Dolphins reworking offensive line

[DolFan619]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2008/04/01/0401nflnotes.html

Dolphins reworking offensive line

By Tim Graham
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Palm Beach — There are holes in the Dolphins' offensive line, although they're not the kind running backs Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams and Lorenzo Booker would prefer to see.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano on Tuesday provided a rundown of how the offensive line looks with the NFL Draft three weeks away. He admitted two players are missing.

Sparano, at a media breakfast for AFC coaches, said Vernon Carey still is listed at left tackle despite thoughts of a switch to the right side. Samson Satele will return as the center. Incoming free agent Justin Smiley will be the right guard.

As for the other positions, Sparano said "At left guard there is a little bit of a hole, and right now right tackle has a hole."

Sparano mentioned Drew Mormino and Trey Darilek as candidates to replace free-agent departure Rex Hadnot at left guard.

The Dolphins drafted Mormino in the sixth round last year but placed him on injured reserve in September with a shoulder injury. Darilek was acquired through free agency after a season in the CFL. Sparano was line coach of the Dallas Cowboys, whom Darilek went to training camp with in 2006 and ë07.

"You're going to see us bouncing players around trying to find the right formula," Sparano said. "Right now they're just pieces on the board. We'll put them in some spots and that's where they'll start, but not necessarily where they'll end."

Tandem backs: Sparano, who was the Cowboys running-game coordinator last year, has no qualms about finding ways to get Brown and Williams to share the backfield workload.

"I think it's a good problem," Sparano said. "My experiences have been obviously through Dallas to have a couple of those guys ready to play. In our league you're seeing less and less of that one back, that guy that's doing it all the time.

"I don't really know how each one of them may complement one another right now until we get out on the field and we see them. So they know that there's competition there as well. Ronnie knows that. Ricky knows that."

Sparano also said Booker is "a guy that when you watch, he jumps off the film a little bit. He's interesting in that he's a guy that you've got to get touches for. You've got to find a way to get Lorenzo the ball. I think there's a role. . . . He's going to be out there."

New rules: The owners on Tuesday voted 25-7 to adopt a radio communications system for defensive players.

Quarterbacks have used radio helmets, but the league had been unable to come up with an effective way to do it on the other side of the ball, requiring teams to use hand signals from the sidelines to call defenses. That practice led to the New England Patriots' "Spygate'' video-taping scandal.

The proposal to forbid flowing hair from covering a player's jersey nameplate was tabled until the owners reconvene in May.

Owners will vote today on seven other rule proposals:

- Make all pass receptions require two feet inbounds regardless of a force-out.

- Allow teams that win the coin toss to choose at the start of the second half.

- Allow for replay on field goals except for when the ball sails over an upright.

- Eliminate 5-yard facemask penalties.

- Rule all hand-to-hand exchanges, even when handed forward, as a fumble.

- Rule all mishandled snaps as fumbles, eliminating rare times of a false start if the ball doesn't touch the quarterback.

- Discontinue offsetting penalties that involve delay of game for spiking the ball.

[Philly Fin Fan]

Interesting to see what he said about the running backs, considering how the Cowboys used Jones and Barber. I think Ronnie is going to do most of the work horse running, with Pothead coming in at the goal line and using his size to get the TD's.

[BigDaddyFin]

we lost Shelton and Rex Hadnot.  In terms of strict pecking order they were the low men on the food chain anyways I think we'll be ok at guard but who is going to play the tackle position opposite Carey, regardless of which side Carey lines up on?

[YoFuggedaboutit]

We need a left tackle, plain and simple.  Carey is a right tackle and should be moved back there. 

I hope that trade involving Jason Taylor and Bryant McKinnie goes through.

[doctord56]

We need a left tackle, plain and simple.  Carey is a right tackle and should be moved back there. 

I hope that trade involving Jason Taylor and Bryant McKinnie goes through.

Much as I'd like to see that trade, Tommy, I don't think it will occur.

If the dolphins don't take Jake Long at number one, they'll likely draft an OT with one of their second round picks. I understand this is an OT rich draft. I think we'll see a rookie starting on the line this year.

[DZA]

I think they are likely to take Jake Long.Miami is  going to need a solid O-line man for years to come.   While i would not object in taking Chris long either  but  getting a solid DE thru FA is good Enough for me.   Drafting an O-Lineman are a dime a dozen.  Jake Long is a skill player. He also takes pride in being an  in your-face asshole.  Dont know how well it will translate in the PROS.  6-foot-7 and 315-pounds Long  man  he is bigger than anyone on Miami's current O-Line.

[Matt McGuire]

Yeah but DZA you need an elite pass rusher just as much if not more than a LT.

I mean who won the Super Bowl? Matt Light or Osi Umenyiora (spelling?)??

[YoFuggedaboutit]

6-foot-7 and 315-pounds Long  man  he is bigger than anyone on Miami's current O-Line.

