O-line remains a weak link
What went wrong for the Dolphins this season? What went right (if anything)? We assigned letter grades to each position group after every game. With the season over, it’s time to issue final grades and see who flunked and who gets a gold star. Today, a position of great concern: offensive line.
Straight talk
Looking over my game-by-game notes on the offensive line, it occurred to me how much time I wasted by not doing a cut-andpaste each Sunday.
That’s how predictable the offensive line’s penlties were. There were scores of pre-snap penalties that became a hallmark of both the offensive and defensive lines, plus too many holding penalties. An uncanny number occurred in the red zone or wiped out double-digit gains, sometimes touchdowns.
The development of Laremy Tunsil, the 13th overall pick in 2016, will have a massive impact on this team’s fortunes. Tunsil was given the left tackle assignment over the departed Branden Albert. His first four games there included a red-zone sack that forced a field goal, a facemask penalty that nullified a 16-yard run and a 14-yard sack when the Dolphins were trying to run out the clock.
Tunsil was penalized a dozen times this season, second on the team only to Ndamukong Suh’s 13. Of Tunsil’s flags, eight were for false starts and two for holding.
“At times, I think he would tell you that he’s felt like a rookie and he’s played like a rookie,” former offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said of Tunsil. “At times, you see glimpses and the same thing that you mentioned. It is just the consistency. I believe with all of my heart that it’s going to hit for him. Just (with) some experience, he’s going to end up being a really, really fine player. But you do have to go do it. I’ve thought that about a lot of people and it didn’t happen. You just never know.”
On the plus side, center Mike Pouncey proved he can last an entire 16-game schedule (and if you don’t believe it, just ask him) and guard Ted Larsen finally got healthy. The right side of the line eventually settled on guard Jesse Davis and tackle Sam Young.
That would be the starting five if the Dolphins had to play this weekend. But they’re not playing this weekend, and the offensive line is one of many reasons why.
What it all means Stats and league rankings:
■
25th overall on offense, 29th rushing, 18th passing, 28th scoring, 11th fewest with 33 sacks allowed. Pouncey was called for holding six times and Bushrod five.
■ Number of times OL received an A: 0.
■ Number of times OL received an F: 1.
■ Season GPA: 1.61 (Borderline C-minus/D-plus).
■ Analysis: The line has been stuck in the “serviceable” range for ages. It’s no coincidence the team’s record has, too. That’s not going to change without a significant upgrade in performance.
■ Adjusted final grade: C-minus.