David Kaye, NFL Draft Bible

Our NFL Insider, David Kaye, brings you the latest news from Dolphins camp as he delivers the inside scoop from his visit to Miami.

Most people probably don't know about him but it has become one of the “feel-good� stories of the preseason. Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman is on the comeback trail.

During the 2004 season Jesse Chatman seemed to be slowly carving his way to success as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. In 15 games, he accumulated 392 rushing yards, three touchdowns, an unheard of 6.0 yards per carry and an increased sense of confidence that told him he could accomplish anything on the football field.

Before the 2005 season began, Chatman suffered a painful toe injury that would sideline him for the entire season. Instead of rehabbing and staying in top football shape, he permitted his weight to balloon to a whopping 270 pounds. At 5-foot-8 and a waist size unfit for an NFL running back, the Chargers released him on July 26, 2005.

After a brief stint with the Dolphins and Saints in 2005, Chatman was unemployed and took the 2006 season off in order to return to proper football shape. By the beginning of this year he had lost a remarkable 50 pounds and was ready to prove to general managers around the league that he could make a substantial impact on their team.

When the Miami Dolphins hired former San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as head coach in January, Chatman immediately called him for an opportunity. So far- he has looked extremely impressive during the team's first two preseason games, rushing for 107 yards on 14 carries.

''I think he's grown a lot. We know that's a constant battle for us all, but I think he's just grown a lot as a man,'' Cameron said when asked if he's seen any changes in Chatman's personality.

''He was a young guy from Eastern Washington thrown into the NFL and that's a huge leap for a lot of guys. It's a huge leap for everybody, truth enough. He's overcome a lot. I tip my hat to him. He knows he still has a long way to go, but he's just become a lot more mature guy.'' The waiting period for Chatman is quickly closing as he's established himself as the number two back for the Dolphins, ahead of Lorenzo Booker and Patrick Cobbs. Until I spoke to local reporters at Dolphins training camp last Sunday, I did not realize the limited amount of playing time Booker has been receiving. When asked about the current running back situation during Sunday's press conference the first-year head coach said,''Don't read anything in between the lines. I'll tell you this, our best running back will play. We want to be in a position if our starting running back goes down we don't miss a beat.'' With that said, it seems highly likely that journeyman Jesse Chatman will see a considerable amount of carries for the Miami Dolphins this season.