The starting Offensive Line is taking shape with the inevitable addition of Tunsil.
The starting Offensive Line must begin working together sooner, rather than later.
Okay, after a bit too much of a celebration over finally being able to watch my beloved Dolphins get their first live reps…and a flu that followed, I am back – and after today’s practice, it seems the starting Offensive Line is taking shape. And maybe Dolphins O-Line play is back as well.
It’s no mystery that the Miami Dolphins have spent a lot of money, time, and resources in an attempt to fix their offensive line – which has been very poor for quite a while. So, with that being said, many of the best pay per head were betting that Miami may have finally fixed their porous O-Line. However, the results thus far beg to differ.
To most fans, it’s been frustrating to see the coaches give Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner the lion’s share of the starting Guard repetitions. Especially with these two having played far, far less than lights out. Thomas was absolutely terrible during the preseason game. As a result, in Sunday’s practice, the coaches finally began to give Laremey Tunsil more repetitions at the Guard position instead of Thomas.
This continued today as Tunsil received more work with the 1’s than any time previously.
Tunsil whipped Phillips a couple of times, stalemated Suh and beat Jones to the ground. It was his best practice yet.
Turner was also given less repetitions in practice on Sunday in favor of Bushrod. Before training camp began, fans expected the starting Offensive Line unit would consist of Albert, Tunsil, Pouncey, Bushrod and James. However, that group has not been the starting group in practice.
Turner resurfaced a bit in today’s practice – this position battle might continue for a bit longer.
Training camp is used to give players a chance to compete. Also, with the Offensive Line, it’s a time to mix and match players, to see which players gel and play the best with each other. This can run a bit in contradiction with the fact that the best offensive lines in the league usually consist of players that have played together for a long time, because there are so many moving pieces, and the unit needs time to play and grow together in order to truly become a top O-Line unit.
With a new regime, and the need to properly evaluate, this contradiction has run a bit longer that we fans hoped.
I understand why Coach Adam Gase gave Turner and Thomas the chance to start first. These two players are considered veterans on the team compared to Bushrod and Tunsil, who are both new on the team. This was very slick of Gase, because he gave the team vets a realistic chance to show if they could be the guy, and at the same time he let Bushrod and Tunsil, two players that are more talented, have to compete to earn the starting position.
With Thomas and Turner not putting in that good of a performance in the first preseason game against the Giants, it appears that this now has opened the door for Tunsil and Bushrod to get more reps. These two should be able to successfully win the respective starting Guard positions, and the result should finally help our Offensive Line to improve to a more respectable level this year. Go Fins!!!
…random thought …is Matt Moore about to become trade bait?
…the rookie pick looked good in the game and in practice
…we won’t keep 3 QBs on the roster and putting the rookie on the practice squad almost ensures another team grabs him …he’s looked too good so far
…Matt Moore is a known quantity here and in the league …he would have won the starting QB slot in an open competition in Tannehill’s rookie year …he looked good the previous season as starter
…San Francisco is desperate at QB …Gabbart is their tentative starter for heaven’s sake
…ergo …does the Miami FO put Moore on the market?
…if the rookie looks good again against Dallas, I think the market may open
…random thought …worth what it cost you 🙂
…other random thought …they seem set on making Jordan a DE again, rather than LB …I think that will be a major mistake …but what do I know, eh
Someone said it that Doughty would be good. It’s very early, but he did look pretty good – alot just seemed natural for him. Yeah, DE is a crowded group. Joseph did say the DE’s in this scheme are like OLB’s in a 3-4…so maybe he’ll play a hybrid spot…it will be interesting. Getting something for Moore would be very nice!!! Very nice, indeed.
…its been 5 years since Moore started and he was a backup until mid season even then …so whatever we got, it wouldn’t break any banks
…he is a solid backup for the fins, not something to sneeze at in itself …so they won’t let him go lightly …and he carries a pretty hefty contract for a backup …but I think he could easily win a battle with Gabbart to start for SF
…of course its just pure speculation at this point …Doughty will get at least another couple quarters to show what he can do …or not …but if he continues to shine, then look for the FO to start sending out feelers on Moore …they won’t risk Doughty on the practice squad if he is looking like a possible starter …so it will be move Moore or keep 3 QBs …which is not that improbable if the OL shakes out
…its Marino who mentored him, iirc he was a high school friend of his son, and Marino pushed for the fins to draft him because he knew him well and thought there was more to him than the scouts saw …first appearances look good …dare we hope?
…lol …watch him throw 5 interceptions and fumble twice tomorrow night 🙂
Dallas Thomas by all accounts is a nice guy…but, he is a poor G. On a high note he has more negative nicknames than anyone has on this team in quite some time. He is on his way out…It was a process. It was Gase’s process. That process is almost complete…
Yes, Us fans have been frustrated watching El Matador Dallas Thomas let most everyone by him, and stand around as if looking for direction. Glad to see a chance of a change!
The more I think of him not on the line …surprisingly, the happier I feel. I still think he’ll start against the Cowboy, but then that will be it…hopefully.
…’bout time …’nuff said
…random thought …is Matt Moore about to become trade bait?
…the rookie pick looked good in the game and in practice
…we won’t keep 3 QBs on the roster and putting the rookie on the practice squad almost ensures another team grabs him …he’s looked too good so far
…Matt Moore is a known quantity here and in the league …he would have won the starting QB slot in an open competition in Tannehill’s rookie year …he looked good the previous season as starter
…San Francisco is desperate at QB …Gabbart is their tentative starter for heaven’s sake
…ergo …does the Miami FO put Moore on the market?
…if the rookie looks good again against Dallas, I think the market may open
…random thought …worth what it cost you 🙂
…other random thought …they seem set on making Jordan a DE again, rather than LB …I think that will be a major mistake …but what do I know, eh
Someone said it that Doughty would be good. It’s very early, but he did look pretty good – alot just seemed natural for him. Yeah, DE is a crowded group. Joseph did say the DE’s in this scheme are like OLB’s in a 3-4…so maybe he’ll play a hybrid spot…it will be interesting. Getting something for Moore would be very nice!!! Very nice, indeed.
…its been 5 years since Moore started and he was a backup until mid season even then …so whatever we got, it wouldn’t break any banks
…he is a solid backup for the fins, not something to sneeze at in itself …so they won’t let him go lightly …and he carries a pretty hefty contract for a backup …but I think he could easily win a battle with Gabbart to start for SF
…of course its just pure speculation at this point …Doughty will get at least another couple quarters to show what he can do …or not …but if he continues to shine, then look for the FO to start sending out feelers on Moore …they won’t risk Doughty on the practice squad if he is looking like a possible starter …so it will be move Moore or keep 3 QBs …which is not that improbable if the OL shakes out
…its Marino who mentored him, iirc he was a high school friend of his son, and Marino pushed for the fins to draft him because he knew him well and thought there was more to him than the scouts saw …first appearances look good …dare we hope?
…lol …watch him throw 5 interceptions and fumble twice tomorrow night 🙂
yeah, lemmus…our luck 🙂 NO – I will be positive, until proven insane…I will….I
Dallas Thomas by all accounts is a nice guy…but, he is a poor G. On a high note he has more negative nicknames than anyone has on this team in quite some time. He is on his way out…It was a process. It was Gase’s process. That process is almost complete…
Yes, Us fans have been frustrated watching El Matador Dallas Thomas let most everyone by him, and stand around as if looking for direction. Glad to see a chance of a change!
The more I think of him not on the line …surprisingly, the happier I feel. I still think he’ll start against the Cowboy, but then that will be it…hopefully.