Hickey spoke this morning

[MikeO]

He had some interesting tidbits...

Turner is the starting Right Guard and Thomas the starting Left Guard until someone knocks them out of those spots (which we basically have no competition for them or o-line depth so that's your o-line.)  Hickey also said  Jamil Douglas will strictly work as a left guard (ie just push Thomas, not Turner) which is telling

Branden Albert should be ready by Week 1 (which is a huge sigh of relief if this is true), thought was he wouldn't be a month or so back.

Delmas will be back on the field in June, but no word when he will be able to play

[EDGECRUSHER]

The job is Douglas' to lose. If he can't beat out Dallas Thomas, then just cut him right then and there.

I still have hope for Turner. He was a project and hopefully he can be adequate.

[DZA]

Dallas "turnstile " Thomas. 

Scratches head on this one but it is his job to lose.  Turner as well.

[Dolphster]

Meh, I could care less what the depth chart is when camp opens.  I care about what the depth chart looks like in Week 1 of the regular season. 

[MikeO]

Meh, I could care less what the depth chart is when camp opens.  I care about what the depth chart looks like in Week 1 of the regular season. 

True but this coaching staff doesn't change...
-Coyle doesn't play rookies on defense
-In regards to o-line Fins are in love with Turner and keep going back to Thomas like a battered wife! Unless they trade for someone or someone is cut they sign off the street, those are your starting guards

[BuccaneerBrad]

True but this coaching staff doesn't change...
-Coyle doesn't play rookies on defense
-In regards to o-line Fins are in love with Turner and keep going back to Thomas like a battered wife! Unless they trade for someone or someone is cut they sign off the street, those are your starting guards

And if that's the case, Tannehill is gonna get killed agian.  Your O-Line allowed 58 sacks in 2013.  Last year, despite improvements made, they still allowed another 42 sacks.   That's 100 sacks in two years!

Tampa realized that their current O-Line starters were gonna get Jameis killed as well, so they went out and grabbed the best tackle available.  Then traded up four spots to get a dominant guard, albeit another Billy Turner (Ali Marpet of D-III Hobart)

[MikeO]

And if that's the case, Tannehill is gonna get killed agian. 

I agree and that's why this team is 6-8 wins this upcoming year. The ignoring of the o-line when its a glaring weakness is baffling to me. But they think Billy Turner is the 2nd coming of Forrest Gregg. So, they all can live and die with that decision.

[EDGECRUSHER]

To me, the key is Douglas If he can be competent, then that's 4 out of 5 spots filled with Pro Bowlers or good players. Not saying that you can ever afford to have a bad player on the O-Line, but if Turner sucks, it will be easier to absorb. Basically, the team will survive if one of the guard spots are filled with competence.

[MikeO]

To me, the key is Douglas If he can be competent, then that's 4 out of 5 spots filled with Pro Bowlers or good players. Not saying that you can ever afford to have a bad player on the O-Line, but if Turner sucks, it will be easier to absorb. Basically, the team will survive if one of the guard spots are filled with competence.

Douglas was a 4th round pick for a reason. Wouldn't bank on him as a plug and play type player

[Fau Teixeira]

And if that's the case, Tannehill is gonna get killed agian.  Your O-Line allowed 58 sacks in 2013.  Last year, despite improvements made, they still allowed another 42 sacks.   That's 100 sacks in two years!

Tampa realized that their current O-Line starters were gonna get Jameis killed as well, so they went out and grabbed the best tackle available.  Then traded up four spots to get a dominant guard, albeit another Billy Turner (Ali Marpet of D-III Hobart)

you could also call it a 16 sack improvement .. so this year they're on track to give up 26 sacks

[CF DolFan]

I agree and that's why this team is 6-8 wins this upcoming year. The ignoring of the o-line when its a glaring weakness is baffling to me. But they think Billy Turner is the 2nd coming of Forrest Gregg. So, they all can live and die with that decision.

I can't for the life of me come up with any reason why this glaring need has not been a top priority.

[MikeO]

I can't for the life of me come up with any reason why this glaring need has not been a top priority.

It's mind boggling. I have my theory. Soprano was an o-line coach. Philbin was an o-line coach.  These guys in their heart believe they can "coach up" any player on the o-line. So they see it as an area to save money on the roster to spend it elsewhere. They truly believe give me anyone and I can coach them up to be suitable on the o-line.  So they get their hands on a Turner or Thomas and they believe they are all set because they will develop them. No matter how much Thomas sucks and its proven time and time again and no matter that Turner couldn't crack the lineup last year and beat out scrubs after guys got injured...they still think they can coach them up.

It's pure ego.

[Rich]

Douglas was a 4th round pick for a reason. Wouldn't bank on him as a plug and play type player

Douglas was a 4th round pick because he played left tackle his last season and struggled.

Watch the tape of him at left guard. These terms like "lacks aggressiveness" or "doesn't finish plays" go out the window when you see him pulling across the line and taking out linebackers 10 yards downfield.

[MikeO]

Douglas was a 4th round pick because he played left tackle his last season and struggled.

Watch the tape of him at left guard. These terms like "lacks aggressiveness" or "doesn't finish plays" go out the window when you see him pulling across the line and taking out linebackers 10 yards downfield.

True, still a 4th round pick at the end of the day. Everyone knew his history and he was playing out of position last season at Arizona St and he is a natural guard....and he still went in the 4th round. 32 teams had the same information and he still went in Rd 4. Tells ya something

[Rich]

True, still a 4th round pick at the end of the day. Everyone knew his history and he was playing out of position last season at Arizona St and he is a natural guard....and he still went in the 4th round. 32 teams had the same information and he still went in Rd 4. Tells ya something

32 teams had the same info on Brady and he still went in the 6th round. Not sure what the relevance is. Teams get it wrong on players all the time, Dion Jordan was a consensus top 5 pick....