Eichenberg trying center but still hopeful to win left guard spot

MIAMI GARDENS — After Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg had a knee injury cut into his critical second NFL season, he’s now seeing practice time at a new position this offseason.

Eichenberg has been taking snaps at center during organized team activities. He said, following Wednesday’s session, that his previous experience playing the position amounts to “none.”

“Just training at multiple positions, just trying to get a better understanding of the offense and doing what the team needs me to do,” said Eichenberg of an addition to his OTA workload that had begun after Miami’s May 23 practice, the last one open to the media before Wednesday.

Despite the new venture, Eichenberg, the college left tackle at Notre Dame who went to left guard last year, still has his sights set on earning the starting left guard role come training camp.

“I’m going to compete every single day to start at left guard,” he said. “Just got to keep improving. This offseason, came out here in OTAs, got a lot better with my feet. Foot speed’s improved, and I’ve put on weight, got a lot stronger. So I think I am in the right direction in regards to doing everything I can.”

The potential move for the former secondround pick comes after the Dolphins added interior offensive line depth in the offseason with veteran Dan Feeney from the New York Jets. Miami, later in free agency, acquired tackles Isaiah Wynn and Cedric Ogbuehi, both who could present flexibility on the line, although Ogbuehi said Wednesday his best position is right tackle. Dolphins starting center Connor Williams has not been seen participating in OTAs the past two weeks.

Seeking versatility at this point in the offseason workout program is consistent

with what coach Mike McDaniel said last week. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has also gotten practice reps at inside linebacker to be able to jump in at either spot.

“It’s fun. Not too bad,” Eichenberg said of trying out at center. “I mean, the biggest thing is just getting the ball to the quarterback. That’s my main focus, and then just trying to make my blocks, communicate accordingly.”

Eichenberg has had to learn the intricacies of snapping the football and finding what he’s comfortable with.

“I went barehand first day,” he chronicled. “And then I was like, let me try a glove. And then sometimes they polish the balls up, so you can’t wear a glove. That’s probably the most annoying part, just gripping it accordingly.”

Williams made a shift last offseason from playing guard his first four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys to starting at center with Miami. He had his share of adventures snapping the football, especially early in that transition.

“I talked to Connor. He’s doing well,” Eichenberg said. “He said, ‘Just get the ball to the quarterback.’ I said, ‘Yes, coach!’ “

Eichenberg said he’s “super excited” about coming back from injuries. He missed seven games between November and December last season due to his knee ailment sustained Oct. 30 in Detroit. He returned for the final two regular-season games but was inactive for the wild-card round playoff loss in Buffalo due to a hand injury.

Eichenberg watched film while he was out and tried to help backup Robert Jones, who filled in for him.

“It sucked,” Eichenberg said of missing time. “There’s no other way to put it. It’s tough.”

It came at a time when McDaniel has said Eichenberg was beginning to come around to play some of his best football.

“Things started to click a little better for me, starting to understand how I needed to play at guard,” Eichenberg said Wednesday. “You can sit there and feel bad for yourself or you can take it one day at a time and get back to where you were at.”

But Eichenberg’s advancements to that point made him “100 percent” confident he could be a starting left guard in the NFL.

McDaniel has also said this offseason that Eichenberg and fellow high draft pick Austin Jackson, a 2020 first-round selection, each need a second season in his system to be properly judged.

Jackson is looking for a productive season after back-to-back ankle injuries sidelined him in 2022, following a disappointing first two NFL campaigns.

“He’s improved a ton. I think he’s fully committed to this style of offense and what they want from him at tackle. I think it’s showing throughout these practices.”

Eichenberg added of the benefits of Year 2 in McDaniel’s offense, albeit under a new offensive line coach in Butch Barry: “I think, going into the second OTAs, I was able to fully understand the foot speed. I was taught to — not step big — but gain more ground. In regards to this offense, just getting your feet down fast and getting them moving.”

If Eichenberg ends up primarily playing center in 2023, it would be his third position in three NFL seasons after playing left guard in his second season and left tackle as a rookie in 2021.