Little misses practice as Eichenberg returns
The state of the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line is taking twists and turns as the team prepares for its Week 1 opener at the New England Patriots on Sunday.
On the same day that starting left tackle Austin Jackson was one of two players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, presumed backup Greg Little was not seen at practice on Monday.
On the other hand, rookie offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg returned to Monday’s drills after missing more than a week with a lower-body injury. So, it’s a net loss of one lineman for Miami early in Patriots week with two down and one returning.
In the Dolphins’ preseason finale on Aug. 29, when most starters on the offensive line rested, Little played 74% of the team’s offensive snaps at left tackle.
Eichenberg, the second-round pick out of Notre Dame, was out injured for that exhibition, but he is now potentially thrown into a position where he may play left tackle in his NFL regular-season debut on Sunday should Jackson and/or Little be unable to play. Eichenberg has experience at the position from college with the Fighting Irish, but he did not practice there during training camp, rotating between right tackle and left guard.
Eichenberg also dealt with a shoulder injury earlier in camp, the week of joint practices with the Chicago Bears. He missed that Aug. 14 preseason opener but returned later in the following week ahead of the Aug. 21 exhibition against the Atlanta Falcons.
Little was acquired via trade from the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 17.
Gaskin’s blocking
Dolphins coach Brian Flores said thirdyear running back Myles Gaskin, as he enters a second season as a starter, has made significant strides is pass blocking.
“The first thing that comes to mind is protection,” Flores said. “I think he’s really worked hard at that and made that a part of his game where he’s not a guy we’ve got to take out in those situations.”
For Gaskin, as a smaller back at 5-foot10, 194 pounds, that was one of the weaker points in his game as a player who can produce with the ball in his hands both running and catching it out of the backfield.
“Just making it an emphasis for myself being a smaller guy,” Gaskin said. “If you’re in the league now, those [pass rushers] are 260, 250 [pounds]. You got to bring everything you got each play. I think I just kind of dove into it.”
Gaskin credited the help he’s received from running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator Eric Studesville, and he also noted he learned about blocking from Kenyan. He said pass protection was something he started to develop as he got older within his college career at Washington but has since had to take it up another level to hold his own in the NFL.
Flores also touted Gaskin’s professionalism. “He’s a guy who is in early, out late, doing extras — whether it’s JUGS [machine], whether it’s running routes, whether it’s film study — and all of the work that he puts in,” Flores said. “All the preparation he goes through gives him an opportunity to have some success on the practice field and then hopefully in games. He’s done a nice job.”