The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

It used to be that the overarching conversation surrounding Jake Long was about whether he indeed was the right pick as the No. 1 overall selection in 2008 over Matt Ryan. And the argument could be made that even if Ryan turned out to be a franchise quarterback, picking a Hall of Fame left tackle was still a wise choice.

Well, Long has not been playing like a Hall of Fame left tackle this year.

And on Sunday he didn't play like a Pro Bowl left tackle. Or even a good left tackle.

Matched against Dwight Freeney, who had been struggling with injuries and production prior to this game, Long was beaten soundly in the matchup. Freeney got a sack that stripped the ball from Ryan Tannehill and, ironically, Long plucked out of the air and ran for a couple of yards.

It was a good save. But it wasn't a good look for Long.

He also yielded two other QB hits and at least one more pressure that forced Tannehill to get rid of the ball early. He also had a false start and had a holding call that was declined.

"Yeah, it appeared there were a couple of times, it looked like he got beat a couple of times," coach Joe Philbin said. "We'll have to take a look at the tapes to see if it's a technique thing. It might have been minor little things and some adjustments he'll have to make. But, yeah, we expect better protection."

Long was echoed his coach after the game, giving credit to Freeney and his well-chronicled spin move. Long also promised an attempt at getting improvement.

"He got me on the one," Long said. "He gets off the ball quick and it's a hell of a move. He did well on that one and I just have to correct it and get better."

The truth is Long has not been Miami's best offensive lineman this year as he was in years past. That mantle has been passed to Mike Pouncey.

But the problem is where do the Dolphins and Long go from here? Long, you see, is a free agent after this season. And general manager Jeff Ireland is on record as saying he will not let Long get away from the Dolphins.

I get that because letting Long walk only creates another hole that has to be filled and the Dolphins have plenty of those as is. In fact, my column in today's Miami Herald makes the point that because quarterback Ryan Tannehill is good (but not great) the Dolphins have to surround him with more weapons and a better team to compete with teams that indeed do get great quarterback play.

And, by the way, Andrew Luck delivered great quarterback play against Miami on Sunday and has convinced me he's going to be great. Indeed, Luck has thrown for 2,404 yards this season. Peyton Manning? He's thrown for 2,404 yards this season.

The point is the Dolphins need to add talent, not lose some they already have.

Which brings me back to Long. It's going to be a hard negotiation of Long's agent, Tom Condon, is going to insist on having Long paid as the best left tackle in football -- which is exactly what Long was coming out of college as the No. 1 pick. Long was the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

But after gutting through a couple of injury plagued seasons in 2010 and 2011 and still not playing at his highest level this year, I don't see how the Dolphins can justify paying Long like the best tackle in football. He's probably in the top 10 some games. But not every game.

Certainly not on Sunday.

"They're a hell of a defese. Their front line got a few on us. We just have to watch the film and get better and we will."

Posted by Armando Salguero at 09:15 AM | Permalink

Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolphins_in_depth/2012/11/it-was-a-long-day-for-jake-and-what-that-mean.html#storylink=cpy

Jake Long was facing one of the best DE's in the league.  He made some bad blunders, agreed, but I'm not worried about him.  He's still one of the best tackles in the AFC.

Jake Long was facing one of the best DE's in the league.  He made some bad blunders, agreed, but I'm not worried about him.  He's still one of the best tackles in the AFC.

I'm sorry, Brian, but Jake Long is no longer the elite left tackle he once was.

No, he's not but I still don't like the idea of having to replace him. I'm hoping that Long wants to stay in Miami enough that he'll be willing to take a reasonable contract offer from Miami. We'll see.

I don't think he will accept what the Dolphins deem to be reasonable.  His play clearly declined last year and has gotten even worse this year.  Sometimes you just gotta cut a man loose.

I don't think he will accept what the Dolphins deem to be reasonable.  His play clearly declined last year and has gotten even worse this year.  Sometimes you just gotta cut a man loose.

If that happens I can see them moving Martin over to LT, which is his natural position and going out and getting another RT

I'm not convinced that Martin is a LT anymore than I am convinced that he's a RT. He's looked just as ordinary as Jake Long has if not moreso.

I'm not convinced that Martin is a LT anymore than I am convinced that he's a RT. He's looked just as ordinary as Jake Long has if not moreso.

Left tackle is his natural position and I'm sure that being out of position has a lot to do with why he struggles at times.

HEre's the thing about Jake Long:

When he does his job, you'll never know it.

I'm not. Right tackle doesn't typically go up against the best pass rushers from the defense like LT does.

I'm not. Right tackle doesn't typically go up against the best pass rushers from the defense like LT does.

^^ you are dead wrong.  left tackles are valuable, as you say, to protect a QB's blind side.  But, all great DE's don't always line up on the right end.  Cameron Wake is a great example.

Great pass rushers can and will line up on either side of the line. 

I'm going to watch for it cause I've never seen that.  Ever.

I read your post, and I still think you're wrong.  But I don't have proof.  I know from years of watching football that I can't remember seeing Jason Taylor, JPP, Cam Wake, Freeney, etc switching sides all game long.  These guys play their position, play their side, and rarely switch around to play "either side" of the line.

I don't think he will accept what the Dolphins deem to be reasonable.  His play clearly declined last year and has gotten even worse this year.  Sometimes you just gotta cut a man loose.

I clearly stated that they line up on both ends of the line.  Therefore good tackles are needed on both ends to block them. 

You seem to come here in EVERY thread to pass along the gloom and doom, worst case scenario argument you can present, because you only see in black and white.  Marshall sucks even though he was a pro bowler. Jake Long should be traded of we can get something for him because he's always hurt. Now, Miami has no shot at Manning, and he probably won't even meet them. Doesn't this shit ever get old to you? Do you EVER look at the glass half-full?.. -EK

Long is only 27. Any decline is purely a matter of getting him in shape, motivation, or using him correctly. His injuries haven't been that serious. This summer, it was an MCL sprain. No big issue, if handled properly.

I have complete confidence that Long can return to his level of "elite" again.

Long is only 27. Any decline is purely a matter of getting him in shape, motivation, or using him correctly. His injuries haven't been that serious. This summer, it was an MCL sprain. No big issue, if handled properly.

I have complete confidence that Long can return to his level of "elite" again.