Top pick might not be the only rookie starter

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdolphins03sbmay03,0,1518064.story

Miami Dolphins' top pick might not be the only rookie starter

By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 3, 2008

DAVIE - Shawn Murphy was watching other Dolphins offensive linemen go through footwork drills and couldn't help but admire how smooth Jake Long moved in comparison to everyone else participating in this weekend's rookie minicamp.

"He has great body control," Murphy said of Long, who was drafted No. 1 overall last weekend. "He's tough and he's strong, and he's got arms that are about 10 feet long.

"He looks like a power forward out there."

While Long's lean 6-foot-7, 315-pound frame could make him effective on a basketball court, the Dolphins need their new left tackle to be dominant on the football field. The former Michigan standout is projected to be an immediate starter, and he's already the NFL's highest paid offensive lineman months before he plays an NFL snap.

"There is definitely pressure, but I have that over my head every single day," said Long, who signed a five-year contract worth just shy of $58 million. "That pushes me to go out and work as hard as I can and prove to people that I earned that No. 1 spot, and that I'll earn the money."

Two other linemen could become starters this season.

Murphy, a fourth-round pick, and Donald Thomas, a sixth-rounder, are expected to compete with a few veterans for the starting guard spot opposite Justin Smiley.

The Dolphins went into the offseason planning to build around youth on the offensive line, and drafted to achieve that goal. Murphy or Thomas will have to outperform Drew Mormino, last year's sixth-round pick, and veterans Ikechuku Ndukwe and Trey Darilek to win the vacant spot.

"At the end of this process we're going to play the best five people," said coach Tony Sparano, who spent most of his NFL career as an assistant coaching offensive linemen. "It's what I've done. It's what my history is. It's what I know. We'll play the best five people and see what happens when the dust settles in training camp."

Murphy and Thomas are physically gifted, but both are raw when it comes to technique and fundamentals. Murphy was a defensive lineman before being moved to offense for his final two seasons at Utah State. Thomas had only played three games of high school football his freshman year. He enrolled at Connecticut for its academics, but was asked to walk-on to the football team, where he eventually earned a starting spot his senior season.

Now they are potential starters for the Dolphins?

"It's the NFL, and every NFL team has great players. On any team it would be hard to win a starting job, especially as a rookie, but I think it is a great opportunity," said Murphy, who allowed three sacks in his two seasons as a starter. "They are looking for people that can play, and I feel like I can do that."

Sparano said the Dolphins plan to throw plenty at the rookies this weekend, especially those who play in the trenches. The goal is to determine who is able to handle the workload without overloading.

"You're looking for athletic ability. You are looking to see their strengths. You're looking to see how they learn, their work ethic," Sparano said. "We'll be able to find all those things out as we go along."

And maybe a second rookie starter to pair with Long will eventually be revealed.