Remember, height can hurt you on the O-Line (or D-Line for that matter).  The taller you are, the easier it is for your man to get under you.  Getting low on your opponent is crucial in winning the battle of the block. 

[TonyB0D]

Yeah but DZA you need an elite pass rusher just as much if not more than a LT.

we already have 1 of those already...

[BJL]

Yeah but DZA you need an elite pass rusher just as much if not more than a LT.

I mean who won the Super Bowl? Matt Light or Osi Umenyiora (spelling?)??

I would say (and this is my opinion), that the guys up the middle (like Tuck) were the big play makers for the Giants. Pressure up the middle is a commodity that people pay high for, just look at the Raiders. Pressure from the ends, you'll find a lot more guys who can do that. Granted, there are not a huge overflow of good ends, but you'll see more of them.

Now, look at good left tackles. It's a hard position to fill. You rarely see a good one hit the market. If you get someone through FA, usually they come with some baggage. Teams don't give up good left tackles often. Teams should always focus on the trenches. A good pass rush makes a defense much better. Good protection will make an average quarterback a god. However, if I'm looking at an end vs. a left tackle (and this is what the Dolphins first pick comes down to), I would pick the left tackle.

[Matt McGuire]

we already have 1 of those already...

Jason Taylor's career is nearly over. He isn't ever going to a playoff game again and he will retire in the next 3 years (at most...I think 2).

You need a young leader on defense and Chris Long is the perfect fit for what this football team needs.

[Matt McGuire]

I would say (and this is my opinion), that the guys up the middle (like Tuck) were the big play makers for the Giants. Pressure up the middle is a commodity that people pay high for, just look at the Raiders. Pressure from the ends, you'll find a lot more guys who can do that. Granted, there are not a huge overflow of good ends, but you'll see more of them.

Now, look at good left tackles. It's a hard position to fill. You rarely see a good one hit the market. If you get someone through FA, usually they come with some baggage. Teams don't give up good left tackles often. Teams should always focus on the trenches. A good pass rush makes a defense much better. Good protection will make an average quarterback a god. However, if I'm looking at an end vs. a left tackle (and this is what the Dolphins first pick comes down to), I would pick the left tackle.

If the pick came down to Michael Oher in 2009 and Chris Long in 2008 I would take Oher every time. But Jake Long is not the prototype.

He ran a 5.17 40 at 315 pounds (comaped to Joe Thomas who ran a 4.92) and he doesn't have extremely quick feet. He is not the prototype. You don't want to draft a player #1 overall who doesn't fit the prototype. Jake Long will struggle with speed. I have seen flaws in his athletic ability on film, and while there aren't many I didn't see those same flaws in Joe Thomas from what I saw from him last year at the Combine and games he played while at Wisconsin.

Doesn't defense win championships? Giants. Steelers. Colts (without that defense no way Peyton wins). Patriots. Bucs. Ravens. The list goes on and on. Pressure is the way to win a Super Bowl and Chris Long will bring that in the NFL

[bsfins]

Doesn't defense win championships? Giants. Steelers. Colts (without that defense no way Peyton wins). Patriots. Bucs. Ravens. The list goes on and on. Pressure is the way to win a Super Bowl and Chris Long will bring that in the NFL

Again...The Giants D-line was special,The Steelers great defense took them on a one year wonder (in the last decade).The Colts Defense was smoke and mirrors sucked all year...Peyton carried them,Marvin Harrison,Reggie Wayne,and J.Addai..Against A great Defense in the Bears,and a shotty offense of the Bears!
The Bucs and Ravens Runs to the super bowl were Extrodanary Defenses,and each only had that one year run to the Superbowl....

Your arguemnt is looking like swiss cheese...

We're talking about the Miami Dolphins that right now have Abuttload of money sunk in to their froont 7 on defense...yet have Glaring holes on our Offensive line....

[Matt McGuire]

Lil B you are so narrow minded.

Tell me why you seem to believe that Jake Long is the only offensive lineman in this draft because that is the argument every dolphins fan pretty much implies.

A very good offensive lineman could potentially fall to #32 like Jeff Otah, Carl Nicks, Gosder Cherilus, etc.

The difference in value with Chris Long and then the 2nd tier of hybrid linebackers is simply in a different galaxy.

I don't think there is a tremendous drop off from Jake Long to Gosder Cherilus.

[Matt McGuire]

We're talking about the Miami Dolphins that right now have Abuttload of money sunk in to their froont 7 on defense...yet have Glaring holes on our Offensive line....

Making the argument that you should not draft a player #1 overall because you have too much money tied up into a position is a horrible argument.

You can cut Joey Porter, and it isn't like the Dolphins have that much money invested in a pass rush which I simply don't buy.

But hey I mean yeah you should invest more money into the 5th best player in the draft rather than the 2nd or 1st.