Dolphins looking to shore up weak spots on O-line
INDIANAPOLIS — Inevitably, when you talk about the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line struggles it comes down to two positions — right guard and left guard, especially in regard to the passing game.
Many point to the problems on the interior of the offensive line as a reason why quarterback Ryan Tan- nehill hasn’t fully blossomed.
“That firm pocket is critical if you want to become a really good passing team, and that’s something we’re looking to improve,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said. “I think we have some ideas on how we can help the guys currently on the roster, and it’s going to start in our Phase 1, our strength program.”
It’s tough to say whether the Dolphins will look for a guard in the draft or free agency. While they need to upgrade the position, the problem is the cost.
The Dolphins have devoted resources to the guard position in the last three years — third-round picks Dallas Thomas (2013) and Billy Turner (2014), and fourth-round pick Jamil Douglas (2015) — and they still lack stability there.
The Dolphins allowed 45 sacks last season, tied for eighth worst in the NFL, and they were 23rd in rushing offense (93.5 yards per game).
Although it’s unclear how much of that is related to the guards, the Dolphins had two offensive linemen selected for the Pro Bowl — center Mike Pouncey and left tackle Branden Albert — and right tackle Ja’Wuan James, whose season was
shortened due to a toe injury, is on a good trajectory.
Some would argue that the Dolphins need to find two starting guards. General manager Chris Grier didn’t go that far, but he did acknowledge the offensive line needs to improve.
“There’s holes,” he said. “When you’re 6-10, there’s holes that you have to fill in a lot of places. I don’t want to say we need a certain number here or there. But there are holes we need to fill.”
Joe Cheek, the burly guard for Texas A&M who is a lower-round draft prospect, understands the physical attributes it takes to play his position.
“Really a guard is an extremely physical player, he plays with great technique and is a really great anchor of the line,” Cheek said at this week’s NFL scouting combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. “You start onside and work your way in with the strength of the offensive line, so really it’s a big key part.”
However, Oregon offensive tackle Tyler Johnstone said communication is more important for guards than physical attributes.
“If you see breakdowns kind of in that ‘B’ gap area, it’s probably because of a communication issue between the guard and the tackle,” Johnson said.
“If you don’t have that trust and that communica- tion with each other things are going to be secondguessed, assignments are going to be missed and you aren’t going to come together cohesively.”
If guards don’t have basic communication skills, according to Cheek and others, everything breaks down.
“It’s big because you’ve got guys on both sides of you as well as the center,” Cheek said. “You’re doing things for the tackles. Your centers make most of your calls, but you see things that your center can’t see out wide, and you’re echoing it to your tackle and back inside as well.”
If a team has problems at guard, eventually it’ll show.
“It could show with blitzes,” Oklahoma guard Nila Kasitati said, “and sometimes in the run game if a guy’s not moved out of the hole it’ll show, or maybe if a guard’s pulling, if he’s not doing his job, not kicking out the guy or moving him out of the way to create a crease.”
The problem with the Dolphins’ offensive line, it seems, is right up the middle.
“That’s the actual point of attack, where the stress is going to come,” said George Whitfield, who works with quarterbacks ahead of the NFL Draft.
“Yeah, people get speed on the ends, and you can kind of take the sting out of that with screens and draws and things. But the core, the center and both guards, make sure I’m protected right there.”