Final O-line starting spot still up for grabs

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ firstteam offensive line has consistently had four names remain with the top group throughout most of training camp: left tackle Austin Jackson, center Michael Deiter, right guard Robert Hunt and right tackle Jesse Davis.

The fifth on that line has been a rotation between 2021 second-round pick Liam Eichenberg and 2020 fourth-round selection Solomon Kindley at left guard.

Eichenberg appeared to find a home there for a large portion of camp after coming over from right tackle, but when he hurt his shoulder during the week of joint practices with the Bears, Kindley got his opportunity and started in the preseason opener at Chicago. Eichenberg returned for the first joint practice with Atlanta last week, but by the second session, Kindley supplanted him at left guard while Eichenberg returned to right tackle with the second team.

“They are competing for an opportunity to play, to play a lot,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “Both guys have had good moments and not-so-good moments and, again, this week is a big week for everyone on this team. We’re still competing. We’re still trying to get better.”

Kindley, who was a rookie starter at right guard last season, has spent camp up and down units — even dipping as low as the thirdteam offensive line at one point — before getting backto-back preseason starts at left guard.

“I think the cool thing about Solomon, like the other young guys, is that he’s growing and he sees growth,” said offensive line coach Lemuel Jeanpierre. “[Working with different groups] helps with his process of being his own player and developing. Solomon has been doing a good job, but still, there’s competition on this O-line.”

On Wednesday, Kindley remained as first-team left guard.

“Just working on myself, getting better with everything, my technique,” said Kindley, who has remained even-keeled with his movement up and down the depth chart. “I’ll play wherever coach needs me. If they put me down there, obviously, I need to do something better.”

Eichenberg, who was still with the second team at right tackle on Wednesday, was a prospect the Dolphins knew presented versatility, able to play both tackle spots and guard, so it’s no surprise Miami has moved the former Notre Dame standout the team traded up to draft at different spots in training camp.

“I thought it was important working Liam in there because, first off, his versatility and knowing that, in a 17-game season, we can work him there, move him around,” Jeanpierre said. “It helps in terms of experience with the young guys, like, ‘I’ve played tackle all this time; now I’ve been at guard. I can see what they see.’ … He’s been there. He’s been here, with different groups. I think it’s just beneficial for the whole group to be a unit on the field.”

Said Kindley of Eichenberg: “He’s very good at any position. He’s one player that can adapt and play well, so I expect him to be the player that he is.”

Although four of the linemen have remained constant for much of camp, Jeanpierre insists there are no starters set in stone yet in the week leading up to the preseason finale at the Cincinnati Bengals with a trip to New England awaiting Week 1 on Sept. 12.

Deiter may have solidified himself at center ahead of freeagent addition Matt Skura after a 2020 second NFL season where Deiter was the odd man out on the line.

“I always knew Dieter was going to do what he’s doing,” Kindley said. “He had the potential to do better because of the type of person he is, the work he puts in and the consistency that he shows on the field.”

Hunt provides a boon in run blocking at right guard with his move inside after playing right tackle as a rookie. Davis, in his fifth NFL season, is the consistent veteran protecting left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side now, but he also has the versatility to move around the line if the

Dolphins’ future plan is to play Eichenberg there full time.

Jackson, at left tackle, has had an uneven preseason, and the trade for former Carolina Panthers secondround pick Greg Little could push

Jackson as Little becomes more acclimated in Miami.