McDaniel explains his decision to fill position of center with guard Williams
Instead of signing a veteran center, the Dolphins opted instead to sign an accomplished guard, Connor Williams, and move him to center.
Coach Mike McDaniel clarified the situation on Thursday, indicating that while Williams is a center at this time, the Dolphins didn’t sign him with the intent of making him a center. Williams played left guard primarily for the Dallas Cowboys, though he did take snaps at center during Cowboys training camp and preseason.
“We weren’t signing him to be a center,” McDaniel said. “We were signing offensive linemen. We thought his skill would best be utilized at the center position. With him only having limited reps at it [in the past], we wanted to give him a full opportunity. We weren’t going after Connor because this guy is a center.
“We think this is a good offensive lineman who can play multiple positions. That’s why those type of signings are intriguing. He will do everything to do the best he can at that position. But if team is better off [with him] at another position, he’s learning the offense from inside out from the best position to do that, which is the center position.”
What is he looking for from a center?
“You want someone that can really move,” McDaniel said. “In an ideal world, you can do the best job attacking the defense if you have some athleticism at the position and some strength. They have to make line calls that four other players are depending on, so we’re all on the same page.
“That’s why Connor was so attractive to us. He’s house money — an NFL guard or center.”
The Dolphins have stuck with the same starting offensive line as they used in
OTAs. The team won’t permit that line to be reported but The Miami Herald reported in the spring that Austin Jackson is playing right tackle and Liam Eichenberg left guard.
THIS AND THAT
McDaniel will relay plays directly into Tua Tagovailoa’s headset this season.
New Dolphins linebacker Melvin Ingram had only two sacks in 15 regular-season games for Pittsburgh and Kansas City last season but produced two sacks in the playoffs and 33 quarterback pressures over his final 12 games.
“He was a better run defender than I remember him,” McDaniel said of Ingram’s 2021 season. “He’s really grown in that. As a pass rusher, he has a lot of activity in and around the quarterback [last year]. He was producing a little more than people realize in terms of quarterback pressures. I’m pumped about where he’s at.”
Ingram said Thursday that he will do whatever is asked of him. “As long as you’re affecting the quarterback, you’re doing your job,” he said. “When I’m healthy, I know who I am. It’s going to be special.”
Is starting important to him? “I’m going to still be me. Once I’m doing that no more, it’s time to be home. Time will show I’m still me.”
When Ingram signed with the Dolphins, defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said, according to Ingram: “Be yourself, be you and everything will take of itself.”
On having shorter practices with a fast tempo, McDaniel said: “It’s challenging. We have to be forthright with the players so they understand where we are making concessions in reps that have to be made up in a walkthrough setting. Time has proven if you want to be elite at something you have to deliberately practice it. If players are treating practice reps closer to game reps, it’s an overall benefit to them. As long as they understand we need to make reps up somehow.”